History of Wilford Woodruff (2)

Mormon History 1830-1844

History of Wilford Woodruff (1807–1898) (2)

1836–1837. Return to Kirtland. Attends school of the prophets (Latin, English grammar). Set apart as member of First Quorum of Seventies. Dissidents want David Whitmer to lead the church. Joseph returns and addresses the Saints in the temple. Washings and anointings, all-night meetings, fasting and prayer. Marries Phebe Carter. Mission to Fox Islands with Jonathan Hale. Side trips to Upper Canada, family in Connecticut. Casts out devil. Phebe's parents in Scarborough. Converts much of the population fo the Fox Islands.

		HISTORY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. (From His Own Pen.)	MS 27, no. 17 (Apr. 29, 1865): 263–265.
First steamboat Abraham O. Smoot family	¶	October 20 [1836].—In company with A. O. Smoot and Jesse Turpin, I started for Kirtland; this was the first time I had ever travelled on a steamboat. We left the steamer at Louisville, on the 28th, and spent nineteen days visiting Elder Smoot's relations, and preaching among the people; we visited the Big Bone Lick.
Cincinnati		We arrived in Cincinnatti, Nov. 17th, where we saw thirteen persons dead and wounded, taken from the steamer Flora, which had burst her pipes while running a race;
Arrive Kirtland, November 25, 1836		arrived in Kirtland on the 25th, and had the happy privilege of meeting the Prophet Joseph, and many elders with whom I was acquainted in the Camp of Zion.
Temple meeting	¶	—[November] 29 [1836].—I heard Joseph preach in the temple. In the afternoon I was called to speak, and read the 56th chap. of Isaiah, and made some remarks, and gave an account of my mission in the South; Elder Smoot also addressed the Saints.
School of the prophets	¶	I was counselled by the Presidency to attend the school in the temple, taught by Professor Haws. I studied the Latin language and English grammar, and boarded with Brother Ira Bond.
Winter, 1836–1837	¶	I attended meetings with the Seventies and other Quorums, during the winter of 1836–7, and received much valuable instruction.
Third Quorum of Seventies	¶	Dec. 20, 1836.—I was present at the organization of the Third Quorum of Seventies; there were twenty-seven ordained.
First Quorum of Seventies	¶	Jan. 3, 1837.—I was set apart to be a member of the First Quorum of Seventies.	Wilford previously belonged to the Second Quorum. ¶ Wilford Woodruff (h1)
Cloud like fire, blood-red snow	¶	—25.—At early candlelight, a cloud began to arise in the north-east, and reached to the north-west, having the appearance of fire, and it soon spread over the whole horizon. The reflection of the clouds upon the earth, which was covered with snow, had a blood-red appearance. It commenced at about 6 o'clock, and lasted till past 10 p.m.
Joseph and Oliver in the temple	¶	[264]—[January] 29. [1837]—Presidents Joseph Smith, and O. Cowdery addressed the Saints in the Temple. Joseph blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and said, if we would be faithful, we should arise above our embarrassments, and be delivered from the hands of our enemies.
Writes article on faith	¶	—30.—I wrote an article on faith, which was published in the Messenger and Advocate.
Joseph returns Temple meeting Dissidents want David Whitmer	¶	Feb. 19. [1837]—I attended meeting at the temple. President Joseph Smith had been absent on business for the Church, but not half as long as Moses was in the mount away from Israel; yet many of the people in Kirtland, if they did not make a calf to worship, as did the Israelites, turned their hearts away from the Lord, and from his servant Joseph, and had engaged in speculation, and given way to false spirits, until they were darkened in their minds; and many were opposed to Joseph Smith, and some wished to appoint David Whitmer to lead the Church in his stead.	In 1834, Joseph had ordained David to be his successor. ¶ Minutes of March 15, 1838
Joseph addresses the Saints		In the midst of this cloud of dark spirits, Joseph returned to Kirtland, and this morning arose in the stand. He appeared much depressed; but soon the Spirit of God rested upon him, and he addressed the assembly in great plainness for about three hours, and put his enemies to silence.
Denounces dissidents		When he arose he said, "I am still the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Leader of the Church of Jesus Christ. God, and not man, has appointed and placed me in this position, and no man or set of men have power to remove me, or appoint another in my stead; and those who undertake this, if they do not speedily repent, will burn their fingers and go to hell."
		He reproved the people sharply for their sins, darkness and unbelief. The power of God rested upon him, and bore testimony that his sayings were true.
Fasting and prayer in temple	¶	March 23rd [1837] was spent in the Temple by the Saints in Kirtland, in fasting and prayer. Patriarch Joseph Smith, sen., presided. The Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the people. A contribution was taken up for the poor.
Washings and anointings	¶	April 4.—I received my washings and anointings in the house of the Lord. I spent the whole night in the Temple, with others of the Seventies, in prayer and fasting; the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us. After twenty-four hours I partook of food.
Priesthood leaders meet, Hosanna shout	¶	—[April] 6. [1837]—The Presidency of the Church, the Twelve Apostles, and other Quorums, met in solemn assembly, and sealed upon our heads our washings, anointings and blessings, with a loud shout of hosannah to God and the Lamb; the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us.
Washing feet, blessings		After spending three hours in the upper room, the Quorums repaired to the lower court; the vails were lowered, and the ordinance of washing of feet was administered. Elder H. C. Kimball washed my feet, and pronounced blessings upon me.
Temple veils Joseph speaks 3 hours Unburdens himself		After this ordinance, the vails of the Temple were rolled up, and President Joseph Smith addressed the elders for three hours, clothed with the Spirit and power of God. He unbosomed his feelings in the house of his friends, and gave much instruction. He urged upon us the absolute necessity of giving strict heed to his teachings and counsel, and the revelations of the Lord to the Church, and be wise in all things, that Zion and her stakes may be redeemed and established, no more to be thrown down.
Great and glorious blessings		He said, that the kings of the earth would yet come to behold the glory of Zion, and that great and glorious blessings would be bestowed upon the Saints in the last days.
Hyrum speaks Oliver: leave mysteries alone		Hyrum Smith bore testimony, and was followed by Oliver Cowdery, who exhorted the Elders to keep within the bounds of their knowledge, and let the mysteries of the kingdom alone, for the Gentiles had not a knowledge even of the first principles of the Gospel. He said, it is far better to preach what the people would call the small things of the kingdom, than to enter into the visions of Isaiah, Ezekiel and John.
Break bread		The Twelve broke bread, which was distributed to the multitude, who eat and were filled; thanks were returned, and the meeting closed at the setting of the sun.
Meet all next night	¶	The house was again filled at candlelight. President Smith requested the elders to speak their feelings freely, and sing, exhort and pray, as the Spirit should give utterance. The meeting continued during the whole night; [265] many of the gifts were poured out upon the people; at break of day we were dismissed.
Meet next night	¶	I also spent the night of the 7th in the Temple, with several of the Elders, in prayer and praise before the Lord; the Holy Ghost rested upon us, and the spirit of prophecy was given, and many things were shown by the holy Spirit.
Joseph on traitors, covenant breakers	¶	April 9. [1837]—President Smith spoke in the afternoon, and said in the name of the Lord, that the judgments of God would rest upon those men who had professed to be his friends, and friends of humanity, and in building up Kirtland, a stake of Zion, but had turned traitors to him, and the interests of the kingdom of God, and had given power into the hands of our enemies against us; they had oppressed the poor Saints, and had brought distress upon them, and had become covenant-breakers, for which they will feel the wrath of God.
Wilford marries Phebe Joseph flees mob	¶	April 13, 1837.—I married Phebe W. Carter, daughter of Ezra and Sarah Carter, of Scarborough, Maine. The ceremony was performed at the house of President Joseph Smith, by Fred. G. Williams, Esq. The Prophet Joseph appointed to marry us, but his life was sought by a mob, and he had to flee.
Patriarchal blessing	¶	—15.—I received my patriarchal blessing under the hands of the Patriarch, Joseph Smith, sen.; my wife having received her patriarchal blessing previously.
Tornado	¶	May 5.—While laboring for Joseph Young, Kirtland was visited with a sudden storm of wind and rain, a current passed south of the Temple in the form of a whirlwind or tornado, which destroyed and injured several buildings, it crushed one of Joseph Young's buildings, and removed the one we were in some 10 feet, but no person was injured.	Millennial Star 27, no. 18 (May 6, 1865): 279–281.
Fox Islands mission	¶	I felt impressed to go out upon a mission; the Spirit was upon me, and led me to go to Fox Islands; it was a country I had never visited. I named my feelings upon the subject to Elders Kimball, Rigdon and others; they encouraged me to go. Elder Kimball blessed me, and said in the name of the Lord, I should be blessed and prospered on my mission, and do a good work. I proposed to Jonathan H. Hale (swh) to accompany me, which he did.
Milton Holmes Buffalo, Syracuse	¶	May 31. [1837]—I left my wife and friends in Kirtland, and walked to Fairport with Brother Hale; we were joined by Milton Holmes, and took the steamer Sandusky and arrived in Buffalo, June 1st, and Syracuse on the 4th;
Richmond Visits brothers $100 Kirtland Safety Society notes		walked thirty-six miles to Richmond, Oswego County, New York, and called upon my two brothers, Azmon and Thompson, whom I had not seen for several years. We visited the churches as far as Sackett's Harbor, called upon Archibald Patten, and delivered to him some letters from Warren Parrish, in which were enclosed many one hundred dollar bills, which he had taken from the Kirtland Bank.
Upper Canada 8 branches Ordinations		We crossed Lake Ontario, visited Upper Canada, and attended a conference, May 10th, with Elders John E. Page (h), and James Blakesly, in the township of Bastard, Leeds County. There were eight branches represented, containing three hundred members, thirteen elders, five priests, eight teachers and six deacons. Elder William Draper and myself ordained seven Elders, nine Priests, eleven Teachers, and five Deacons: five were baptized by Elder Page at the close of the conference.	May 10th: June 10 June 11: After I closed, the Saints spake in tongues and prophesyed. Five presented themselves for baptism … I returned … to spend the night & there was a woman present who was possessed with the devil. She was oft times dumb & greatly afflicted by the evil spirits that dwelt in her. She believed in Jesus Christ …" WWJ 2:152.
Cast out devil	¶	A woman was possessed of the devil and greatly afflicted, much of the time was dumb; four of us laid hands upon her, and cast the devil out in the name of Jesus Christ, and she was made whole, and gave thanks unto God, and went on her way rejoicing.
Heal the sick	¶	We visited several other branches and preached the word of God, and several of the sick were healed.
Missionaries to England	¶	We returned to Kingston, took steamer for Oswego, and canal for Albany; Brothers John Goodson, Isaac Russell and John Snider accompanied us from Canada, and left us at Schenectady, to join Elders Kimball, Hyde and Richards (h) at New York, to go to England.	¶ Heber C. Kimball (h3)
Visits father in Connecticut	¶	We walked from Albany to Farmington, Conn.; attended a conference of the Saints in Canaan; arrived at my father's house July 6th. This was the first time I had seen my father or relatives in Conn., since I joined the Church; they received me kindly.
Collinsville mob		On the 10th, I preached in the City Hall in Collinsville, and a mob gathered and attempted to break up the meeting, with fife and drum, holloaing and yelling; they were urged on by a Presbyterian priest.
Presbyterian cleric: education		At the close of the meeting the priest came to me [280] with his rabble, and asked many questions; he said I had no right to my opinion, and no man had a right to preach the gospel unless he had a collegiate education. I told him I would admit that point, when he would tell me at what college Jesus Christ and his Apostles obtained their education: the priest and rabble then left.
Baptizes Uncle Ozem Fulfills dream	¶	[July]—12. [1837]—I preached in a school house in West Avon to an attentive congregation; after meeting I baptized my uncle, Ozem Woodruff, his wife and son, John, in fulfillment of a dream which I had at ten years of age.
Connecticut relatives	¶	I visited most of my relatives in Conn., and preached the Gospel to them.
Phebe joins Heber	¶	—[July] 16. [1837]—I preached at Adna Hart's in Avon, where I was met by my stepmother and sister, also by my wife, who had travelled alone from Kirtland, and was on her way to visit her father in Maine.
Jonathan to Massachusetts	¶	—19.—Elder Hale went to New Rowley, Mass., to visit his friends.
Preaches in Methodist church		I had been solicited to preach to the citizens of Farmington by many prominent men, but every room which was offered me, including the town hall, was closed against me by the Rev. Noah Porter, pastor of the Presbyterian church, until the Methodist church was offered me, which he had not influence to close. Two hours after I gave out the appointment, the house was filled, and I preached to a very attentive congregation, including my father and his household, for an hour and a half, upon the first principles of the Gospel; I gave liberty to the assembly to ask any questions, or find any fault with what I had said, but I met with no opposition.
Journey	¶	—[July] 20. [1837]—I left my father's house, and, with my wife, rode by stage to Hartford.
Walks 52 miles	¶	—21.—Not having money to pay the fare for us both, I paid her fare in the stage to New Rowley, Mass., and I walked through a hot, sultry day fifteen hours, averaging three and a half miles per hour, making fifty-two miles.
48 miles	¶	—[July] 22. [1837]—I walked forty-eight miles.
36 miles Nathaniel Holmes	¶	—23.—I walked thirty-six miles, and arrived at Elder Nathaniel Holme's, in New Rowley, at two o'clock, p.m., making one hundred thirty-six miles in a little over two days and a half. I met with my wife and Elder Milton Holmes, at his father's house: I spent several days in preaching to the Saints in that region.
Jonathan Hale, Nathaniel Holmes	¶	August 1. [1837]—We left New Rowley, and was joined by Elder Hale, who accompanied us to Saco, Maine.
Scarborough Phebe's parents	¶	—7.—I accompanied my wife to her father's in Scarborough, Maine. We were kindly received: it was the first time I had seen any of her relations. We found Mother Carter very sick. I spent several days visiting the Saints in that region.
Fishing Whales	¶	—[August] 10. [1837]—I accompanied Ezra and Fabien Carter, my brothers-in-law, on a fishing excursion; we caught with hooks two hundred fifty codfish, haddock, and hake, and saw four whales; it being the first time I had ever seen that class of fish that swallowed Jonah.	Fabien: spelled Fayben in WWJ 1:168.
Fox Islands	¶	—18.—With Elder Hale, I started to fill my mission on Fox Islands; we walked to Portland, and spent the night at Mr. Samuel Hale's.
Prayer at Bangor	¶	—[August] 19. [1837]—We took the steamer Bangor eighty-five miles to Owl's Head, where we arrived at sunset, without means to prosecute our journey further. We retired to a high hill, and bowed before the Lord, and prayed that he would open our way; the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us, and testified unto us that our prayers would be answered.
To the islands		As we arose from our knees, a sloop came into the harbor; we went to the captain, and enquired where he was going; he replied, through the channel of Vinal Haven; he took us on board and landed us on North Fox Islands, a 2 a.m. on the 20th. We wandered in the dark about an hour, rambling over rocks and bushes, found the house of Mr. Nathaniel Dyer, and were entertained.
Baptist meeting house Gideon J. Newton		It being Sunday morning, Mr. Benjamin Kent piloted us to the Baptist meeting-house, occupied by Elder Gideon J. Newton, pastor of the only religious denomination upon the Island.
Minister welcomes them		At the door, I sent for the deacon, and told him I wished him to inform the minister that we were servants of God, and wished to deliver a message to that people. The minister sent word for us to come into the pulpit; accordingly, with valise in hand, we walked [281] up into the pulpit, and took a seat on each side of him.
Promises to read		When he closed his discourse, he asked me what hour we would like to speak; I told him at five; he gave out our appointment, and invited us to his house. I asked him how many schoolhouses were on the Island; he said four, and gave me their names. I asked him if they were free for anyone to preach in; he answered in the affirmative. I took out my Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and covenants, and laid them all upon his stand; he promised to read them.
First principles	¶	The hour of meeting arrived, and I preached to a full house upon the first principles of the Gospel, and bore testimony that the Lord had raised up a prophet, and had commenced to establish his church and Kingdom again upon the earth, in fulfillment of his word, as spoken through the ancient Prophets and Apostles. This was the first discourse ever delivered by any Latter-day Saint upon this chain of islands; Elder Hale bore testimony.
People turn out in masses Baptize captain		I gave out appointments for preaching in the four school houses. The people came out in masses to investigate the principles which we taught. In fourteen days we preached nineteen discourses. Capt. Justice Ames and wife were baptized by Elder Hale.
Minister is convinced, but rejects		Elder Newton, the Baptist minister, with his family attended twelve of our meetings, read the books, and was convinced by the spirit of the Lord that our doctrine was true, and he had a hard struggle in his mind to know which to do, receive it or reject it; he finally resolved to reject it, and commenced preaching against us.
Both islands' ministers oppose		He sent for Mr. Douglass, Methodist minister, on the South Island, to come and help him; he had been long at variance with Mr. Douglass, but they became very friendly and united in a war against us.
Baptize daily		We continued preaching daily, until we baptized most of the members of Mr. Newton's church, and those who owned the meeting house.
Go to south island	¶	I followed Mr. Douglas to his own island, and commenced preaching to his church, and baptized a good share of his members, among whom were several sea captains.	Millennial Star 27, no. 19 (May 13, 1865): 294–296.
Minister sends for reinforcements		Ministers from the mainland were sent for, who came over and tried to put a stop to the work, by preaching and lying about us; but the work continued to roll on. They wished me to work a miracle to convince them that my doctrine was true. I told them they had rejected the truth, and they would see signs, but not unto salvation.
Vinal Haven	¶	Vinal Haven, which includes both north and south Fox Island, is in Latitude 44°, long. 69°10'. The inhabitants are generally healthy and industrious, and hospitable to strangers, the people obtain most of their wealth by fishing, and fit out annually over one hundred licensed vessels, beside many smaller crafts. The north island is nine miles long and two wide; population 800, and contains a post office, a store, a gristmill, four schoolhouses, and a Baptist church. The land is rocky and rough, yet there are farms which produce good wheat, barley, oats, potatoes and grass; the principal timber is fir, spruce, hemlock and birch. The rasp and gooseberry grow in great abundance. Sheep are the principal stock.
South Fox Island	¶	South Fox Island is about ten miles long and five wide, and is a mass of rocks, principally granite, formed into shelves, hills, hollows, and cut up into nooks, points and ravines by coves and harbors; population one thousand. There are some small patches under cultivation, at the expense of great labor and toil. Many resident fishermen fish at Newfoundland, and bring them home, and dry them upon flakes; they annually supply the market with a great amount of codfish, mackerel and boxed herring. The latter island contains two stores, three tide sawmills, six schoolhouses, a small branch of the Methodist church and a priest. The timber is pine, fir, spruce, hemlock and birch, also gooseberries, raspberries, whortleberries and upland cranberries; bushes and timber grow out of the crevices of the rocks.
Fish	¶	There is a great amount and variety of fish in the waters around these islands, viz.: whale, blackfish, shark, ground shark, pilot fish, horse mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, halibut, cod, pollock, tomcod, hake, haddock, mackerel, shad, bass, alewive, herring, pohagen, dolphin, whiting, frost fish, flounders, smelt, skate, shrimp, shad, cusk, blue backs, scollop, dogfish, muttonfish, lumpfish, squid, five fingers, monkfish, nursefish, sunfish, swordfish, thrasher, cat, scuppog, twotog, eyefish, cunner, ling eels, lobsters, clams, mussels, winkles, porpoises, seals, etc.	winkles: periwinkles
	¶	Sept. 6. [1837]—The harbor was filled with a school of mackerel, which were caught in great numbers by the people standing upon the wharf.
Counts 55 islands	¶	While standing upon the farm of Eleazar Carver on the north island I counted fifty-five islands, many of which were inhabited.
Leaves island	¶	Oct. 2. [1837]—I left the island with Elder Hale; Cap. Ames took us to Thomastown in a sloop.
46 miles to Bath	¶	—3.—We walked forty-six miles to Bath.
Preach to large audience	¶	[October] —4. [1837]—We attended a Baptist convention, and preached to a large congregation in the evening in Pierce's Hall; the people listened attentively.
36 miles to Portland	¶	—5.—We walked thirty-six miles to Portland.
10 miles to in-laws	¶	—[October] 6. [1837]—Walked ten miles to Father Carter's in Scarborough, where I found my wife and friends well.
		Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff (h1) Wilford Woodruff (h3) Biographies