Wilford Woodruff, Fourth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: History of His Life and Labors, as Recorded in His Daily JournalsWoodruff, Wilford
Religion
Wilford Woodruff, Fourth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: History of His Life and Labors, as Recorded in His Daily Journals
Woodruff, Wilford
Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898
The spirit of the leaders at that time when the call to repentance was
loudest was one of the most enthusiastic and God-fearing character.
They felt themselves in the presence of heavenly beings and constantly
answerable to God for the condition of the people Elder Woodruff speaks
of a tongue lashing which {376} he received from one of his brethren
who did not take kindly to the spirit and methods of the times. The man
did not care to have his conduct brought into question. He had repented
and been baptized once and the repetition of repentance was not in
harmony with his feelings, and he resisted the call made upon him by
his brethren who did not hesitate and who were not easily brushed aside
in their purpose and determination to bring about a reformation. To
those who did not take kindly to the spirit of those times, it looked
like an invasion of their personal liberty.
In his journal, Apostle Woodruff records a dream related to him by
Heber C. Kimball, which reflected not alone the latter's views of the
times, but the general spirit among the leaders. The dream runs as
follows:
"I dreamed that I was traveling with a companion, and we came to a
powerful, rapid stream of water like the Niagara River. The waves
were rolling very high and increasing in size. They had been muddy,
but were getting clear. As we came to this rushing stream, we did not
know how we should get over it. I turned my eyes a few moments from
my companion, and when I looked back I saw him on the other side of
the river and climbing a steep hill. I did not know how he got there.
I wanted to cross, so I called to him as loud as I could to stop and
wait for me, but he paid no attention to me, but went on as fast as he
could. Then a person came to me and said you have an iron rod in your
hand, which I perceived I had. It was several feet long. The angel said
to me: 'You must use this rod and feel your way over the river.' Then I
awoke.
"I considered my dream and interpreted it as follows: My companion was
J. M. Grant, who had suddenly died and left me, and was on the other
side of the veil. The waters mean the people. They are increasing in
strength and growing better and clearer. The iron rod is the word of
God, which I must cling to till I get through life. I consider there
are great things awaiting this people."
{377}
CHAPTER 35.
CELEBRATION OF 24th, 1857.
Words of Brigham Young.--Talk by the Indian Chief,
Aropene.--Assassination of Parley P. Pratt.--Return of Thomas B. Marsh
to the Church.--Celebration of the Twenty-forth in Big Cottonwood
Canyon.--News of the Army's Approach.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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