Show PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF president wilford woodruff the prophet seer beer and revelator passed away peacefully this morning september 2nd and such was the intelligence brought over the wire today to the presidents office it came unexpectedly clyto to his friends who have been under the impression that the beloved leader of the people of sod dod was enjoying good health considering his advanced age still they together with the saints throughout the world were in a measure prepared for the departure at this time of one who so long has stood in their midst a tower of strength in times of tempests and an example of living faith at all times wilford woodruff was the fourth president of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints he was born bom at farmington now avon hartford co connecticut march 1 1807 he was the third son of aphea and beulah thomp fo eon woodruff from his early youth and in the midst of a busy life he meditated on religious subjects on december Xe cember 29 1833 he first heard the gospel from the lips of elders zera Pulst pher and elijah cheney to hear the truth was with him to believe it and ad on january 1 1834 he received baptism the following april he went to kirtland and became acquainted with I joseph the prophet in may he marched with zions camp into missouri at this time he realized a strong desire to become a messenger of the gospel to his fel and as if in an avar sw er to his prayers he was ordained a arlt oti on nov 6 5 1834 and in january the following year he started on a missionary tour through arkansas tennessee and kentucky he went ow 0 foot and without purse and scrip and traveled miles he held meetings baptized forty three persons and organized three branches he had many wonderful experiences durin durina 1 this tour and miraculous manifestations manifestation of the power of the almighty his hii second missionary tour was commenced in way may 1837 on this he visited maine and aad the fox islands for two I 1 years year she he labored faithfully in his calling and baptized many converts while at a north vinal haven he received notice tice ol of his I 1 appointment to the apostleship and was ordained to that exalted on april 26 1839 in the following august he be set out for or a mission to great BrIt britain aln where 4 his labors were crowned with success never witnessed since the days of at alp he ferit apostles of our savior af ter te ew t labor he baptized foer persons sono including prominent preachers pre ibbets of many denominations he fb then returned home and reached nau apo n october 1841 2841 two years later he was laboring as a missionary in the eastern states but returned to nauvoo upon hearing of the martyrdom of 0 the prophet joseph in 1844 he again was sent to perform a mission to england but he returned in time to join the exodus from nauvoo in 1847 he traveled with the pioneers across the plains and was one of at the first to arrive in this valley in 1848 he went again on a mission to the eastern states returning in 1850 in this year he was elected to the senate of the provisional state of deseret and served for twenty one years in the legislative assembly of utah president woodruff was closely identified with every movement for the advancement of utah and the state owes much to his untiring efforts and patriotic zeal when president john taylor became president of the church wilford woodruff was sustained as president of the council of apostles and at the general conference in april 1889 he became the president of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints with president george Q cannon and president joseph F smith as counselors president woodruffs administration has been one of peace and good will towards all among the saints he was honored and loved and even those of other religious views than his were wont to look up to him with veneration and esteem his life work has been a most re mar kaible kalble one from the beginning of his ministry in 1884 and to the close cloae of the year 1896 1895 he had traveled miles held meetings preached discourses organized 61 51 branches of the church and 77 preaching places he traveled in england scotland and wales and in 23 states and 5 territories in the union to the family and intimate associates as ae well as the saints in general the departure of president woodruff from this sphere of action will be felt as a great loss yet they will be ever full fuh of gratitude tor for the providence that so long preserved him among them his history will be a sermon to future generations erat ions exhorting to faith diligence and perseverance in the service of god full of years year and full of honara he has along to his hia great reward earth contained no other either honor tor for him than what he had bad already gained to have accepted of anything more than what he already had bad would have caused him film to stoop what wha t a magnificent spectacle to Is it when a man weighted down with the accumulation of years all save the arthe haleyon halcyon period devoted to the cause of god and his fellow man at last yields up hla his mortality and lays down dowa the trust imposed upon him without one cue blemish upon hla his record or one spot upon his character those woo who have been accounted great as the world ei es teems greatness have gone hence with the plaudits pl audits tot of the world following i them to the tomb bomb and the othe praises of 1 4 mankind ringing in their ears W alb ul their last consciousness but how many of 0 these have been ab all times ana under every with and a of t 41 the people how many but have madle those of whom they claimed to fco be a 4 part the stepping stones to their own personal preferment not nob so with W s wilford W woodruff 00 druff he wa was 8 one of the people all the time and everywhere what they had bad to endure he en dured their privations were his priva l eions their sorrows his sorrows thew hopes and faith and triumphs never ne any more completely theirs than hla he lived to see the fruition of his work I 1 and his breth rens work accomplished in all the departments of df the human 1 life and as his spirit took its flight ana AA that retrospective glance which at bubb Biris fc time we presumably take of our morta career passed in rapid panoramic array before him no doubt he felt an serene as satisfied as reposeful as it to IS possible for the mind of man to be evea even 1 though in the heyday of existence be v dause cause he lived not tor for this life aloft T but for the one to follow and had himself ready to begin anew the he ended here he was satisfied with lias satisfied with the end of life just jus as h had lived for and hoped for HI his leae and reward are secured way may his aaa ample be ever a bright and aad clo glo verlo light to others showing them the wa to worthiness in this world and aad esq ea callAS tion in the world to come 31 |