Wilford Woodruff: Wondrous Worker, Prophet of God

by Francis M. Gibbons

The lives of great men have always provided inspiration to succeeding generations. For Latter-day Saints, this is especially true of the prophets of this dispensation. As a shining example of the principles at work, missionary effort, humility, and service in the kingdom, the life of Wilford Woodruff, prophet and fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands out clearly. Wilford Wondrous Worker, Prophet of God draws extensively from the voluminous personal journals of President Woodruff and paints a vivid picture of this great man's life and ministry, including his accident-prone childhood, his conversion to the Church, his powerful mission to Great Britain, his family life, his temple work for the founders of the United States, his struggles with the federal government, his role in issuing the Manifesto, his prodigious journal-keeping, and his unceasing love of hard work. Here is a fascinating look at the Church in the early days of its history, seen through the eyes of one who played a key role in that history. As one of the last prophets to have personally known Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff was truly a link between generations. And his fierce commitment to journal keeping has left a history of inestimable value for its firsthand perspective. The author has captured much of that eyewitness appeal in this fine biography. It is a story of courage, dedication, and spiritual greatness that will bring insight and growth to every reader.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1988

Reviews

[KatelynBuffington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I find biographies incredibly boring but this was very interesting to read and very informative. My family has a bunch of the Presidents of the Church biographies or autobiographies and so my sister recommended it to me. I was hesitant at first because my sister and I usually don't have the same taste in books. However, I have always loved reading about the life of either the current President or past Presidents of the Church. It really helps you feel a connection with them and understand that they are just people who like to have fun. This biography was definitely no exception to that. I loved how it is a combination of his personal journals and even some pictures of him, his family, and his house.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilford Woodruff was an exhaustive journal-keeper about his own life and church history. I felt the author relied too often on quotes from Wilford's journals and told a lot more of church history than of Wilford Woodruff the man. I definitely learned a lot, though.

[MaryAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed reading this book. President Woodruff was a stalwart of the Latter-day Saint faith. His life spanned from being taught by the prophet Joseph Smith to dedicating the Salt Lake Temple and issuing the Manifesto.

[Derek Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more stories of prophets punching the devil in the face

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to read this because of the Manifesto that was issued by President Woodruff while he was the prophet. I have been fascinated by him since I was a child. He was a truly great man who endured the Mormon Battalion and was taught at the feet of many great men. As his eulogy professed, he was a man, "who through faith, diligence, and a prodigious capacity for sustained labor had risen from an obscure birth to a place of eminence...The worker toiled to the end."

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written biography. Breaks up his life into well-defined episodes but shows the relationships between them. Fascinating man; very interesting to see how he fits into the bigger picture of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[Scott Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great biography. Willford Woodruff's life was amazing. What the church leaders had to endure from the federal government in the late 1800s in Utah was amazing. WW's leadership was so inspired through the Manifesto and the statehood of Utah. Can't wait to read Lorenzo Snow next.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

One reason this was interesting to me is because so much of it is taken from Pres. Woodruff's own journals, which he kept from 1833 to his death.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great informative book about his life.