Wilford Woodruff

Wilford Woodruff Sr. was born on March 1, 1807, and became a prominent American religious leader, serving as the fourth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his passing in 1898. His leadership was marked by significant changes, including the cessation of public plural marriage among church members in 1890.

Woodruff's journey into the Latter Day Saint movement began in his youth when he explored Restorationism. He met Joseph Smith, the movement's founder, in Kirtland, Ohio, and joined Zion's Camp in April 1834. His missionary work took him to Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee before he returned to Kirtland, where he married his first wife, Phebe, and served a mission in New England.

In July 1838, Woodruff was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he was ordained in April 1839. His missionary efforts extended to England, where he played a crucial role in leading converts to Nauvoo. After Smith's death, Woodruff returned to Nauvoo and continued his work, eventually overseeing families in Winter Quarters and presiding over the Eastern States Mission.

Arriving in Salt Lake City on October 15, 1850, Woodruff became an influential figure in the Utah territorial legislature and the community's social and economic life. He served as Church Historian from 1856 to 1889 and was instrumental in the establishment of temple ordinances. His presidency of the St. George Temple in 1877 marked a significant development in church practices.

Facing legal challenges due to the Edmunds Act, Woodruff went into hiding in 1882. However, he emerged as a pivotal leader in the church, ultimately issuing the 1890 Manifesto that ended the church's support for new polygamous marriages. His detailed journals remain a vital record of Latter Day Saint history.