History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

WILFORD WOODRUFF AND WILLARD RICHARDS, 435'
the valley. In 1860 he was sent on mission work to England, where he remained
till 1863, being again ordered, the following year, to the Sandwich
Islands in company with A. L. Smith, L. Snow, E. T. Benson, and W. W.
Cluff. Returning in 1865, he was soon after elected an apostle and a member
of the legislature, in which latter capacity he served until 1S72. In 1S74
and 1S75 he presided over the British mission, and in 1880 was chosen second
councillor to President Taylor. For additional items, see above authorities.
Wilford, the third son of Aphek and Bsulah Thompson Woodruff, was
born at Farmington (now Avon), Conn., in March 1807, his ancestors for at
least three generations being residents of that neighborhood. In 1S32 he
was converted to Mormonism, together with his brother Azmon, and soon
afterward cast in his lot at Kirtland, where, for a time, he was the guest of
Joseph Smith. Two years later he started on a missionary tour in company
with an elder named Brown, journeying on foot through southern Missouri,
northern Arkansas, and western Tennessee. In 1837 he was appointed a
member of the first quorum of the seventies, and in April of this year, was
married to Phoebe W. Carter at the house of Joseph Smith. In 1839 he was
chosen an apostle, and soon afterward was sent on a mission to England, where,
in a few months, he and his fellow-missionaries baptized more than 1,800
proselytes, their success being so remarkable as to alarm the orthodox clergy,
who brought the matter before the notice of parliament. In 1841 he was
shipwrecked at Lake Michigan while on his way to Nauvoo, but escaped with
his life and reached that city in October. A few weeks before the assassination
of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, he was again ordered to England as a missionary,
returning in 1846, when he crossed the plains with the pioneer band.
In 184S we find him once more a missionary, this time in the eastern states,
whence he returned to Salt Lake City in 1850, being elected in December of
that year a senator for the provisional state of Deseret. After that date he
became one of the foremost men in Utah, the church annals being largely
compiled from his records. In his public career he is regarded as one of the
founders of the territory; his apostolic labors have earned for him among
the saints the title of 'Wilford the faithful.' Woodruff's Leaves from Journal,
1-96; Millennial Star, xxvii. passim; Times and Seasons, v. 692; Deseret
News, July 7, 14, 1858.
Among the pioneers was Willard Richards, born at Hopkinton, Middlesex
county, Mass., on the 24th of June, 1S04. Under the instruction of his
parents, Joseph and Rhoda Richards, he applied himself during his youth to
the study of theology, but could not discern in the doctrines of any i.f the
sects around him the fulness of truth. In 1835 he obtained a copy of the
book of Mormon, and reading it through twice in ten days, became convinced
of its divine authenticity. At this date he was practising medicine at Boston,
but at once resolved to remove to Kirtland, where a year later he
was baptized and ordained an elder by his cousin, Brigham Young. Proceeding
on a mission to England, he labored successfully, and in April 1S40 was
chosen by revelation one of the twelve. Returning to America, he was appointed
historian and general recorder to the church, which offices he held
until his decease in March 1854. He was an intimate friend of the prophet's,
and, as will be remembered, was present at his assassination in Carthage jail.
In 1848, after the return of the pioneer band, he was appointed second councillor
to the president. He was also editor of the Deseret News, the official
organ of the church, and wrote most of the general epistles of the twelve to the
brethren throughout the world. After the organization of the state of Deseret
he was made secretary of state, and afterward presided over the council of the
legislative assembly. The last occasion on which he left his house was for the
purpose of addressing the council at the close of its session. 'I will go and
perform this duty,' he said, 'if, like John Quincy Adams, I die in the attempt;
but no one knows the aggravated extent of my bodily malady. Death stares
me in the face, waiting for his prey.' Further particulars will be found in
The Millennial Star, xxvii. 118-20, 133-6, 150-2, 165-6; Lin/orth's Route from