Chapter 9 Proclaiming the Gospel

We should be diligent and faithful in helping others receive the blessings of the restored gospel.

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From the Life of Wilford Woodruff
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 9: Proclaiming the Gospel, From the Life of Wilford Woodruff, 89

Shortly after Wilford Woodruff was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church, he “had a great desire to preach the Gospel.” He recalled: “One Sunday evening I retired into the woods alone, and called upon the Lord in earnest prayer, to open my way to go and preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. The Spirit of the Lord bore witness that my prayer was heard, and should be answered. I arose from my knees happy, and walked some forty rods (about two hundred meters or two hundred twenty yards), and met Elias Higbee, a High Priest, with whom I had stayed a number of months. As I approached him, he said, ‘Brother Wilford, the Spirit of the Lord tells me that you should be ordained, and go on a mission.’ I replied, ‘I am ready.’ ” 1

Under the direction of his bishop, Wilford Woodruff was ordained a priest on November 5, 1834, and called to serve a mission in the southern United States. He served with faith and diligence, beginning a lifetime of missionary service in which he would help thousands embrace the restored gospel. Of him, President Heber J. Grant said, “I believe that no other man who ever walked the face of the earth was a greater converter of souls to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 2

In January 1840, soon after being ordained an Apostle, Elder Wilford Woodruff arrived in England to serve as a missionary. He began his service in the county of Staffordshire, enjoying considerable success. “There were 40 added to the church by baptism,” he reported, “and many new doors opening; and in the midst of the prosperity of the work, as I arose to speak before a large congregation in Hanly, on the 1st day of March, the Lord manifested unto me that it would be the last time I should warn that people for many days, and as I arose and informed the people it would be the last time they would hear my voice for many days, they marveled, for they expected, as well as myself, when I entered the house, that I should spend months in their midst; but the ways and thoughts of God are not like our ways and thoughts in every respect.”

Elder Woodruff sought the Lord in prayer the next day, asking where he should go. He recounted: “Believing it to be my privilege and duty to know the will of the Lord upon the subject, therefore, I asked my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ to teach me his will in this thing, and as I asked, the Lord gave, and showed me that it was his will that I should go immediately to the south of England. I conversed with brother William Benbow upon this subject, who had lived in Herefordshire and had friends still residing there, and much wished me to visit that region of country, and (he) generously proffered to accompany me to his brother’s house and pay my fare, which I readily accepted.” 3

On March 4, 1840, Elder Woodruff and William Benbow arrived at the home of William’s brother John. “In one hour after I arrived at his house,” recalled President Woodruff, “I learned why the Lord had sent me there. … I found a company of men and women, some six hundred, who had banded together under the name of United Brethren, and were laboring for the ancient order of things. They wanted the Gospel as taught by the prophets and apostles, as I did in my youth.” 4

The Benbow family quickly accepted the message of the Restoration, and William returned to Staffordshire “after having the happy privilege of seeing his brother John Benbow, and all his household, … baptized into the new and everlasting covenant.” 5 Elder Woodruff stayed in the area for about eight months. He later recalled: “The first thirty days after I arrived in Herefordshire I baptized forty-five preachers and several hundred members. … We brought in two thousand in about eight months’ labor.” 6

Referring to this experience, President Woodruff wrote: “The whole history of this Herefordshire mission shows the importance of listening to the still small voice of God and the revelations of the Holy Ghost. The Lord had a people there prepared for the Gospel. They were praying for light and truth, and the Lord sent me to them.” 7

About two years before Elder Woodruff served in England, the Spirit led him to preach the gospel to a smaller group of people—his own family. In his patriarchal blessing, given through Joseph Smith Sr., he had been promised that he would “bring (his) father’s household into the kingdom of God.” 8 In 1838, while he was serving a mission in an area close to his hometown, he felt that the time had come for this prophecy to be fulfilled. He wrote:

“I spent … eighteen days in Farmington and Avon, visiting my father’s household, my uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto them, and striving to bring them into the kingdom of God. … By the help of God, I preached the Gospel faithfully to my father’s household and to all that were with him, as well as to my other relatives.”

On July 1, 1838, Elder Woodruff baptized six people, including all those who lived in his father’s house, just as he had been promised in his patriarchal blessing. “It was truly a day of joy to my soul,” he said. “My father, step-mother and sister were among the number baptized. I afterwards added a number of relatives. I felt that this day’s work alone amply repaid me for all my labor in the ministry.

“Who can comprehend the joy, the glory, the happiness and consolation that an Elder of Israel feels in being an instrument in the hands of God of bringing his father, mother, sister, brother, or any of the posterity of Adam through the door that enters into life and salvation? No man can, unless he has experienced these things, and possesses the testimony of Jesus Christ and the inspiration of Almighty God.” 9

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Teachings of Wilford Woodruff

God holds us responsible for sharing the gospel with others.

Mankind in all ages search for happiness; they desire social and domestic peace; and when they think of the vast future, they desire to participate in the blessings that are spoken of as pertaining to that state of existence; but they know not how to obtain them, except a servant of God comes along and points out the way of life. 10

We are the only people to whom this holy gospel, priesthood and covenants have been committed in our day, and we shall be held responsible for the use we make of it. Then we should be diligent and faithful in offering this great salvation unto the children of men, and in building up Zion and the kingdom of our God. 11

However insignificant this people may be in the eyes of the world, the God of heaven holds us responsible for preaching this Gospel to every nation under heaven, and we have it to do or we will be damned. We cannot avoid this. Why? Because, as Paul says: “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:16.) There is but one Gospel; never has been but one, and never will be; and Paul says: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8.) That Gospel, ye Saints of the living God, … is in our hands, sent to us by the ministrations of Angels—the same Gospel that was taught from Adam to Christ, and from Christ down to our day and generation, when God has had a people on the earth. 12

There never was a set of men since God made the world under a stronger responsibility to warn this generation, to lift up our voices long and loud, day and night as far as we have the opportunity and declare the words of God unto this generation. We are required to do this. This is our calling. It is our duty. It is our business. 13

I have waded swamps and swum rivers, and have asked my bread from door to door; and have devoted nearly fifty years to this work. And why? Was there gold enough in California to have hired me to do it? No, verily; and what I have done and what my brethren have done, we have done because we were commanded of God. And this is the position we occupy today. We have preached and labored at home and abroad, and we intend to continue our labors, by the help of God, as long as we can have liberty to do it. 14

I think, many times, that we, as elders of Israel and as Latter-day Saints, come far short of realizing our position before the Lord. The work required at our hands is great and mighty; it is the work of Almighty God. We are held responsible for presenting the gospel of Christ to all the nations of the earth. … We are held responsible for all this and for building temples to the Most High, wherein we can enter and attend to ordinances for the salvation of our dead. 15

And then, we are surrounded at home with many to whom it is our duty to preach, for it is just as necessary to preach at home as abroad. 16

We find great joy in helping others come unto Christ and progress toward exaltation.

You give unto any soul the principles of life and salvation and administer these ordinances to him, and you become an instrument in the hands of God in the salvation of that soul. There is nothing given to the children of men that is equal to it. …

… The Lord (said), “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 18:15.) … We have preached the Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, as far as the Lord has opened doors for us and we have had the privilege of going. Still the world to-day is full of people who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and while the Priesthood res

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