The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff

Artwork credit: Vision of Wilford Woodruff, by Ken Corbett

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"Young people of our generation have been deprived of their birthright, which is to be conscious that they are the children of a high destiny in the line of great men who performed great deeds."

-Dean Belnap

There is much doubt today on the goodness of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Many have written books to tear down the heroes of the past including Christopher Columbus, George Washington and many more. The revisionist historians demean these good men, often without the use of primary sources. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are given more information on this subject, believing that is was through Divine help that the United States was founded. Latter-day Saints believe that God called regular men to do a mighty work. Without these men and the help of God, the United States would not exist today. It is not a coincidence that these men were in the perfect spot to make changes to the world, but it was by the all ruling hand of the Almighty that United States was born and exists today.

The United States is a most remarkable country. President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

"I marvel at the miracle of America, the land which the God of Heaven long ago declared to be a choice land. . . . God bless America for it is His creation."

The Prophet Wilford Woodruff recorded that the Signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared to him in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877. These men requested that their temple ordinance be done. Not only was Wilford Woodruff baptized for the Signers of the Declaration of Independence but also for "fifty other eminent men." President Woodruff noted that they were men of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, with two exceptions: Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci.

Wilford Woodruff said:

“I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, ‘You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.’ These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McCallister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them” (in Journal of Discourses, 19:228–29).

Since then, the temple work of those three presidents has been completed."

James Godson Bleak, who was with Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple recorded this:

"I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the appearance of the Spirits of the Signers….the spirits of the Presidents….and also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley….Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men… laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the people’s hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal journal of James Godson Bleak-Chief Recorder of the St. George Temple.)

David McCullough, a prominent historian, speaking of the Founding Fathers said:

"Lets stop the mindless destruction of historic America. . . In my experience, the more one learns of that founding generation of Americans- and I mean the real flesh and blood human beings, not the myths-the larger they become, the more one wonders what we've lost, or are in grave danger of losing."

Along side the men who appeared to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff there were prominent women baptized too. Wilford Woodruff wrote "Sister Lucy Bigelow Young went forth into the font and was baptized for Martha Washington and her family and seventy of the eminent women of the world."

In the book "The other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff" the author Vicki Jo Anderson wrote about each of the men who appeared to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple. While undertaking this great project, nerves overtook Vicki. Vicki decided to go speak with the Patriarch of her area, who had worked for the History Department of the Church under Joseph Fielding Smith she received a blessing from him saying:

"You will not look upon that which tears down, finds faults, criticizes. They [the eminent men and women] fulfilled their measure and calling upon earth. For that reason they were permitted after their death to come to Wilford Woodruff so rapidly and have their temple work done. It is the Lord who judges from the intent of the heart, not from popular opinions of the day. Nor should we judge by only a few facts. As you write and study the intents of the hearts of these men and women you will find that they were uniform. They came to Wilford Woodruff and reminded him that they laid the foundations of freedom. . .

It is this approach that must be taken in compiling this history, so that the children of men, the faithful, the righteous children of our Heavenly Father, may realize that they too have a premortal life, that they too have a calling. They have an assignment and it is for them to study and follow the feelings and promptings of the Spirit of righteousness. You will write about the good things, the fine things and their accomplishments."

From this blessing the author knew that her responsibility was different than other historians writing about the same people, her purpose was to seek out and record the good in the lives of these people. One of the most important things to remember is that these men and women desired the blessings of the Temple and the gospel in their post-mortal lives. That aspect alone can demonstrate to Latter-day Saints today, the hearts of these men and women.

Vicki also recognized the importance of teaching future generations about their personal impact on the world around them.

While speaking at Brigham Young University in 1979 President Ezra Taft Benson said:

"For nearly six thousand years, God had held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. . . God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. That is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.

In all ages prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. . . There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is for us."

The Founding Fathers appearing to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff was transformative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Latter-day Saints were not doing temple work for people not of their own family until this great vision-dream of Wilford Woodruff. This vision opened up the opportunity to do work for millions of people who have lived before. It is interesting to think about the impact of these people while they were living in this world and that they continued to influence this world even after they passed on. The work of these amazing people continues to influence and change the world today, giving all the knowledge that good things are possible.

Ezra Taft Benson said:

"The temple work for the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence and other founding fathers has been done. All these appeared to Wilford Woodruff when he was president of the St. George Temple. President George Washington was ordained a high priest at that time. You will also be interested to know that, according to Wilford Woodruff’s journal, John Wesley, Benjamin Franklin, and Christopher Columbus were also ordained high priests—by proxy, of course—at that time."

When one casts doubt about the character of these noble sons of God, I believe he or she will have to answer to the God of heaven for it. Yes, with Lincoln I say, “To add brightness to the sun or glory to the name of Washington is . . . impossible. Let none attempt it. In solemn awe pronounce the name, and in its naked deathless splendor leave it shining on.” That is the charge I would leave to people everywhere, faculty, students, others of this and every other university—leave Washington’s name “shining on.”

In closing his talk titled "God's Hand in our Nations History" given in 1977 Ezra Taft Benson said:

"I bear witness to you that America’s history was foreknown to God; that His divine intervention and merciful providence have given us both peace and prosperity in this beloved land; that through His omniscience and benevolent design, He selected and sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of our government. These men were inspired of God to do the work which they accomplished. They were not evil men. Their work was a prologue to the restoration of the gospel and the church of Jesus Christ. It was done in fulfillment of the ancient prophets who declared that this was a promised land, “a land of liberty unto the Gentiles,” and that is us."

I testify to all of you—young and old—that God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ have visited this land. They appeared in the state of New York to Joseph Smith, Jr. I testify that their appearance was a reality. Since that time the work of God has moved forward under the inspired leadership and prophetic direction of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and our prophet today, Spencer W. Kimball. This is the kingdom which Daniel of old saw in vision—a kingdom “which shall never be destroyed: and . . . shall not be left to other people” (Daniel 2:44). This Church and kingdom is on course in fulfilling its prophetic destiny.

John F. Kennedy said:

"I can assure you that we love our country, not for what it was, though it has always been great-not for what it is, though of this we are deeply proud-but for what it someday can and through the efforts of all some day will be."

The Founding Fathers of the United States were the best men available to help this land at that time. They set a beautiful framework for our nations, freedoms that we enjoy today. Without the efforts of these men and women, we would not have the country we have today. Many believe our country is doomed, and a tragic story, but it is us who make the difference in this world and this country. Our kindness, goodness and love is what makes our communities great. The Lord has taught us that we make the difference, and has given us people to look up to, knowing that goodness is possible.

The names of the men Wilford Woodruff did the Temple work:

Founding Fathers: William Hooper(NC), Joseph Hewes (NC), John Penn(NC), Button Gwinnett(GA), Lyman Hall(GA), George Walton(GA), Edward Rutledge(SC), Thomas Heyward Jr.(SC), Thomas Lynch(SC), Arthur Middleton(SC), Samuel Chase(MD), William Paca(MD), Thomas Stone(MD), Charles Carrol(MD), George Wythe(VA), Richard Henty Lee(VA), Thomas Jefferson(VA), Benjamin Harrison(VA), Thomas Nelson Jr.(VA), Francis Lightfoot Lee(VA), Carter Braxton(VA), Robert Morris (PA), Benjamin Rush(PA), Benjamin Franklin(PA), John Morton(PA), George Clymer(PA), James Smith(PA), George Taylor(PA), James Wilson(PA), George Ross(PA), Caeser Rodney(DE), George Read(DE), Thomas McKean(DE), Philip Livingston(NY), Francis Lewis(NY), Lewis Morris(NY), Richard Stockton (NJ), John Witherspoon(NJ), Francis Hopkinson(NJ), John Hart(NJ), Abraham Clark(NJ), Josiah Bartlett(NH), William Whipple(NH), Matthew Thornton(NH), Samuel Adams(MA), John Adams(MA), Robert Treat Paine(MA), Elbridge Gerty(MA), Stephen Hopkins(RI), William Ellery(RI), Roger Sherman(CN), Samuel Huntington(CN), William Williams(CN), and Oliver Wolcott(CN).

Presidents of the United States: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson.

Note: Temple work was not done for James Buchanan, Martin Van Buren, or Ulysses S. Grant.

Other eminent men baptized by Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Utah Temple in August 1877 include: Sir Edward Gibbon, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Oliver Goldsmith, Henry Grattan, Humboldt, Alexander von Irving, Washington Jackson, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Johnson, Samuel Ju~rez, Benito Pablo Kemble, John Philip Liebig, Baron Justus von Livingstone, David Macaulay, Thomas Babington Nelson, Lord Horatio O’Connell, Daniel Peabody, George Powers, Hiram Reynolds, Sir Joshua Schiller, Johann Christoph Friedrich von Scott, Sir Walter Seward, William Henry Stephenson, George Thackeray, William Makepeace, Vespucci, Amerigo Webster, Daniel Wesley, John Wordsworth, William Parepa, Count Dimitrius, Martha Washington and her family, John Washington(Great Grandfather of George Washington), Sir Henry Washington, Lawrence Washington (Brother of George Washington), Augustine Washington (Father of George Washington), Lawrence Washington (Father of Augustine), Lawrence Washington, Daniel Park Custis, John Park Custis (Son of Daniel and Martha Parke Custis), and Martin Luther.

Eminent Women baptized include: Jean Armour (1767—1834) of Scotland, Jean Armour Burns (Wife of Robert Burns) (1759—1796), Jane Austen (1775—1817) of England, novelist, Mary Ball (1708—1789) of America, Mary Ball Washington (Mother of George Washington) (1732—1799), Sarah Bernard (1800—1879) of England, Sarah Barnard Faraday (wife of Michael Faraday (1791—1867), Charlotte Bronte (1816—1855) of England, novelist, Felicia Dorothea Browne (1793—1835) of England, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806—1861) of England, poet, (wife of Robert Browning) (1812—18?), Martha Caldwell Calhoun (d. 1802) of America (       mother of John Caldwell Calhoun) (1782—1850), Martha Parke Custis (1755—1773) of America (Daughter of Martha Washington) (1732—1802), Martha Dandridge Washington (1732—1802) of America (wife of George Washington) (1732—1799),  Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767—1828) of America (wife of Andrew Jackson (1767—1845), and Abigail Eastman Webster (1737—1816) of America (mother of Daniel Webster (1782—1852), to name but a few. Temple work was performed for a total of 70 eminent women.

References:

"Americas Destiny, choosing God's will or Ours, a historical and Latter-day Saint Perspective " by Tad R. Callister p3,

"The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff" by Anderson p 3-4

"God's Hand in our Nations History" by Ezra Taft Benson March 28, 1977

https://historyofmormonism.com/2015/05/25/wilford-woodruff-founding-fathers