George Temple shortly after its dedication in 1877. According Woodruff, on two successive August nights the signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared to him in the spirit demanded to know why no work had been performed for them in the Endowment House or the newly completed St. George Temple. Woodruff recounted that they stated, "You Visions of Freedom will bring readers face to face with the signers of the Declaration of Independence, where they can look at the lives of the eminent men and remember not just the things they achieved in life but also their final request for true freedom as they came to a sleeping Apostle in a white temple among red rocks. Wilford Woodruff also recorded a list of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other “eminent men” for whom he initiated temple ordinance work in his journal on August 21, 1877. 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. Signers of the Declaration of Independence Download this Information in PDF Format In 1877, among the red rocks of Southern Utah, the signers of the Declaration of Independence twice visited a sleeping Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wilford Woodruff recounted these vivid visions a number of times during his life—because they were more than forgettable dreams. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McCallister [sic] to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all On August 21, 1877 Wilford Woodruff was baptized in the temple for over 100 people, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote, “I, Wilford Woodruff, went to the temple of the Lord this morning and was Baptized for 100 persons who were dead, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence. When Brother McAllister had baptized me for the 100 names, I Baptized Just after the temple was dedicated in 1877, apostle and temple president Wilford Woodruff had a dream on two successive nights. The signers of the Declaration of Independence said to Woodruff, You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. (Journal of Discourses, Vol.19, pp. 229-31; September 16, 1877) Brian H. Stuy With the EXCEPTION of Joseph Smith's visions, few are better known than those received by Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Temple shortly after its dedication in 1877. According Woodruff, on two successive August nights the signers of the Declaration of Independence appeared to him in the spirit He added the names of 54 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 of the first 15 presidents of the United States, and members of George Washington’s extended family to those he had gathered from Duyckinck’s books. In 1877, among the red rocks of Southern Utah, the signers of the Declaration of Independence twice visited a sleeping Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wilford Woodruff recounted these vivid visions a number of times during his lifetime because they were more than forgettable dreams. "I spent the Evening in preparing a list of the Noted Men of the 17 Century and 18th including the signers of the declaration of Independence and the Presidents of the United States for Baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877." 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 He recorded in his journal that the signers of the Declaration of Independence, along with General George Washington, appeared to him in the temple on two consecutive nights and said: You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. ” These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. . . . 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 Wilford Woodruff stated the following at the fall general conference in 1877: “Two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem themThese were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights” Visions of Freedom: Wilford Woodruff and the Signers of the Declaration of Independence is by former Deseret News journalist Michael De Groote and photo historian Ronald L. Fox. The appearance of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence to Wilford Woodruff changed not only his view of temple work, but also became a powerful example of the universal nature of temple work.
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