Lifespan

Born April 3, 1814 in Mantua, Ohio.

Died October 10, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Lorenzo Snow performed missionary service in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Great Britain before the age of 30. At age 34 he was ordained an Apostle by Heber C. Kimball. In his 30s, he served a mission to Italy, England, Switzerland, and Malta. At 50 he served in the Hawaiian Islands. From ages 59-63 he served in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and at 71 served a mission to the Indians of the northwestern United States. At age 84, in 1898, he was sustained as President of the Church, and died at age 87.

Preparation and Calling

Lorenzo Snow’s extensive missionary service taught him humility and spiritual acuity. He knew and was taught by every latter-day prophet prior to his calling.

Interaction with God

President Snow is one of the few latter-day prophets who spoke of having seen the Savior Jesus Christ personally in the Salt Lake Temple, where the Lord told him not to wait to reorganize the First Presidency following President Woodruff’s passing. Rather, he should proceed immediately with the reorganization. He is also well known for the revelation he received in 1899 to reinstate the law of tithing in the Church.

Social Situation

The federal government’s persecution of the Church because of plural marriage had led to serious financial troubles. This was the situation facing the Church during President Snow’s administration. Following much consideration and prayer, while speaking at a general conference in St. George, Utah, President Snow paused for several minutes, then announced to the congregation that he had just had a revelation concerning the law of tithing as the means for resolving this challenging problem.

Key Teachings

President Snow is perhaps best known for reinstituting the law of tithing and for continually expanding the missionary work of the Church, opening missions in Mexico, New Zealand, Japan, and Germany during his adminstration.

Lifespan

Born March 1, 1807 in Avon (Farmington), Connecticut.

Died September 2, 1898 in San Francisco, California.

Ministry

Wilford Woodruff was baptized in an icy stream in New York at the age of 26. He served missions to the southern United States, the eastern United States (twice) and the Fox Islands, Great Britain, and Europe in general. He was ordained an Apostle at age 32 by Brigham Young. At age 80, he led the Church as President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and in 1889 was ordained President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 82. He died at age 91.

Preparation and Calling

Wilford Woodruff served proselyting missions in the southern and eastern United States and in Great Britain. He was mission president over all of Europe. He may have been one of the most successful missionaries in terms of number of converts that the Church has ever had. He led the Church for two years as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before being ordained as its President.

Interaction with God

President Woodruff was dedicated to saving God’s children, both through missionary work and through the saving ordinances of the temple. He was sensitive to the Spirit and received several visions during his time as prophet. However, he was said: “I have been blessed at times with certain gifts and graces, certain revelations and ministrations; but with them I have never found anything that I could place more dependency upon than the still small voice of the Holy Ghost” (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, 45).

Social Situation

Government and social persecution of the Church over the doctrine of plural marriage was the Church’s greatest challenge. After pleading with God for guidance on how to lead the faithful members concerning this persecution, President Woodruff was shown in vision what would happen to the Church if plural marriage was not ended-the federal government would confiscate Church property, including the temples, and bring to end the important ordinances that the Church taught was essential to salvation. That very evening, President Woodruff wrote the inspired document that became known as the Manifesto, which ended plural marriage in the Church.

Key Teachings

Wilford Woodruff was best known for two principle things: a document known as the Manifesto that ended plural marriage for members of the Church, and a dedication to temple and family history work (including dedicating the Manti and Salt Lake Temples).