Abraham O. Woodruff
Encyclopedia
Abraham Owen Woodruff born in Salt Lake City
, Utah Territory
, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was also the son of LDS Church president Wilford Woodruff
. He was ordained an apostle at the young age of 23, but served less than 8 years due to his death.
Woodruff was born November 23, 1872 to Wilford Woodruff
and Emma Smith Woodruff just south of Salt Lake City in a log house built by his father. He attended Latter-day Saints' College after he graduated from high school. Upon completion of his studies, he became employed in a bank at the age of 18. In 1893, at 21 years of age, he was called to the Swiss-German Mission, despite his father's poor health that year. While on his mission, he had to endure persecution of the missionaries and Latter-day Saints that lived in Germany
. In order to preach and meet, he would dress and act like a common worker in the cities, and preach in secret in private homes at night. He was released after three years of service in 1896.
After his mission, Woodruff returned to work at the bank. On June 30, 1896, he married Helen May Winters. That October, in General Conference
, he was called by his father as an Apostle at the very young age of 23. He was ordained by his father on October 7, 1896. He served as the other apostles, in helping to establish settlements and organize stakes and the church throughout the area. He developed a close and very personal relationship with his father during this time as well.
Woodruff took a second wife, Eliza Avery Clark, on November 1, 1900, thus practicing plural marriage
10 years after the 1890 Manifesto
. It is not known who sealed the marriage or where it was performed. It is possible that the marriage was performed outside of the United States
. He had one child with his second wife.
In May 1904, Woodruff was called to visit the settlements of the Latter-day Saints in Mexico
with his family. There, his wife, Helen Woodruff, contracted smallpox
. She died on June 7, 1904 from that disease, with her husband patiently and faithfully waiting by her side. He contracted the disease himself, and died on June 20, 1904 in El Paso, Texas
, at the young age of 31, after serving as an apostle for less than 8 years. Woodruff was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was also the son of LDS Church president Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
. He was ordained an apostle at the young age of 23, but served less than 8 years due to his death.
Woodruff was born November 23, 1872 to Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff
Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...
and Emma Smith Woodruff just south of Salt Lake City in a log house built by his father. He attended Latter-day Saints' College after he graduated from high school. Upon completion of his studies, he became employed in a bank at the age of 18. In 1893, at 21 years of age, he was called to the Swiss-German Mission, despite his father's poor health that year. While on his mission, he had to endure persecution of the missionaries and Latter-day Saints that lived in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In order to preach and meet, he would dress and act like a common worker in the cities, and preach in secret in private homes at night. He was released after three years of service in 1896.
After his mission, Woodruff returned to work at the bank. On June 30, 1896, he married Helen May Winters. That October, in General Conference
General conference (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....
, he was called by his father as an Apostle at the very young age of 23. He was ordained by his father on October 7, 1896. He served as the other apostles, in helping to establish settlements and organize stakes and the church throughout the area. He developed a close and very personal relationship with his father during this time as well.
Woodruff took a second wife, Eliza Avery Clark, on November 1, 1900, thus practicing plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
10 years after the 1890 Manifesto
1890 Manifesto
The "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially disavowed the continuing practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. It is not known who sealed the marriage or where it was performed. It is possible that the marriage was performed outside of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He had one child with his second wife.
In May 1904, Woodruff was called to visit the settlements of the Latter-day Saints in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with his family. There, his wife, Helen Woodruff, contracted smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. She died on June 7, 1904 from that disease, with her husband patiently and faithfully waiting by her side. He contracted the disease himself, and died on June 20, 1904 in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, at the young age of 31, after serving as an apostle for less than 8 years. Woodruff was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
.