Discourse 1898-07-25
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF.—"Judge For Yourselves Whether the Wis-
dom of This Declaration Has Been Fulfilled."
PRESIDENT WOODRUFF'S RE-
MARKS.
In presenting President Wilford
Woodruff, Mayor Clark remarked that
the honored guest, the most prominent
of the living Pioneers, needed no intro-
duction. As the venerable president,
now in his 92nd year, with the same
strength and vigor apparently that
characterized him a quarter of a
century ago, approached the front of
the platform, he was greeted with
cheers from the throng of people be-
fore him.
In an interesting reminiscent way
President Woodruff told of his entrance
into this valley 51 years ago Sunday in
company with the late President
Brigham Young. At 11 o'clock in the
forenoon of that eventful day they
reached the spot on which now stands
the Knutsford hotel. President Wood-
ruff had brought from beyond the
Missouri river a few potatoes for
planting. He vowed that before he
would stop to eat or drink on that
Pioneer day he would plant the pota-
toes. The hard ground was plowed up
and all the potatoes were planted for a
future supply of food, just as he had
vowed.
President Woodruff then related how
on Monday morning of July 25, 1847,
President Young, himself and others
had gone to the site of the temple,
where the departed leader announced,
"Here we will build the temple of our
God." In the afternoon of that day
they took a drive across the valley to
the point of the moutain, thinking the
distance was only about five miles,
when in reality it was three times
longer. Presidents Young and Wood-
ruff were the first to take a bath in the
briny lake at Black Rock. Probably no
other persons but Indians had ever
preceded them. A negro was along with
the Pioneer party, and after emerging
from his bath it was noticed that he
had become almost white because of
the salt water crystalizing on his dark
skin. This was considered almost a
miracle.
Shortly after settling here a company
of Mormons arrived from California,
having come around Cape Horn by
sailing vessel from the eastern states.
The Pioneers were urged to return to
California with the new arrivals, who
pointed out that there was everything
to be desired there, but nothing invit-
ing in Utah. President Young re-
plied: "No, we will stay here, and
here we will build our temples, our
cities and our commonwealth."
BUILDED BETTER THAN THEY
KNEW.
"Judge for yourselves," said President
Woodruff, "whether the wisdom of that
declaration has been fulfilled. God
hath wrought wonders. What of our
schools, our temples, and our churches?
They speak for themselves. In popula-
tion we will continue to multiply by
the same ratio that has marked our
progress since the advent of the first
company of 143 souls. It was fore-
ordained by God that it should so come
to pass."
"I feel in duty bound," said Presi-
dent Woodruff, "to give due credit to
Brigham Young for having, as he did,
laid the foundations here for our city
and our state. He was inspired by
God. I, with others, assisted in laying
out Salt Lake City on the grand, broad
scale you now see. In building our
temples we have moved mountains.
God directed all that we have done.
Let us live our religion, honor God and
pursue a course for the remaining days
of our lives that will be justifiable be-
fore him. If we continue to do so he
will ever bless and prosper the people
who have shared in our blessings re-
ceived from him."
