Willford Woodruff - "...the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them."
The Hope of the World
Saint George Temple August 21-23 1877
Wilford Woodruff ‘s Vision
“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 Mcallister 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.”
“It is our duty to rise up and build these Temples. I look upon this portion of our ministry as a mission of as much importance as preaching to the living; the dead will hear the voice of the servants of God in the spirit-world, and they cannot come forth in the morning of the resurrection, unless certain ordinances are performed, for and in their behalf, in Temples built to the name of God. It takes just as much to save a dead man as a living man. . . .
The original “Hope of The World” is a seven by ten foot painting. It was
commissioned and created to honor the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth in these latter days in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and to
remember our Founding Fathers and other eminent men and women whose lives truly made the world a better place. These Patriots, Philosophers, Presidents, Authors, Scientists,
Explorers, Peace Keepers. Religious Leaders, and Medical Practitioners were great men and women. Let us add our good part and make the world a better place too.
Each portrait is an accurate rendition based on paintings, drawings and written
description, and in some cases photographs. The clothing has been researched for the period as well. It was a great journey for me. Something that I will forever be grateful for.
Artist: Michael Bedard
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