Dream of Brigham Young and Temple Keys

Wilford Woodruff frequently recounted a dream he had in approximately 1844, shortly after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. In this dream, President Woodruff saw Brigham Young in a setting that suggested the completion of the temple work. President Young handed him the keys to a temple and indicated that it was the responsibility of President Woodruff to dedicate it. For decades, this dream remained a significant milestone in his anticipation of the work ahead. Upon the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893, President Woodruff recognized the fulfillment of this long-held vision. He expressed that the dedication process was not merely a modern administrative task but the culmination of a sacred charge given to him through a prophetic dream many years prior, connecting his early ministry in the Church to his final responsibilities as President of the Church.