Jabez Woodard's prophecy regarding the missionary work in Italy
Published October 4, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
In the autumn of 1850, Elder Lorenzo Snow, accompanied by Jabez Woodard and Thomas Brown Holmes Stenhouse, conducted missionary work among the Waldensians in the Piedmont region of Italy. Seeking divine direction for their efforts, the three men frequently withdrew to a mountain near Torre Pellice to fast and pray. Elder Snow designated this site as 'Mount Brigham' and specifically named the rocky eminence upon which they stood the 'Rock of Prophecy.' On 19 September 1850, while dedicating Italy for the preaching of the gospel, Jabez Woodard prophesied that the work of God would eventually spread from that location to other nations of the earth. Later, on 24 November 1850, while again on the mountain, Elder Snow ordained Elder Stenhouse a high priest and prayed that a way would open for him to carry the gospel into Switzerland. These prayers were soon realized, as Elder Stenhouse began his mission in Switzerland shortly thereafter, and Elder Snow eventually crossed the Alps himself in early 1851 to further the work in Geneva, prophesying good for the nation. The companions continued to look back upon the mountain as a sacred site of spiritual foundation for their European mission.
Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):
On the 19th of September, we ascended a high mountain, which we named Mount Brigham. On its summit, we bowed before the Lord, and dedicated this land to Him, and prayed that He would open a door for the preaching of the Gospel. We felt that the time had come for the work to commence in this nation. Brother Woodard, while engaged in prayer, was filled with the spirit of prophecy, and declared that the work of God would spread from this place to other nations of the earth. We felt that our prayers were heard, and that the Lord would open the way for the accomplishment of His purposes. On the 24th of November, we again ascended the mountain, and I ordained Elder Stenhouse a High Priest, and prayed that the Lord would open a way for him to carry the Gospel into Switzerland. The Lord heard our prayers, and the way was opened in a remarkable manner.
In Their Own Words
“We united in prayer and thanksgiving, and our hearts swelled with gratitude for what the Lord had wrought since the day when Elder Snow first stood upon that rocky eminence and prophesied of the work which we now see accomplishing in the midst of this despotic and doubly-priest-ridden land. — Millennial Star 15:8”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 19 February 1853 (Vol. 15, No. 8). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1853-02-19_15_8 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): Lorenzo Snow and Jabez Woodard, The Italian Mission (London: W. Aubrey, 1851). https://archive.org/details/italianmission02snow '175 Years Since Lorenzo Snow’s Historic Ascent of Monte Castlùs,' The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newsroom, 12 December 2025. https://news-europe.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/175-years-since-lorenzo-snow-s-historic-ascent-of-monte-castlus-and-the-beginning-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-in-switzerland Fuller account: Lorenzo Snow, The Italian Mission (London: W. Aubrey, 1851), 12-13. https://archive.org/details/italianmission02snow
Every published account is vetted against its sources — read our editorial standards.
Filed under
Related Miracles
Similar miracle types and stories from the 1850s.
Questions about this account
Who was involved in this account?
When did this account take place?
Where did this account take place?
What kind of miracle is this?
Where does this account come from?
Miracle of the Week
One remarkable, documented account in your inbox every Monday, drawn from the full archive.