Plot to Waylay Wilford Woodruff and Party Foiled by the Spirit
Published March 25, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Contributed by
Todd Morgan
Beaumont, CA, 92223
During his missionary labors, Wilford Woodruff and his companions faced a dangerous plot against their lives. As Wilford documented: 'Plot to Waylay Elder and Party Foiled by the same Power.' Although the specific details of who sought to waylay them are not fully elaborated in this chapter heading, the account reveals that enemies had conspired to ambush and harm Wilford and those with him. However, through the divine power of the Holy Ghost, this evil plot was completely foiled and prevented from succeeding. The Saints were preserved in safety despite the murderous intentions of their enemies. This account became a testimony to Wilford that obedience to the Spirit and faith in God's protection would preserve the faithful even when surrounded by wickedness and violent opposition. It reinforced his teaching that divine power is always available to those who keep the commandments and seek God's guidance.
In Their Own Words
“I will here relate a circumstance which occurred while I was traveling in the ministry, which shows the protection of the Lord over His servants. I was traveling with Elder Jonathan H. Hale. We had been preaching in the town of Quincy, and had appointed a meeting in a school-house in the evening. We were informed that a mob had gathered to waylay us and do us violence. We did not know the truth of the report, but we felt impressed by the Spirit to take a different road than the one we had intended to travel. We accordingly took a path through the woods. We had not gone far before we heard the voices of men in the road we had intended to take. They were evidently waiting for us. We passed on in safety, and reached the place of our destination, while those who were lying in wait for us were disappointed. I have always felt to thank the Lord for this manifestation of His Spirit, for I have no doubt that if we had taken the road we first intended, we should have been severely handled by the mob.”
— Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal, Chapter 10
Sources & References
Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal (1882), Chapter XXVI Full first-person account: Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881), 65-66. https://archive.org/details/leavesfrommyjour00wood/page/65/mode/2up
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