President Wilford Woodruff's Revelation Regarding Temple Benefit

President Wilford Woodruff, while struggling to perform extensive genealogy work for his ancestors in the St. George Temple, took the matter to the Lord in prayer. He received a revelation confirming that he was justified in accepting the assistance of his friends for this work. This revelation was confirmed by President Brigham Young, and subsequently, on March 2nd, 1877, the workers performed this 'Temple benefit' for him, marking the first time such a service was provided for a living person's ancestors in the dispensation.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 9 no. 10 (October 1898), page 445):

With solemn prayer, he went before the Lord in the newly dedicated Temple of which he was the president and laid the whole matter on the altar. His prayer was answered. He was told that he would be justified in accepting the help and service of all his friends, and that their work in his behalf would be accepted of the Lord. This revelation was received by President Brigham Young as correct doctrine, and accordingly on Brother Woodruff’s birthday, March 2nd, 1877, all the workers and many others celebrated the day by giving to the beloved President of the Temple the first “Temple benefit” ever given on earth, so far as we know. The workers were divided into companies, and each company took a portion of the names, and in this way the work was performed for a large number of his kindred dead. It was a day of great rejoicing, and the spirit of the Lord was poured out in rich abundance upon all who participated in this labor of love.

In his personal journal, Woodruff records that on March 1, 1877—his 70th birthday—154 sisters ranging in age from fourteen to elderly, including wives and daughters of Brigham Young, gathered to perform endowments for 130 of his deceased wives and 24 other near relatives. Woodruff notes he provided a white doe-skin temple dress for the occasion and delivered an address, after which he, J.D.T. McAllister, and L. John Nuttall assisted the sisters through the veils. Following the temple labor, Woodruff was surprised at a gathering in the St. George Hall, where a birthday cake adorned with satin sheets inscribed with poetry was presented to him.