Phoebe (Phebe) Woodruff’s miraculous recovery from near-death illness
Published October 4, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
In early December 1838, while traveling west with Wilford Woodruff through Ohio, Phoebe (also recorded as Phebe) Woodruff became critically ill near Eaton, Preble County. On December 2, after they had been staying at an inn, Wilford moved her about two miles to a private room at the home of Mr. McKenzie. Phoebe felt she had only a “breath of life left” and, that evening, told Wilford she believed she was dying, expressed her faith in the gospel, and exhorted him and those present to trust in God and keep His commandments. On December 4, while Phoebe remained very feeble, Wilford felt the influence or power of the “destroyer”; he had felt it earlier while gathering supplies in Eaton. That evening Phoebe exercised faith for her recovery. She and Wilford repented, confessed their sins before God, and covenanted to keep His commandments; Wilford used consecrated oil in seeking healing. Phoebe recovered from the near-fatal illness.
In Their Own Words
“Dec 2nd. I moved my wife from the Inn to a private house at the property of a Mr. McKenzie. She was very feeble and low. She had but a breath of life left in her body. She called me to her bedside and said, 'I feel that I have but a breath of life left in my body, but I have great confidence in my faith. I want you to trust in God and keep his commandments.' She then seemed to be passing away. I felt the power of the destroyer resting upon me. Dec 4th. My wife was very feeble and low. She began to exercise faith for her recovery. We repented of our sins and confessed them before God and covenanted to keep his commandments. I had some oil that was consecrated for my anointing while in Kirtland. I again consecrated it before God for anointing the sick. I bowed myself down before the Lord and prayed with my companion and anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord. I laid my hands upon her in the name of Jesus Christ and rebuked the fever, the destroyer, the deadly malady that was preying upon her system, and thank God we both obtained a great blessing in so doing, and according to her faith her fever left her, and praised be the name of God, for we will ever keep his commandments and trust in him. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for all of his wonderful acts.”
— Wilford Woodruff, journal entry for December 2–4, 1838
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 8 September 1898 (Vol. 60, No. 36). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1898-09-08_60_36 Wilford Woodruff Papers, Journal (full first-person account; source citation as provided in record 0) The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 20 May 1865 (Vol. 27, No. 20). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1865-05-20_27_20 Additional sources (periodical research; source citation as provided in record 1)
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