Wilford Woodruff's Prophetic Dream of Baptizing Ozem Woodruff

In July 1837, Wilford Woodruff returned to his childhood home of Avon, Connecticut, to visit family and share the gospel. On July 9, he visited his Uncle Ozem Woodruff and later preached at the Lovely Street Schoolhouse to a congregation of relatives and neighbors. Following a subsequent sermon on July 11 regarding the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, he found that the prejudice of his audience had been broken down. Three individuals—Ozem Woodruff, his wife Hannah Woodruff, and their son John Woodruff—offered themselves for baptism. On July 12, 1837, Wilford Woodruff baptized them, an act that brought him profound joy and consolation. Woodruff noted that this event marked the fulfillment of a dream or vision he had experienced in Avon when he was approximately ten years old.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I preached... upon the Authenticity of the Book of mormon their prejudice was broaken down they gave good attention & three offered themselves for Babtism I suppose I must tell you who they were viz Ozem Woodruff. Hannah Woodruff & John Woodruff their Son I repaired to the water & baptized them with great joy & consolation to my soul (thus ends that dream or vision which I had in Avon when about ten years of age).