Wilford Woodruff's Wife Sophina Restored to Life by Priesthood Power
Published March 25, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Contributed by
Todd Morgan
Beaumont, CA, 92223
During Wilford Woodruff's journey west to Zion, his wife Sophina fell gravely ill. As Wilford recorded: 'My and Child Stricken—A Trying Experience—My Wife Continues to Fail—Her Spirit Leaves her Body—Restored by the Power of God.' The illness was so severe that Sophina's condition deteriorated to the point where her spirit actually separated from her body. Wilford documented: 'Her Spirit Leaves her Body—Restored by the Power of God.' In this critical moment, the power of God intervened, and Sophina's spirit was restored to her body through divine power. Wilford's account includes the remarkable detail that 'Her Spirit's Experience while Separated from the Body' demonstrates the reality of the spirit world and divine power to restore life. This restoration through priesthood power saved both Sophina and preserved the family unity that was essential for Wilford's apostolic calling and future leadership in the Church.
In Their Own Words
“On the 23rd of November my wife, Phoebe, was attacked with a severe headache, which terminated in brain fever. She suffered much, and on the 27th she became speechless and apparently died. I felt that I could not give her up, and I prayed to the Lord to spare her life. I anointed her body with oil in the name of the Lord, and laid my hands upon her, and in the name of Jesus Christ I rebuked the power of death and the destroyer, and commanded the same to depart from her, and the spirit of life to enter her body. At the moment that decision was made the power of faith rested upon me, and when I administered unto her, her spirit entered her tabernacle, and she saw the messengers carry the coffin out at the door. She was restored to life and health. On the morning of the 6th of December, the Spirit said to me: “Arise, and continue thy journey!” and through the mercy of God my wife was enabled to arise and dress herself and walked to the wagon, and we went on our way rejoicing.”
— Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal (1882), Chapter XVII
Sources & References
Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal (1882), Chapter XVII Full first-person account: Wilford Woodruff, Leaves from My Journal (1882), Chapter XVII https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46028
Related Miracles
Similar miracle types and stories from the 1830s.
Miracle of the Week
One remarkable, documented account in your inbox every Monday, drawn from the full archive.