This painting took five thousand hours to complete.
It was an amazing journey to do this painting, Wilford Woodruff is one of my great heros
I have recently updated the key map which you see below of the 110 men and 68 woman who's temple work was completed by President Wilford Woodruff and others.
Malachi’s Prophecy:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers ... Malachi 4:5-6
Joseph Smith translated the word Turn to Bind or Seal (History of the Church, 6:183-84)
There is one place on earth where the sealing of families together for time and all eternity is accomplished.
That place is a temple (House of the Lord) specifically built and dedicated for that purpose. President Wilford Woodruff
“I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, ‘You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.’ These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights.
I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them.”(Journal of Discourses, 19:228–29).
James G.Bleak Temple Recorder
“I was also present in the St. George Temple and witnessed the
appearance of the spirits of the Signers...The spirits of the Presidents...And also others, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley...Who came to Wilford Woodruff and demanded that their baptism and endowments be done. Wilford Woodruff was baptized for all of them. While I and Brothers J.D.T. McAllister and David H Cannon (who were witnesses to the request) were endowed for them. These men...laid the foundation of this American Gov., and signed the Declaration of Independence and were the best spirits the God of Heaven could find on the face of the earth to perform this work. Martin Luther and John Wesley helped to release the people from religious bondage that held them during the dark ages. They also prepared the peoples hearts so they would be ready to receive the restored gospel when the Lord sent it again to men on the earth.” (Personal Journal of James Godson Bleak)
The Eminent Women in the Painting
Between Aug. 21- 23 the temple work was completed not only for the Founding Fathers and Eminent Men but for Eminent Women, as well. While working on the painting depicting this sacred event, the artist felt impressed to include these noble women of faith, who had given and sacrificed so much.
As of this printing we have not yet found the record of the actual
appearance of these women. However, the Saint George Temple records do show that the work was done in their behalf at the same time period. It is generally felt that if husbands and fellow peers were there, they also likely were present, even if not seen.
Michael Bedard
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