4th President
Served: 1887–1898
Born 1 March 1807, and raised in Connecticut, Wilford Woodruff was a miller by trade. He joined the Church in 1833 and served two missions before being ordained an apostle in 1839. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, he completed four additional missions, presided over the temple in St. George, Utah, and served six years as Church Historian.
Wilford Woodruff was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 7 April 1889. During his administration, he dedicated temples in Salt Lake City and Manti, Utah, oversaw the organization of a genealogical society and reemphasized the value of historical record keeping. In 1890, after much pondering and prayer, President Woodruff received a revelation that the Latter-day Saints should cease the practice of polygamy. He died in San Francisco on 2 September 1898.