Remembering Lorin C. Woolley
Posted: September 19th, 2022, 1:09 pm
It was the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II today. I am, as you know, from the UK, and the knowledge of this fact is inescapable for me. The news of it is everywhere, and it will of course be on my mind.
But there is also another who I will be thinking of today.
His name is Lorin Calvin Woolley.
Lorin was born on 23 October 1856 in Salt Lake City, to John W. Woolley, another faithful man of great renown.
He lived and worked on the farm, and was a brilliant horse rider.
He was ordained an Elder at age sixteen.
He spent his Sundays endlessly speaking about Mormonism. He had a love for the truth.
He worked as a bodyguard for John Taylor during the underground days, and delivered correspondence for those in hiding from the wicked persecutors of the true disciples of Jesus Christ.
His house was a frequent destination for those in the underground circle, as was his father’s.
It was at the house of his father that the foundation was laid for a Mormon movement committed to perpetuating all of the principles of the Fullness of the Gospel.
On 26 September 1886, President John Taylor was encouraged to ask the Lord whether Celestial Plural Marriage was to be continued as a practise or not, as he was under intense pressure to abandon it.
That night, Lorin stood guard for President Taylor who retired to a bedroom. Lorin was very tired due to him just completing a three-day trip, but faithfully carried out his duties (a characteristic which defined his very life).
As he stood watch, he noticed a light emerge from under the door, and heard voices ring in the room. Startled, he arose to take action, but the Spirit of God assured him that all was right. This satisfied his worried soul.
The next morning, John Taylor emerged from his room, and told all those present the news: Celestial Plural Marriage was not to be abandoned! It must be kept alive—God cannot revoke an everlasting covenant. He had been visited by the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Lord Jesus Christ, who informed him of this fact.
President Taylor sat those present down and spoke for eight hours, expounding upon the Principle of Celestial Plural Marriage. He told them that he would rather have his limbs cut off than assent to the abandonment of that precious Principle!
In the wake of this exciting happening, the President set apart five men who were to perpetuate this Principle regardless of any circumstances—this sacred law simply had to be preserved.
Many in the Church were aware of this fact, although it was kept quiet for a time to protect those set apart unto this duty, especially after this Principle had been publicly abandoned. One Mission President wrote to the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“President Taylor died in exile for this principle and he gave men authority to perform the ceremony of marriage which authority I have been told was never revoked . . .” (Letter to Francis M. Lyman, 10 October 1906, as quoted in D. Michael Quinn, Extensions of Power, pg. 809)
Lorin was one of these faithful, elect men. He was faithful to his covenant, and lived the law himself. Thanks to Lorin, there are many today who have received their commission unto the same end, down a line which can be traced back to President John Taylor.
He was transported by the Spirit to the Yucatan to preach the Fullness of the Gospel to a group of Indians and to give them the Fullness of the Priesthood.
He died 88 years ago today, on 19 September 1934.
Lorin’s exploits for the Fullness of the Gospel can’t, and won’t, be forgotten by those who love the truth.
Simply put, Lorin Woolley was utterly brilliant. Thank God for men like Brother Woolley!
But there is also another who I will be thinking of today.
His name is Lorin Calvin Woolley.
Lorin was born on 23 October 1856 in Salt Lake City, to John W. Woolley, another faithful man of great renown.
He lived and worked on the farm, and was a brilliant horse rider.
He was ordained an Elder at age sixteen.
He spent his Sundays endlessly speaking about Mormonism. He had a love for the truth.
He worked as a bodyguard for John Taylor during the underground days, and delivered correspondence for those in hiding from the wicked persecutors of the true disciples of Jesus Christ.
His house was a frequent destination for those in the underground circle, as was his father’s.
It was at the house of his father that the foundation was laid for a Mormon movement committed to perpetuating all of the principles of the Fullness of the Gospel.
On 26 September 1886, President John Taylor was encouraged to ask the Lord whether Celestial Plural Marriage was to be continued as a practise or not, as he was under intense pressure to abandon it.
That night, Lorin stood guard for President Taylor who retired to a bedroom. Lorin was very tired due to him just completing a three-day trip, but faithfully carried out his duties (a characteristic which defined his very life).
As he stood watch, he noticed a light emerge from under the door, and heard voices ring in the room. Startled, he arose to take action, but the Spirit of God assured him that all was right. This satisfied his worried soul.
The next morning, John Taylor emerged from his room, and told all those present the news: Celestial Plural Marriage was not to be abandoned! It must be kept alive—God cannot revoke an everlasting covenant. He had been visited by the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Lord Jesus Christ, who informed him of this fact.
President Taylor sat those present down and spoke for eight hours, expounding upon the Principle of Celestial Plural Marriage. He told them that he would rather have his limbs cut off than assent to the abandonment of that precious Principle!
In the wake of this exciting happening, the President set apart five men who were to perpetuate this Principle regardless of any circumstances—this sacred law simply had to be preserved.
Many in the Church were aware of this fact, although it was kept quiet for a time to protect those set apart unto this duty, especially after this Principle had been publicly abandoned. One Mission President wrote to the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“President Taylor died in exile for this principle and he gave men authority to perform the ceremony of marriage which authority I have been told was never revoked . . .” (Letter to Francis M. Lyman, 10 October 1906, as quoted in D. Michael Quinn, Extensions of Power, pg. 809)
Lorin was one of these faithful, elect men. He was faithful to his covenant, and lived the law himself. Thanks to Lorin, there are many today who have received their commission unto the same end, down a line which can be traced back to President John Taylor.
He was transported by the Spirit to the Yucatan to preach the Fullness of the Gospel to a group of Indians and to give them the Fullness of the Priesthood.
He died 88 years ago today, on 19 September 1934.
Lorin’s exploits for the Fullness of the Gospel can’t, and won’t, be forgotten by those who love the truth.
Simply put, Lorin Woolley was utterly brilliant. Thank God for men like Brother Woolley!