While at Winter Quarters en route to the Salt Lake Valley in 1846, the Quorum of the Twelve discussed Willard Richards and his office as Church Historian, said Benjamin Park in his Church History Symposium presentation.

"Richards was under the impression his role as historian should take precedence over his other duties, even during the difficult and complex migration west," said Brother Park, a research assistant at BYU who will pursue a master's degree at the University of Edinburgh.

"Other, more practical, leaders felt Richards' historical tasks should be put on hiatus until the entire Church was safely settled in the new western Zion."

In the midst of the debate, he said, Elder Wilford Woodruff, a member of the quorum for seven years who was known for his own diligent journal keeping, gave a passionate defense of the duty of historian, said Brother Park, who quoted this passage from Journal History of the Church:

"Elder Woodruff said the subject alluded to by Richards was of benefit to the whole Church and Kingdom of God. When he heard Joseph Smith preach, he could not rest unto he wrote it. Woodruff felt we were living in the most important era of the world, and the people ought to keep a strict eye upon the historian. He felt deeply interested in the books out of which he was to be judged. He rejoiced that the Church had a ready writer and said he felt Richards should go to work and save the Church history."

Brother Park then commented: "Little did Woodruff know that in less than a decade he would be called as a historian himself." That happened at April general conference of 1856. Elder Woodruff would serve either as Assistant Church Historian or as Church Historian himself for more than three decades.

"While most often known for his comprehensive journals that he kept from 1834 until shortly before his death, Woodruff also contributed much to the history of the Latter-day Saints through his activities in these positions," Brother Park said.

Brother Park's presentation explored President Woodruff's desire to keep such diligent records and how his experience as a journal keeper helped prepare him for his roles in the Church Historian's Office. It also examined two of the earliest historical projects Elder Woodruff took part in: the history of Joseph Smith and short biographies of each member of the Twelve.

"No 19th century set of journals are more important to the preservation of the history of the LDS Church than Wilford Woodruff's," Brother Park said.

"Indeed, these volumes document many of the most important events in early Mormon history, including the march of Zion's Camp, the Pentecostal experiences during the months following the Kirtland Temple dedication, and numerous sermons of Church leaders, just to give a few examples."

rscott@desnews.com