Dwight L. Moody

Date of Birth: February 5, 1837

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 22, 1899

Biography

Dwight Lyman Moody, commonly known as D. L. Moody, was an influential American evangelist and publisher connected with the Holiness Movement. He was born on February 5, 1837, in Northfield, Massachusetts, and passed away on December 22, 1899. Moody’s impact on the religious landscape of America and beyond is profound, having founded several institutions that continue to operate to this day. Moody’s early life was marked by hardship; he was one of nine children raised by their mother after his father’s death. At the age of 17, he moved to Boston to work in his uncle’s shoe store where he experienced a religious conversion that would set the course of his life. Moving to Chicago, he established a successful business career, but he soon felt called to religious work. In 1858, Moody started a Sunday school which grew rapidly. During the Civil War, he worked with the United States Christian Commission, ministering to Union soldiers. Following the war, he dedicated himself entirely to evangelism, traveling extensively in the United States and Europe. He was known for his plain-speaking and direct manner, which resonated with a wide audience. Moody’s legacy includes the founding of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in 1886, which remains a leading evangelical institution. He also established the Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies and the Mount Hermon School for Boys in his hometown of Northfield, Massachusetts.

5 Interesting Facts about Dwight L. Moody

1. Moody was initially a successful shoe salesman before dedicating his life to religious work.

2. He founded the Moody Church in Chicago, which remains an active congregation today.

3. His 1873-1875 revival tours in the UK significantly contributed to the spread of the Holiness Movement.

4. Moody’s influence extended into music; he worked closely with hymn writer Ira D. Sankey.

5. The Moody Bible Institute was one of the first institutions to offer correspondence courses, pioneering distance learning.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Dwight L. Moody

1. “Faith makes all things possible… love makes all things easy.”

2. “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.”

3. “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”

4. “Character is what you are in the dark.”

5. “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

D. L. Moody did not amass significant personal wealth; his life’s work was focused on religious and educational endeavors rather than financial gain. However, his institutions have grown to be financially robust.

Children

Dwight L. Moody and his wife, Emma Revell, had three children: 1. Emma Reynolds Moody (1864–1947) 2. William Revell Moody (1869–1933) 3. Paul Dwight Moody (1879–1947)