Through Gates of Splendor: The Elisabeth Elliot Story

In a new “Personal Stories” exhibit, Museum of the Bible will explore the life of Christian missionary Elisabeth Elliot.

In 1958, Elisabeth Elliot returned to the Ecuadorian rainforest to live with the tribe who had killed her husband only two years earlier. Her choice to forgive, rather than retaliate, sparked a change in the Waodäni, who left behind a cycle of violence to embrace a life of love. Elliot’s remarkable story rippled across the globe, inspiring millions to serve God through missions.  

In the years that followed, Elliot created a writing system for the Waodäni language, advocated for their education, and paved the way for a New Testament translation in 1992.  

She eventually returned to the United States, becoming an active and vocal advocate for the gospel, for missions, for families, and for women. Her best-selling book, Through Gates of Splendor, began a writing and speaking career that would go on to span six decades, ending only with her death in 2015.