Wife has tried to make biscuits several times and several different ways. They do not rise, ever.?

There are two types of biscuit recipes. Because they do not use yeast, they must use a chemical reaction to generate gas to make them rise. That can be either baking soda or baking powder. Baking soda alone requires an acid to generate CO2 gas. Baking powder has soda and acid to generate CO2 when it gets wet, and a second combination of chemicals that react at baking temperatures. That is why it is called "double acting".

So if you are using baking soda you must use vinegar, buttermilk, or other sort of acid to complete the reaction.

And if that doesn't work well enough to suit you, try using lemon-lime soda for your liquid. (That makes a very fluffy cake when combined with a mix.)