A DAY OF GOD'S POWER WITH THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH--A GREAT NUMBER OF
SICK PERSONS HEALED--THE MOB BECOMES ALARMED--THEY TRY TO INTERFERE
WITH THE HEALING OF THE SICK--THE MOB SENT OUT OF THE HOUSE--TWIN
CHILDREN HEALED.
While I was living in this cabin in the old barracks, we experienced a
day of God's power with the Prophet Joseph. It was a very sickly time
and Joseph had given up his home in Commerce to the sick, and had a
tent pitched in his door-yard and was living in that himself. The large
number of Saints who had been driven out of Missouri, were flocking
into Commerce; but had no homes to go into, and were living in wagons,
in tents, and on the ground. Many, therefore, were sick through the
exposure they were subjected to. Brother Joseph had waited on the sick,
until he was worn out and nearly sick himself.
On the morning of the 22nd of July, 1839, he arose, reflecting upon the
situation of the Saints of God in their persecutions and afflictions,
and he called upon the Lord in prayer, and the power of God rested upon
him mightily, and as Jesus healed all the sick around Him in His day,
so Joseph, the Prophet of God, healed all around on this occasion. He
healed all in his house and door-yard, then, in company with Sidney
Rigdon and several of the Twelve, he went through among the sick lying
on the bank of the river, and he commanded them in a loud voice, in
the name of Jesus Christ, to come up and be made whole, and they were
all healed. When he healed all that were sick on the east side of
the river, they crossed the Mississippi river in a ferry-boat to the
west side, to Montrose, where we were. The first house they went into
was President Brigham Young's. He was sick on his bed at the time.
The Prophet went into his house and healed him, and they all came
out together. As they were passing by my door, Brother Joseph said:
"Brother Woodruff, follow me." These were the only words spoken by any
of the company from the time they left Brother Brigham's house till we
crossed the public square, and entered Brother Fordham's house. Brother
Fordham had been dying for an hour, and we expected each minute would
be his last.
I felt the power of God that was overwhelming His Prophet.
When we entered the house, Brother Joseph walked up to Brother Fordham,
and took him by the right hand; in his left hand he held his hat.
He saw that Brother Fordham's eyes were glazed, and that he was
speechless and unconscious.
After taking hold of his hand, he looked down into the dying man's face
and said: "Brother Fordham, do you not know me?" At first he made no
reply; but we could all see the effect of the Spirit of God resting
upon him.
He again said: "Elijah, do you not know me?"
With a low whisper, Brother Fordham answered, "Yes!"
The Prophet then said, "Have you not faith to be healed?"
The answer, which was a little plainer than before, was: "I am afraid
it is too late. If you had come sooner, I think I might have been."
He had the appearance of a man waking from sleep. It was the sleep of
death.
Joseph then said: "Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?"
"I do, Brother Joseph," was the response.
Then the Prophet of God spoke with a loud voice, as in the majesty of
the Godhead: "Elijah, I command you, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth,
to arise and be made whole!"
The words of the Prophet were not like the words of man, but like the
voice of God. It seemed to me that the house shook from its foundation.
Elijah Fordham leaped from his bed like a man raised from the dead. A
healthy color came to his face, and life was manifested in every act.
His feet were done up in Indian meal poultices. He kicked them off his
feet, scattered the contents, and then called for his clothes and put
them on. He asked for a bowl of bread and milk, and ate it; then put on
his hat and followed us into the street, to visit others who were sick.
The unbeliever may ask: "Was there not deception in this?"
If there is any deception in the mind of the unbeliever, there was
certainly none with Elijah Fordham, the dying man, nor with those who
were present with him, for in a few minutes more he would have been in
the spirit world, had he not been rescued. Through the blessing of God,
he lived up till 1880, in which year he died in Utah, while all who
were with him on that occasion, with the exception of one, are in the
spirit world.
Among the number, were Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Brigham
Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, Parley P. Pratt and Orson
Pratt. Wilford Woodruff is the only one living who was present at the
time, and he will soon mingle with those who have gone.
As soon as we left Brother Fordham's house, we went into the house of
Joseph B. Noble, who was very low and dangerously sick.
When we entered the house, Brother Joseph took him by the hand, and
commanded him, in the name of Jesus Christ, to arise and be made whole.
He did arise and was immediately healed.
While this was going on, the wicked mob in the place, led by one
Kilburn, had become alarmed, and followed us into Brother Noble's house.
Before they arrived there, Brother Joseph had called upon Brother
Fordham to offer prayer.
While he was praying, the mob entered, with all the evil spirits
accompanying them.
As soon as they entered, Brother Fordham, who was praying, fainted and
sank to the floor.
When Joseph saw the mob in the house, he arose and had the room cleared
of both that class of men and their attendant devils. Then Brother
Fordham immediately revived and finished his prayer.
This shows what power evil spirits have upon the tabernacles of men.
The Saints are only saved from the power of the devil by the power of
God.
This case of Brother Noble's was the last one of healing upon that
day. It was the greatest day for the manifestation of the power of God
through the gift of healing since the organization of the Church.
When we left Brother Noble, the Prophet Joseph went, with those who
accompanied him from the other side, to the banks of the river, to
return home.
While waiting for the ferry-boat, a man of the world, knowing of the
miracles which had been performed, came to him and asked him if he
would not go and heal two twin children of his, about five months old,
who were both lying sick nigh unto death.
They were some two miles from Montrose.
The Prophet said he could not go; but, after pausing some time, he said
he would send some one to heal them; and he turned to me and said: "You
go with the man and heal his children."
He took a red silk handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to
me, and told me to wipe their faces with the handkerchief when I
administered to them, and they should be healed. He also said unto me:
"As long as you will keep that handkerchief, it shall remain a league
between you and me."
I went with the man, and did as the Prophet commanded me, and the
children were healed.
I have possession of the handkerchief unto this day.