“Hawn’s Mill,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories (2024)
“Hawn’s Mill,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories
October 1838–February 1839
Hawn’s Mill
An attack and a miracle
Willard Smith was 11 years old. His family lived in Hawn’s Mill, Missouri, with other Saints. They wanted to gather soon with the Saints in Far West.
Doctrine and Covenants 115:7–8; Saints, 1:347–48
One day, Willard was with his father and brothers, Sardius and Alma. Suddenly, they heard gunshots and screams. People had come to attack the Saints.
Saints, 1:348–49
Everyone ran to find safety. Many men and children hid in the blacksmith shop. Willard’s father and brothers went in too, but Willard got separated from them. He hid behind a woodpile. He heard gunshots all around him.
Willard ran from place to place to hide. Finally, the gunshots stopped. The attackers had left Hawn’s Mill.
Saints, 1:353
Willard came to the blacksmith shop to find his family. His father and Sardius had been killed. But Willard’s little brother Alma was still alive.
Saints, 1:353
Alma had been shot in his hip. He was badly hurt. Willard picked up Alma and carried him to their family’s tent.
Saints, 1:353–54
Willard’s mother, Amanda, didn’t know how to help Alma’s hip. But she knew God did. She prayed, and she heard a voice tell her exactly what to do.
Saints, 1:354
Amanda washed Alma’s wound with ashes. Then she ground up some tree root and put it on his wound. She wrapped his hip with cloth. “Lie like that, and don’t move,” she said, “and the Lord will make you another hip.”
Saints, 1:354–55
Later, the governor of Missouri said that the Saints had to leave the state or they would be killed. But Alma’s hip still wasn’t better. Amanda prayed and asked the Lord for help. A voice told her that Jesus would never leave her family. Amanda felt like nothing could hurt her.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:83; Saints, 1:372, 378–79
Soon after she prayed, Amanda heard her children screaming. She ran to find them, and when she did, Alma was running around. “I’m well, Ma, I’m well!” he said. His hip was healed! It was a miracle from the Lord. Amanda and her children left Missouri to find a safe place with the rest of the Saints.
Saints, 1:379