April–July 1839

A Day of Healing

Blessing the sick with the power of God

While Joseph Smith and other Church leaders were prisoners in Missouri, some guards took them to a different prison. The guards were kind to the prisoners. One night, the leader of the guards told Joseph he was going to sleep, and if Joseph and his friends ran away, he wouldn’t stop them.

Saints, 1:392–93

Joseph and the other Church leaders did run away. They found their families living in a town called Quincy.

Saints, 1:395–96

The people in Quincy were kind to the Saints. They gave the Saints food and clothing and a place to stay.

Saints, 1:377

The Saints were thankful for the kindness of the people in Quincy. But Joseph knew they would need their own place to live. Church leaders bought some land that no one else wanted, and the Saints started to move there.

Saints, 1:399–400

The land was near a large river. It was wet and muddy and full of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes made many of the Saints very sick with a disease called malaria. Some of them died.

Saints, 1:402

When Joseph saw that so many people were sick, he gathered some Church leaders and asked them to come with him. All morning, they went from family to family, visiting sick people and blessing them. They used Jesus Christ’s power to heal them of their sickness.

Saints, 1:402

One person they visited was Elijah Fordham. He was so sick, his wife thought he would die soon. Joseph asked Elijah if he had faith to be healed.

Saints, 1:402

Elijah said, “I’m afraid it’s too late.” Joseph asked Elijah if he believed in Jesus Christ. “I do, Brother Joseph,” he answered.

Saints, 1:402

Joseph blessed him in the name of Jesus Christ. Elijah stood up. Jesus had healed him! Elijah then followed Joseph to the next house and helped him bless other people who were sick.

Saints, 1:402–3