inquiringmind Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Is there any contemporary historical evidence that Joseph Smith performed miracles (such as healing the sick)? Edited September 2, 2011 by inquiringmind
Questing Beast Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 I remember the anecdotal evidence of him going about laying on hands and healing those sick of malaria in the camps on the Mississippi river. A number of those administered to arose from their sickbeds instantly and claimed to be fully restored, etc....
wenglund Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 Is there any contemporary historical evidence that Joseph Smith performed miracles (such as healing the sick)?Joseph was highly instrumental in restoring Christ's gospel, which is the means by which millions of us have experienced the miracle of being healed of our spiritual sicknesses and by which we have received our spiritual sight after long being blind.Thanks, -Wade Englund-
Calm Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 http://fairwiki.org/Joseph_Smith/Healings_and_miracles
inquiringmind Posted September 2, 2011 Author Posted September 2, 2011 This is the kind of thing I was looking for.The following account of a miraculous healing is to be found in Hayden' History of the Disciples (Campbellites); and is the statement of witnesses hostile to the prophet and the work in which he was engaged:"Ezra Booth, of Mantua, a Methodist preacher of much more than ordinary culture, and with strong natural abilities, in company with his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and some other citizens of this place, visited Smith at his house in Kirtland, in 1831. Mrs. Johnson had been afflicted for some time with a lame arm, and was not at the time of the visit able to lift her hand to her head. The party visited Smith, partly out of curiosity, and partly to see for themselves what there might be in the new doctrine. During the interview the conversation turned upon the subject of supernatural gifts; such as were conferred in the days of the apostles. Some one said: 'Here is Mrs. Johnson with a lame arm; has God given any power to men on the earth to cure her?' A few moments later, when the conversation had turned in another direction, Smith rose, and walking across the room, taking Mrs. Johnson by the hand, said in the most solemn and impressive manner: "Woman, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command thee to be whole; and immediately left the room. The company were awestricken at the infinite presumption of the man, and the calm assurance with which he spoke. The sudden mental and moral shock—I know not how better to explain the well attested fact—electrified the rheumatic arm—Mrs. Johnson at once lifted it with ease, and on her return home the next day she was able to do her washing without difficulty or pain."Thank you.
Calm Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 This is the kind of thing I was looking for.Thank you.No problem, this was an easy one though if you want more, it might get a bit difficult as I loaned out my copy of Rough Stone Rolling (a great bio of JS) and don't really have another good reference and I suspect that FAIR has all the good, relatively well known stuff anyway knowing them, which means any other stuff is likely buried in places I don't have access to.
ldsfaqs Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Wasn't there an actual "book" published indicating all the various known miracles Joseph was involved with, including many recorded from peoples journals?I know in my years of reading there have been many of all types, with plenty of witnesses also.There must be a website out there which has indicated a bunch. If not, we need one.Of course, I know the above website mentions a couple, but I know there are "hundreds" that I've seen from my readings. Edited September 2, 2011 by ldsfaqs
Calm Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 Wasn't there an actual "book" published indicating all the various known miracles Joseph was involved with, including many recorded from peoples journals?I know in my years of reading there have been many of all types, with plenty of witnesses also.There must be a website out there which has indicated a bunch. If not, we need one.Of course, I know the above website mentions a couple, but I know there are "hundreds" that I've seen from my readings.Feel free to go looking for them because I think I'm heading to bed (and since the Central AC is fixed, once again in solitude without my daughter 'bunking' with me on the sofa as her room was too hot to sleep in, I discovered she no longer grinds her teeth as she did as a girl, now she just talks in her sleep....oh, and she sleeps from about 5 AM to 3 PM and I've been too aware of her coming in to get to sleep before ). Quality Sleep Time! Finally!
Zakuska Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Bristol, Nov. 25, 1849. "Dear President Pratt. -- As you were so kind as to publish the letter I sent, dated July 9, 1849, containing an account of the miraculous power of God, displayed in the healing of Elizabeth Ann Bounsell, which made quite a stir amongst the pious christians in our city, I now venture to write to you again, and say that the above circumstance caused many to call at the house to see if it were true; and upon seeing, many rejoiced. Others mocked, saying, "she would have got well if the elders had not laid their hands upon her." Amongst the latter was one would-be great man, by the name of Charles Smith, (who has written a flimsy tract against the Latter-day Saints) who said it was not enough to satisfy him. So the mother took another of her daughters, and put her upon his knee, and said, 'sir, is that child blind?' And after he had examined her eyes, he said, 'she is.' 'Well,' said the mother, 'she was born blind, and she is now four years old; and I am going to take her to the elders of the church, for them to anoint her eyes with oil, and lay hands upon her; and you can call again when you have time, and see her with her eyes opened; for I know the Lord will heal her, and she will see.' 'Well,' said he, 'if she does ever see, it will be a great proof.' Accordingly the mother brought the child to the elders, and Elder J. Hackwell anointed her eyes, and laid hands upon her only once; and the Lord heard his prayer, so that the child can now see with both of her eyes, as well as any other person. For which we all feel thankful to our Heavenly Father; and are willing to bear testimony of it to all the world. "Yours, in the Kingdom of God, "GEORGE HALLIDAY." "P.S. -- We, the father and mother of the child, do here sign our names to the above, as being true. "WILLIAM BOUNSELL, "ELIZABETH BOUNSELL." This account of a healing by Joseph was printed in the Newspaper. Edited September 2, 2011 by Zakuska
inquiringmind Posted September 3, 2011 Author Posted September 3, 2011 This account of a healing by Joseph was printed in the Newspaper.What Newspaper?
inquiringmind Posted September 3, 2011 Author Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) Deleted Edited September 3, 2011 by inquiringmind
altersteve Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 I love how critics, at least that I've seen, tend to ignore accounts like this.
inquiringmind Posted September 3, 2011 Author Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) I love how critics, at least that I've seen, tend to ignore accounts like this.The account of this miracle is on page 250 of Hayden's "History of The Disciples" (is exactly as quoted, and from a hostile source.)This can be verified by searching for the key words "Mr. and Mrs. Johnson" at http://books.google....id=2KMTAAAAYAAJThank you calmoriah. Edited September 3, 2011 by inquiringmind
Zakuska Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) What Newspaper?The Millenial Starhttp://books.google.com/books?id=828tAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA377&lpg=RA1-PA377&dq=Elizabeth+Ann+Bounsell&source=bl&ots=wpa4eNHO7f&sig=vfxA5WWxFaLAmUn2yZXvbSeToI0&hl=en&ei=S7BhTrTtMKqusQKegamyCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Elizabeth%20Ann%20Bounsell&f=false Edited September 3, 2011 by Zakuska
inquiringmind Posted September 3, 2011 Author Posted September 3, 2011 The Millenial Starhttp://books.google....ounsell&f=falseThank you, but what made the account in Hayden's book so interesting is that the author was unfriendly toward Mormonism.)Is there anything from non-Mormon newspapers (in New York, Pensylvania, Ohio, or Missouri)?
splendidsun Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 Kris Wright and my paper on early Mormon healing has several examples. Note that there are also failed examples. See here. 1
inquiringmind Posted September 3, 2011 Author Posted September 3, 2011 (edited) Kris Wright and my paper on early Mormon healing has several examples. Note that there are also failed examples. See here.There are no examples in the abstract, how can I read the paper? Edited September 3, 2011 by inquiringmind
splendidsun Posted September 4, 2011 Posted September 4, 2011 There are no examples in the abstract, how can I read the paper?There is a download link on that page. Look for the accounts recorded by Jared Carter and Wm McLellin in particular, though there are others as well.
Thinking Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 I love how critics, at least that I've seen, tend to ignore accounts like this.Perhaps it's because miracles prove nothing.Matthew 24:24 "24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."Miracles are irrelevant in determining whether a man is a prophet.
altersteve Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 Perhaps it's because miracles prove nothing.Matthew 24:24 "24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."Miracles are irrelevant in determining whether a man is a prophet.Did I say otherwise? I don't believe I did.
Avatar4321 Posted September 8, 2011 Posted September 8, 2011 Perhaps it's because miracles prove nothing.Matthew 24:24 "24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."Miracles are irrelevant in determining whether a man is a prophet.So you admit that Joseph did do miracles?By their fruits ye shall know them.
Thinking Posted September 8, 2011 Posted September 8, 2011 So you admit that Joseph did do miracles?By their fruits ye shall know them.I don't admit that he performed miracles. Neither do I claim that he didn't do miracles. I only know that there have been reports of him performing miracles. I also know that according to the scriptures, both true prophets and false prophets can perform miracles. Therefore miracles should never be mistaken for fruits. The fruits of a prophet are the doctrines and practices which are taught and set forth under his direction. The fruits of Joseph Smith are the Book of Mormon, the temple endowment (which cannot be discussed on this board), plural marriage, the revelations contained in the D&C, the Book of Abraham, etc.
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