The Portland daily press., 1867-02-28
a Mormon Miracle


The following account of an intended mir
acle is related in a volume published by DR..
Bennett, on Mormonism. 1t is both curious
and characteristic. We have no doubt what
ever, that all the Mormon miracles we have
heard about have been performed in a similar
manner. The age OF miracles, like the age
of chivalry is over; but imposters and impo-
sitions are on the increase: '+y
Towards the close of fine summers day,
farmer in one Of the Western States found
respectable-loozing man at his gate, VINO re-
.quested permission to pass the nisit uluef
his roof The hospltable farmer readily con-
plied. The stranger was invited into the
house. and a good and substantial supper
placed before .him After be had eaten, the
farmer who appeared to be a Joplal, warm
hearted HUMOROUS, and withal, shfeWd Old
man. passed several hours IN pleasant CONVEX
sation with his guest, who seemed 10 DC very
I'M aft ease. both 10 body and mind; yet, as 1T
dasirons Of pleasing his entertainer, replied
conrteorsly and agreeably to whatever was
said to him. Finally, he pleaded fatigue and
fitness as an excuse Tor retiring to rest and
e was conducted by the farmer TO an upper
chamber where he went TO bed. About the
middle OF the night the farmer and his tami
Iy were awakened by the most dreadful groans
which, they soon ascertained, proceeded from
the chamber of the traveller. On going TO
investigate the matter they found that the
stranger was dreadtully i'll, suffering the most
acute pain. and uttering the most doleful
cries, apparently without any consciousness
of what was occurring around him. Every
thing that kindness and experience could sug-
geSt was done to relieve the sick man. but al
efforts were in vain and, TO the consterna-
ton of the farmer and his family, the guest
expired in the course OF few hours ,di b,
In the midst OF this trouble and anxiety, at
an early hour in the morning, two travellers
came to the gate and requested entertainment
Yhe farmer told them that he would willingly
offer them hospitality, but that just now his
household was in the greatest confusion, on
account OF the death OF stranger, the partc-
ulars OF which he proceeded to relate to them.
They appeared to be much surprised and
grieved at the poor mans calamity, and po-
liteiy requested permission to see the corpse
This, OF course the farmer readily granted, and
conducted them to the chamber In which lay
the dead body. They looked at it fer few |
minutes III silence, and the eldest OF the pair
gravely told the farmer that they We're elders
OF the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter-day
Saints, aud were empowered by God to work
miracles, even to the extent OF raising the
dead and that they felt quite assured they
could bring to life the dead man before them.
The farmer was, OF course considerably as
tonlShed at the quality and powers OF the per-
sens who addressed HIM, and rather incredu-
lousy asked II they were quite sure they
could perform all they proposed to. "Oh, GER
tainly not a doubt OF IT, The Lord has COM
mlssIoned us expressly to work miracles, i'll
oroeI TO prove tue truth OF the prophet, Jo-
seph Smith, and the inspiration OF the books
and doctrines revealed to him. Send for all
your neighbors, that in the presence OF the
multitude we may bring the dead man to lite,
and that the Lord ana his Church may be
glorified OF all men.
Tue farmer, alter little consideration.
agreed to let the miracle workers proceed, ana
as they desired, sent his children to his neigh
bors, who, attracted by the expectation or
mil acle, locked 10 the house in considerable |
numbers. The Mennonite elders commenced
their task by kneeling and praying before the |
body, with upiiiUed hands and eyes, and with |
most stentorian lungs. Before they had pro-
ceeded iar VITA their pray ers, a sudden idea
struck the .armer, who quietly quilted the
house for few minutes, and then returned
and waited patiently ny the bedside tor few
minutes, until the prayer was finished and the
elders were ready u perform the miracle
BEFORE they began he respectfully said to them
that, with their permission, he wished to ask
them a lew questions upon the subject OF
t..elr miracle. They replied that they had no
ooJSSuShs hC AdlulSl tuC4 tiohcu L Oh are
certain you can bring this man to lie again ?"
''We are" .t.-..s 4
"How do you know that you ?n
I'VE have have just received revelation |
Hom the Lord, informing us that we can"
Are you sure thatthe revelation was from |
the Lord!" 9'
"a " es, We cannot be mistaken about it,
"Does your power to raise this man to life |
uepeho upon the particular nature of mis- dis |
p.aiI hr.r.
llIe?" ~ .fsir. = ~
1t makes no difference to US; we could |
bring any corpse to me-"
wei, II this man mad been killed and one |
OF MS arms cut Oil, could you bring him TO |
LIE, and also restore to him his arm pr
Certainly; there is no limit to the power
given TO US bs the Lord. 1t would make no |
difference, even it both of his arms and legs |
were cut OFF,
"Couid you restore him if his head had been
cut OIL" ..a'. lHl7
Certainly we could"
W ell, said the farmer, with a quiet smile |
upon MS features, Il do not doubt the truth 4
Oh what SUCH holy men assert, but am de-
srous mat my nelghbors here should be fully
converted by having the miracle performed 10 Y
Tue compietest manner possible; SO, by your
iease, IL makes no difference whatever,
WIZ proceed TO cut OH the head of this corps,e.r
Accordingly, he produced huge and. we'll
snarpened broad axe from beneath his coat
winch he swung above his head, a,,d was an,
parently about to bring down or, fine neck OF /
tne corpse; when, 10 and be,poldl 10 the
OF all present, p.,e dead man start
So up IN great agitation, and declared that he |
woull not have his Lead cut Off for any con-
siueration whatever. .....sl Vi i... ash il'iif
The company immediately seized the Nor
mons, and soon made them confess that the
pretended dead man was a Mormon elder, and
that they had sent him to the farmers house
with directions to die there at particular
hour, when they would drop in as ii by ac.
cIdent, and would perform miracle that
Wound aston'sn everybody. lie farmer, after
giving tue lmposters severe chastisement,
let lneln depart to practise their imposition in
some oCiler quarters. - g. ga FEJ