Martha Hovey Healed by Baptism in the Nauvoo Font After Severe Illness and Miscarriage

In the spring and summer of 1840, amid the widespread sickness at Nauvoo, Martha Hovey suffered a miscarriage and became very seriously ill. Joseph Hovey recorded plainly:

'my wife, Martha, was sick, even abortion took place and she was very low. But she was healed by going to the baptismal font and was immersed for her health and baptized for her dead.'

This was the practice of baptism for health — immersion in the Nauvoo font as a healing ordinance — which was used frequently during those early years. Martha's recovery from what had been a life-threatening condition was attributed directly to this sacred act.