Day of God's Power at Nauvoo — Joseph Smith heals the sick; Wilford Woodruff heals Colonel Marlow’s twin children (July 22, 1839)

On July 22, 1839, at Nauvoo (reported in some sources also with events noted at Montrose), Joseph Smith presided over a celebrated "day of God's power" during which many of the sick among the Saints were healed. According to Wilford Woodruff's detailed eyewitness account, Joseph had given up his home to the sick and was living in a tent while many Saints who had been driven from Missouri were arriving sick and destitute. Joseph prayed and the power of God rested mightily upon him; many were healed that day.

Woodruff records that Joseph administered to dozens of the sick, and at one point, as he was about to cross the river, a non-member named Colonel Marlow brought his twin babies, who were very sick and near death, and asked Joseph to heal them. Joseph had already given his handkerchief to Wilford Woodruff and therefore told Woodruff to take the handkerchief and administer it in the name of Jesus Christ. Woodruff did so, and the twins recovered. Colonel Marlow later became receptive to the gospel as a result.

Other specific healings and events recorded in the same set of accounts that day include Wilford Woodruff and Joseph B. Noble being healed, Brigham Young receiving healing, Sidney Rigdon being rebuked and healed, a ferryman's children being healed, and Elijah Fordham being raised from death's door. The Twelve Apostles and Benjamin F. Johnson are named among those present or witnessing these occurrences. These combined recollections come primarily from Wilford Woodruff's journal and later published reminiscences, with parallel references in History of the Church and other memoirs.