John Murdock's Wrist Miraculously Healed After Severe Scythe Wound

In September 1817, when John Murdock was seventeen years old, he 'fell on a scythe and became a cripple by a severe wound in my wrist, having cut two of the main leaders.' The injury was so severe that he came 'near bleeding to death; yea death stared me in the face.' Facing what seemed to be inevitable death, John covenanted with his Heavenly Father: 'if he would preserve my life, I would serve him.' A surgeon named Gregory was called to dress the wound. The surgeon attempted to tie up the two veins that had been cut, first taking them up on his needle and giving it to John's father to hold while he would tie them; however, John's father accidentally let them slip, and they had to be taken the second time. Despite the pain and affliction of that terrible night, John bore up under it very well until his stepmother found fault with him for being careless, which made him weep. However, through divine intervention and the power of the covenant he made, John's life was preserved, and his wrist healed. During one year remaining in his father's house while recovering, he was eventually able to work again with both hoe and scythe by tying his hand to them. His miraculous preservation from death and healing from this severe wound demonstrated the Lord's faithfulness to covenants and His mercy in preserving John's life for future service.