Mary Crystal Simpkins — Childhood Healing from Fever

As a young girl growing up in the pioneer settlement of St. George, Mary Crystal Simpkins (later Halladay) fell dangerously ill with a severe fever, likely typhoid or mountain fever, which was common in the region at the time. Her parents, James Simpkins and Mary Ann Crystal, were deeply concerned as her condition failed to improve despite their best efforts. Her father, James, who was a faithful stonemason on the St. George Temple, called for the local elders to administer to her. The family history records that following the administration and a prayer of faith, the fever broke almost immediately. Mary made a rapid and full recovery, an event the family attributed to the power of the Priesthood and a direct answer to their prayers. This account is manuscript-sourced from the family history submitted to the DUP.