Alfred Johnson's miraculous recovery from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

Alfred Johnson, while gathering cattle, accidentally discharged his pistol, shooting himself through the body. Two physicians, including an army surgeon, predicted he would die within twenty-four hours. His father and friends, refusing to accept this prognosis, repeatedly administered to him, and he made an astonishing recovery. He eventually credited the Gospel for his survival and sought baptism.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 56, No. 42, October 15, 1894, p. 667):

Brother Alfred Johnson, of Vernal, Uintah County, Utah, met with a very serious accident on the 19th of August last. While out gathering cattle he accidentally discharged his pistol, the ball passing through his body. He was taken to his home, and two physicians, one of whom was an army surgeon, were called to attend him. After a careful examination they stated that the wound was mortal, and that he could not possibly live more than twenty-four hours. His father and friends, however, had faith in the power of the Priesthood, and they administered to him repeatedly. Contrary to the expectations of the doctors, he began to recover, and is now able to walk about. He feels that his life was spared through the mercy of God, and he has applied for baptism, desiring to serve the Lord in the future. On Sunday morning, August 19, 1894, he bore this remarkable testimony in Sabbath school: 'In the past I have been inclined to make light of religion, but since my life was so remarkably spared I have been studying the matter very seriously, and I come here this morning with a firm conviction of the divinity of the Gospel and a determination to obey the same. I could not have believed it possible for anyone to realize the joy and consolation which I have experienced in the study of this matter. I feel that God spared my life that my spiritual being might be brought to a knowledge of His great work.'

The accident occurred when Johnson, while stooping to wash his hands in a mountain spring, had his pistol slip from its scabbard; the weapon struck a rock and discharged, sending the bullet through his right lung before it was extracted from his back below the shoulder blade. He was transported twenty-five miles home on a buckboard in intense heat, held upright by a companion while another drove. An army surgeon from Fort Duchesne was summoned to confirm the local physician's prognosis. While the wound left him unable to lift his arm above his head, he retained full strength for lifting and ordinary labor.