Healing / Medical Reversal & Remission

Alvah Marion Merkley's Healing After Being Run Over by a Wagon

Published October 5, 2026 at 1:54 AM

1870s · 1870
Salt Lake City

Contributed by

Millennial Star Research

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Seven-year-old Alvah Marion, the son of Christopher Merkley, fell from a wagon load of adobe bricks. The front wheel of the wagon ran over his short ribs and bowels. Following this severe accident, his father picked him up, placed him on the wagon, and upon arriving home, had him anointed and administered to by the Elders. A few hours later, the child went out to play, appearing to have fully recovered.

Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 32, No. 28, 12 July 1870, p. 445):

A son of brother Christopher Merkley, seven years of age, fell from a wagon load of adobe bricks, and the front wheel of the wagon ran over his short ribs and bowels. His father picked him up, placed him on the wagon, and on arriving home, had him anointed and administered to by the Elders. A few hours later, the child went out to play, appearing to have fully recovered.

In Their Own Words

“Alvah Marion, a seven year son of brother Christopher Merkley, 17th Ward, fell from a wagon load of adubies, June 6, aud the front wheel ran over his short ribs and bowels. His father picked the child up, laid him on the wagon, and when arrive! at home had him anointed and administered to. In a few hours after, the child went out to play, apparently as well as ever. — Millennial Star 32:28”

Sources & References

The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 12 July 1870 (Vol. 32, No. 28). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1870-07-12_32_28 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Complete account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 32, No. 28, 12 July 1870, p. 445 https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/MStar/id/11495

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