A Deaf-Mute Child Restored to Hearing and Speech After Elders Laid Hands on Her

On or about December 1, 1840, in Batavia, Genesee County, New York, a young girl — the daughter of J. Shamp and Margaret Shamp — who had been deaf and unable to speak for four and a half years was healed through the laying on of hands by Latter-day Saint Elders Nathan R. Knight and Charles Thompson.

Her parents, J. Shamp and Margaret Shamp, signed the following sworn statement on May 19, 1841:

"Be it known that on or about the first of December last, we, J. Shamp and Margaret Shamp, of the town of Batavia, Genesee county, N.Y., had a daughter that had been deaf and dumb four and a half years, and was restored to her hearing, the time aforesaid, by the laying on of the hands of the Elders (Nathan R. Knight and Charles Thompson) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called Mormons, through the power of Almighty God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as believed and practiced by them in these last days.

[Signed] J. SHAMP, M. SHAMP"

This legally-signed affidavit was included in the History of the Church (4:361). It is documented as one of the healings that occurred under the authority and direction of Joseph Smith as the miracles of the Church extended beyond his personal presence to ordained elders acting in his name and under priesthood authority.

The healing mirrors the biblical promise recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 84:69: "In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf; and the tongue of the dumb shall speak."

This account demonstrates:

1. The power of priesthood to restore hearing and speech

2. The authority of the Elders of the Church to perform miracles in Christ's name

3. The documentation of miracles through written, sworn testimony

4. The healing of long-term afflictions (four and a half years) through faith and priesthood power

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

Be it known that on or about the first of December, last, we J. Shamp and Margaret Shamp of the town of Batavia, Gennessee County, N. Y. had a daughter that had been deaf and dumb four and a half years, and was restored to her hearing the time aforesaid by the laying on of the hands of the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly called Mormons, through the power of Almighty God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as believed and practiced by them in these last days. The circumstance attending her restoration were these. It was asked, as a sign in a meeting of the Latter Day Saints by an Elder of the Babtist [Baptist] Church of the name of Stimson in an insolent manner and he said if they would heal the child, he would be a Mormon, and he would guarantee that the whole congregation would be Mormons too. When the sign was asked, it was manifest to me by the spirit of God, that if I would believe and obey the fullness of the gospel it should be done. Soon after we had obeyed the gospel, Elders Nathan R. Knight and Charles Thompson came to our house, and they administered to her by the laying on of hands and she was restored to her hearing, and now she both hears and speaks and is improving very fast in talking.