Evan Davies Healed of Severe Mine Burns by Elder W. Howells at Cwmbach (March 18, 1848)
Published October 17, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Contributed by
Todd Morgan
Beaumont, CA, 92223
On Saturday morning, March 18, 1848, Evan Davies, a Latter-day Saint collier at Cwmbach in the Aberdare valley of Wales, was severely burned on his face and hands by damp or firedamp in the coal works. Fellow workers, including David Morris, brought him home, laid him on straw, and treated the burns with oil-soaked cloths while he remained in great pain. A Saint went to Aberdare for oil and returned with Elder W. Howells. Howells taught those present that anointing with oil, laying on hands, and praying for the sick were both a privilege and an obligation, then anointed Davies and prayed for him. Davies testified that the pain immediately left and that he rose from his bed; Morris, a non-Saint coworker, corroborated the initial healing. Davies remained well for a time, but pressure from local unbelievers and their claims that the event was a lie caused his faith to falter, and the pain returned by Monday morning. He was unable to work for a fortnight because of the burns.
In Their Own Words
“On Saturday morning, the 18th of March, I was severely burned, especially my face and hands, by the damp in the coal works... One of the Saints went to Aberdare to fetch oil from the church, and brought back elder W. Howells with him, who having arrived, found me in the situation noted, and he began to teach those that were in the house that it was not only a privilege and a custom, but also an obligation on the Saints, to obey the divine commandments to anoint with oil, to lay on hands, and to pray to God to heal the sick, which the brother did with me, and I testify in thankfulness to God, that immediately the pain left me completely, and I got up in the sight of them all, praising God for this precious blessing. There were many in the house at the time, and they marvelled greatly. We held a meeting of prayer and thanksgiving to God for the healing, and everyone was very happy, and none more than I myself.”
“My witness is true, although some doubt me; and although I am not one of the Saints, nor do I believe their religion, yet I testify to the truth for the sake of those who wish to know the truth of this remarkable story.”
— Evan Davies, corroborated by David Morris, Prophet of the Jubilee, May 1848
Sources & References
Ronald D. Dennis, trans. and ed., Prophet of the Jubilee (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997), May 1848 issue. https://rsc.byu.edu/prophet-jubilee/may-1848 — the complete facsimile translation of the three volumes (1846–1848) is also accessible through the Welsh Saints Project, Brigham Young University: https://welshsaints.byu.edu/Resource_Info.aspx?id=24377 Ronald D. Dennis, ed., Prophet of the Jubilee (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997), 65-80 (May 1848 issue; Evan Davies's letter dated Cwmbach, April 21, 1848, with the corroborating testimony of David Morris and the editor's commentary); originally published in Welsh in Prophwyd y Jubili, Merthyr Tydfil, May 1848.
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