George Albert Smith's Father's Healing from Consumption

John Smith, uncle of the Prophet Joseph Smith, had been suffering from poor health for several years. By the winter of 1832 in St. Lawrence County, New York, he had been bedridden for about six months and was pronounced by physicians to be in the last stage of consumption. His condition was so severe that he had not been able to visit his own barn during those months, and his neighbors were convinced that baptism would kill him. Despite his extreme weakness and the frigid conditions, he was baptized in January 1832. To perform the ordinance, a road was broken for forty rods through the crust of two feet of snow, and a hole was cut in the ice of a local creek. As recorded by his son, George Albert Smith, the neighbors watched with astonishment, expecting John to die in the freezing water. However, his health began to improve from that very moment. That same evening, John experienced a vision of the Savior. By the following day, he was able to visit his barn, and he soon began traveling and preaching. He went on to live for another twenty-two years, eventually serving as a stake president and as Patriarch to the Church.

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

My father had been for several years very feeble in health, and for about six months previous to his baptism, had not been able to visit his barn, and was pronounced by physicians in the last stage of consumption; his neighbors believed that baptism would kill him. He cut the ice in the creek, and broke a road for forty rods through the crust on two feet of snow; the day was very cold, the neighbors looked on with astonishment, expecting to see him die in the water, but his health continued improving from that moment. During that evening he had a vision of the Savior. The next day he visited his barn. He soon commenced travelling and preaching.