Halsden Marsden Healed of Deafness and Dumbness

Halsden Marsden, a lad of eighteen, was born deaf and dumb. After his baptism in Rochdale by Elder Dille, Elders J. S. Fullmer and Dille administered to him with oil and prayer. They rebuked the obstruction to his hearing and speech in the name of Jesus Christ. Shortly after the administration, Marsden began to hear and, through practice, gained the use of his tongue.

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

Halsden Marsden, a lad of eighteen, was born deaf and dumb. He had been baptized by Elder Dille, and was confirmed by him. On the 16th of April, I, in company with Elder Dille, visited him at his mother's house in Rochdale. We found him in a state of nature, so far as hearing and speech were concerned. In the morning we procured some oil, and consecrated it, and when they came, I proceeded to administer the oil. I gave him a little inwardly, that it might touch his tongue; applied some also about his ears, and drop some into them, in the name of the Lord, praying that the youth might be blessed with hearing and with the power of speech. Brother Dille officiated next, as we laid our hands upon his head, but brother Dille did not speak with that confidence which is void of doubt—he felt a little diffident in my spirit, it occurred to me that we ought to act in our official capacity “as men having authority,” for to this end we were called and sent; and that in places where there were none over us in authority, we must officiate as we were moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord. I expressed my feelings, and said we ought to every one of us, for this lad, rebuke every obstruction to his hearing and speech, and command the same to depart from him, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Dille assented. So we again laid our hands upon the youth, and I rebuked every obstruction to his hearing and speech, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and commanded the same to depart from him, so that he should have the power of both speech and hearing as a blessing, if he would receive it in faith, for a testimony to him, and to all who were acquainted with him. We then left him. In the evening we called again, and found that he had heard several sounds, and had spoken several words, and was much rejoiced. Mrs. Howarth, his mother, was also much rejoiced, and bore testimony to the truth of the work. He continues to improve in hearing and speaking.