Jane Spiking, Given Up in the Last Stage of Consumption, Is Healed From the Moment of Her Baptism at Hull (1848)

“Hull, June 18th, 1848. Dear Brother Ward,—I feel it my duty to write to you, to bear my testimony to the truth of the work of God, and to the power of the priesthood, as manifested in my own person. I have been a great sufferer for the last two years, and have been given up by the most eminent medical men in Louth and Hull, as being in the last stage of consumption. My sufferings have been of the most excruciating nature; I have been confined to my bed for a long time, and have been unable to turn myself without assistance. My cough was incessant, and I spat large quantities of blood; I was also afflicted with the dropsy to such an extent, that my body was swollen to a most alarming size. In this state I was visited by my brother, James Boswell, who told me of the gospel, and the power of God as manifested in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I felt a desire to be baptized, and after much prayer and supplication to the Lord, I was baptized by Elder Beecroft, on the 6th of June, 1848. From the moment I came out of the water, I felt that I was healed; the pain in my side, which had been so severe, left me instantly; my cough ceased; the swelling of my body subsided; and I felt as though I had been raised from the dead. It is now twelve days since, and I rejoice to say that from that day I have not had the slightest pain, but I am as well as ever I was in my life, except that I am not, perhaps, so strong as I was when young; but my cough is entirely gone; I have no pain whatever; my sleep is sound and refreshing; no dropsical symptoms; and here I am a living monument of God’s tender mercy. I weep daily, but my tears are tears of joy and gratitude. I feel I love God with all my heart. I hate the appearance of sin. I love and enjoy the company, more and more, of the Saints, especially those who attended and prepared me for baptism. I remain, your sister in the gospel, Jane Spiking.”

— Jane Spiking, letter to Thomas Ward, published in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star