John N.'s Manifestation of the Holy Ghost After Baptism
Published October 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
After hearing the Gospel at age sixteen, John N. traveled seven miles to Warminster to be baptized. Following his baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, he received a distinct spiritual confirmation of the truth of the doctrine, the forgiveness of his sins, and his acceptance by the Savior. He testifies that this testimony remained with him for thirty-nine years.
In Their Own Words
“The first sermon I heard was upon a Sunday evenin and the Sunday next following I walked seven miles, to Warminster, to find an Elder to baptize me. This Elder was Uriah Butt. After receiving the ordinances of baptism and the laying on of hands by the administration of the authorized servant of God, I received the Holy Ghost accordin to the promises made to me; an with this precious gift came a testimony to my soul that the doctrine was true, and that the work I had embraced was of God, with the further assurance that my sins were forgiven and that the Savior had accepted me as His disciple. This was in 1849. And after the lapse of thirty-nine years I do solemnly state that this testimony has never left me for a single moment; but that, notwithstanding all my weaknesses, waywardness and follies, it has been a light to my feet, and a lamp to my path, and a constant increase of light and intelligence to my mind.”
— John N., letter to the editor, Millennial Star
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 15 October 1888 (Vol. 50, No. 42). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-10-15_50_42 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 50, No. 42 (15 October 1888), p. 667 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-10-15_50_42
Every published account is vetted against its sources — read our editorial standards.
Filed under
Related Miracles
Similar miracle types and stories from the 1840s.
Questions about this account
Who was involved in this account?
When did this account take place?
Where did this account take place?
What kind of miracle is this?
Where does this account come from?
Miracle of the Week
One remarkable, documented account in your inbox every Monday, drawn from the full archive.