John Taggart's Miraculous Healing of Sight and Divine Guidance through President Brigham Young

“I had been in the city but a short time when I was insulted by a man who had been a patron of mine. I was a blind man, and he knew it. I was so angry that I felt I could have killed him. I went to my room and paced the floor, my heart full of bitterness and hatred. I felt that I had been wronged, and I wanted revenge. I thought of President Brigham Young. I had heard much of him, and I felt that if any man could help me, he could. I went to his office. He was busy, but he saw me. I told him my story. I told him how I had been insulted, and how I felt. He listened to me patiently. When I had finished, he said, 'Brother Taggart, you are a man of God. You have a work to do. Do not let the actions of wicked men disturb your peace. Forgive them, and leave them in the hands of the Lord.' When he spoke these words something seemed to strike me like a galvanic battery, and I filled up like a big child. I touched his hand and in broken voice I said, 'I'll—I'll see you again, Brother Young.' 'No, no; sit down. I'll come back,' and he left me. In a few minutes he did come back. 'Now, Brother Taggart, we'll have this little talk.' . . . And then I said, 'Thank God, Brother Young, I can say now with all my heart, ‘God bless you.’ You have taken off my shoulders this day a great load. And now, Brother Young; you can do something for me.' 'And what is it?' he said eagerly. 'When you meet me I want to hear you say ‘God bless you.’' 'I'll do that. What next?' 'When you go to your private prayers, pray for the Lord to give me my sight.' 'I haven’t all power,' he said, 'but I’ll do it.' I left his presence a different man. The load was gone. I felt a peace I had not known for years. I knew that he would pray for me, and I felt that the Lord would hear his prayer. I continued to live in the city, and I often met President Young. He never failed to say, 'God bless you, Brother Taggart.' And I knew he was praying for me. My sight did not return at once, but I felt that I was being prepared for it. I was learning to see with the eyes of faith.”

— John Taggart, as recorded in The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 14 no. 6