Lorenzo D. Rupp's recovery from smallpox
Published October 4, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
In early 1865, while serving as President of the Derbyshire Conference, Lorenzo D. Rupp contracted smallpox. Friends and other Saints in the conference cared for him and ministered to his needs and comfort. Rupp credited his restoration to health to their care and the blessing of God.
Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):
Shortly after I was taken down with the smallpox, which prevented me from going to my new field until the 1st of February, 1865. In this Conference I found many kind friends who administered to my comfort during my sickness, and through whose kind attentions and the blessing of God I was soon restored to health. I feel to return my sincere thanks to the Saints of the Derbyshire Conference for their kindness to me during my affliction, and pray that the Lord may bless them for their liberality and the interest they have taken in my welfare.
In Their Own Words
“Shortly after I was taken down with the smallpox, which prevented me from going to my new field until the 1st of February, 1865. In this Conference I found many kind friends who administered to my comfort during my sickness, and through whose kind attentions and the blessing of God I was soon restored to health. I feel to return my sincere thanks to the Saints of the Derbyshire Conference for their kindness to me during my affliction, and pray that the Lord may bless them for their liberality and the interest they have taken in my welfare.”
— Lorenzo D. Rupp, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 28, No. 37
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 15 September 1866 (Vol. 28, No. 37). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1866-09-15_28_37 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, 15 September 1866 (Vol. 28, No. 37), page 589 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1866-09-15_28_37 Fuller account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 28, No. 37, page 589 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1866-09-15_28_37
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