Newel Knight Heals His Aunt Electa Peck — Her Dream of His Ministry Fulfilled

In the spring of 1831, as the Colesville branch left New York for Ohio, Newel Knight was subpoenaed to Colesville as a witness, and the company waited for him. Soon after he departed, his aunt, Electa Peck, fell and broke her shoulder in a most shocking manner, and a surgeon was called to relieve her intense sufferings. That night she dreamed that Newel returned, laid his hands upon her, prayed for her, and she was made whole. When she related the dream, the surgeon replied, “If you are able to travel in many weeks it will be a miracle, and I will be a Mormon too.” Newel arrived late that evening; the moment he entered the room his aunt asked him to lay his hands upon her. In the name of Jesus Christ he rebuked her pain and commanded her to be made whole — and the next morning she arose, dressed herself, and continued the journey with the company. Newel Knight recorded this as one of the first great manifestations of God's power he witnessed following the organization of the Church, and a striking fulfillment of his aunt's dream.

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

Soon after I left, my aunt, Electa Peck, fell and broke her shoulder in a most shocking manner; a surgeon was called to relieve her sufferings, which were very great. My aunt dreamed that I returned and laid my hands upon her, prayed for her, and she was made whole, and pursued her journey with the company. She related this dream to the surgeon who replied, “If you are able to travel in many weeks it will be a miracle, and I will be a Mormon too.” I arrived at the place, where the company had stopped, late in the evening; but, on learning of the accident, I went to see my aunt, and immediately on my entering the room she said, “O, Brother Newel, if you will lay your hands upon me, I shall be well and able to go on the journey with you.” I stepped up to the bed, and, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, rebuked the pain with which she was suffering, and commanded her to be made whole; and it was done; for the next morning she arose, dressed herself, and pursued the journey with us.