Reuben Brinkworth, Deaf and Dumb for Eight Years After a Lightning Strike, Hears and Speaks the Instant He Rises From Baptism at Newport (1848)

Reuben Brinkworth, a native of Stroud, England, was working aboard the ship HMS Terror during an Arctic expedition when, in 1843, he was struck by a powerful discharge of lightning during a severe thunderstorm. This event left him completely deaf and unable to speak. For over five years, he remained in this state, unable to hear even the loudest noises or utter a word. In 1848, he was residing in Newport, Wales, with Mr. Naish, a basket maker, who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church befriended Brinkworth, communicating with him through writing, signs, and the finger alphabet. He began investigating their doctrines and, after approximately three months, became convinced of their truth. Brinkworth was particularly drawn to their belief that God still performs miracles as in ancient times. On the evening of September 22, 1848, after having conversed with the Saints, he resolved to be baptized. Despite strong opposition from another individual present, he was taken to a nearby canal early on the morning of September 23, 1848, and baptized. Brinkworth later testified that the instant his head emerged from the water, his hearing was restored, and the first sounds he perceived were the voices of people on the towing path. Simultaneously, he regained his speech and exclaimed, 'Thank the Lord, I can speak and hear again as well as any of you.' This event was widely reported, including an editorial in the local newspaper, The Merlin, which observed the healing with wonder. Brinkworth himself documented the miracle in the Millennial Star, affirming his gratitude for the dual blessing of the remission of his sins and the restoration of his physical faculties.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 10, No. 22 (15 November 1848), pp. 343-344):

A young man named Reuben Brinkworth was, in 1843, at Bermuda, on board the Terror; and when in the midst of a storm of thunder and lightning, he was suddenly deprived of both hearing and speech; and in this deplorable condition returned to Stroud, in England, of which place he was a native. He has since been residing with Mr. Naish, basket-maker, Market-street, Newport, who, with several other persons, is attached to the community of people known as 'Mormons.' Some of the members of this body having become acquainted with Brinkworth, communicated with him by means of writing, signs, and the finger alphabet. He was thus led to investigate their doctrines, and after about three months' inquiry, became convinced of their truth. He was, moreover, earnestly entreated to be baptized; but this was very strongly opposed by a person in the room. He, however, resolved to be baptized, and was taken to the canal early on the morning of the 23rd, and baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and upon his head emerging from the water, he heard the voices of persons upon the towing path, and this was the first sound he had heard since his deprivation upon the island of Bermuda, in 1843. With his hearing came also his speech, and the first words he uttered were, 'Thank the Lord, I can speak and hear again as well as any of you.'