Thomas Ward healed of possession by an evil spirit

“A member of the Church in Derby, John Ward, who also holds the office of Teacher, has a son who, for some years past, has been wholly under the power of the Devil, so that he became possessed, and was reduced to a state of idiocy, sitting as a boy. But so completely was he under the power of the demon, that he was to all outward appearance, a mere animal, and they had even to put his food in his mouth, else he would not have sought any. But what is more remarkable than the rest is, during all this time his body grew, so that though he is now nineteen years old, he retains all the bodily vigour of a man, but he is now nineteen years old, he retains all the bodily vigour of a man, with all his intellectual faculties. About a year ago Elders were called upon to lay hands upon him, but the Devil resisted them that time, and he remained as he was until a few weeks ago. The occasion was this:—Elders Smith, Levi Riter, and your humble servant, arrived here about the same time, on our several missions. Brother Riter suggested to the boy’s father that it was a noble work to have the boy restored to himself. We, having been reinforced with the company of Travelling Elders, we went together, and then anointed him with oil, and commanded the Devil to depart. He obeyed the mandate at that moment, and what is better, he has from that time, and has since become a member by baptism. It would do your heart good to see him stand up in the congregation of the Lord, turn to the Book, and mingle his voice with his brethren, praising the Lord. — Millennial Star 15:11”