Unidentified Elder's Lost Gift of Healing

“As an example of this may be cited the case of an Elder, living in Salt Lake, on whom the gift of healing was bestowed in a wonderful degree. This Elder has performed a successful mission abroad and is the possessor of a powerful testimony. While on this mission he was one day going to meeting and, on the way, stopped at one of the homes of the Saints, where there lived a child with a withered arm. The spirit of the Lord bade him heal this helpless member. He thought of the foolishness of attempting to exercise his gift in a case that seemed so absolutely hopeless. Still the Spirit strove with him, but he looked upon the sufferer and saw the shrivelled limb; his faith failed him and he did not do as the Spirit dictated, but left the place and went to the meeting. Again did the still, small Voice plead and command, and again did the Elder yield to it. From the very door of the meeting-house he turned a second time. Once more he reached the home where the miracle might have been performed, and once more, when put to the test, his faith failed him and he refused in his heart to obey the heavenly mandate. A third time was his strange experience repeated and again he proved unequal to the opportunity. As he was going from the door for the third time, having neglected to administer to the child and heal the withered arm, a voice said to him, “Thou fool, thy gift is gone!” And so it was. There were no more promptings to visit the sick and administer to them ; there were no more wonderful healings following the laying on of hands. The gift had departed; nor did it return, though it was sought with repentance, with weeping, with humble faith and earnest prayer. — Millennial Star 66:9”