William Gribben's Sight Perfectly Restored Within Five Hours of Anointing After Boiling Lead Destroyed His Eyes at Manchester (1848)
Published October 4, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While working in Manchester, William Gribben had nearly six pounds of boiling lead accidentally blown into his face. He was taken home blind and expected to be blind for life, but he requested to be anointed and have hands laid on him according to the gospel promises. Within five hours of the administration, his eyesight was perfectly restored.
Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 10, No. 22, 15 November 1848, p. 347):
Brother William Gribben, of the Manchester branch, while at his work, had nearly six pounds of boiling lead accidentally blown into his face. He was taken home blind, and expected to be blind for life; but he requested to be anointed, and have hands laid on him, according to the gospel promises. Within five hours of the administration, his eyesight was perfectly restored.
In Their Own Words
“Time and space would fail me to enumerate the many instances of healing witnessed and enjoyed by the Saints here; one instance, however, I will just mention, of a brother William Gribben, of Manchester, who had the misfortune to have near six pounds of boiling lead accidentally blown into his face, he was taken home blind, supposed to have lost his eyesight for ever; but he feeling himself to be an heir to the promises contained in the gospel, would be anointed and have hands laid on him, and through faith and prayer was healed, so that within five hours after the accident happened he was able to read the Bible. His eyesight is perfectly restored. Thus we realize that God has again renewed the covenant made with the apostles of old, namely, 'These signs shall follow them that believe.' — Millennial Star 10:22”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 15 November 1848 (Vol. 10, No. 22). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1848-11-15_10_22 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Complete account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 10, No. 22, 15 November 1848, p. 347 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1848-11-15_10_22
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