VISITS BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE—DYING GIRL HEALED WHEN ADMINISTERED TO—PREDICTION THAT SHE SHOULD BE BAPTISED FULFILLED—GOES TO UTAH, GETS MARRIED, HAS A CHILD AND DIES—OTHER CONVERSIONS IN THE CHALLIS FAMILY.

IN the year 1875 Elder Geo. L. Farrell, now a Patriarch of Cache County, was a missionary in England, and presiding over the Nottingham conference. He had not been thus engaged very long when he received a letter from Elder Richard V. Morris, president of the Birmingham conference, proposing to exchange visits with him, and enjoy the novelty of traveling through one another's conference. He concluded by inviting Elder Farrell to meet him at Northampton, thence to proceed through other parts of the Birmingham conference.

They accordingly met at the place named, and the host took the visitor to have lunch at the home of a member of the church by the name of Challis.

As they entered the house, they noticed a young couple, man and wife, seated at a table, who, on hearing Elder Farrell introduced to Brother and Sister Challis, hastily arose and left the house.

While the meal was being prepared, Elder Morris informed the guest that the young couple who had so suddenly departed were the daughter and son-in-law of their entertainers, and were members of the Church of England.

While the meal was being partaken of, Elder Farrell noticed that Sister Challis had an anxious look on her face, and that she left the table several times and made brief visits to a bed room. The last time she did so she appeared dejected, which aroused the curiosity of the guest, who with solitude inquired if she had some one sick in the other room. She replied, "Yes, sir. I have a daughter in that room who has been ill and bedfast for more than two years. We have had five doctors attending her, who have all given her up. The last one just left, declaring that she is bound to die soon, and that he could do no more for her.

"Don't you believe what the doctors say," responded Elder Farrell assuringly. "They don't know it all. The Lord still lives, and is ready and willing to heal your daughter, if she has faith in His promises. I would like to see your daughter."

The mother shook her head doubtfully and replied: "I don't think she would be willing for you to see her, as she is a member of the Church of England, and the minister and his family and the ladies and gentlemen of the church have paid all the doctors, been extremely kind to her and have done all in their power to make her happy and comfortable. They have so embittered her against the 'Mormons' that I think it would be useless for me to tell her that you wish to see her."

"Notwithstanding all that," said the Elder, "I still feel that I would like to see her. Please do me the favor to go and tell her who I am, and that I must see her."

The mother went into the room and was absent several minutes. Elder Morris in the meantime said: "I think you will not get to see her, for I have tried and have failed. Therefore I will go down the street a block and a half to No. 120, and if you don't get to see her come there, and you will find me."

After awhile Mother Challis reappeared looking more cheerful, and exclaimed, "Brother Farrell, she is willing for you to come in and see her!"

Entering the bedroom, he saw the most emaciated girl he thought he had ever beheld, bolstered up in bed, with a chair in front of her, upon which, and also behind her, pillows were piled to keep her from falling over. A coverlet was drawn up over the pillows in front of her, and upon it her bony and colorless hands were outstretched.

The Elder approached, and, taking her gently by the right hand expressed his sympathy for her suffering. She simply bowed her head in response, for she was too weak to speak above a whisper.

There was a small table with a large Bible on it near the bed. Seating himself and taking the bible upon his lap, Elder Farrell opened it mechanically, and before his eyes were the words of the Savior, commanding His apostles to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, which he read aloud. When he came to that part in which the Lord promised that certain signs should follow those who believed—that the sick should be healed, that devils should be cast out; that if they drank any deadly thing it would not hurt them, etc., he read that aloud also, and then quoted from James the declaration that the prayer of faith should save the sick, and that the Lord would raise him up.

He then called the girl's attention to the fact that he had not specially selected these passages, but that the Bible had fallen open as he placed it in his lap, and he had read the first passage his eye caught sight of. He then declared to her that he and the other Latter-day Saint missionaries held the same priest-hood that the early-day apostles held; that they were sent out to preach the same Gospel that they were, and that they were preaching it in the same manner—without money and without price; that they had authority to anoint the sick with oil and pray for them just as the first apostles had, and that the Lord was just as ready and willing to raise them up as He ever was. He testified to her that he had known hundreds of sick people to be healed, and assured her that if she had faith she could be healed.

On concluding he noticed the sick girl crook her finger as a means of beckoning to her mother, who immediately approached and put her ear close to her daughter's mouth, and listened for awhile. When she arose she said, "Brother Farrell, she wants to know if you will anoint her with oil and bless her."

"Certainly, I will be glad to do so, replied the Elder. Have you any oil?"

The mother replied that she had no oil, but said she would go out and buy some.

"All right, said the Elder, you please buy a bottle of olive oil, and while you are out call at No. 120 and ask Elder Morris to come up, and we will anoint and bless her."

While the mother was absent Elder Farrell talked encouragingly to the girl, and when the oil arrived the missionaries proceeded to bless and consecrate it, Elder Morris offering the prayer.

The mother was then asked to inquire of her daughter who she would like to anoint her and the girl pointed to Elder Farrell to signify that he was her choice.

He anointed her head and the bare part of her neck and arms and the palms of her hands, which seemed very feverish, after which the mother asked the girl who she would like to lead in the prayer of confirmation. Again she indicated that she preferred Elder Farrell to do so.

In offering the prayer Elder Farrell afterwards declared that he had never before experienced such a feeling. The Spirit seemed to take complete possession of his mind, and while he felt a positive assurance that she was going to recover, he could scarcely recall all that he said.

The Elders soon afterwards bade the family good by and left. While walking down the street towards their lodgings Elder Morris exclaimed "Brother Farrell, you frightened me! You promised that girl that if she had faith she would walk to the water and be baptized within three months. She hasn't been out of that bed for two years, to my certain knowledge."

"I can't help it, Brother Morris. It wasn't I who did it. It was the Lord. I never was so led by the Spirit in administering to a person in my life. The Lord is able to fulfill it. You watch and see if He doesn't do it." He promised to do so, but in about one month he was released to return home. Before starting home, however, he told sister Challis that Elder Farrell would be in Northampton on a certain day, and would probably call and see the family. When he arrived at the house he found the sick girl sitting up, knitting a woolen shawl with large wooden needles. On seeing him entering the house she exclaimed enthusiastically, "Oh here is Mr. Farrell! I have never taken a particle of medicine since you left. I told the minister that you had anointed me with oil and promised me that I would get well, and I know that the Lord is going to heal me. You see that I can already talk above a whisper. Now I want you to administer to me again."

He accordingly anointed her head with oil and prayed earnestly for her complete recovery. She declared immediately afterward that she felt better already, and expressed confidence that all the promises made as to her recovery would be fulfilled, as some of them already had been. She also informed her visitor that the Church of England minister and all the members of his congregation who had been so attentive to her had ceased to take any interest in her case, and never more called to see her. She seemed gratified rather than otherwise, however, that they had evidently given her up as hopelessly lost to them.

Some time later Elder Farrell received a letter from the sick girl, announcing that her father was going to take her in a carriage on the following Sunday for a twelve mile trip in the country, to old Sister Underwood's, near Stanwick, and wanted him to call there and baptize her.

Brother Platte D. Lyman was at that time associated with Brother Farrell as a traveling Elder, and he was allowed to read the letter. He expressed a desire to accompany him, and Brother Farrell consented.

The day following the two Elders went to a town called Offord, where an old farmer had opened his barn and seated it for them to hold a meeting in. A stand had also been built for the speakers and singers to occupy, and the singers had come from Stanwick, fifteen miles away. A good sized congregation assembled in the barn, and an interesting, spirited meeting was held. While Elder Farrell was speaking he noticed a lady sitting about twenty feet in front of him, wearing a red shawl. He was impressed with the conviction that she was going to be baptized, and afterwards while the choir was singing he pointed her out to Elder Lyman, and told him she would soon be baptized. Elder Lyman inquired who she was. "I don't know her name," replied his companion, "and never saw her before, but something tells me that she is going to be baptized." Elder Lyman remarked that he would bear that prediction in mind, and see if it was ever fulfilled.

After reading the letter from the sick girl, Elder Lyman had expressed a desire to meet her, and he was accordingly invited to be present on the occasion of her baptism. When the missionaries reached Mrs. Underwood's house they found she lived next door to a hotel, around which a number of guests were seen loitering. Sister Underwood cautioned the Elders not to attempt to baptize while it was light or let the guests at the hotel know what they were going to do, lest they might raise a row. So they decided to remain in the house and wait until after ten o'clock. Just before that hour a loud rap on the door was heard, and Sister Underwood jumped up and blew the lamp out, at the same time exclaiming to those near her that their plans had been discovered, and a riot was about to be started. Elder Farrell said he would answer the door, and the rest of the folks went into another room.

On opening the door a voice outside was heard to inquire. "Is Mr. Farrell here?" The voice was recognized as that of a man named Baker whose wife Elder Farrell had baptized some time before. On being invited in, he said, "Here is a lady and a young man who learned that you were going to baptize here tonight. She told her husband that she had to be baptized—that she could not rest any more until she was baptized. He gave his consent, and went to bed to sleep while she came here."

A light having been procured so that those present could see one another, Elder Lyman whispered to Elder Farrell, "I believe that is the woman who had the red shawl on, and who was in the barn last Sunday while you were preaching." He replied that he would soon find out, and, accosting the lady, he asked when she had heard the Gospel preached. The reply was: "I have heard you preach at Offord several times." He then inquired: "When did you make up your mind to be baptized?" The reply was, "Right while you were preaching in that barn at Offord. I made up my mind that the first time I heard that you were going to baptize I would come, and here I am!"

It was soon arranged that Elder Farrell would proceed to the water about fifty yards distant with the new arrivals, and while he was baptizing them Elder Lyman and Mr. Baker could be carrying the sick girl to the water in a chair, while Sister Underwood could walk behind and hold the chair, to keep it from tipping.

The latter party not having arrived at the water by the time the man and woman were baptized, Elder Farrell started towards the house and met them coming very slowly, and, to his surprise, found the sick girl not being carried in a chair, but walking. He exclaimed on seeing her, "Why Nellie, you are walking!" "Yes," she said, "I told Brother Lyman and Mr. Baker if they would let me take their arms I felt that I could walk. If you remember, when you first blessed me you promised me that I should be able, if I had faith, to walk to the water within three months, and the three months will be up to-morrow."

"The Lord bless you for your faith!" said the Elder, and, leading her into the water until it came up to her waist, he added, "Now you may take your two hands and throw water over your body as much as you like, to get used to the temperature, for I am going to bury you in the water eight times—once for the remission of your sins, and seven times for the restoration of your health. Do you think you can stand it?" [A]

[Footnote A: This is not a doctrinal treatise nor a portrayal of the approved methods of performing ordinances, but a simple narrative of what actually occurred. Baptism by immersion is an ordinance by which repentant believers are initiated into the Church, and is also for the remission of sins. There is no warrant in revelation ancient or modern for the immersion of a person for the restoration of his health, anointing with oil and the prayer of faith being the ordinance for that purpose. However, baptism (a single immersion) as a means of restoring health has been practised in the Church from a very early period, originating probably with cures that were apparently traceable to baptism. Instances of persons affected with serious ailments being miraculously healed on accepting the Gospel have been somewhat numerous, and have occurred all through the history of the Church, due doubtless to the faith exhibited, and it is not surprising that persons should associate in their minds the cure with the rite of baptism. Possibly Elder Farrell had the case of Naaman the leper in his mind, who was healed on obeying the requirement of the Prophet Elisha, to wash seven times in the river Jordan. It was a sublime test of faith that he subjected the invalid girl to. He might have added in her case, in the words of the Savior: "Thy faith hath made thee whole," for it was her faith, and not any magic in the number seven, that brought her the blessing.]

She replied "Oh, yes; if you take hold of me, I have full faith."

Calling out to Elder Lyman who stood upon the bank, Elder Farrell said:

"Now count upon your fingers as I baptize her, and when she has been buried under the water eight times please tell me." He did so, and at the conclusion of the ceremony the girl, who had stood the ordeal remarkably well, was seated upon a chair and thus carried into the house.

After dry daiment had been resumed, the newly baptized persons were confirmed, and when Elder Farrell was confirming the girl, being prompted by the Spirit, he promised her that if she would continue to have faith she would live to go to Zion and become a mother in Israel. When supper had been partaken of and the dishes cleared away, a brief time was spent in chatting, and a general time of rejoicing indulged in. The girl was full of vivacity and enthusiasm, and declared that she was completely healed, and praised the Lord therefor.

Soon afterwards Elder Farrell was released to return from his mission, arriving at his home July 10, 1876. He came down to Salt Lake City to attend conference as usual in the following October, and having had a request from Sister Clark, of Stanwick, while he was still in England to call upon her sister in Salt Lake as soon as he could after his arrival, and, as she lived near the depot, he made his way there when he alighted from the train. To his great surprise and pleasure, he found Brother Challis and his daughter Nellie there. After greeting them he inquired: "Nellie, where is your Mother?" She replied: "Brother Farrell, mother took sick, and I sat up with her and waited on her nine days and nights without removing my clothing to obtain sleep, and my poor mother died, and I have not been sick one minute. And here I am in Zion, thank the Lord. Every word that you promised has been fulfilled thus far. And now we want to go to your part of the country to live, so that we may see you often. Do you think you could find father a place to work near your home at shoe-making?"

The next day Elder Farrell attended conference and sat by Brother Samuel Parkinson, of Franklin, who was a merchant, and conducted a large store. Having the request in mind, he inquired of Brother Parkinson if there was a shoe maker in Franklin. He said "No sir, but I wish we had one." Elder Farrell then told him of Brother Challis having arrived from England and wanting to locate in Cache Valley. He inquired if he was a poor man, and being told that he was, said: "Tell him to come to Franklin. I will furnish him a shop to work in free of charge. He can bring what shoes he makes into the store, and I will dispose of the same and pay him."

The father and daughter went to Franklin to live, and Brother Parkinson did as he promised to. Elder Farrell presided over the U. O. Store, tannery and shoe shop in Smithfield, and Brother Challis used to come from Franklin every week to buy his leather from the tannery; and used to frequently tell him how nicely they were getting along.

As soon as winter started Elder Farrell was appointed to preside over the Y. M. M. I. A. of the whole stake, and went around and organized the associations or set in order those that had been organized. On one occasion he went to Franklin, and held a very interesting meeting. After the meeting closed a lady accosted him and shook hands very heartily. Brother Farrell said, "You seem to know me, but I do not recognize you. What is your name, please?" She replied, "My name is Nellie Challis, and I want you to go home and stay all night with us." He expressed great surprise at the improvement in her appearance, rallied her about her double chin and accepted her invitation with thanks.

When they reached the Challis home and were quietly seated around the fire, Nellie said confidentially, "Brother Farrell, I am going to be married." In surprise her visitor inquired to whom. "To the presiding teacher of this ward, Brother Lowe."

"The Lord bless you, Sister Nellie; you are going to get as good a man as there is in this town," said Elder Farrell, shaking her hand in congratulation.

Brother Challis continued to call at the tannery to purchase supplies of leather, and he and Elder Farrell frequently met, and never without his daughter being inquired about. First it was learned that she was married and very happy. Then about a year later news came that a child had been born.

Soon afterwards Elder Farrell received a letter from Franklin with a black border around it. On opening it he saw at once it was from Father Challis. It contained sad news: Nellie had never fully rallied after her babe was born. Anxious neighbors and friends surrounded her, and all that they and medical skill could do to save her life was done, but all in vain. As the end approached she sat up in bed, and bore a fervent testimony to the houseful of friends who surrounded her. She told them not to mourn for her, but to thank the Lord for his merciful kindness to her in prolonging her life, enabling her to understand and accept the Gospel, to come to Zion, obtain a good husband and become a mother in Israel—all as predicted by Elder Farrell in England when there seemed so little hope of her living. She requested that word be sent to Elder Farrell that she had lived to see his words fulfilled, and that now she was ready to die, as she felt that it was the Lord's will.

After talking thus for two hours, she bade all present an affectionate good by, lay back in bed and was dead in two minutes.

Since that time several of the women who had heard Nellie tell of the marvelous blessings that had come to her in response to the prayers and promises of Elder Farrell, have themselves when ill journeyed to Smithfield to get him to administer to them, and their faith has generally been rewarded.

Another sequel to that first visit of Elder Farrell to Northampton may be mentioned. The daughter and son-in-law of Brother Challis who left the house in such haste when he first entered it; because they did not want to speak to a "Mormon," have both since investigated "Mormonism" and embraced the Gospel. They also have come to Zion and located at Franklin, and the young man has filled a faithful mission to England and returned home, and is now numbered among the enterprising and prosperous business men of Franklin.