And The Blind Shall See

Here is and excerpt of a strong faith promoting story of the time when Rhea Kuntz lost her sight, then was healed after administration from her grandmother and step-mother. 

“With my impaired vision, it became necessary for Grandmother to spoon-feed me.  As time seemed to drag slowly on, there were the long days and dark night of endless pain.  Day and night, Grandmother kept warm green tea packs over my eyes.  One morning while Grandmother was making the periodic change, I became much concerned when I discovered that to me Grandmother was nothing but a shadow.  Through the day, my condition worsened.  I had an agonizing night, moaning with pain.  Grandmother kept a fire and frequently changed my packs – and prayed in her quiet way while others of the family slept in the same room.  When morning came, the family began to stir.  Grandmother fixed the fire and spoke to me as she removed the pack.  I opened my eyes – but could see nothing!  Everything was black! – the blackest black one could ever imagine!  I cried out and screamed with sudden and awful fear – the fear of never being able to see again, “Oh!  Grandma, I can’t see!  I can’t see – anything!” 

Suddenly her hands held me sternly by the shoulders, and at the same moment, she commanded, “Rhea, be quiet!” – and I was quiet, although I trembled with the awful and heretofore unknown fear of blindness. 

She was on the floor beside me still holding me, and mother Evelyn (Auntie) was there too.  They conferred a moment.  Few words were spoken.  They must have communicated partly by signs. 

Grandmother then inquired, “Rhea, don’t you believe there is a God who made you?”  

“Why, of course, Grandma,” I answered, trying to endure the pain in my eyes and head. 

“Then if He made you, don’t you think He made your eyes?” 

Although my eyes were sightless, my mind was never more clear, for the Spirit of the Lord was with these two faithful women, who knew only too well that sympathy was not in order when faith was in the balance. 

“Yes, Ma’am, He made my eyes.”  It was all very reasonable.  I am sure that the Spirit of the Lord touched my mind and gave this deep and peaceful understanding. 

“Then don’t you think He can heal your eyes if He made them?” 

“Yes, Ma’am, I know He could!” 

“Then how do you think you can use faith if you cry like that?”  

Although silent with shame, I knew she was right. As never before, I needed the firmness of Grandmother and Mother Evelyn, two great souls who had known adversity, who had grappled with the destroyer many times before – and had won. 

“Then would you like us to pray for you?” 

“Oh, yes ma’am!” 

The children who had gathered around knelt nearby.  I could hear their quiet preparations.  While of necessity my kind and loving father and big brothers were away with their farm and mercantile work, those two faithful mothers knelt beside me.  I only remember they used the consecrated oil and put their hands on my head while they prayed for me.  Grandmother, in that prayer, promised me that I would again receive my sight. …

Grandmother continued to care for me as before, assuring me that the Lord knew what He was doing and would heal me in His own way and time.  Her very presence gave me assurance and taught me to begin “to wait upon the Lord.”  The day wore on.  She spoon-fed me as before.  Somehow she knew how to prepare my food just right.  It was never too hot or too cold, and it was always good, so good.  The children were called to my bedside as usual for evening prayer, and bedtime preparations proceeded as usual. 

That night passed with less pain and headache than the awful night before.  Grandma kept the packs warm by frequent changes.  Again in the morning, I heard Mother Evelyn and Grandmother resuming their activities.  Soon Grandma came and spoke to me as she removed the packs.  I opened my eyes – and there, wonder of wonders!  I could see a little shining thread, a broken silver thread of light!  It seemed supported diagonally in the air.  That was all I saw amidst the blackness.  Although I could not yet see Grandmother, I had seen a never-to-be-forgotten thread of light – blessed light!  “Oh, Grandma, I can see!  I can see!”   

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 407-409

Of course Rhea continues to heal very quickly until her sight is restored in full.  I don't want to give away the entire story for the sake of those who would like to read it themselves :)    

In this story we learn that the women not only used consecrated oil, but put their hands upon the child’s head and made promises to her that the Lord honoured. 

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

Raising The Dead

This is quoted from Byron’s account of his wife Evelyn, and can be found in History of The Life and Acts of Byron Harvey Allred Jr.  pp. 92-93. 

“We had commenced digging a large cellar for potatoes and the storing of apples.  We were now, or the boys were doing the main part of the work on it and the farm while I was working in the store, plowing and scraping the first part of the excavation in the side hill for this large cellar.  They had just gone with their team to scrape the loose dirt out, a heavy electric storm came up and when they reached the cellar and were in the act of preparation to hook onto the scraper, a heavy bolt of lightning struck them.  Lothair was standing at the horses hips with his hands resting on them.  Elwood and Thatcher were a few feet farther back.  The lightning struck all three of them and passing through Lothair’s body and hands went through his gloves into both horses, killing them both.  Lothair was apparently dead.  Elwood, too was knocked unconscious and to every appearance was dead.  Thatcher was knocked down and for a moment turned to his brothers, with the thought that they were both dead.  His legs and feet were badly burned and he could not walk.  The shoes were blown off his feet.  He began to crawl toward the house to give the alarm.  Evelyn, while working in the kitchen had witnessed the heavy bolt of lightning and not seeing the boys in sight after it struck, feared they were injured and at once began running toward the cellar.  She met Thatcher crawling toward the house.  He told in a few words what happened.  Then Evelyn ran on to the other boys.  When she reached them they were to all appearances, dead.  She laid her hands first on Elwood’s head and prayed with all her soul for his life.  While her hands were on him he breathed and came slightly to himself so he could speak a little.  She then turned to Lothair whom both she and Elwood thought was dead and taking him in her arms as earnestly prayed God to spare his life.  He soon manifest signs of life.  She ran for help and in great difficulty obtained assistance of Brother Miles and other kind neighbors and the boys were brought to the house.  The two were more dead than alilve.  Thatcher was now able to stand on his feet a little with help.  Word was sent to me at the store.  Brother Davis prepared a horse and carriage before he let me know of the accident, then called me.  I went as fast as the horse could go, and found my two boys at death’s door.  We worked and prayed over them with the assistance of kind friends and neighbors.  While this very sore and trying scene was going on Orville, my brother, sat in one part of the room giving what help he could.  He raised his eyes to one corner of the room in which we all were and there he saw dear wife, Lottie, as distinctly as he ever saw her while in life.  She was watching earnestly over the work being carried on.  He says she was plainly visible for some time.  Time sufficient for him to think and realize that it was Lottie as easily recognized as ever in her life.  Then she disappeared from his vision.  He did not tell me of this for some time.  He was so overcome and felt very strange about it.  But I know that he tells the truth.  No man could tell that experience and feel it as he tells and fells [sic] it if it was a deception in some way practised on him, or was the imagination of an excited mind. 

    While Lothair was lying as dead, he thought his spirit left his body and he saw his Aunt Evelyn leaning and crying over him.  He also thought there was present with him some attendant, which he felt was his dear mother.  I will always believe that his spirit did leave his body but through the mercy of God he was spared to us and permitted to return to life for some unfinished work. 

    The lightning had struck Lothair in the back and chest and passed round his body and mainly out at his arms into the horses.  I can but believe that if the horses had not been there to conduct it he would most certainly have been killed outright.  The bolt struck Elwood in the center of the chest burning great patches of flesh and a streak down his legs and off at the bottom of his feet.  His back too was badly burned.  Thatcher was burned mostly from his hips down.  The flesh on all of them was cooked at though over a fire of great heat. 

    They slowly recovered from the deadly effects and became conscious, but it was a long time before they were well and fully recovered.  The smell of lightning in their clothes and hair was something shocking.  This smell was perceptible to them for a long time after the accident.  I will ever feel that God spared my boys to me.  I think for a good service that they yet will do.  I hope and pray it may be.” 

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pgs. 397-399   

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

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Years Of Service

Harriet Betsy Cook Teeples was quite an amazing woman and there is no way that I can do her life of service justice in this post, but I will post just a small quote from her life to keep with the subject of women in the priesthood.  I highly recommend, all who are interested, to find her story in Our Pioneer Heritage Volume 19. 

“Our people were glad to have us back and we were very glad and thankful to be with them.  We lived with Mother for a while then one of our good friends offered me a two-room log house for the winter which we very thankfully accepted.  My brothers brought me flour and provisions and one of them lived with us and kept us in wood and etc.  We were very comfortable.  At the first Y.L.M.A. conference held there in October 1884, I was very much surprised to hear my name called as secretary of that association, which office I held for nineteen years.  I was also called to teach a class in Sunday School which I did for fourteen years.  Also took care of sacrament for three years. I was appointed postmaster in October 1887 and held the position for ten years, then was released.”   

Our Pioneer Heritage 19:362

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 242   

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

Phineas’ Faithful Wives

“Relief from the evils of the times, including tyrant employers, did not come at once.  Phineas was tried, discouraged, and somewhat bitter.  The Lord has his own ways of subduing the sometimes tumultous feelings of his children’s hearts and of implanting in us an awareness of our own weaknesses.  So He did with Phineas.  Once humbled to the dust, he was ready for and did  receive personal instructions from the Spirit of the Lord in which, after the chastisement, came the blessing.  (Note also, dear reader, that again we have the ordinance of administration with a blessing, promised through women living a Higher Law.) :

I returned late in the evening completely over done with the days trip.  The next day I was confined to my bed.  I had chills and fever and had a pain in my finger which proved to be the eyeresypelas.  It was full of inflammation and great pain.  I asked the Lord to heal me, and it was manifest to me that I had done wrong for finding fault with bro Brigham, and I must repent or I had forfeited my right to live.  I promised to do better in future, and as soon as circumstances would permit, I would go and see him and make it right.  It was then manifested to me to call my three wives to lay hands on me and pray for me that I might be healed, which I did, the oldest being mouth for the others.  I soon felt better.  We had nothing in the house to eat but a little boiled wheat that I had laid up for seed.  Ellen Green, daughter of William Camp, heard of our situation and had the kindness to lend us 15 lbs of flour and a little tea and sugar, for which may God bless her forever.  

(Life and History of Phineas Wolcott Cook, p. 98) 

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 154   

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

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E. A. W. High Priestess

“In the Spring the work of giving endowments commenced and President Young called Sister E. A. Whitney and myself to officiate in the ordinances of the House of the Lord.  The position seemed as natural to me, as if I had always been accustomed to it.  We both enjoyed the labor very much for we loved the work and the Lord blest us with His Spirit.  We seemed to live above everything earthly or trivial while engaged in those spiritual duties, and we had many comforting dreams as well as other manifestations that the Lord approved of our ministrations.  O, it is heavenly to be thus employed; angels seemed to watch over us, for had we not made every sacrifice willingly that we might serve our Father in heaven and keep His Holy commandments?  Sister Whitney was abundantly blest with gifts and graces in spiritual things, and I loved her as my mother, a mother in Israel to all the daughters in Zion, especially those who had entered into the new and everlasting covenant. …” 
(Woman’s Exponent, Volume 12, p. 67) 

“Mother Whitney … was designated by the prophet Joseph Smith as ‘the sweet songstress of Zion.’  She was among the first members of the Church to receive the gift of tongues, which she always exercised in singing.  The Prophet said that the language was the pure Adamic tongue, the same that was used in the garden of Eden, and he promised that if she kept the faith, the gift would never leave her.  It never did, and many who heard her sing never forgot the sweet and holy influence that accompanied her exercise of this heavenly gift.  The last time she sang in tongues was on the day she was 81 years old. … At a meeting held in the Kirtland Temple, Sister Whitney sang in tongues and Parley P. Pratt interpreted, the result being a beautiful hymn descriptive of the different dispensations from Adam to the present age.  She is said to be the second of her sex to receive the endowments, being a High Priestess in the House of the Lord, in which capacity she served until a short time before her death, or until she was obliged to relinquish her labors on account of ill health.  In that position it became her privilege to bless hundreds, perhaps thousands, of the daughters of Zion.” 
(L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia 3:563-564) 

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 114 & 115   

It is getting increasingly difficult to deny that the women in the early church did indeed hold the priestesshood. 

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

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Administering To The Sick And Casting Out Devils

Of Dr. Willard Richards, was written, “He was an Apostle, holding the holy priesthood, with power to administer in all the ordinances of the same, and he was not only willing but anxious to help forward all who desired to become acquainted with the principles he so well understood.  He realized that the gift of healing was a power, especially when combined with works adapted to the circumstances of the case, and he felt that it was quite necessary that those who officiated among the sick, especially midwives ought to have all the blessings that could be conferred upon them by those holding the keys of the priesthood of God upon the earth. 

Accordingly he laid his hands upon the heads of a number of the sisters who had prepared themselves to act as midwives and also administering to the sick and afflicted and set them apart for this very office and calling, and blest them with power to officiate in that capacity as handmaids of the Lord.  Among the number set apart at that time Sister Presendia was one who received the blessing, and from that day to this she has realized the power and influence it conferred in her daily administerings, not only when she has been called upon to act as a midwife, but when washing and anointing and blessing the sisters. 

There were other sisters set apart and blest at the same time, among whom were Sisters Elizabeth Ann Whitney, Laura Pitkin Kimball, who were set apart to administer to the sick.  They appreciated this blessing for they had implicit faith in the power of the priesthood. …”  
(Woman’s Exponent, Volume 12, p. 75) 


“Not many days after the circumstance just mentioned a meeting was held at the house of Christine and Frances Swan Kimball where the evil power was again apparent; so strong was the influence that the spirits were seen and heard, and they tried to destroy those in the room by choking them.  Sister Laura Kimball and I laid our hands upon five of those so affected, and rebuked the destroyer in the name of Jesus.  This is one of the instances wherein the words of the Prophet were fulfilled, when he said at the time of the organization of the Relief Society of Nauvoo, ‘That the Sisters should have power to cast out devils, rebuke the powers of darkness and do many wonderful things.’  The Sisters felt themselves much humbled in spirit…” 
(Woman’s Exponent, Volume 12, p. 11) 

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 113 & 114   

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood. 

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Zina Diantha Huntington Smith Young

"For many years, Zina taught the children of Brigham Young and others, too, in the family school.  She became the third General President of the Relief Society, having served many years as Eliza’s first counsellor.  Among women’s movements, she became both a state and a national figure, being a speaker of rare ability.  Often she had united her faith with such great women as Eliza R. Snow, Lucy Bigalow Young and Bathsheba W. Smith in behalf of the sick.  Great healings were obtained by their faith coupled, of course, with the faith of the afflicted sisters and children who sought their help.  A woman of many abilities, Zina studied and practiced obstetrics with success stemming from both skill and living faith.  From Our Pioneer Heritage 6:408, we quote the following:  “Zina served as midwife at the birth of nearly all of the children of Brigham Young’s other wives.  She was inherently fitted for this work and brought into the world hundreds of babies as well as performing the endless duties of a nurse.”"

Voices Of Women, Rhea Kunz, pg. 110 

Those familiar with these early leaders may recall the stories of healings at their hands, great healings as Rhea puts it. 

This post is part of a series of posts on Women in the Priesthood.

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