The First Miracle which was done in the Church

by Lynn Ridenhour

Newel Knight delivered from demonic possession, filled with Spirit.  First LDS general conference: several laid prostrate in the Spirit.

Ok:  what was the first miracle of the church?

How many of us know how the restoration began?

We don’t have to search far. For Joseph in his own words tells us. The first miracle of the restoration occurred in the home of Joseph Knight. His son, Newel, was anxious to pray publicly for he was shy. But let’s let Joseph tell what happened on that eventful day.

"…Accordingly, he [Newel] deferred praying until next morning, when he retired into the woods; where, according to his own account afterwards, he made several attempts to pray, but could scarcely do so, feeling that he had done his duty, in refusing to pray in the presence of others. He began to feel uneasy, and continued to feel worse both in mind and body, until, upon reaching his own house, his appearance was such as to alarm his wife very much. He requested her to go and bring me to him.

I went and found him suffering very much in his mind, and his body acted upon in a very strange manner; his visage and limbs distorted and twisted in every shape and appearance possible to imagine; and finally he was caught up off the floor of the apartment, and tossed about most fearfully.

His situation was soon made known to his neighbors and relatives, and in a short time as many as eight or nine grown persons had got together to witness the scene. After he had thus suffered for a time, I succeeded in getting hold of him by the hand when almost immediately he spoke to me, and with great earnestness requested me to cast the devil out of him, saying that he knew he was in him and that he also knew that I could cast him out.

I replied, ‘If you know that I can, it shall be done;’ and then almost unconsciously I rebuked the devil, and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from him; when immediately Newel spoke out and said that he saw the devil leave him and vanish from his sight. This was the first miracle which was done in the Church, [bold mine] or by any member of it; and it was done not by man, nor by the power of man, but it was done by God, and by the power of godliness; therefore, let the honor and the praise, the dominion and the glory, be ascribed to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit…

This scene was now entirely changed, for as soon as the devil had departed from our friend, his countenance became natural, his distortions of body ceased, and almost immediately the Spirit of the Lord descended upon him, and the visions of eternity were opened to his view. So soon as consciousness returned, his bodily weakness was such that we were obliged to lay him upon his bed, and wait for him for some time. He afterwards related his experience as follows:

I now began to feel a most pleasing sensation resting on me, and immediately the visions of heaven opened to my view. I felt myself attracted upward, and remained for some time enwrapt in contemplation, insomuch that I knew not what was going on in my room. By and by, I felt some weight pressing upon my shoulder and the side of my head, which served to recall me to a sense of my situation, and I found that the Spirit of the Lord had actually caught me up off the floor, and that my shoulder and head were pressing against the beams.

"All this was witnessed by many," says Joseph, "to their great astonishment and satisfaction, l when they saw the devil cast out, and the power of God, and his Holy Spirit made manifest. As may be expected, such a scene as this contributed much to make believers of those who witnessed it, and finally the greater part of them became members of the Church."  --LDS History of the Church, Vol.1, pp.82-84

Holy Cow!

During the first miracle of the church "the Spirit of the Lord had actually caught me up off the floor," says Newel Knight--and floated him to the ceiling!  "All this was witnessed by many" said Joseph, "…and the greater part of them became members of the Church."

I think I would have joined too!

To think, the restoration movement began with casting out of demons and a miracle, and today we probably emphasize the deliverance ministry and the gift of miracles the least.

No wonder Joseph described the power & presence of God to those who witnessed it with these words "…to their great astonishment…"

How long has it been since you and I have been astonished in church?!  Too long I’m afraid.  I’m sure none of us has seen a member float to the ceiling lately during sacrament or conference talk. But we need not be astonished that much. A "little miracle" here & there would do.  Someone’s eyes opens. A sister’s cancer dissolves. A brother’s prostate cancer disappears. Even if a migraine headache would suddenly disappear in direct response to prayer--that would be a faith booster. A start.

It’s sad to say, but sacrament service on most any given Sunday can be the dullest place on earth.

Whatever happened to words like "to their great astonishment" or "that’s simply amazing" to describe our worship services?  Our conference talks?  Do you know, by the way, what happened at the church's first conference?

The early saints seem to revel under the power of the Spirit.

"On the ninth day of June, 1830, we held our first conference as an organized Church. Our numbers were about thirty, besides whom many assembled with us, who were either believers or anxious to learn. Having opened by singing and prayer, we partook together of the emblems of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We then proceeded to conform several who had lately been baptized, after which we called out and ordained several to the various offices of the Priesthood. Much exhortation and instruction was given, and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner—many of our number prophesied, whilst others had the heavens opened to their view, and were so overcome that we had to lay them on beds or other convenient places, among the rest was Brother Newel Knight, who had to be placed on a bed, being unable to help himself…"  --LDS History of the Church, pp.84, 85

What a first conference!

Saints were slain in the Holy Spirit, "so overcome that we had to lay them on beds…"  And poor Brother Newel Knight—involved in the first miracle of the church and now involved in the first conference of the church.  A few days ago he’s on the ceiling by the power of God; now he’s on the floor by the power of God!

Simply amazing!  Utterly astonishing!

Lord, please do it again.

Page Posted June 3, 2001