IN THE OLD WEST 309 



ing miraculous cures of the sick, was so generally 

 believed by the Mormons, that physic was never 

 used amongst them. The prophets visited the 

 beds of the sick, and laid hands upon them, and 

 if, as of course was almost invariably the case, 

 the patient died, it was attributed to his or her 

 want of faith ; but if, on the contrary, the patient 

 recovered, there was universal glorification on the 

 miraculous cure. 



Joe Smith was a tall fine-looking man, of most 

 plausible address, and possessed the gift of the 

 gab in great perfection. At the time appointed 

 for the performance of the walking-water miracle, 

 he duly attended on the river's bank, and descended 

 barefoot to the edge of the water. 



" My brethren ! " he exclaimed, in a loud voice, 

 " this day is a happy one to me, to us all, who 

 venerate the great and only faith. The truth of 

 our great and blessed doctrine will now be proved 

 before the thousands I see around me. You have 

 asked me to prove by a miracle that the power of 

 the prophets of old has been given to me. I say 

 unto you, not only to me, but to all who have 

 faith. I have faith, and can perform miracles — 

 that faith empowers me to walk across the broad 

 surface of that mighty river without wetting the 

 soles of my unworthy feet ; but if ye are to see 

 this miracle performed, it is necessary that ye 

 have faith also, not only in yourselves, but in me. 

 Have ye this faith in yourselves ? " 



