I squinted as the too-bright lights of the operating room glared down at me. A nurse had just moved me to the narrow, hard surgery table and was starting an IV. In the corner of the room, my doctor, a plastic surgeon, was donning his surgical gown, cap, and mask. The nurse verified that this surgery entailed the removal of several facial skin cancers. She then asked, “Have you had this done before?” I responded, “Well, no less than 25 times.” Surprised, she looked at my face more closely and said, “I can hardly see any scars.” I replied, “That’s because Dr. Clayton is such a good surgeon.” By then the doctor was standing near us and said, “She’s such a good healer.”
It was at the moment that a wave of warmth swept over me and I knew more than ever who the true Healer is.
Many, many times I have witnessed the miracle of healing for people I love as well as in my own life. When illness, pain, or impending surgery arises, like most Latter-day Saints, our family and loved ones request priesthood anointings and blessings, following the counsel: “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14).
My testimony of the healing power of the Lord is also strengthened by reading historical accounts. Remarkable healings took place in both Nauvoo, Illinois, and Montrose (Mount of Roses,) Iowa, when many Saints were afflicted with “swamp fever,” or malaria. One particular day, the Prophet Joseph Smith and a small group of priesthood holders traveled on both sides of the river blessing the sick.
Elijah Fordham was so near death that he could not speak. When the Prophet blessed him, he instructed Elijah to get up, put his clothes on, and go with Joseph to visit the sick---which Elijah did. As Joseph stood on the bank of the Mississippi River waiting for a boat to take him back to Nauvoo, a man pleaded with the Prophet to come to his house and bless his three-month-old twins. Joseph told the man he could not go but would send someone else. He turned to Elder Wilford Woodruff, gave him a red silk handkerchief, and told him to wipe the faces of the babies with it and they would be healed.
The story of the red silk handkerchief surely demonstrates the power of faith and the healing power of the priesthood. Just recently I read of a similar healing experience, this time the prophet of my childhood—President David O. McKay—and the setting, Berlin.
Following World War II, Germany was divided, and East Germany, then became the German Democratic Republic. Under communist rule, the GDR was anti-religion and officially atheistic. Berlin itself was divided into East and West Berlin. Foreign missionaries could not serve behind the Iron Curtain, and visits by Church leaders were few. When President McKay was scheduled to visit Berlin in 1952, members rejoiced and prepared to receive the prophet.
A Sister Henning who lived in Pöpenik was crippled and suffered severe pain. She took care of her two young children from her bed---cooking, ironing, mending, and washing for them. She had strong faith that the Lord through His prophet could heal her.
Käthe Würscher recounted the story of Sister Henning, of one who had “faith to be healed” (D&C 46:19): “In 1952 the prophet David O. McKay visited Berlin. This mother, suffering with pain, sent her two children to the prophet with the request that he visit her and give her a blessing. Unfortunately, this was impossible because of the political circumstances. His visa was valid only for Berlin. But he gave the children his handkerchief to take with them, and his blessing reached the mother, and she was relieved of her sufferings. Later, when the children were grown, she became the leader of the Relief Society in that little branch.” 1
I know through my own experiences and by knowing of the experiences of others that Jesus Christ is the Healer for physical conditions and much more. He is the Healer of a multitude of other kinds of pain, for He has already experienced them---“the Son of Man hath descended below them all” (D&C 122: 8).
Because Christ knows our sufferings and knows each of us intimately, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up [our] wounds” (Psalms 147:3). Healing of whatever “manner of afflictions” (Alma 31:38) may not come as quickly as with the handkerchief experiences, for the process of healing may be lengthy. Healing may not occur as we desire it to be but may be a trial, a test of faith, a learning and growing process, “that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7). Surely and magnificently, however, because “he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . . . With his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
