---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Nye, E. H.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 2
number: 11
published: 1899-09
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Nye, E. H., "Missionary Experiences: A Case of Miraculous Healing," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 11 (September 1899): 815–817.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera211unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera211unse
start_page: 815
end_page: 817
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-09)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera211unse
  publication_year: 1899
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Missionary Experiences: A Case of Miraculous Healing

<!-- page:815 -->

CASE OF MIRACULOUS HEALING.

BY EPHRAIM H. NYE, PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA              MISSION.

     Under date of San Francisco, June 12, 1899, President Nye
writes as follows:
     The work of the Lord is moving steadily onward in this mis-
sion, and the Almighty is manifesting His approval of our efforts
to spread the truth by signs and miracles that are truly wonderful.
I will   give you an account of a case that is causing considerable
stir in the neighborhood where it is known.
     T. M. Shaw, one of our members, but whose wife is a pillar of
the Methodist church on Sixteenth Street, San Francisco, and
whose children also belong to that church, was baptized a year ago
last May.   He is a painter and has been employed as such in the
Mare Island Navy yard, but roomed at Vallejo. About ten days
ago, while at his work, he suddenly fell to the ground and was
unable to rise. The post doctor was called, and on examination
found that he was stricken with paralysis, the whole right side
being affected. He was taken to his room in an ambulance. The
doctor proposed to give him some pills, but he refused to take
anything, declaring that he would be all right as soon as he could
send for the Elders and have them lay hands upon him.           The
doctor, however, told him that he would never have the use of his
arm or leg again.     In this condition he lay until the fourth day.
In the meantime his wife wrote for me.     As I was away, the letter

<!-- page:816 -->

816                     IMPROVEMENT ERA.

lay here unopened until she became impatient and set out to learn
why I had not responded.       On her arrival here, Elder F. B. Piatt,
president of the conference, and Elder J. M. Hess started for
Vallejo, arriving there about noon.        They found Brother Shaw   in
a pitiable condition,               and leg to the knee being
                          his right foot
apparently as dead as though they were part of a corpse. They
were cold and clammy; the right arm was also aifected, and he
could not move a finger or a toe on that side.
     The Elders anointed him with oil and laid their hands upon
him.   He at once began to open and shut his hand, then raised it
to his head.   Mrs. Shaw gave vent to an exclamation of surprise
and delight. Elder Hess asked him if he could now move his leg
at which he began to move it about.     Calling for his clothes he
dressed and walked about the room, and within an hour walked out
and up the hill on the side of which stood the house. The Elders
sought to restrain him from moving about too freely, but he
declared he would do so.
     During the morning, before the arrival of the Elders, a kind-
hearted neighbor came in and while ministering to his comfort
pityingly remarked that he would never walk again.     He at once
told her that if the Elders came on that noon train, he would call
at her house during the evening.   She ridiculed the very thought,
declaring it to be impossible.      Nevertheless, after climbing the
    accompanied by his wife, he visited the house. The lady on
hill,

opening the door immediately threw up her hands and screamed
with affright. Brother Shaw held out the once afflicted hand,
saying:  "I told you I would come, and here I am."  The fact that
he was there with his wife could not be denied, and the lady
                                                              had
to acknowledge that a wonderful miracle had taken place.
     Brother Shaw has since returned to his home in San Fran-
cisco.  The other day Elder Hess and I partook of dinner at his
house, he and his wife conversing freely before us and
                                                       their chil-
dren on the wonderful occurrence. Yesterday they walked
                                                            to our
meeting, a distance of at least two miles.
        It is said that over a thousand men at the
                                                     Navy Yard know of
this wonderful case, but they     account for   it   by saying that we
have two Elders charged with magnetism and electricity
                                                             and send

<!-- page:817 -->

MISSIONARY EXPERIENCES.                        817

them around to do these wonderful things.      Any theory is more
acceptable to the unbeliever than the truth.

           THE
