Joseph Smith's Fatal Failed Miracle: The Tragic Attempt to Raise a Dead Child in Ohio (1832)

Joseph Smith was known for his claims of divine authority and miraculous abilities. Among his most controversial and lesser-known attempts at performing a miracle was his effort to raise a two-year-old child from the dead during a meeting in Ohio in 1832. 

This event, which ended in failure, raises significant questions about Smith's purported powers and the credibility of his prophetic claims.  Joseph Smith attempted to raise a two-year-old child from the dead during a meeting in Ohio. Multiple witnesses reported that the child had been given opium and that Smith's efforts to restore it to life were unsuccessful.

It is important to understand that Joseph had very grandiose thoughts about himself and trying to raise the dead like Jesus falls right in line with his belief that he was better than Paul, John, Peter and even JESUS!

“Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet…When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go” 

(History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408).

 A Tragic Loss and a Desperate Attempt

In 1832, Joseph Smith was in Ohio, where he was actively working to establish the church and gather followers. During this time, a tragic event occurred: a two-year-old child died suddenly, causing great distress among the family and the community. Smith, who was known for his bold declarations of divine power, attempted to perform a miraculous act—raising the child from the dead.

According to contemporary accounts, multiple witnesses reported that the child had been given opium, a common but dangerous practice at the time for treating various ailments. Unfortunately, the child did not survive, and Smith’s efforts to restore it to life were ultimately unsuccessful.

The event is recounted in various contemporary sources, including the book Naked Truths About Mormonism (1885), which documents many of the controversial aspects of Joseph Smith’s life and ministry. This failed miracle is one of several instances where Smith's claims of divine power did not produce the expected results.

The Early Days of the LDS Church

The year 1832 was a tumultuous time for Joseph Smith and the early LDS Church. Smith had recently moved to Ohio, where he hoped to establish a stronghold for the fledgling church. He was actively preaching, converting followers, and solidifying his leadership position. However, this period was also marked by significant challenges, including financial difficulties, internal strife, and growing opposition from outside the church.

In this context, Smith's attempt to raise the dead can be seen as part of his broader effort to demonstrate his divine authority and reinforce the faith of his followers. Miracles, both real and claimed, played a crucial role in establishing his reputation as a prophet and leader. However, when these miracles failed to materialize, as in the case of the dead child in Ohio, they raised serious doubts among both believers and critics.

Witness Accounts and Reactions

Reuben Harmon recounts his experience of this event to Arthur Deming for his newspaper, ‘Naked Truths about Mormonism’ that would be published in 1885:

" I then went to see the dead child in the house now occupied by Mrs. Carroll. It was lying on a bed. I felt of its face and hands which were warm and pliable. I thought it was under the influence of opium. It did not breathe. It was about two years old and belonged to Mr. Gould, who had lately come from the East."

James Thompson gives a similar recounting of the event, 1885:

"I married John Gould's daughter Harriet. Her father had been thirty years a Free-will Baptist minister in New York, and knew Jo Smith there. He became a Mormon and moved to Kirtland in the spring of 1832. I have often heard my wife and her parents tell about Joseph, the prophet, attempting to restore to consciousness their child which they claimed had been drugged. The child was buried."

SW Hanson also gave testimony for this publication and verifies the exact details that the other two witnesses provided, 1885:

"The Mormons announced that on a certain day, at the house of my husband's uncle, Isaac Morley, they would raise the dead. Joseph, the prophet, made protracted efforts to restore to consciousness a child to whom they had administered a soporific, but the scheme failed because they had given an overdose, and the child died."

Joel Miller, 1885:

" I went to Isaac Morley's to see the dead child raised to life. I stayed till late in the afternoon without being gratified."

Henry Carroll, 1885:

"I attended the Mormon meeting held at Isaac Morley's June 4, 1832, where they claimed they would heal the sick and raise the dead. Some claimed 5,000 people were present. Between three and four P. M. prophet Jo came into the yard and said to the crowd there would be no miracle performed that day because the people were so disorderly."

Source: Recounted in various contemporary accounts and published in Naked Truths About Mormonism (1885).

Here we have five testimonies of witnesses to this supposed miracle that Joseph Smith tried to perform. It appears that rather than perform a miracle a child died because of Joseph’s arrogant attempt to prove himself a prophet.   These testimonies were given many decades after the supposed event occurred but I find it curious and validating that all of them tell a very similar story despite the amount of time that had passed. 

The fact that the child had been given opium before its death adds a layer of complexity to the story. Opium was commonly used in the 19th century to treat various ailments, but it was also highly dangerous, particularly for young children. The use of opium in this case may have contributed to the child's death, making the situation even more tragic.

Failed Miracle: A Reflection on Joseph Smith’s Powers

The failure to raise the dead child in Ohio is one of several instances where Joseph Smith’s miraculous claims did not produce the expected results. While Smith was successful in building a religious movement and attracting followers, this failed miracle raises extremely disturbing questions about his moral character.  The fact that he was willing to risk a child’s life in an effort to claim he had performed a miracle is despicable and deceitful behavior completely unbecoming of someone claiming to be a prophet of God. 

Conclusion: A Miracle That Never Was

The story of Joseph Smith’s failed attempt to raise a dead child in Ohio is a poignant example of the limits of his claimed miraculous powers. Despite his efforts and the expectations of his followers, the child remained deceased, and the event stands as a significant failure in Smith's prophetic career. In fact, it raises serious questions about criminal behavior involved in this staged attempt to create a miracle.