Joseph Henderson Mitchell

Joseph Mitchell became very ill with a severe throat infection during the winter of 1896. He couldn’t eat or swallow and could barely talk. Fearing where the rapidly worsening illness would lead, Joseph sent for the elders to give him a priesthood blessing. While waiting for them, he covenanted with the Lord that if he were healed he would do anything the Lord required of him.

He was miraculously healed. Before the elders left, he could talk and swallow, and the illness was gone by the next day.

The next spring, Bishop Harrison Sperry called Joseph to serve a mission.

Joseph’s written response reads, “I know of nothing at the present time that will hinder me from endeavoring to do my duty in responding to this call and relying on the assistance of the Lord will endeavor to make all necessary arrangements to start at the time appointed.”

There were, of course, great difficulties. He was 36 years old and married with one child and another on the way. When he received the call, he thought he couldn’t serve, but his faithful wife, Susan, reminded him of the covenant he had made and encouraged him to keep it, saying that she would find a way to care for their family while he was away.

He reported for missionary service in August of that year, as requested, and served in his native Scotland from August 1897 until July 1899. He was a companion to David O. McKay, and together they had significant success and many remarkable spiritual experiences.