He ordered me out of his house for believing such nonsense. I went out, reflecting as to whether or not I had done wrong in predicting that I would baptize him in less than two years.
Some time after this he was taken sick, and I went to see him. My mother told me he had the spotted fever, and that there was no hope of his recovery. She believed he was dying, and so it appeared to me; but I thought that God could and would save him if I prayed for him.
I retired to a private place, and prayed to the God of Abraham to have mercy on my father and heal him, that he might have an opportunity of obeying the gospel.
It was a moonlight night, and when I returned to the house my mother stood at the door. She spoke to me very kindly, and said:
"Jacob, the fever has left your father; he has spoken and wants to see you."
As I approached him he said, "The fever has left me, and your mother says that you came to me and went away again. What has made such a sudden change? Do you know?"
I answered that I had prayed for him, that I was a believer in the gospel of the Son of God, and in the signs following those that believe.
"Well," said he, "if it is the gospel, I would like to know it; but if it is priestcraft, I want nothing to do with it."
Soon after the sickness of my father, I sold my home, gathered up my effects and started for Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois.
In passing my father's house I found him quite well, and he desired me to remain over night. He showed much interest in the principles of the gospel, and, when I left his house in the morning, the Spirit manifested to me that my father and his household would yet accept the truth.