Description
The Blind Harpist
The year was 1848, in the town of Llanely, in Wales. A Latter-day Saint worship service was underway when someone stood up and began to speak in an unknown tongue. Someone else interpreted. It was a prophecy that something serious was about to happen to one of the Church leaders in that region, but that through the power of the Priesthood “the life of his servant or servants would be preserved.”
Notwithstanding the precautions that were taken, not long after, Thomas Giles was one day working in a coal mine when a very large piece of coal struck him on the head, splitting it open from the base of his skull to his eyes. He was carried home and two physicians called. They said he could not live more than two hours and declined to treat him. However, they relented and did what they could for his comfort.
Three days later William S. Phillips anointed Thomas and gave him a blessing.
“The healing power of the Holy Ghost did rest upon him at that time, for he got out of bed and walked across the two rooms, back and forth.”
In a short time, he was healed, though he was totally blind from that moment on. Thomas Giles would live to become a gifted musician—a harpist, and a powerful preacher of the Gospel. He served for a time in his native land of Wales as the President of the Welsh mission. He was a great missionary.
In 1856, Thomas Giles, his wife Margaret, and their children, Joseph, Hyrum, and Maria, ages 9, 7, and 1, started for Utah. They left Iowa City as part of the Edward Bunker handcart company. At the beginning of their journey little Maria died. And then again, not far from Fort Laramie “Margaret gave birth to baby Elizabeth, but neither mother nor child would survive.”
The two boys, Joseph and Hyrum were sent back along the trail to travel on with other Welsh immigrants in the Hunt Wagon Company. Grief-stricken and concerned about his sons, Thomas picked up his handcart and moved on. We can only imagine how heavy were his steps.
Somewhere near South Pass, Wyoming, Thomas Giles became very ill, such that he could not travel on. The Company camped over for two days waiting for his recovery, but Thomas did not recover. Finally, Captain Bunker gave the order for the Company to move out, leaving two men behind tasked with burying Thomas as soon as he died.
As it would happen, the Bunker Company met a party of Latter-day Saints journeying east, at Pacific Springs. The group was led by Elder Parley P. Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve. They told Elder Pratt of the misfortunes that had befallen the Giles family. Parley had known them in Wales and rushed forward to give Thomas a blessing, and what a blessing it was.
It promised that Giles should “instantly be healed and made well, that he should rejoin his company and arrive safely in the Salt Lake Valley; that he should there rear a family; and that because of his faithfulness he would be permitted to live as long as he wanted.”
Thomas Giles recovered from the moment on. He rejoined his company and reached the Valley safely.
To make a living he put his musical talent to work, playing the harp. He traveled through the settlements giving concerts. He drew large audiences to hear him play the harp and sing hymns and popular songs. He performed at dances, socials, and church services. He became well known as “Zion’s Blind Harpist.” He remarried and lived to bless and name 7 grandchildren. He died on November 2, 1895, after he had expressed a desire to go.
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His priesthood is power—then and now!
Sources:
Cited by William G. Hartley, Priscilla M. Evans recollections in LeRoy R. and Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion (1960), 86-87, and Lyndia Carter, “A Blind Man and His Harp,” History Blazer, March 1996, posted at http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah.
https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/26147183?p=41005513&returnLabel=Thomas%20Davis%20Giles%20(KWJR-LKG)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FKWJR-LKG
https://historytogo.utah.gov/blind-man/#:~:text=He%20earned%20fame%20as%20the,and%20leaving%20him%20totally%20blind.
