Katie Diehl (Brigham Young University)
During the early 1900’s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints began to standardize and regulate healing practices performed by their members. The new official ritual focused on the authority of male priests and discouraged improvisation. Drawing on miracle tales of Lorenzo Argyle, a charismatic healer whose father was also known for his healing gifts, I examine this period of transition, emphasizing how a more expansive set of healing practices continued among the folk for decades, including the use of physical artifacts, women’s participation, and a preference for some healers over others.
Part of 04-11 Charismata and Divination in Vernacular Mormonism, Friday, November 03, 8:30 am–10:00 am