Near the same time Thomas' sister Elizabeth had a large and painful swelling come under her ear, and when the mother was almost worn out with sitting up and waiting upon her, the Elders also administered to her. Immediately afterwards she fell asleep, slept soundly all night and when she awoke the next morning the large swelling, which had been round and hard like a ball, had disappeared, and the loose skin hung down in the place of it like a bag upon the shoulder, with no evidence whatever of any discharge from it. It always remained a mystery where the discharge had gone to. Within a few days the loose skin dried up and peeled off, and new skin succeeded, without any sign of a scar. An account of these two cases of healing was published in the Millennial Star of April 24, 1850, over the signatures of Henry Beecroft and James McNaughton, the two Elders who officiated, both of whom, as Brother Briggs remarks in his narrative, afterwards apostatized, which serves to illustrate the fact that however much the power of God may be made manifest through an Elder, he may still be overcome by the evil one unless he leads a pure life and remains humble. Brother Briggs also relates an instance of his mother being healed in answer to prayer soon after the family joined the Church. She had been so ill for several weeks as to be unable to leave her bed, when one evening the Elders called and administered to her. She was healed immediately, arose and prepared supper for her guests, of which she also ate heartily herself, and then joined in singing hymns and entertaining until midnight, as if she had never been ailing. On the 27th of January, 1849, Thomas, who was then in his 18th year, was baptized, and from that time bore a fervent testimony to the truth of the Gospel. During a meeting of the Saints held in Hull soon after Thomas was baptized, a person spoke in tongues, and when the interpretation was given (which was by another person, and which was evidently inspired) it was found that it related wholly to Thomas. It was said that he would have many trials to pass through in life, and much suffering to endure, but they should be shown to him beforehand, and if he remained faithful he would come off victorious, and in the end wear a martyr's crown. Thomas was not specially impressed with this incident at the time, but he had occasion to think of it many times afterwards, and also to see much of it verified. In the year 1849 the cholera was very prevalent in Hull, and though many of the Saints suffered from it, but few of them died, being mostly healed by the power of God in answer to prayer. In the year 1850 the Briggs family were greatly prospered, and were strongly advised by one of the Elders who enjoyed the gift of prophecy, to migrate to Utah. He said: "Brother Briggs, when you get sufficient means to take you to new Orleans, you go; then go from there to St. Louis, or you may never get to the valleys of the mountains."