Original subtitles

- Ma! Ma! - What, honey, what?

- Preacher man's here. - Oh, my god.

Oh, right on time, I'd say.

Oh, for heaven's sakes! Oh! Oh!

God be with you.

God be with you.

The lord's blessings on you, sister.

God be with you.

Some rig he's got there.

Yeah, that's a relief.

What do you mean?

Well, Harriet oleson ain't talked about nothing

but the reverend Danforth

since she heard him preaching last month.

Now, we'll find out what the fuss is all about.

Oh, I suppose.

Well, Charles, you're going tonight, ain't you?

You can't miss this.

I'm not going to miss it.

I'm just thinking about getting this order filled right now.

Oh, yeah.

Thank you, sister, brother.

Oh, I wish you didn't have to rush off like this, reverend Danforth.

I'd love to fix you some sandwiches.

Well, you're very kind,

but the sooner I begin preparing for tonight, the better.

You know, the best place for that tent

would be in the field down from the feed and seed.

Oh, just think.

Folks will be coming in from all over to see you.

We'll come by with some neighbors and help you set up.

Oh, no need.

My assistants will be arriving momentarily

to take care of the details.

Oh, right.

- God bless you. - Oh.

Good day.

Good day, brother.

Hey, pa, that has to be reverend Danforth.

Well, it must be, all right.

Are we going to hear him preach tonight?

Would you like that, son?

Sure would.

Well, then I reckon we can.

Come on, let's get the shopping done.

Caroline, I appreciate your having me to dinner.

It gets a little lonely with Anna away visiting her sister.

It's our pleasure, reverend.

There's plenty more cake.

Reverend: Perhaps another slice. Charles: Mm-hmm.

I hear the mill is doing quite well, Charles.

As a matter of fact, we've got more business than we can handle, reverend.

Well, that, as someone once said, is the kind of problem to have.

I agree.

Thank you.

Reverend Alden, are you going to hear that preacher tonight?

Well, I imagine I will.

He's quite a remarkable evangelist, I'm told.

Albert: Can he really heal people like they say?

Some individuals have that gift.

How long is this reverend Danforth supposed to be here?

Well, I imagine it depends on how many people he attracts.

I don't know, it may sound selfish of me,

I just hope that his meeting

doesn't take away from our church services.

How could they? They're not even at the same time.

I know, but we have two services on one sunday.

I'm not so sure some of the folks may not choose one over the other.

Well, I confess,

that thought had crossed my mind, as well.

Oh, you don't have to worry about the people of walnut grove.

You have a very loyal congregation.

Well, not the whole flock, Caroline.

Otherwise, why would Mrs. Oleson

have invited the reverend Danforth here in the first place?

She probably figures she needs more than one church service

to get forgiveness for all the stuff she does.

Albert.

Charles: Albert: Sorry, ma.

Albert, your mother is right.

Caroline, this cake is delicious.

Thank you.

Danforth: And when you come to the lord,

let him decide

who you are

and what you're worth.

It's time to come to the end

of your search for a miracle,

of your search for god,

because I believe...

I know, I have seen

that there is no pain

too great

nor no affliction too terrible

that god's love will not take away.

You know, it's man who says,

"well, there's nothing we can do."

But god says, "it is done."

The lord doesn't use sickness to punish you.

The lord is love. The lord will heal.

The devil! The devil uses sickness and pain.

It is not the will of god for you to be sick.

Now, you needn't be afraid

to stand in the presence of god.

Ask him, and it is done.

Ask him, and salvation is now.

Put your life into the hands of the lord.

Hear him say, "come, come, child.

"Hurry along to me."

Reach out and touch him.

Who loves his pain and sickness so much

that he will deny god

his power to take them away?

Who is willing to believe?

Who among you will be the first to come forward

and ask god for his divine healing?

Woman: Oh, please!

Please, god, help me!

Help me, lord!

I want to see again!

Danforth: It is done. You need only come forward.

Woman: Oh, please.

Please.

Danforth: Come forward.

Do you believe in god's love?

Yes.

Do you believe god loves you?

Yes.

Do you want god's love?

Yes.

Oh, yes!

You have come to this place...

With the help of your wheelchair.

But you will leave this place...

Without it.

Lord...

Lord...

Lay a healing hand

on this poor, afflicted soul,

I pray you.

Heal.

Danforth: Heal, heal, in the name of the lord.

Heal...

Heal...

Heal.

Stand in the light of god's love.

Woman: I can't.

I can't!

Stand.

I can't!

Stand...

Before his holy presence.

Danforth: Thank you, lord, for your boundless love!

Oh, thank you, god!

Thank you!

Albert: Bye.

Reverend, a lovely sermon.

Thank you, Caroline.

It's a shame more people weren't here to hear it.

I didn't think it was such a bad turnout, really.

Yes, I suppose.

Still, I've been thinking.

If reverend Danforth gets a large attendance

at his prayer meeting this afternoon,

the people are being served.

That's what's important.

Um, will you take an early supper with US?

That's very kind of you, but...

No, thanks. I...

I have some things I need to attend to.

We'll see you next sunday, then, reverend.

Certainly.

Caroline: Thank you.

Oh! Aah!

What's the matter?

Are you sick?

Oh, it hurts! It hurts!

Mr. Dobbs! Mr. Dobbs!

Something's wrong with Timothy.

Son.

Son.

It's my stomach again, pa.

Timothy's been having stomach cramps lately,

but nothing this bad.

Let's get him to my office.

Ugh! Ow!

Pain almost gone?

Yes, sir.

That hurt?

Only when you press it.

All right, Timothy.

You can get your shirt on, now.

I want to talk to your father.

What do you think, doc?

I can't be absolutely certain, mind you,

but all the signs point to acute appendicitis.

Now, he should be taken immediately to mankato

and examined by a surgeon.

To mankato?

Yes. This isn't something that can wait, Matthew.

I'm going to give you the name of the doctor to see.

Well, look, doc, mankato is awful far,

and you're not even sure.

If you leave right away, you can be there by tonight.

Well, just hear me out. What I'm thinking is

that in a little while that prayer meeting

will be getting underway.

Prayer meeting?

Yeah, with the reverend Danforth?

Reverend Danforth?

Matthew, if your boy has appendicitis,

reverend Danforth isn't going to cure it.

But you've seen how he cured that woman...

Dr. Baker: An apparently crippled man,

and a woman, a blind woman,

apparently cured by pure faith.

Now, what I'm saying as a doctor

is that I would have had to personally examine these people

to be sure they were truly cured.

You saw it yourself.

I know what I saw, and I'm telling you

to take that boy to someone who can really help him!

Yeah, all right, but...

Well, I can get him to the reverend Danforth

quicker than I can get him to a doctor in mankato,

and if he says the lord can't help, then we'll leave right away.

I mean, a few more hours won't make no difference, will it?

They could.

Well, I believe in him.

Maybe you don't have faith in the lord's power, but I do,

and I'm taking him to the reverend first.

Laura: Pa!

Hey, where are you off to in such a rush?

Ma said it was all right with her if it was all right with you.

If what's all right?

If we went to the prayer meeting.

Don't you think you've had enough religion for one sunday?

Well, want to see reverend Danforth do his healing again.

There are people lining up in town.

I've seen one man on crutches.

There was an old man bent way over like this on a cane.

So, please, can we just do it this one more time?

Please?

- All right, go ahead. - Thanks, pa.

- Thanks, pa. Let's go! - Come on.

Danforth: Salvation is now.

All god wants from you

is your trouble, your pain, your sorrow.

Bring them to god, put them in his hands,

and he will make them disappear forever.

But god won't come to you if you don't need him.

If you're not sure you deserve his love,

if you're not sure...

Timothy: Ugh! Ugh!

For god's sake, man!

Please! Please, reverend, help my boy!

Bring the child to me.

- Matthew... - leave me be, doc!

It's a terrible pain in his stomach, reverend.

It's his appendix. That's what it is.

And it's about to burst, if it hasn't already.

He don't know that for sure. He admitted he don't.

Stand the boy before me.

No.

Come on, son.

- I can't. - That's it, one step more.

Stay close behind him.

Do you believe in god's love?

Oh!

Danforth: Answer, boy. Do you believe?

Yes.

Do you believe god loves you?

Yes. Yes!

Danforth: Do you want god's love?

Timothy: Yes, please!

Lord,

lord, lay your hand

on this suffering child, I pray you.

Heal, heal,

heal in the name of the lord.

The power

of god's love is in...

And around you,

drawing out the pain...

Drawing out the pain...

Drawing out the pain.

Heal...

Heal!

Hold him. Hold him.

Tim?

Timothy?

Timothy?

It's gone.

Glory be to god!

Hallelujah! The lord be praised!

We thank you, lord,

for your love and mercy!

Oh, thank you, god. Thank you!

Excuse me.

Reverend Danforth, come in.

We can visit some other time, if you're busy.

No, no, not at all.

Wednesday evening's sermon, I'm afraid it's not going too well.

Won't you sit down?

I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you.

I don't think I've told you

I appreciate your not having a prayer meeting on wednesdays.

Well, that would be bad manners.

You've created a great deal of excitement.

I don't imagine that makes you anxious to move on.

That's true.

Still, I do have a number of meetings scheduled in other towns.

I see.

But not for a little while, of course,

and I do expect to be back.

Oh?

The truth is,

that's why I've come to see you.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

I've spoken to Mrs. Oleson about it,

and she's very much in favor of it.

You see, normally, in a few weeks, actually,

I'd be turning my wagon south,

what with the cold weather coming.

Prayer meetings under a tent

are not very attractive in a blizzard.

Now, maybe it's advancing age, I'm not sure,

but I don't want to go south anymore.

In fact, I'd like to stay in walnut grove

on a permanent basis.

Permanent basis.

So, I'm coming to you with a proposition.

During the cold season,

which is much longer in Minnesota than in most areas,

I'd like to share this church with you,

on any basis you wish.

We could even conduct joint services.

Walnut grove is quite central to the rural areas.

I expect we'd develop a considerable following.

In time, donations would increase to the point

where we could build a larger facility.

Well?

Reverend Danforth, I find your proposition remarkable.

As I said, Mrs. Oleson's very much in favor of it.

Yes, I'm sure she is.

Mrs. Oleson is an outstanding member of this community.

And, although I haven't seen her present in this congregation lately,

of this church,

but Mrs. Oleson alone does not make policy.

I was appointed minister of this church

by the community of walnut grove.

I will remain as such as long as I am needed.

I will not share this pulpit with you.

I see.

I'm glad you do.

There doesn't seem much more to say.

No. I'm sorry.

Reverend Alden,

there will now be a Wednesday evening prayer meeting.

And one on sunday morning, as well.

Danforth: Good day to you, sister.

Brother, good to see you.

Glad to have you.

The assistants will show you in.

Good day to you. Good to see you again.

Good day to you, sister.

The lord

bless you and keep you.

The lord make his grace to shine upon you, and give you the peace.

Amen.

- Amen. - Amen.

Reverend.

It's all right, Charles. There's nothing to say.

It's just not right.

Reverend Danforth just doesn't have any business

setting his services right opposite yours, reverend.

I know. I appreciate your support.

Small as it is, you can count on it.

Thank you.

Matthew: Dr. Baker, Dr. Baker, my boy is awful sick.

Where is he?

Out on my buckboard.

He was getting ready for the prayer meeting

when he said he felt funny and had to lay down,

just got weaker and weaker.

He's going to be all right, ain't he, doc?

Matthew...

Your boy is dead.

Dead?

He can't be dead.

He can't be.

Oh, the glory of giving your hearts and souls

to the love of god.

And oh, the peace and joy that are yours.

Heartache and sorrow are banished

when you touch his holy presence.

Fear and hatred are unknown

when the almighty's love surrounds you with its glory and...

Brother dobbs, what's happened?

My Timothy is dead.

May god be with you, brother.

You said he was healed!

It was god's will.

No, it wasn't.

It was your will, reverend Danforth.

This boy died of a burst appendix.

Dr. Baker: He died because the only thing he had to tell him

how desperately he needed help

was taken away...

His pain.

Is that healing? Is it?

I demand to address this assembly

before further tragedies occur.

Danforth: No, you will not.

As I am not permitted to speak in your house of worship,

so you will remain silent in mine.

God has granted me the power to heal.

You have all seen it.

But god has not granted me the power

to withhold from him what is his.

And if our heavenly father chose to take the life,

the earthly life, of this child,

and bestow on him

a new life in his kingdom,

then it was to save him.

Danforth: And god's wisdom will not be questioned,

nor will he be mocked.

To say that pain is not of the devil but of god is an abomination.

Brother dobbs,

your grief

for Timothy's loss is great,

but do you know how much greater

is Timothy's joy at this moment?

For he is in heaven,

where he was called by our heavenly father.

He is wrapped in the love of his maker.

Do you know that?

Do you?

Danforth: Answer me. Do you?

Yes.

Danforth: Do you believe it?

Matthew: Yes.

Danforth: Do you all believe it?

- Yes! - We believe it.

Lord god on high,

we have commended to your love and mercy

the soul of your child,

Timothy dobbs.

May he live with you

in joy, forever!

- Amen! - Amen!

- Praise the lord! - Amen!

Crowd: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Danforth: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the lord forever.

We remember that this is but the vessel we return to the earth,

which once contained the life of Timothy dobbs.

But life goes on, in joy and fulfillment,

peace, and love, with his god in heaven.

Amen.

All: Amen.

Why don't you go? I'll help the boys.

Charles, I baptized that child when he came into the world.

It's not pride that's sending me away.

I will not share this pulpit with a man like that.

Well, I've never felt right about Danforth, either.

I just wish our votes could have stopped him.

I appreciate that.

You know, there still is an awful lot of folks here who would like to...

See you stay on with US,

if you could work something out with Danforth.

No.

Reverend, maybe we're not thinking right about Danforth.

I mean, it was Timothy's father who wouldn't let him get the operation. Dan...

Charles, there's nothing more to talk about.

The people made their choice.

They want Danforth. I'm not a healer.

I don't know, maybe I don't have enough faith.

But I do know that I'll not stand by

and watch my entire congregation follow another minister.

Well, it's just your pride.

Yes! God help me, yes!

I'll go on Saturday.

Charles: Reverend?

Couldn't you wait till sunday?

An awful lot of folks would like to give you a proper good-bye.

No.

Good-bye, Charles.

Good-bye, reverend.

Oh, reverend Danforth, I do wish that you didn't have to go.

Oh, it's just what you might call

a few one-night stands.

I can't break my word, you know.

Oh, no, no. I know, I know.

I'll be back by the sabbath.

Yes, and in your very own church this time.

Thanks to you, sister oleson,

and you, too, brother.

I'll be looking forward to it.

God bless you.

Thank you. You, too.

God bless you.

Danforth: God be with you, brothers.

Nels.

Yeah.

Did you... did you put this on Julius' account?

I don't know. I suppose.

Well, what are you so down-in-the-mouth about?

Harriet, I told a lie out there.

Oh, nels. What are you talking about?

I'm not looking forward to reverend Danforth coming back.

Why, nels oleson.

What is the matter with you?

It's the way I feel.

Harriet: Well, if you feel that way,

then why did you vote for him?

Because you wanted him here.

Because the town wanted him.

Well, of course they did!

The man is obviously a hand of god.

Well, he is.

And he's going to make this town famous.

And it certainly isn't going to hurt our business any.

Well, people are going to come from miles around

to be healed.

And it was my idea to bring him here in the first place,

and don't you forget it.

I'm sure I won't forget it.

You can't sleep, huh?

Ah, there's too much on my mind, I guess.

You're working too hard not to get you a rest.

Ah, things will slow down as soon as I

make that delivery to sleepy eye, tomorrow.

I almost forgot, I won't have the order ready in time,

so, can't get an early start.

I'll have to sleep over and come back Saturday morning.

Oh.

Charles,

I know how strongly you feel about

reverend Danforth coming for good,

but there's really nothing you can do.

Oh, it's not so much him as what it's doing to reverend Alden.

I know.

It can't be easy,

after all these years, losing your parish.

Caroline: But he's strong.

He'll find another.

He has great faith.

That's just it. I think this...

I think this whole thing has just drained him of all of his strength.

I think, for the first time in his life, he's lost faith in himself.

He'll find it again.

I just wish I could help him. He's a friend.

He's going to leave Saturday,

so he won't have to be here when they take his parish away.

You have got to try and get some rest.

I will. I'll just finish my coffee, and I'll come to bed.

I will. Now, you go on.

I love you.

Good night.

Charles, you don't look good at all.

Are you sure you don't want me to drive this load into sleepy eye?

I'll be fine.

I'd be glad to do it, Charles.

Ah, between the two of US, who's got the tougher job?

Me driving this load into sleepy eye

or you working on the next order all by yourself?

I was hoping you wouldn't think of that.

I did. I'll see you later.

Fine meal, Mrs. Adams. Next time I'm in sleepy eye,

I guarantee I'll be staying at your boarding house.

Well, thank you, Mr. Ingalls.

There's plenty of leftovers in the kitchen

if you get hungry later.

Thank you very much.

Oh. Oh, my goodness. It's already started.

You sure you don't want to come?

No, no, thank you. I'm going to turn in early.

- All right. Good night. - Good night to you.

Danforth: To come forward and ask god for his divine healing?

Woman: Oh, please!

Please, god, help me!

Man: Help me, lord!

Woman: I want to see again!

Danforth: It is done. You need only come forward.

Come forward.

Danforth: The power and love of god are in you,

in every fiber of your body,

coursing through your blood.

Heal, heal, heal.

Stand in the light of god's love.

Woman: I can't.

I can't.

I can't!

Stand.

I can't!

Stand.

In his holy presence!

Man: Praise be to god!

Danforth: Thank you, lord, for your boundless love!

Oh, thank you, god!

Thank you!

Where's the reverend Danforth preaching next?

A Meadow just south of downing, tomorrow at noon.

If you know someone in need of healing, you should bring them.

I intend to.

Almost 30 miles back to walnut grove.

Shouldn't be traveling it in the dark.

The road's full of potholes.

Take you all night, if you get there.

Well, there's a full moon tonight. I'll get there.

Well, suit yourself.

Hyah! Thank you.

Charles, are you sure?

Are you sure it's the same ones?

Reverend, I'm positive. I just don't understand why.

We know some of the people that he helped.

Now, if he can really heal, why does he use fakes?

Well, perhaps because he needs a convincing way

to get the people to believe he can heal.

Once he has, the people themselves will do the rest.

Charles, the power of belief is incredible,

whether it's truly from god or not.

And there are authentic faith healers,

I've seen their miracles.

Well, I guarantee you, Danforth is not one of them.

I mean, Timothy would be alive today if it wasn't for him.

Will you come with US?

Oh, no.

Why not?

Well, Charles, I don't want him to use me as an excuse.

If I'm with you when you face him,

he'll swear that I put you up to it

because he took my church away from me.

You've seen how he can move people.

If I thought I'd help, I'd go.

All right. We'll go without you.

Just promise me one thing... you'll stay here till sunday.

I'll be here.

There absolutely has to be a mistake.

There has to be!

If reverend Danforth proves to be, uh, what you say he is,

well, I'm going to look like an absolute fool!

Danforth: Who loves his pain and sickness so much

that he will deny god his power to take them away?

Who among you will be the first to come forward

and ask god for his divine healing?

Woman: Please, god, help me!

Man: Help me, lord!

Woman: I want to see again!

Danforth: Come forth. Charles: That's it, let's go.

The power and love of god are in you,

in every fiber of your body,

coursing through your veins.

Heal...

Heal, heal.

Danforth: Stand in the light of god's love.

I can't.

I can't!

Danforth: Stand.

Not yet.

Danforth: Before his holy presence.

All: Amen! Amen!

Oh, thank you, lord,

for your boundless love!

Oh, thank you, god!

You killed my son!

You killed my Timothy.

Why do you interrupt these holy proceedings?

I know you not.

Perhaps you know me, reverend.

Well, no, I...

You don't know me?

You don't remember me?

You remember those people?

Why, yes, of course I do.

You see, the reverend Danforth

did more than just kill that little boy,

much more.

He let him die

of a ruptured appendix because he convinced that man,

the boy's father, that he had cured him.

You know that is not true.

I saw that woman cured in walnut grove!

And again last night in sleepy eye, and again today.

Is that true?

Charles: Answer me!

It's true.

Yes, we saw it.

Give me your crutches, brother! You don't need them!

Why, it's a miracle!

Charles: He can stand!

Or have I healed him, reverend?

And shouldn't we ask this poor blind woman

how many times the reverend has restored her sight?

Please.

Tell them how many!

No. No.

- Tell them! - Aah!

Yes, she saw the crutch.

Maybe you'd like to explain this to your congregation, reverend.

Maybe you'd like to explain to them

how surely...

God has called you to lie

and deceive them in his name.

Man: He's a fake.

Let's go!

Danforth: What I've done, I've done for the lord,

and for you, for all of you!

You lack the faith to be healed!

I had to give you that faith! That's why I used these people.

To make you strong, to make you believe!

Don't you understand that?

I understand you lied.

I lied to fool the devil, to help you save yourselves!

I can cure you! I can!

Please, please stay! I am god's hand!

During my years in divinity school and after,

it was a dream of mine to be a great orator of god,

holding a vast congregation spellbound in some great cathedral.

For years, I...

It was not to be.

Gradually, I learned to accept the fact

that god had placed me on this earth

as a simple preacher.

When...

When reverend Danforth came and took my church from me,

I was hurt.

I was envious.

I was filled with envy for one who could command a congregation

the way I dreamed of doing and couldn't.

I was guilty of the sin of pride.

Then, even as I learned that I was to come back to this pulpit,

I thought I must do so as the fiery, commanding minister of god

that I'd always dreamed of being

if you were to want me, or need me...

Even love me.

And then I realized my folly.

Is it the duty of a minister to be wanted and loved...

Or is it simply to love the lord?

We'd all like to welcome you home, reverend.

Laura: Reverend Alden remained our pastor.

His courage to admit that a simple man, a shy man,

dreaming of being what he wasn't,

only strengthened our love and respect for him.