History Recap / LittleHouseOnThePrairieS6E10TheFaithHealer

Later, a farmer named Matthew Dobbs brings his 13-year-old son, Timothy, to Danforth, after Timothy complains of severe abdominal cramps, to Danforth to have him "healed." Doc Baker sees this and urges him to come to his office instead for surgery, but the elder Dobbs – putting all of his trust in Danforth – ignores Baker's pleas. Danforth does his faith healing act … and lo and behold, it appears Timothy is healed!

With the rise in televangelism and charismatic preachers on the rise in the 1970s, mainstream preachers were taking a back seat as people were drawn into these more fiery styles of preaching as opposed to the dull, doddering styles most Americans came to love and respect. Michael Landon took the idea, married it to the concept of traveling preachers of the 1870s and 1880s and [[FakeFaithHealer so-called "faith healers"]] that were around at the time, and created "'''The Faith Healer'''."

* SeriesContinuityError: Doc Baker is unable to perform an appendectomy himself even though he did so in the season one episode "Circus Man".

* FakeFaithHealer: The episode is, unsurprisingly, focused on this trope. A faith healer named Reverend Danforth comes to town, and everyone is very impressed by his claims and his apparent faith, until a young boy that he is supposed to have healed ends up dying, at which point the scales fall from everyone's eyes.

Mrs. Oleson, tired of Rev. Alden always foiling her diabolical plans and preaching contrary to her values, learns of a charismatic young preacher who claims to have healing powers. The Rev. James Danforth, as it turns out, is in their town and is accepting calls to draw new members to his growing church. Mrs. Oleson sends a teletype message inviting him to Walnut Grove on Sunday mornings, to preach at the same time as the dull-but-dependable Rev. Alden's church services.

* RecycledPremise: This episode's overall premise is similar to the 3rd season finale of Michael Landon's previous series ''Series/{{Bonanza}}''; which also focused on a [[SinisterMinister phony faith healer]] who attempts to take advantage of a blind woman feeling guilty for the death of her father in a wagon accident. Much like this episode's allusion being a response to the growth of televangelism in the 1970s; the Bonanza episode was written as a reaction to the tent revivals of TheFifties that led to the rise of faith-healers such as Oral Roberts[[note]]the only one of the group listed that managed to retain at least some form of mainstream credibility[[/note]]; William Branham and A.A. Allen.

Eventually, most of the church – even Nels, who is drawn in more by his own curiosity and his overbearing wife's insistence (if it were up to him, he'd stay at Walnut Grove Church) - abandons Rev. Alden. After all, Danforth can heal the sick, allow the lame to walk and the blind to see, all by simple commands! Alden can do none of that, nor is he the fiery fire-and-brimstone preacher that he is. In any case, just the Ingallses, the Garveys and Doc Baker remain loyal to the Rev. Aldens' services. Doc Baker, as it turns out, is suspicious of Danforth's beliefs, which is starting to be widely accepted as truth and is spreading, and when Doc Baker tries to expose flaws in Danforth's reasoning, it backfires on him and causes him to lose the respect of everyone!

With the rise in televangelism and charismatic preachers on the rise in the 1970s, mainstream preachers were taking a back seat as people were drawn into these more fiery styles of preaching as opposed to the dull, doddering styles most Americans came to love and respect. Michael Landon took the idea, married it to the concept of traveling preachers of the 1870s and 1880s and [[FakeFaithHealer so-called "faith healers"]] that were around at the time, and created "The Faith Healer."

With the rise in televangelism and charismatic preachers on the rise in the 1970s, mainstream preachers were taking a back seat as people were drawn into these more fiery styles of preaching as opposed to the dull, doddering styles most Americans came to love and respect. Michael Landon took the idea, married it to the concept of traveling preachers of the 1870s and 1880s and so-called "faith healers" that were around at the time, and created "'''The Faith Healer'''."

Mrs. Oleson, tired of Rev. Alden always foiling her diabolical plans and preaching contrary to her values, learns of a charismatic young preacher who claims to have healing powers. The Rev. James Danforth, as it turns out, is in the area and is accepting calls to draw new members to his growing church. Mrs. Oleson sends a teletype message inviting him to Walnut Grove on Sunday mornings, to preach at the same time as the dull-but-dependable Rev. Alden's church services.

* RecycledPremise: This episode's overall premise is similar to the 3rd season finale of Michael Landon's previous series ''Series/{{Bonanza}}''; which also focused on a [[SinisterMinister phony faith healer]] who attempts to take advantage of a blind woman feeling guilty for the death of her father in a wagon accident. Much like this episode's allusion being a response to the growth of televangelism in the 1970s; the Bonanza episode was written as a reaction to the tent revivals of [[TheFifties]] that led to the rise of faith-healers such as Oral Roberts[[note]]the only one of the group listed that managed to retain at least some form of mainstream credibility[[/note]]; William Branham and A.A. Allen.

But later that night, Timothy's appendix bursts (just as Dr. Baker feared was about to happen) and he dies. Dobbs confronts Danforth but Danforth forces him to admit that God "chose" his son to come home. Meanwhile, the Rev. Alden becomes bitter and announces he's leaving Walnut Grove.

The next Sunday at church, the Rev. Alden forgives everyone, but not until after he admits he was jealous and envious of Danforth and that time allowed him to reflect on his own character and beliefs. Everyone learns a lesson, and the result is a win-win situation. What the Rev. Danforth tried to tear apart actually made the congregation stronger than ever.

As for Danforth, WordOfGod has it that word quickly got to his church office and he was defrocked from his ministry. Rejected by everyone and unable to convince others of his so-called "faith healing" powers, he ends up committing suicide shortly after his dismissal from the pulpit.

The next Sunday at church, the Rev. Alden forgives everyone, but not until after he admits he was jealous and envious of Danforth and that time allowed him to reflect on himself.

* SevenDeadlySins: Rev. Alden harbors at least three of them – [[{{Pride}} pride]], [[GreenEyedMonster envy]] and [[UnstoppableRage wrath]] – when Rev. Danforth was at the peak of holding Walnut Grove Church's members in his hypnotic grasp. Alden, angry and upset that he was not as charismatic nor as fancy as the younger and more energetic Danforth, even temporarily shuns Charles when he tries to help him. After Danforth is forced out of town, Alden reveals his flaws to a humbled congregation, and in everybody learning a lesson after their church was nearly torn apart by a liar, become stronger in faith than ever before.

* SevenDeadlySins: Rev. Alden harbors at least three of them – pride, envy and jealousy – when Rev. Danforth was at the peak of holding Walnut Grove Church's members in his hypnotic grasp. Alden, angry and upset that he was not as charismatic nor as fancy as the younger and more energetic Danforth, even temporarily shuns Charles when he tries to help him. After Danforth is forced out of town, Alden reveals his flaws to a humbled congregation, and in everybody learning a lesson after their church was nearly torn apart by a liar, become stronger in faith than ever before.

* ReligionIsMagic: The lie that Rev. Danforth preaches to his parishioners … until Charles exposes him for the charlatan he is.