William Branham's False Claim: Donny Morton

Research page including newspaper articles and publications:
https://william-branham.org/site/people/donny_morton

When members of William Branham's cult attempt to recruit others into Branham's "Message" religious cult, the alleged healing of Donny Morton is frequently used as a tool to persuade unsuspecting victims to believe that William Branham was a legitimate "faith healer". The Donny Morton story, according to cult propaganda, is "evidence" of William Branham's divine power. Young Donny was dying from meningitis and specialists had told his father that at most, Donny had six months to live. Brain tissue had already begun to deteriorate, removing Donny's center of balance.[1]

Recently, the Morton family reached out to Believe the Sign and informed them that Branham's claims were blatantly false. Not only the claim of Morton being healed by Branham, but even the details used in the story were false. You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG73aTjlDSw

Donny Morton was my brother and what William Branham said about my brother healing and running to my dad or wearing shoes none of it was true.[2]
- Denelda (Morton) Clayton

After hearing about William Branham's faith healing campaigns, Arthur Morton left his family in Saskatchewan to attend one of Branham's meetings held in a tent just outside Costa Mesa in Orange County, CA. [3] Branham pronounced "healing" on June 10, 1951. [4]

Arthur's hope became elevated after the first night of prayer. According to Arthur, Donny smiled at him in his sleep for the first time ever. Arthur returned to the meetings several more times, [5] and Donny stood to his feet for the first time in several months. [6]

News of Arthur and Donny's travels to the faith healer quickly spread. A woman in Pasadena begged Arthur to let her doctor examine Morton after having been cured of a similar condition, offering to pay for the expensive operation if the surgeon advised. [7] Dr. William T. Grant, the specialist in Pasadena, offered to perform the brain operation free of charge.[8] William Branham claimed that he had healed the child, [9] but Donny's symptoms still continued. [10] Eventually, Arthur took Donny to the surgeon in Pasadena. Sadly, neither the operation from the surgeon or William Branham's healing claim were successful. Donny Morton died November 1, 1951[11] of spinal meningitis [12] complicated by pneumonia.[13] For the next decade, however, William Branham claimed that Donny Morton had been healed in his meeting.

And the mother and them thought they could maybe take fifty dollars, and all of them come to the United States, and take Donny to the meeting, and everything else. It wouldn't even pay one of their ways on a airplane. They had to come by a bus, couldn't even come by train. And when they got there, they had to take Travelers Aid to get out there to where the meeting was. And the Holy Spirit told him who he was, where he come from, and so forth--little drawed-over father, holding his baby. And so... Then it told him exactly what would happen. The Lord healed the child to the glory of God. And when being interviewed on that, they said at Mayo Brothers, "Reverend Branham, we don't profess to be healers. We only profess to assist nature. There's one Healer. That's God." That's the best, isn't it.[14]

References

[1] Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son, 4: Pair Travel 3000 Miles in Hope Pastor Can Do What World's Best Surgeons Can Not. 1951, Jun, 10. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/10/06 Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son, 4: Pair Travel 3000 Miles in Hope Pastor Can Do What World's Best Surgeons Can Not The Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times."

[2] Donny Morton. Accessed. 2021, Dec, 30. En. Accessed 2021, Dec, 30 from https://en.believethesign.com/index.php?title=Donny_Morton#The_testimony_of_Donny_Morton.27s_sister. "2021/30/12 Donny Morton. Accessed In Episode 43 of the Off The Shelf podcast, we talked about the story of Donny Morton. On August 25, 2018, Denelda (Morton) Clayton, Donny Morton's sister, left the following comment on the podcast website:Donny Morton was my brother and what William Branham said about my brother healing and running to my dad or wearing shoes none of it was true.We immediately emailed Denelda for clarification of her statement and the following is an excerpt from her email to us:Donald was 2 years older than me. ...I know Donald never ran to my father or wore shoes ...I'm sure these things that Branham has said has come out either after my parents died, or they did not know of them because they would of been some upset and made sure the truth was known.This is further confirmation that William Branham's "Thus Saith The Lord" failed with respect to the healing of Donny Morton In Episode 43 of the Off The Shelf podcast, we talked about the story of Donny Morton. On August 25, 2018, Denelda (Morton) Clayton, Donny Morton's sister, left the following comment on the podcast website:Donny Morton was my brother and what William Branham said about my brother healing and running to my dad or wearing shoes none of it was true.We immediately emailed Denelda for clarification of her statement and the following is an excerpt from her email to us:Donald was 2 years older than me. ...I know Donald never ran to my father or wore shoes ...I'm sure these things that Branham has said has come out either after my parents died, or they did not know of them because they would of been some upset and made sure the truth was known.This is further confirmation that William Branham's "Thus Saith The Lord" failed with respect to the healing of Donny Morton."

[3] Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son, 4. Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son, 4. 1951, Jun, 10. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/10/06 Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son, 4 The Los Angeles Times 4 Father Hunts Miracle to Save Doomed Son The Los Angeles Times."

[4] Prayers Stir Father's Hope for Doomed Boy. 1951, Jun, 11. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/11/06 Prayers Stir Father's Hope for Doomed Boy The Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times."

[5] Prayers Stir Father's Hope for Doomed Boy. 1951, Jun, 11. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/11/06 Prayers Stir Father's Hope for Doomed Boy He plans to stay for five more days, attending afternoon and evening revival meetings. In the evenings ailing persons may ascend to the stage for Branham's personal blessings. "My boy not only smiled strongly at me this morning, but last night he smiled in his sleep - for the first time ever in so long He plans to stay for five more days, attending afternoon and evening revival meetings. In the evenings ailing persons may ascend to the stage for Branham's personal blessings. "My boy not only smiled strongly at me this morning, but last night he smiled in his sleep - for the first time ever in so long."

[6] Ailing Child Can Stand, Miracle Seeker Says. 1951, Jun, 12. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/12/06 Ailing Child Can Stand, Miracle Seeker Says The Los Angeles Times The Los Angeles Times."

[7] Offers of Aid Pour In For Boy Needing Miracle. 1951, Jun, 13. The Los Angeles Times. "1951/13/06 Offers of Aid Pour In For Boy Needing Miracle The Los Angeles Times. "Outstanding was a letter to The Times from a woman living in Pasadena who asked that her name not be used. She told of her own case. After a brain injury she became almost totally helpless and seemed doomed to die. … And then she offered to pay for the complicated, expensive operation if her surgeon deemed an operation advisable. In her letter she begged Morton to let her doctor examine the child The Los Angeles Times. "Outstanding was a letter to The Times from a woman living in Pasadena who asked that her name not be used. She told of her own case. After a brain injury she became almost totally helpless and seemed doomed to die. … And then she offered to pay for the complicated, expensive operation if her surgeon deemed an operation advisable. In her letter she begged Morton to let her doctor examine the child."

[8] Baxter, David. Baxter's Views. 1951, Jul, 15. The Odessa American. "1951/15/07 Baxter, David. Baxter's Views The Odessa American. "What happened was that Dr. William T. Grant, a great brain specialist of Pasadena, California, heard of the case and offered to perform a delicate brain operation on Donny free of charge. A short time ago the operation was performed and I have just now had word that, after several days of observation, Dr. Grant says the operation was a success and that Donny will recover The Odessa American. "What happened was that Dr. William T. Grant, a great brain specialist of Pasadena, California, heard of the case and offered to perform a delicate brain operation on Donny free of charge. A short time ago the operation was performed and I have just now had word that, after several days of observation, Dr. Grant says the operation was a success and that Donny will recover."

[9] The Miracle of Donny Morton. November 1952Reader's Digest. "Your son is suffering from a serious brain malady... But do not give up hope. With faith in God's power, and help from the medical world, your little son will live," Branham said. "The Miracle of Donny Morton. November 1952Reader's Digest. "Your son is suffering from a serious brain malady... But do not give up hope. With faith in God's power, and help from the medical world, your little son will live," Branham said."

[10] Baxter, David. Baxter's Views. 1951, Jul, 15. The Odessa American. "1951/15/07 Baxter, David. Baxter's Views no 'direct' cure was effected on the spot when the child was brought to the evangelist no 'direct' cure was effected on the spot when the child was brought to the evangelist."

[11] Death Wins Fight to Save Boy With Brain Ailment. 1951, Nov, 3. The News Review. "1951/03/11 Death Wins Fight to Save Boy With Brain Ailment Donny Morton died Thursday night Donny Morton died Thursday night."

[12] Canada Thanks US For Kindness. 1952, Jan, 16. The Fresno Bee The Republican. "1952/16/01 Canada Thanks US For Kindness Donny underwent several operations here and finally succumbed to spinal meningitis Donny underwent several operations here and finally succumbed to spinal meningitis."

[13] Fight for Life Ends; Donny Morton Dead. 1951, Nov, 3. The Oregon Statesman. "1951/03/11 Fight for Life Ends; Donny Morton Dead pneumonia weakened him following the fourth, and complications arose pneumonia weakened him following the fourth, and complications arose."

[14] Branham, William. A Greater Than Solomon Is Here. 1962, Jul, 25. A Greater Than Solomon Is Here. "1962/25/07 A Greater Than Solomon Is Here William Branham A Greater Than Solomon Is Here"