Originally Posted by
smearcase
Were the wires connected to the screws? as per don's question: ["If the receptacle has the wires backstabbed (stuck into the holes in the back of the receptacle instead of under the screws, remove the wires from the back of the receptacle. Make sure there is enough bare conductor to place the conductor under the screws and tighten the screws."]
The outlets worked in the past- correct?
If so, it is very unlikely that connecting the ground now, was the solution to the problem.
Possibly handling the receptacle restored a faulty connection, temporarily.
I'm just not convinced that the problem is totally solved, pastor.
Especially if the wires were inserted into the openings in the back as don suggested, you can save yourself or others problems in the future by attaching the conductors to the screws.