This is plain, strong testimony. Joseph Smith or any other man could
easily enough have made a promise like the one made in the 5th chapter
of Ether, but he could not have called down an angel from heaven, nor
caused the voice of God to be heard, in order to have the promise
fulfilled. The Lord only could fulfill this prediction, and he did
it, in his own way, time and place. But, says the skeptic, the three
witnesses subsequently left the Church and deserted Joseph Smith.
Yes, that is true, and this is what makes their testimony of ten-fold
more weight. If their testimonies were not true, if any fraud or
deception had been practiced in regard to the coming forth of the Book
of Mormon they would undoubtedly have exposed the same as soon as the
break occurred between Joseph Smith and themselves. But the facts are
these: They always remained true to their testimony, even in their
darkest hours. Then why did they leave the Church? They fell into
transgression; they sinned against God and had to be dealt with the
same as other transgressors; for although a man may have seen angels
and had glorious visions, etc., he has no license to any more than
those less favored.
We will now briefly allude to the individual witnesses:
Oliver Cowdery, after his excommunication in Far West, April 11, 1838,
engaged in law business and practiced for some years as a lawyer in
Michigan, but he never denied the truth of the Book of Mormon. On
the contrary, he seems to have used every opportunity he had to bear
testimony of its divine origin. While in Michigan, a gentleman, on a
certain occasion, addressed him as follows: "Mr. Cowdery, I see your
name attached to this book. If you believe it to be true, why are you
in Michigan?" The gentleman then read the names of the Three Witnesses
and asked: "Mr. Cowdery, do you believe this book?" "No, sir," was
the reply. "Very well," continued the gentleman, "but your name is
attached to it, and you declare here (pointing to the book) that you
saw an angel, and also the plates, from which the book purports to be
translated; {112}and now you say you don't believe it. Which time did
you tell the truth?" Oliver Cowdery replied with emphasis, "My name
is attached to that book, and what I there have said is true. I did
see this; I know I saw it, and faith has nothing to do with it, as a
perfect knowledge has swallowed up the faith which I had in the work,
knowing, as I do, that it is true."
At a special conference held at Kanesville, Iowa, October 21, 1848,
Oliver Cowdery was present and made the following remarks:
"Friends and Brethren.--My name is Cowdery, Oliver Cowdery. In the
early history of this Church I stood identified with her, and one
in her councils. True it is that the gifts and callings of God
are without repentance; not because I was better than the rest of
mankind was I called; but to fulfill the purposes of God, He called
me to a high and holy calling.
"I wrote, with my own pen, the entire Book of Mormon (save a few
pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as
he translated it by the gift and power of God, by the means of
the Urim and Thummim, or, as it is called by that book, 'holy
interpreters.' I beheld with my eyes, and handled with my hands,
the gold plates from which it was transcribed. I also saw with
my eyes and handled with my hands the 'holy interpreters.' That
book is true. Sidney Rigdon did not write it; Mr. Spaulding did
not write it; I wrote it myself as it fell from the lips of the
Prophet. It contains the Everlasting Gospel, and came forth to the
children of men in fulfilment of the revelations of John, where he
says he saw an angel come with the Everlasting Gospel to preach to
every nation, kindred, tongue and people. It contains principles of
salvation; and if you, my hearers, will walk by its light and obey
its precepts, you will be saved with an everlasting salvation in
the kingdom of God on high. Brother Hyde has just said that it is
very important that we keep and walk in the true channel, in order
to avoid the sandbars. This is true. The channel is here. The holy
Priesthood is here.
"I was present with Joseph when an holy angel from God came down
from heaven and conferred on us, or restored, the lesser or Aaronic
Priesthood, and said to us, at the same time, that it should remain
upon the earth while the earth stands.
"I was also present with Joseph when the higher or Melchisedek
Priesthood was conferred by holy angels from on high. This
Priesthood we then conferred on each other, by the will and
commandment of God. This Priesthood, as was then declared, is also
to remain upon the earth until the last remnant of time. This holy
Priesthood, or authority, we then conferred upon many, and is just
as good and valid as though God had done it in person.
"I laid my hands upon that man--yes, I laid my right hand upon his
head (pointing to Brother Hyde), and I conferred upon him this
Priesthood, and he holds that Priesthood now. He was also called
through me, by the prayer of faith, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ."
{113}Soon afterwards Oliver Cowdery was rebaptized, but while making
preparations to come to Utah, he was suddenly stricken with death
in Richmond, Mo., March 3rd, 1850. Elder Phinehas H. Young, who was
present when he died, testifies:
"His last moments were spent in bearing testimony of the truth of
the Gospel revealed through Joseph Smith, and the power of the Holy
Priesthood which he had received through his administration."
David Whitmer, who died in Richmond, Mo., Jan. 25th, 1888, was also
true to his testimony until the last, although he never united himself
with the Church after his excommunication in 1838. During the last few
years of his life he was frequently visited by representatives of the
press and many others, to whom he would always bear strong and faithful
testimonies of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.
On one occasion when the report reached him that he was accused by
a certain party of having denied his former testimony, he wrote the
following, which was published in the Richmond (Mo.) _Conservator_ of
March 25, 1881:
_Unto all Nations, Kindreds, Tongues and People, unto whom these
presents shall come_:
"It having been represented by one John Murphy, of Polo, Caldwell
County, Missouri, that I, in a conversation with him last summer,
denied my testimony as one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of
Mormon.
"To the end, therefore, that he may understand me now, if he did
not then; and that the world may know the truth, I wish now,
standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of
God, once for all to make this public statement:
"That I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part
thereof, which has so long since been published with that book, as
one of the Three Witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that
I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be
misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again
affirm the truth of all my statements as then made and published.
"He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; it was no delusion;
what is written is written, and he that readeth let him understand.
* * * * * *
"In the Spirit of Christ, who hath said: 'Follow thou me, for I am
the life, the light and the way,' I submit this statement to the
world; God in whom I trust being my judge as to the sincerity of my
motives and the faith and hope that is in me of eternal life.
"My sincere desire is that the world may be benefited by this plain
and simple statement of the truth.
"And all the honor to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
which is one God. Amen!
DAVID WHITER, SEN. RICHMOND, Mo., March 19, 1881.
{114}Three days before his death Mr. Whitmer called his family and
some friends to his bedside and addressing himself to the attending
physician, said:
"'Dr. Buchanan, I want you to say whether or not I am in my right
mind, before I give my dying testimony.'
"The doctor answered: 'Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have
just had conversation with you.'
"He then addressed himself to all around his bedside in these
words: 'Now you must all be faithful in Christ, I want to say to
you all, the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon)
is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on
my death-bed. All be faithful in Christ, and your reward will be
according to your works. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ
forever, worlds without end. Amen.'"
Martin Harris also absented himself from the Church for many years,
but was always true to his testimony in regard to the Book of Mormon.
He finally emigrated to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City, August 30,
1870, in care of Elder Edward Stevenson. He located in Smithfield,
Cache County, and later in Clarkson, where he died July 10, 1875, being
nearly ninety-three years of age.
A few hours before his death, when prostrated with great weakness,
Bishop Simon Smith came into his room; Martin Harris stretched forth
his hands to salute him and said: "Bishop, I am going." The Bishop told
him that he had something of importance to tell him in relation to the
Book of Mormon, which was to be published in the Spanish language, by
the request of Indians in Central America. Upon hearing this, Martin
Harris brightened up, his pulsation improved, and, although very weak,
he began to talk as he formerly had done previous to his sickness. He
conversed for about two hours, and it seemed that the mere mention of
the Book of Mormon put new life into him.
It will also be remembered that Martin Harris, soon after his arrival
in Utah, spoke to a large congregation of Saints and strangers in the
Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, where he bore a faithful testimony to the
truth of the Book of Mormon.
Also the eight witnesses, whose testimony is published in the Book of
Mormon after the testimony of the three witnesses, remained true to
their testimonies until the last; they are all dead now.