"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto
whom his work shall come, * * * We declare with words of soberness
that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and
laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, * * and
the engravings thereon, and we know that it is by the grace of God
the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear
record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes,
nevertheless the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear
record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of
God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are
faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all
men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and
shall dwell with Him eternally in the heavens."
"OLIVER COWDERY,
"DAVID WHITMER,
"MARTIN HARRIS."
Though these three witnesses; through transgression, lost the Spirit
of God, and wandered away from the fold of Christ, they never denied
the testimony they bore to the truth of the Book of Mormon. Two of them
previous to their death came back to the Church, and died in the faith.
The other--David Whitmer--died at Richmond, Mo., in January, 1888, and
on his deathbed, as he had always done previously, solemnly declared
that his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon was true.