1829.
DAVID WHITMER TAKES THE PROPHET TO FAYETTE--MANY BELIEVE AND ARE
BAPTIZED--ELEVEN WITNESSES SEE THE PLATES AND BEAR RECORD--THE HIGHER
PRIESTHOOD RESTORED--THE TRANSLATION FINISHED.
Early in June, 1829, a young man drove up to Joseph's door after two
days of hard traveling. He said that he had come from Fayette, Seneca
Co., New York, one hundred and fifty miles away, for the purpose of
carrying the Prophet and his companion to Fayette if they wished to
go. He was David Whitmer, son of Peter Whitmer, and his father invited
Joseph to come to their home. They offered him protection and to
provide for his wants while he was working at the translation.
Joseph accepted the invitation and, leaving Emma with her father, he
and Oliver departed with David. Before setting out Joseph asked the
Lord how he should carry the plates. In answer to his prayer Moroni
appeared and took them from him, promising to return them again. When
he reached Fayette the angel visited him in Mr. Whitmer's garden and
gave them over to him.
The translation continued very rapidly, for when Oliver grew tired,
David or his brother John was ready to write at the Prophet's
dictation. When not translating, Joseph and Oliver spent their time in
teaching those who came to listen and in explaining what the Lord had
revealed to them.
There were many serious persons who wished to hear the truth. David
Whitmer had been remarkably aided that he might hasten to bring Joseph
to Fayette. Three strange men were seen scattering the plaster that
David had put in a heap upon one of his fields to fertilize it, and
they did it with more than human skill and speed. In harrowing in wheat
on another field David had done in one day more than he could usually
have done in two or three days. Many in the neighborhood hearing of
this were impressed that the Lord had helped him in bringing the two
young men and believed that they were His servants.
When any person became convinced that the work was divine and desired
to be baptized, that ordinance was performed. Joseph soon had the
pleasure of baptizing his brother Hyrum and David Whitmer, and at the
same time Oliver baptized Peter Whitmer, Junior. Soon there were so
many believers that baptisms were performed nearly every day in Seneca
lake, a beautiful body of water lying on the western border of Seneca
County.
While at work on the translation it was learned that three persons
should be shown the sacred plates in order that their testimony might
be given to the world. Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris
begged Joseph to ask the Lord if they could not be the ones. Joseph did
this during the month of June, 1829, and the Lord answered that if they
trusted in His words with full purpose of heart they should be shown
the plates, the breastplate, Urim and Thummim, sword of Laban and the
Liahona, or compass, given to Lehi in the wilderness. Soon after they
all went into the woods to pray that the Lord would show the plates,
which Joseph had given up for the time to the Angel Moroni.
The four men kneeled down and Joseph offered a prayer, then the others
in turn prayed, but no answer came. Joseph began again and the others
followed but though they prayed with fervor yet they failed to receive
any manifestation. Before beginning again Martin Harris said he
believed he was the cause of the failure. He offered to go aside and
pray alone.
Martin had spoken the truth, for soon after he withdrew, a light of
surpassing fairness came down from heaven and within it stood the angel
holding the golden plates. He turned the leaves and the characters
engraved thereon were illumined so that the witnesses saw them plainly.
They also heard the voice of the Lord declaring that the plates before
them were revealed by God and had been translated by His power. They
were commanded to bear record that the translation was correct.
When the vision passed away Joseph sought Martin Harris. He found
him, humbled by this rebuke for his past wickedness and praying with
his whole heart for forgiveness and for the privilege of viewing the
record. Joseph joined him in prayer and soon the angel again appeared
and the whole vision was repeated. Martin had never beheld a spiritual
sight before and he could not long bear the glory before him, but he
was filled with joy and shouted hosannah to God.
The three men who had been chosen as witnesses drew up and signed a
statement, which is now printed in the fore part of the Book of Mormon.
They testified to all the world that they had seen an angel holding the
plates and heard the voice of God declaring that the translation was
correct. Oliver Cowdery, the first signer, went on missions and did
much good, but he lost his virtue and fell. In 1838 he was cut off from
the Church. David Whitmer lost his standing at the same time and Martin
Harris in the same year. For nine years Oliver Cowdery was separated
from the Church and for thirty-three years Martin Harris remained away,
but both were finally rebaptized and died in the Church. David Whitmer
never came back, but he and his fellow-witnesses affirmed time after
time that they had really seen the angel and beheld the golden plates.
The Prophet was permitted to show the record to eight other persons as
an additional testimony. They were Christian, Jacob and John Whitmer
and Peter Whitmer, Jun., Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sen., and his sons
Hyrum and Samuel H. Smith. These men handled the plates and seriously
judged them to be of gold and engraved with ancient work. They were
without exception unflinching in their testimony that the Book of
Mormon is true.
When John the Baptist visited Joseph and Oliver to give them the
Aaronic Priesthood he promised that the Priesthood of Melchizedek would
later be conferred upon them. They became very desirous to receive
this and made it a matter of prayer. As they were once asking the Lord
about it they heard His voice directing them to ordain each other, but
not until they were accepted as spiritual teachers by those already
baptized. Sometime after this, during the month of June, 1829, Peter,
James and John appeared to them and conferred upon them the holy
Priesthood. These three had been chosen by Jesus Christ when He lived
on the earth to preside over the Priesthood and it was their office to
restore it when the Lord chose to permit men on the earth again to hold
it.
The work of translation was now drawing to an end, and a contract was
made with Egbert B. Grandin of Palmyra to print five thousand copies.
In August, 1829, the work of printing began. The copy used was not the
original manuscript, but the whole was rewritten and Joseph preserved
the original. Three thousand dollars was the price agreed on and Martin
Harris gave security for its payment. In March, 1830, the book was
issued to the world.
When the work was finished Joseph with Oliver took the sacred treasures
to the Hill Cumorah. They did not, however, replace them in the stone
box, but, when they reached the hill the earth opened and they walked
into a spacious room. They laid the plates down on a table, upon which
stood many other plates, and left them to be guarded by the angel.
Treasure seekers have searched for them, the stone box has been torn
away, but they have been sought in vain and they will remain hidden
until the Lord's own due time.
Oliver Cowdery was left by Joseph to watch over the work of printing
and the Prophet was free to visit his wife at Harmony. It was, however,
a busy winter for him, for he received many revelations concerning the
organization of the Church, and he spent much time in declaring the
truth to all who would listen.