Book of Mormon

The Testimony of Three Witnesses
By Alan C.Miner

Editor’s note: The Ancient America Foundation (AAF) is pleased to present AAF Notes: a series of research articles by scholars of Book of Mormon culture and history and reviewed by AAF editors. Visit our website at https://www.ancientamerica.org. This article was taken from Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon by Alan C. Miner (unpublished) taken from Francis W. Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America: The Book of Mormon, Vol. 1, pp. 69-74, 247-255]

Critics of the Book of Mormon always seem to dredge up one incident or another to undermine the testimonies of the witnesses who put their signature to the written testimony included with the Book of Mormon. In view of the difficulty everyone has in reconstructing Mormon history from the statements of those who chose to comment on events of that time (stories vary widely), it might be wise for the reader to note these witnesses’ final testimonies.

Martin Harris:

Francis Kirkham writes that about the last of December, 1869, William Harrison Homer was returning from a mission to England when he met Martin Harris at Kirtland, Ohio. After describing his visit to the Kirtland Temple with Martin Harris, Elder Homer relates the following:

I asked him, “Is it not true that you were once very prominent in the Church, that you gave liberally of your means, and that you were active in the performance of your duties?” “That is very true,” replied Martin Harris, “Things were all right then. I was honored while the people were here, but now that I am old and poor it is all different.”

“Really,” I replied, “how can that be?” “What about your testimony to the Book of Mormon? Do you still believe that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet?”

Again the effect was electric. A changed old man stood before me. It was no longer a man with an imagined grievance. It was a man with a message, a man with a noble conviction in his heart, a man inspired of God and endowed with divine knowledge. Through the broken window of the Temple shone the winter sun, clear and radiant.

“Young man,” answered Martin Harris with impressiveness, “Do I believe it! Do you see the sun shining! Just as surely as the sun is shining on us and gives us light, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just as surely as the breath of life sustains us, so surely do I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, chosen of God to open the last dispensation of the fulness of times; so surely do I know that the Book of Mormon was divinely translated.

“I saw the plates; I saw the Angel; I heard the voice of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, I might as well doubt my own existence as to doubt the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon or the divine calling of Joseph Smith.”

It was a sublime moment. It was a wonderful testimony. We were thrilled to the very roots of our hair. The shabby, emaciated little man before us was transformed as he stood with hand outstretched toward the sun of heaven. A halo seemed to encircle him. A divine fire glowed in his eyes. His voice throbbed with the sincerity and the conviction of his message. It was the real Martin Harris whose burning testimony no power on earth could quench. It was the most thrilling moment of my life.

I asked Martin Harris how he could bear so wonderful a testimony after having left the Church. He said, “Young man, I never did leave the Church, the Church left me.”

Martin Harris was the first scribe to assist in the translation of the Book from the original plates as dictated by the prophet who was led by the Holy Ghost! It was Martin Harris who was called by revelation to assist in the selection and ordination of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of the newly organized Church. It was Martin Harris who was called upon to accompany the prophet to Missouri to assist in the selection of the First High Council of the Church, and he was a member of said Council.

When the new presidency of the Church was chosen, Martin Harris felt greatly disappointed that he was not called to leadership, but Martin Harris never denied the faith, never affiliated with any other sect or denomination, but when the church came West, Martin Harris remained behind. It is true that Martin Harris did not apostatize; he was never tried for his fellowship; he was never excommunicated.

During the summer of 1870, Elder Edward Stevenson was authorized to collect money by subscription to bring Martin Harris to Utah. About two hundred dollars was raised; and on August 30, 1870, Martin Harris arrived in Salt Lake City, in the company of Elder Stevenson.

He visited Brigham Young at his home. They became reconciled, and Martin Harris was invited to speak in the Tabernacle, and he bore a faithful testimony. He went to Smithfield, and later to Clarkston and made his home with his son, Martin Harris, Jr., and in course of time he returned to full fellowship and communion with the Saints. (The Improvement Era, volume 29, 1924-1926, pages 468-472).

Kirkham writes that Martin Harris passed the last five years of his earthly career at Clarkston, Cache County, Utah. Visitors came from far and near to see and hear him, and he was never happier than when he had an opportunity to bear his testimony.

One day in the month of July, 1875, Elder Ole Jensen and others heard the venerable witness relate his wonderful story. After having stated the circumstances attending the appearance of the angel with the plates, he said:

The angel stood before me and said, “Look!” When I gazed upon him, I fell to the earth, but I rose to my feet again and saw the angel turn the golden leaves over and over, and I said, “That is enough, my Lord and my God.” Then I heard the voice of God say, “the book translated from these plates is true and translated correctly.”

Martin Harris added solemnly:

As sure as you are standing here and see me, just as sure did I see the angel with the gold plates in his hand as he showed them to me. I have promised that I will bear witness of this both here and hereafter.

Among those who heard Martin Harris bear his testimony was Elder William Waddoups. He was introduced to Martin Harris in Salt Lake City. To him Harris said:

Young man, I had the privilege of being with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and with these eyes of mine, (pointing to his eyes) I saw the angel of the Lord, and I saw the plates and the Urim and Thummim and the sword of Laban, and with these ears (pointing to his ears), I heard the voice of the angel, and with these hands (holding out his hands), I handled the plates containing the record of the Book of Mormon, and I assisted the Prophet in the translation thereof. I bear witness that this testimony is true. (J.M. Sjodahl, Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon, pp. 58-60)

David Whitmer:

Kirkham writes that after his separation from the Church, David Whitmer located at Richmond, Missouri, where he resided until he passed away, January 25, 1888. In that place he was honored and respected, as a citizen and a Christian gentleman. This is evident from the following statement, which appeared in the Richmond, Conservator of March 25, 1881, signed by twenty-one prominent business and professional men:

“We, the undersigned citizens of Richmond, Ray Co., Mo., where David Whitmer, Sr., has resided since the year 1838, certify that we have been long and intimately acquainted with him and know him to be a man of the highest integrity and of undoubted truth and veracity.”

In 1881, as reported in the Richmond Conservator of March 25, David Whitmer made the following statement in response to some rumors that had reached him to the effect that he had denied or amended his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon:

“Those who know me best know well 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. 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.”

In 1886, David Whitmer said to Elder Edward Stevenson:

As sure as the sun shines and I live, just so sure did the angel appear unto me and Joseph Smith and I heard his voice and did see the angel standing before us. (J.M. Sjodahl, Introduction to the Study of the Book of Mormon, pp. 60-61)

Oliver Cowdery:

According to Francis Kirkham, Oliver Cowdery held positions of trust and responsibility in the Church in its beginnings and had the confidence and affection of the Prophet. He was his counselor and intimate friend. Yet, in 1838, he was disfellowshipped by his brethren and declared unworthy of the high positions to which he had been called. (M. S. 16:133-34)

After that time he never spoke to the Prophet again, but at no time in that absence and while living among the enemies of the Church, did he deny or modify in any degree his testimony of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. In 1848, four years after the death of the Prophet, he turned again to the Church.

On October 29, 1848, he addressed at Council Bluffs, Iowa, about two thousand people. “He bore testimony, in the most positive terms, to the truth of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Priesthood to the earth, and the mission of Joseph Smith, as the prophet of the last days.” (Era 14:391) A part of his address was written at the time by Reuben Miller. The following is copied from The Deseret News, April 13, 1859:

“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.”

While preparing to leave for Utah, Oliver returned to visit his wife’s relatives, the Peter Whitmer family at Richmond, Missouri, where he died March 3, 1850. In the year 1878, David Whitmer said to Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith concerning his departure: “Oliver died the happiest man I ever saw. After shaking hands with the family and kissing his wife and daughter, he said, “Now I lay me down for the last time; I am going to my Savior”; and he died immediately, with a mile on his face. (M. S., vol. 40; p. 774)

Kirkham finishes with the following note:

If there had been fraud or deception in the writing of the Book of Mormon, Oliver Cowdery would have known it. He was a daily companion with the Prophet during almost the entire time of its production, for he wrote as the Prophet dictated. He also shared with him heavenly visions and received with him from immortal messengers the power to act for God in the establishment of the Restored Church. During his long separation form the Prophet and the Church he was constantly urged to repudiate his published testimony in the Book of Mormon. This he never did.

[Francis W. Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America: The Book of Mormon, Vol. 1, pp. 69-74, 247-255]

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