Scot
The more carefully you study the translation and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the more you are amazed at the gift and power of God that was given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as they translated the record. These are two very young men: Joseph is 23 and Oliver is 22 years old!
Remember the Lord said:
19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones…That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings are rulers.” (D&C 1:18,19, 23). These are certainly the weak and the simple! But that’s who the Lord uses to do His great work.
Maurine
Welcome to Meridian Magazine’s Come Follow Me Podcast. We are Scot and Maurine Proctor and this week we are studying Doctrine and Covenants Sections 12 to 17 and Joseph Smith History 1:66-75 with the lesson entitled, “Upon You my Fellow Servants.” In this week’s materials we see the beginnings of the “the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:21)
Scot
I love the natural unfolding of the restoration. Much of what happens is a result of questions that come to the minds of Joseph and Oliver in the course of the translation of the record.
Now, you have to understand that when Oliver became the scribe for the Prophet Joseph, they did not begin in 1st Nephi—they began with Mosiah, Chapter 1 right as we are introduced to King Benjamin’s seminal sermon on becoming sons and daughters of Christ. These would be the first words Oliver Cowdery would hear from the ancient record.
By thirty-eight days into the translation, Joseph and Oliver had come to the record on the Savior’s visit to the Nephites in 3 Nephi.
Maurine
That’s right, and one of the first teachings the Savior plainly gave to the Nephites is an explanation of the mode and manner of baptism. Now, you have to picture that natural process of thinking as Joseph and Oliver are translating these words and what went through their young minds.
21 And the Lord said unto [Nephi]: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.
22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.
23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them…
Scot
25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
26 And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water…
27 And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.
Maurine
This translation took place on Friday, May 15, 1829. Joseph and Oliver stopped their work and discussed these doctrines. Joseph likely said to Oliver, “I have not been baptized by one who has authority.” Oliver likely responded, “Nor have I.” A discussion ensued. Who has the authority on the earth to baptize at this time? Where can we receive this authority? What shall we do? To whom shall we turn? “I certainly want to be baptized by one who has authority and receive a remission for my sins,” said Joseph and Oliver to each other. They wanted to know what to do.
“Shall we not retire to the woods to pray and ask the Lord what we should do to obtain the blessings of baptism and the authority to baptize?
Don’t you love the natural, sincere approach to the questions that would lead to this great revelation that was about to come?
Scot
Here are two young men just trying to figure out what is right and how to proceed. It reminds me of when Joseph first went into the woods to pray at age 14 and he sincerely wanted to obtain a forgiveness for his sins. This is a similar pattern.
Now, Joseph and Emma owned 13 ½ acres of land in Harmony with a snug little cabin. Part of the land was fields for cultivation and part of it was forested with many maple trees—they called it the sugar bush. Their land was a long, narrow strip, rectangular in shape, that went clear down to the banks of the Susquehanna River. Joseph and Oliver went into the sugar bush and knelt down to pray and ask further light and knowledge concerning the questions of baptism and the authority to baptize.
Maurine
Oliver recorded:
“The Lord, who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent prayer of the humble, after we had called upon Him in a fervent manner, aside from the abodes of men, condescended to manifest to us His will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the Gospel of repentance. What joy! what wonder! what amazement! While the world was racked and distracted—while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, our eyes beheld, our ears heard, as in the ‘blaze of day’; yes, more—above the glitter of the May sunbeam, which then shed its brilliancy over the face of nature! Then his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, ‘I am thy fellow-servant,’ dispelled every fear. We listened, we gazed, we admired! ’Twas the voice of an angel from glory, ’twas a message from the Most High! And as we heard we rejoiced, while His love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapped in the vision of the Almighty! Where was room for doubt? Nowhere; uncertainty had fled, doubt had sunk no more to rise, while fiction and deception had fled forever!” (Joseph Smith History, endnote of Oliver Cowdery)
Scot
And this angel of light, this being of glory was none other than John the Baptist from ancient times, the same John who had baptized the Savior of the world.
In ancient times, John was crying with a loud voice, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John, who was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb, was ordained by an angel at eight days old “to overthrow the kingdom of the Jews, and to make straight the way of the Lord before the face of his people, to prepare them for the coming of the Lord.”
Now, at the time of Jesus, that day of days had arrived—a day when heaven and earth would meet. By eternal plan the Son of the Highest would now come to John to be baptized of him. John was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom then on the earth, holding the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. He was baptizing at Bethabara, “the house of the ford,” the place where tradition says the children of Israel bearing the Ark of the Covenant crossed the river on dry ground to enter the promised land.
The ordinance of baptism was common to the Jews. They saw it like this: as a newly baptized person “stepped out of these waters he was considered as ‘born anew’—in the language of the Rabbis, as if he were ‘a little child just born.’ . . . The past, with all that belonged to it, was past, and he was a new man—the old, with its defilements, was buried in the waters of baptism.”
Maurine
Still, baptism was more ancient even than Israel. It had been established at the beginning of time, for Adam “was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he was baptized.”
Now, seventy-six generations from Adam, came the one who had instituted the ordinance. What a moment in all eternity to see, standing at the water’s edge, this Elias and the sinless Messiah, who had no need of being cleansed. John, in reverential awe, said, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and why comest thou to me?” Then Jesus spoke: “Suffer me to be baptized of thee, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” The ancient prophet Nephi expounded on this moment: “If the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!”
So, John went with Jesus into the water and baptized Him by immersion. “And Jesus . . . went straightway out of the water; and John saw, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Jesus. And lo, he heard a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him.”
Scot
So, here was that very same John the Baptist, come to ordain these two men to the holy Aaronic Priesthood. And you know what I love, Maurine, about this scene? I love that John the Baptist is the perfect witness of the power of the resurrection. Remember, John the Baptist was beheaded in the prison at Machaerus (Mack-eer-us) and here he comes to Joseph and Oliver in perfect form. That always makes me so happy. The resurrection works!
Joseph recorded:
While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying:
69 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.
70 He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me.
71 Accordingly we went and were baptized. I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me—after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded.
Maurine
I love what happened as Joseph and Oliver were baptized:
73 Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than the Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy, when, standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men. We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation.
Wouldn’t you like to know all that was said on that occasion? What great prophecies were given by the Spirit of the Lord? They were clearly filled with the Spirit of Prophecy and much was given in the way of rejoicing in that which was about to happen in this kingdom.
Scot
You know, Maurine, you and I have walked down to the banks of the Susquehanna River dozens of times to where these baptisms took place. I love the actual logistics of the baptisms. Joseph and Oliver are in their street clothes, not their whites. They took their boots off as they entered the waters of the Susquehanna River. It was May and the rains had been heavy. The river was running high on the banks. The brethren were going into the river with specific instructions from John the Baptist as to how to perform the first authorized baptisms in this Dispensation. I’m sure they were told very specifically how to proceed.
“Joseph, take your right arm and bring it to the square. Now, call Oliver by his full name and I’ll give you the words to say. “Oliver Cowdery. Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.” “Now, Joseph, immerse Oliver all the way under the water.” Joseph did so and they were filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
Maurine
Then the same instructions were given to Oliver by the angel. “Oliver, raise your right hand to the square. Now, call Joseph by his full name:
“Joseph Smith, Jr., having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.” “Now, Oliver, immerse him in the river.” He did so. They were both filled with the Spirit of Prophecy! What a joyous, amazing, glorious occasion!
Clearly, the gift of the Holy Ghost was extended to both Joseph and Oliver on this occasion. And how do we know this? It’s clear from the record:
Joseph records:
74 Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of.
Scot
Oh Maurine, I love those insights into how the Spirit opens our minds to the true meaning and intention of the more mysterious passages of scripture. That’s what I want more than anything—revelation as I am studying the scriptures. Insights that I would not otherwise have. That is how the Spirit works and opens our minds to things we just would not have seen without His help.
Now, there is one more thing that is so tender about this scene at the Susquehanna River that comes from Lucy Mack Smith’s account. It’s one of my favorite moments from this time period.
You can imagine the elation of joy that both Oliver and Joseph had been experiencing—having been ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist and having performed the first authorized baptisms in this dispensation. They were beyond joy.
Now, as they were finished with these things, Lucy Mack Smith records:
“As they were on their return to the house, they overheard Samuel, in a secluded spot, engaged in secret prayer. They had now received the authority to baptize, and Joseph said that he considered it a sufficient testimony of Samuel’s honesty of heart and zeal for religion that they had found him privately bowing before the Lord in prayer, and that he thought it was an evidence of readiness for baptism. Oliver was of the same opinion, and they spoke to Samuel, who went with them straightway to the water and was baptized.” (Smith, Lucy Mack, Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1996, pp 185-86).
That is such a scene of love and brotherhood and comradery.
Maurine
Oh, I do love that so much. Now, Scot, we often talk about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood but we seldom have many details on the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood—and that story is fascinating. And you and I have done a ton of research on that, haven’t we?
Scot
We certainly have. In fact, we were just doing onsite research this past fall in October. Every time we go to these areas around Harmony, Pennsylvania and Colesville, New York, we learn new things and come closer and closer to the story of the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood. As we know, we don’t have the exact date of the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, nor of the details surrounding it.
Maurine
But, we do learn some details from a conversation between Addison Everett and Oliver Huntingdon that throws light upon this sacred and little known event.
Addison recounted:
“I heard the following conversation between Joseph and Hyrum a few days before they were martyred. … Oliver Cowdery was spoken of and Joseph went on to state that ‘at Colesville [New York] he and Oliver were under arrest on charge of Deceiving the people and in court he stated that the first miracle done was to create this earth.
“About that time his attorney told the court that he wanted to see Mr. Smith alone a few moments. When alone Mr. Reid said that there was a mob in front of the house and [hoisting] the window, Joseph and Oliver went to the woods in a few rods, it being night, and they traveled [running from the mob who was chasing them] until Oliver was exhausted and Joseph almost carried him through mud and water. They traveled all night and just at the break of day Oliver gave out entirely and exclaimed ‘O Lord, How long Brother Joseph have we got to endure this thing?’”
Scot
Now, as we take the account from the 128th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, at this moment, Lucifer came to them disguised as an angel of light. He came to deceive them and perhaps to destroy them. “And again, what do we hear?…The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna , detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light!” ((D&C 128:20) Then Joseph goes right into this:
“The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!” (ibid).
“Brother Joseph said that at that very time [when they had been completely exhausted and were spent and Satan appeared to deceive them], Peter, James and John came to them and ORDAINED THEM to the APOSTLESHIP.
“They had 16 or 17 miles to travel to get back to Mr. Hale’s, his father-in-law, and Oliver did not complain any more of fatigue.”
Maurine
Elder Erastus Snow of the Quorum of the Twelve confirmed this story in a Logan, Utah conference in 1882:
“In the due course of time, as we read in the history which he [Joseph] has left, Peter, James and John appeared to him—it was at a period when they were being pursued by their enemies and they had to travel all night, and in the dawn of the coming day when they were weary and worn, who should appear to them but Peter, James and John, for the purpose of conferring upon them the Apostleship, the keys of which they themselves had held while upon the earth, which had been bestowed upon them by the Savior. This Priesthood conferred upon them by those three messengers embraces within it all offices of the Priesthood from the highest to the lowest.” (Journal of Discourses, 23:183.)
Scot
Oliver wrote in 1849:
“While darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people; long after the authority to administer in holy things had been taken away, the Lord opened the heavens and sent forth his word for the salvation of Israel. In fulfillment of the sacred Scripture the everlasting Gospel was proclaimed by the mighty angel, (Moroni) who, clothed with the authority of his mission, gave glory to God in the highest. This Gospel is the ‘stone taken from the mountain without hands.’ John the Baptist, holding the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood; Peter, James and John, holding the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood, have also ministered for those who shall be heirs of salvation, and with these ministrations ordained men to the same Priesthoods. These Priesthoods, with their authority, are now, and must continue to be, in the body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Blessed is the Elder who has received the same, and thrice blessed and holy is he who shall endure to the end. Accept assurances, dear Brother, of the unfeigned prayer of him, who, in connection with Joseph the Seer, was blessed with the above ministrations, and who earnestly and devoutly hopes to meet you in the celestial glory.”
Maurine
The glorious truths are these:
John the Baptist came from the heavens under the direction of Peter James and John, and restored the Aaronic Priesthood to the earth with the attendant keys of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the keys of the ministering of angels.
Peter, James and John, the ancient apostles who were with the Savior in His earthly ministry, came and restored the Melchizedek Priesthood with all the attendant keys of the apostleship and the gospel of salvation and the setting up the kingdom of God upon the earth once more.
This is the most glorious news to the whole earth and should cause all of us to be filled with joy and rejoicing.
Scot
And all this is taking place in the most obscure wilderness in Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York. I love how the Lord brings things that are so significant out of such obscurity. That’s just the way He works.
All of this was done in accordance with the design of the Lord in order that he might, according to Elder Erastus Snow in 1882, “raise up a peculiar people to himself, a holy nation, a royal Priesthood—a kingdom of Priests, that shall be saviors upon Mount Zion, not only to preach the Gospel to the scattered remnants of Israel, but to save to the uttermost the nations of the Gentiles, inasmuch as they will listen and can be saved by the plan which God has provided.” (Journal of Discourses, 23:183.)
And Maurine, we know that the Aaronic Priesthood was restored on Friday, May 15, 1829. We’ve celebrated that date with fathers and son’s outings and Aaronic Priesthood commemorations for many, many years. But what about the date of the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood? We have not been given the exact date but we can certainly narrow it down to three particular days, with one more likely than the others. The most likely dates are May 26, 27 or 28, but the date that fits all the story we have presented is Wednesday, May 27, 1829 just at the rising of the sun. And, of course, the most important fact is that the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored by heavenly messengers and we have the keys of the priesthood among us today.
Maurine
And we don’t know but possibly when Joseph and Oliver got to the translation of 3 Nephi, chapters 18 and 19, which talks about the Nephite disciples being given the power of giving the Holy Ghost, that Joseph and Oliver did not have that same desire to be given this authority and that naturally led to the question of when? John the Baptist had told them the authority would soon be given, but they did not know when. All this was in process of time and that was a process of perfect timing.
So, Joseph and Oliver had been working steadily on the translation for nearly 50 days. Persecutions had began to be intense in Harmony against Joseph and Oliver. Joseph’s brother, Samuel Harrison, was still with them to help with the cultivation and farming but this wasn’t enough protection against the mounting opposition. Most of this opposition was coming from Emma’s extended family who were extremely angry that Joseph would not show them the supposed gold plates. Isaac Hale, Emma’s father, was at first also very opposed to Joseph working in the area because he would not show him the plates. But when his own brother, Nathaniel, would not relent in his opposition to Joseph and he began to gather others with him, this turned Isaac’s heart.
Scot
Joseph recorded in his history:
“We had been threatened with being mobbed, from time to time, and this, too, by professors of religion. And their intentions of mobbing us were only counteracted by the influence of my wife’s father’s family (under Divine providence), who had become very friendly to me, and who were opposed to mobs, and were willing that I should be allowed to continue the work of translation without interruption; and therefore offered and promised us protection from all unlawful proceedings, as far as in them lay.” (Joseph Smith History 1: 75)
But this would not be enough. Joseph and Oliver needed to work in a safer environment and be protected. It was at this point that the Lord commanded Joseph to have Oliver write David Whitmer a letter asking if they could come north to Fayette, New York and be under that protection and care of the Whitmer family, David’s parents, as they finished the translation of the ancient record.
Maurine
Oliver had stayed in touch with David through these months and this was a natural thing for him to write and make this request. Now consider the logistics: Peter Whitmer and his wife, Mary Musselman Whitmer, had a busy household with seven children, Christian, Jacob, John, David, Catherine, Peter Whitmer, Jr., and Elizabeth Ann. They had lost one daughter, Nancy. Another woman was living in their small 20 x 30 foot cabin—and now Joseph and Oliver and Samuel and Emma were asking to move in with them.
Peter Whitmer, Sr. felt like he needed a witness from God that this was His work and that they were to be involved in it.
Lucy Mack Smith gives us the account of what happened:
Scot
“The letter was written and delivered, and Mr. Whitmer showed it to his father, mother, sisters, and brothers, asking their advice as to what it would be best for him to do.”
And by the way, Maurine, I always like to remind our listeners that za Whitmers were Pennsylvania Dutch and they spoke with a heavy German accent. Sometimes we sink dat all dese early Saints just spoke plain English and all sounded like us. Such was note za case.
“His father said, ‘Why, David, you know you have sowed as much wheat as you can harrow in tomorrow and the next day, and then you have a quantity of plaster of paris to spread that is much needed on your land. You cannot go unless you get an evidence from God that it is very necessary.’
“This suggestion pleased David, and he asked the Lord for a testimony that it was his will that he should go. He was told by the voice of the Spirit to harrow in his wheat, and then go straightway to Pennsylvania. The next morning David went to the field and found that he had two heavy days’ work before him. He then asked the Lord to enable him to do this work sooner than the same work had ever been done on the farm before-and he would receive it as an evidence that it was God’s will that he should do all in his power to assist Joseph Smith in the work in which he was engaged. He then fastened his horses to the harrow, and instead of dividing the field into what is, by farmers, usually termed bands, he drove round the whole of it, continuing thus till noon, when, on stopping for dinner, he looked around, and discovered to his surprise that he had harrowed in full half the wheat. After dinner he again went on as before, and by evening he finished the whole two days’ work.
Maurine
“When he informed his father of the fact, his father could not believe it till he examined for himself and ascertained that it was actually true. ‘Well,’ said his father, ‘there must be some overruling power in this thing, and I think you had better go as soon as you get your plaster of paris sown and bring up the man with his scribe.’
“To this also David agreed. The next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, he took the half-bushel measure under his arm and went out to the place where he supposed the plaster to be, as he knew exactly where he had left it twenty-four hours earlier. But when he came to look for it, behold, it had entirely disappeared! Every vestige of it was gone from the spot where he left it. He ran to his sister [Catherine’s] house a few yards distant and inquired if she knew what had become of it.
“Why?” she said, in surprise. “Was it not all spread yesterday?”
“Not to my knowledge,” answered David.
Scot
“I am astonished at that,” replied his sister, “for the children came to me in the forenoon and begged of me to go out and see the men sow plaster in the field, saying that they never saw anybody sow plaster so fast in their lives. I accordingly went and saw three men at work in the field, as the children said, but, supposing that you had hired some help on account of your hurry, I went immediately into the house and gave the subject no further attention.”
“David made considerable inquiry in regard to the matter, both among his relatives and neighbors, but was not able to learn who had done it. However, the family were convinced that there was an exertion of supernatural power connected with this strange occurrence.
Maurine
“David immediately set out for Pennsylvania and arrived there in two days, without injuring his horses in the least, though the distance was one hundred and thirty-five miles. When he arrived, he was under the necessity of introducing himself to Joseph, as this was the first time that they had ever met.” (Smith, Lucy Mack, Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1996, pp. 192-94).
This sister was Catherine Whitmer who was married to Hiram Page—and they would also play a great role in the translation and the restoration.
Scot
The Lord calls the weak and the simple to bring forth his work—and now He called an entire family, the Peter and Mary Whitmer family, to thrust themselves into this great work. They were prepared by the Spirit. They were called by the Spirit and they heeded the call and did their part.
[This is the break between the two podcasts]
Maurine
How do we know about the reality of things we cannot see? How do we know about God whose face we can’t remember? How do we develop faith in spiritual things that are real, but invisible to our eye? We begin to learn these things because of the witness of others. Today we are going to talk about the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and tell you things you may not know about how firmly they stood in their testimonies against the toughest opposition. These are amazing stories.
Maurine
In Lectures on Faith, these questions are asked, “Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and activity in all their lawful avocations, callings, and pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not be that it was the assurance which they had of the existence of things which they had not seen as yet? Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion in order to obtain them? Are you not dependent on your faith, or belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown, if you had not believed that you would reap? Would you have ever planted, if you had not believed that you would gather? Would you have ever asked, unless you had believed that you would receive? Would you have ever sought unless you had believed that you would have found? Or, would you have ever knocked, unless you had believed that it would have been opened unto you? In a word, is there anything that you would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously believed? Are not all your exertions of every kind, dependent on your faith?”
Scot
Where do we get that faith in things we have not seen? In part it is because of witnesses. There are our own spiritual witnesses, which mean everything to us, those times when the Spirit testifies to us and we know. There are scriptural witnesses—prophets who have had dealings with God who write down their witness of the event. The Lord, not wanting to leave us in ignorance gives us what Paul calls “a cloud of witnesses”.
We also learn in Lectures on Faith how humanity first learned of God. “Adam, thus being made acquainted with God, communicated the knowledge which he had unto his posterity; and it was through this means that the thought was first suggested to their minds that there was a God, which laid the foundation for the exercise of their faith, through which they could obtain a knowledge of his character and also of his glory.”
Maurine
Latter-day Saint scholar Richard Lloyd Anderson noted, “Measuring a prophet is not unlike other serious decisions of life. Mosaic law required solid proof: “at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” (Deut. 19:15.) Prophets independently substantiate other prophets. Even Jesus had the comfort and strength of the testimony of John the Baptist, to whom he referred as a second witness on more than one occasion. (Matt. 11, John 5:33.) And nothing is more dominant in the early chapters of Acts than the force of many witnesses, the united testimony of apostles who had seen the resurrection for themselves.,,
“As Luke said in reviewing earliest Christianity, the founding events rest on reports of those who ‘from the beginning were eyewitnesses’” (Luke 1:2.) (Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses. Deseret Book, 1981).
Scot
We were not there in the grove with Joseph to witness the radiance of God’s glory, but so many of the other events of the restoration were witnessed by others who have left their clear testimonies in a way that it is hard to deny.
Since today we are talking about the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, you would have to deny everything they were and said to believe the Book of Mormon was not an ancient record. You’d have to believe in group delusion. In fact, when you consider all the things people were witnesses to in the restoration, not to believe that they saw what they said they saw is to be implacably stubborn in the face of witnesses.
Maurine
James B. Allen, a former Assistant Church Historian and BYU Professor notes: The testimonies of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon make Joseph Smith’s account much harder to dismiss than it would otherwise be. Plainly, since others announced that they, too, had seen and “hefted” and heard, this means that, whatever else it was, Joseph’s account must reflect more than merely private imagination or simple personal dishonesty. If the witnesses are judged to be reliable men of good character, their declarations pose a serious challenge to anyone who considers the claims of the Restoration.
Scot
Richard Lloyd Anderson notes, “Thousands of authorized copies of the Book of Mormon have reprinted the signed experience of the eleven Book or Mormon witnesses, three who described that an angel held and turned the individual plates of an ancient New World Bible and Eight who narrated how they were given an ordinary experience of “hefting” the record and examining the carefully crafted characters on it. About 200 reported interviews with these eleven are collected, which report the constant affirmation of these witnesses of seeing and lifting this historic, prophetic record, with its independent account of Christ visiting America.
Richard L. Bushman said, “The testimonies of the three witnesses is the closest we come to rational evidence for Mormon belief. Three men attest to a sensory encounter with the gold plates and a divine being. In an age of skepticism, when all religious belief is under attack, their statement becomes more relevant every day.”
Maurine
Let’s get to the story. Joseph and Oliver had been working on the translation of the Book of Mormon at the Whitmer cabin in Fayette, New York in an upstairs room where the heat rose and the hours were long. After facing so much persecution both in Palmyra and in Harmony, these were peaceful days. With the protection and support of the Whitmers and their neighbors, who were not hostile, the work progressed and by the end of June they were finished.
Two places in the Book of Mormon made it clear that there would be witnesses. 2 Nephi 27:14 states: “Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word.”
Scot
In Ether 5:1-3, we read, “And now, I Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to their memory, and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for the thing is forbidden you, except it shall be wisdom in God.
“And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work;
“And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that they are true.”
Maurine
So the plates would be shown to those who had assisted to bring forth the work. Who had done more to assist to bring forth the work and also had an emotional investment in it than Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery, who in their capacities as secretaries had contributed more personal time than anyone else? David Whitmer’s work had been critical in coming to get them in Harmony and bringing them to the protection and support of his parents’ house where the translation was finished.
Scot
Lucy Mack Smith recorded: As soon as the Book of Mormon was translated, Joseph dispatched a messenger to Mr. Smith, bearing intelligence of the completion of the work and a request that Mr. Smith and myself should come immediately to Waterloo [the town adjacent to the Whitmer cabin.]
“That same evening we communicated this intelligence to Martin Harris, for we loved the man although his weakness had cost us much unnecessary trouble. He seemed to have a heart that designed no evil, and we felt a commiseration for the disappointment which his misguided zeal had brought upon him in an evil hour. When he heard that the translation was finally completed, he seemed as greatly rejoiced as if he knew that it affected his salvation, and determined to go straightway to Waterloo as soon as he could get away. The next morning, we accordingly set off together, and before sunset we met Joseph and Oliver at Waterloo.”
Maurine
Lucy writes: “The evening was spent in reading the manuscript, and it would be superfluous for me to say to anyone who has read these pages that we were greatly rejoiced. It then appeared to us, who did not realize the magnitude of the work, as though the greatest difficulty was then surmounted. But with Joseph it was not so, for he knew that a dispensation of the gospel had been committed to him, of which the starting bud had scarcely yet made its appearance.
“The next morning after breakfast, we repaired to the sitting room, and after attending the morning service, namely reading, singing, and praying, Joseph arose from his knees and approached Martin with a solemnity which thrills through my veins to this day, whenever it comes to my recollection. ‘Martin Harris,’ he said, ‘you have got to humble yourself before your God this day and obtain, if possible, a forgiveness of your sins. If you will do this, it is God’s will that you and Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer should look upon the plates.’” (Smith, Lucy Mack, Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1996).
Scot
Joseph received Section 17 of the Doctrine and Covenants, “Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a aview of the bplates, and also of the cbreastplate, the dsword of Laban, the eUrim and Thummim, which were given to the fbrother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord gface to face, and the hmiraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the iRed Sea.
“And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old” (Doctrine and Covenants 17: 1,2).
Maurine
Notice that it is not just the plates they are going to see, but these many sacred, Nephite relics.
So Joseph Smith records, “”Not many days after the above commandment was given, we four—viz., Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and myself—agreed to retire into the woods, and try to obtain by fervent and humble prayer the fulfilment of the promises given in the revelation that they should have a view of the plates, etc. We accordingly made choice of a piece of woods convenient to Mr. Whitmer’s house, to which we retired. And having knelt down we began to pray in much faith to Almighty God to bestow upon us a realization of these promises. According to previous arrangements I commenced by vocal prayer to our heavenly Father, and was followed by each of the rest in succession. We did not yet however obtain any answer or manifestation of the divine favor in our behalf. We again observed the same order of prayer, each calling on, and praying fervently to God in rotation, but with the same result as before. Upon this our second failure, Martin Harris proposed that he would withdraw himself from us, believing as he expressed himself that his presence was the cause of our not obtaining what we wished for.
Scot
Joseph continued, “”He accordingly withdrew from us, and we knelt down again and had not been many minutes engaged in prayer when presently we beheld a light above us in the air of exceeding brightness. And behold, an angel stood before us. In his hands he held the plates which we had been praying for these to have a view of. He turned over the leaves one by one, so that we could see them, and discover the engravings thereon distinctly. He addressed himself to David Whitmer, and said, ‘David, blessed is the Lord, and he that keeps his commandments.’ When immediately afterwards, we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying: ‘These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear.’
“I now left David and Oliver, and went in pursuit of Martin Harris, whom I found at a considerable distance, fervently engaged in prayer. He soon told me, however, that he had not yet prevailed with the Lord, and earnestly requested me to join him in prayer that he also might realize the same blessings which we had just received. We accordingly joined in prayer, and ultimately obtained our desires, for before we had yet finished, the same vision was opened to our view—at least it was again to me. And I once more beheld, and heard the same things, whilst at the same moment, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in ecstacy of joy, ‘Tis enough; mine eyes have beheld,’ and jumping up he shouted, hosannah, blessing God, and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 1:54-55, in the form first published in Times and Seasons 3 [1842]:897-98.)
Maurine
Lucy said, “When they returned to the house, it was between three and four o’clock. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith, and myself were sitting in a bedroom, myself on a bedside. When Joseph came in, he threw himself down beside me and exclaimed, “Father! Mother! You do not know how happy I am. The Lord has caused the plates to be shown to three more besides me. They have also seen an angel and will have to testify to the truth of what I have said, for they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people. I do feel as though I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was almost too much for me to endure. But they will now have to bear a part, and it does rejoice my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.” (Smith, Lucy Mack, Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, Edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1996).
What a glimpse this is into Joseph’s soul when he says, “I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was almost too much for me to endure.” We think of the kind of communications that Joseph received from the heavens as an inconceivable privilege, but we forget that he had to bear those burdens, at first alone. He was called to bear the heavy weight of being the head of this dispensation. He was very young. He had plates that he could show to no one and was hated for it. Now, at last he had someone who could say, “I have seen.”
Scot
Richard Lloyd Anderson notes: “No testimony of direct revelation in the world’s history is better documented than the testimony of the Book of Mormon witnesses. Since David Whitmer was widely known as ‘the last-surviving witness’ prior to his death in 1888, he was interviewed far more extensively than the others. He said that thousands came to inquire, and over fifty of these conversations are reported in reasonable detail in contemporary diaries, letters, and newspapers, supplemented by later recollections. This examination and cross-examination of the reports furnishes a detailed historical record.”
He wrote, “One may reconstruct a line of questioning on the central points of the revelation that came to [Whitmer]. The following replies are taken from the better recorded interviews of about the last decade of his life. Since these responses can be documented in multiple situations, such a composite interview gives a fair idea of the impact of a private talk with David Whitmer.”
Maurine
Wouldn’t we all love a private talk with David Whitmer? So here’s a composite of the reporter’s questions and David’s actual answers. I’ll be the reporter, Scot, and you be David.
Q: Is your published testimony accurate?
A: “As you read my testimony given many years ago, so it stands as my own existence, the same as when I gave it, and so shall stand throughout the cycles of eternity.” 2
Q: When did this event take place?
A: “It was in June, 1829, the very last part of the month.” 3
Q: What was the approximate time of day?
A: “It was about 11 A.M.” 4
Q: What were the circumstances of the vision?
A: “[We] went out into the woods nearby, and sat down on a log and talked awhile. We then kneeled down and prayed. Joseph prayed, We then got up and sat on the log and were talking, when all at once a light came down from above us and encircled us for quite a little distance around, and the angel stood before us.” 5
Q: Describe the angel.
A: “He was dressed in white, and spoke and called me by name and said, ‘Blessed is he that keepeth His commandments.’ This is all that I heard the angel say.” 6
Q: Did the angel have the Book of Mormon plates?
A: “[He] showed to us the plates, the sword of Laban, the Directors, the Urim and Thummim, and other records. Human language could not describe heavenly things and that which we saw.” 7
Q: Did the vision take place under natural circumstances?
A: “The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting right here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. it was not like the light of the sun, nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell how far, but in the midst of this light, immediately before us, about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer, who was sitting 2 or 3 feet from him) there appeared, as it were, a table, with many records on it—besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the sword of Laban, the Directors, and the Interpreters. I saw them as plain as I see this bed (striking his hand upon the bed beside him), and I heard the voice of the Lord as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life declaring that they were translated by the gift and power of God.” 8
Q: Can you explain the supernatural power that surrounded you?
A: “All of a sudden I beheld a dazzlingly brilliant light that surpassed in brightness even the sun at noonday, and which seemed to envelop the woods for a considerable distance around. Simultaneous with the light came a strange entrancing influence which permeated me so powerfully that I felt chained to the spot, while I also experienced a sensation of joy absolutely indescribable.” 9
Q: “Did you see the Urim and Thummim?”
A: “I saw the Interpreters in the holy vision; they looked like whitish stones put in the rim of a bow—looked like spectacles, only much larger.” 10
Q: Did you see an actual table?
A: “You see that small table by the wall? . . . Well, there was a table about that size, and the heavenly messenger brought the several plates and laid them on the table before our eyes, and we saw them.” 11
Q: Did you handle the plates?
A: “I did not handle the plates—only saw them.” 12 “Joseph, and I think Oliver and Emma told me about the plates, and described them to me, and I believed them, but did not see except at the time testified of.” 13
Q: How clearly could you see the plates?
A: “[T]he angel stood before us, and he turned the leaves one by one.” 14 “[H]e held the plates and turned them over with his hands, so that they could be plainly visible.” 15
Q: “Did the angel turn all the leaves before you as you looked on it?”
A: “No, not all, only that part of the book which was not sealed, and what there was sealed appeared as solid to my view as wood.” 16
Q: “Can you describe the plates?”
A: “They appeared to be of gold, about six by nine inches in size, about as thick as parchment, a great many in number and bound together like the leaves of a book by massive rings passing through the back edges. The engraving upon them was very plain and of very curious appearance.” 17
Q: Is it possible that you imagined this experience?
A: “[O]ur testimony is true. And if these things are not true, then there is no truth; and if there is no truth, there is no God; and if there is no God, there is no existence. But I know there is a God, for I have heard His voice and witnessed the manifestation of his power.” 18
Q: “Do you remember the peculiar sensation experienced upon that occasion?”
A: “Yes, I remember it very distinctly. And I never think of it, from that day to this, but what that spirit is present with me.” 19 (Anderson)
Maurine
In another interview David said, “While we were viewing them the voice of God spoke out of heaven saying that the Book was true and the translation correct.”
He was asked,’How did you know it was the voice of God?’”
“’We knew it was the voice of God. I knew it was the voice of God just as well as I knew any thing.’
The interviewer said, “This narration was delivered in a mild, but fervent voice and as he spoke and bore witness, and we listened, the Spirit of God rested in great power upon us like a flame of glory, or burning coal from the altar of God. It enveloped our beings and glowed in our hearts while tears of gratitude and joy flowed down our cheeks.“ (Lyndon Cook, David Whitmer Interviews. Grandin Book Company, 1991)
Scot
So we have three witnesses—David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris—and all three of them leave the church, but none of them ever deny their witness of the Book of Mormon—even at peril of their lives. Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris come back, but David Whitmer never does, which makes their witness all the more powerful. It wasn’t convenient or popular or safe to be a witness. For this witness they would be reviled as fools and lose opportunities, but they never caved. They knew what they had seen and took very seriously these words from Section 17: “And if you do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.
Let’s look at each of their stories.
Maurine
David Whitmer was a leader. Joseph Smith’s opinion of him was recorded in a 1835 blessing that David cherished his entire life. Beloved as “a faithful friend to mankind,” his integrity causes “all his words” to be as “steadfast as the pillars of heaven.” A journalist who did not admire his theology could not help but admire the man. “If a life of probity, of unobtrusive benevolence and well doing for well nigh a half century, marks a man as a good citizen, then David Whitmer should enjoy the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.”
So what happened? David Whitmer presided over the Missouri Church but by 1838, just before the Missouri expulsion, he was excommunicated. He had begun to be disaffected by some of the problems in Kirtland, including the failure of the Kirtland Safety society and rumors of polygamy. He had joined in the spirit of dissent against the prophet. Some wanted to depose Joseph Smith and put David Whitmer in his place. He alienated many Missouri church members in what seemed like profiteering in land sales over what was supposed to be consecrated property.
Scot
When the Saints left for Illinois, David Whitmer was left to spend the rest of his life in Missouri, which was, as we know, a place completely hostile to the Church. He had already had practice defying a hostile mob of vigilantes in 1833 in Jackson County.
John P. Green wrote, “[W]hen the mob again assembled they went to the houses of several of the leading Mormons. And taking Isaac Morley, David Whitmer, and others, they told them to bid their families farewell, for they would never see them again. Then driving them at the point of the bayonet to the public square, they stripped and tarred and feathered them, amidst menaces and insults. The commanding officer then called twelve of his men. And ordering them to cock their guns and present them at the prisoners’ breasts, and to be ready to fire when he gave the word, he addressed the prisoners, threatening them with instant death unless they denied the Book of Mormon and confessed it to be a fraud; at the same time adding that if they did so, they might enjoy the privileges of citizens. David Whitmer, hereupon, lifted up his hands and bore witness that the Book of Mormon was the Word of God. The mob then let them go.”
Maurine
David Whitmer described that same event this way, “I had a mob of from four to five hundred surrounding me at one time, demanding that I should deny my published statement of the Book of Mormon; but the testimony I bore the mob made them tremble before me. I heard the voice of the Angel just as stated in said Book, and the engravings on the plates were shown to us, and we were commanded to bear record of them; and if they are not true then there is no truth, and if there is no truth there is no God; if there is no God then there is no existence. But, there is a God, and I know it.”
Even when he was no longer a member of the Church, he was no less valiant. In the close of his life, when one John Murphy had misconstrued David Whitmer’s testimony, he sat down and wrote it out.
“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 in my life denied that testimony, or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that Book, as one of those 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 of 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 let he that readeth let him understand. (Cook).
Scot
It seems heartbreaking that Oliver Cowdery, who had been so closely associated with Joseph in translation of the Book of Mormon and the reception of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood and in seeing the Lord in the Kirtland Temple should have left the Church, but his reasons were similar to David Whitmer, who was his brother-in-law. He was excommunicated April 11 1838 in part because of his concern about Joseph Smith and polygamy and in part because of selling lands in Missouri for personal gain.
I always say that if Missouri hadn’t been so far from Ohio and there had been cell phones so Oliver and Joseph could have talked, this could have been avoided.
Maurine
Oliver was rebaptized in November of 1848 by apostle Orson Hyde and was the culmination of six years of desire on his part and many efforts by the leadership of the church to bring about this reconciliation.
In or out of the church he was true to the testimony he bore as one of the three witnesses. Here’s a testimony from one who saw Oliver.
“My father, Jacob Gates, while on his way to England, in 1849, stopped at the town of Richmond, where lived at that time Oliver Cowdery. Hearing that Oliver was in poor health, and wishing to renew old acquaintance, as they had been friends in earlier days, father called on him at his home. Their conversation, during the visit drifted to early Church history, and to their mutual experiences during the troublous times in Missouri and Illinois. Finally father put this question to him: “Oliver,” said he, “I want you to tell me the whole truth about your testimony concerning the Book of Mormon—the testimony sent forth to the world over your signature and found in the front of that book. Was your testimony based on a dream, was it the imagination of your mind, was it an illusion, a myth—tell me truthfully?”
Scot
“To question him thus seemed to touch Oliver very deeply. He answered not a word, but arose from his easy chair, went to the book case, took down a Book of Mormon of the first edition, turned to the testimony of the Three Witnesses, and read in the most solemn manner the words to which he had subscribed his name, nearly twenty years before. Facing my father, he said: ‘Jacob, I want you to remember what I say to you. I am a dying man, and what would it profit me to tell you a lie? I know,” said he, “that this Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. My eyes saw, my ears heard, and my understanding was touched, and I know that whereof I testified is true. It was no dream, no vain imagination of the mind—it was real.’
“Then father asked him about the angel under whose hands he received the priesthood, to which he made answer thus: ‘Jacob, I felt the hand of the angel on my head as plainly as I could feel yours, and could hear his voice as I now hear yours.’
Then father asked this question: “If all that you tell me is true, why did you leave the Church?” Oliver made only this explanation; said he: “When I left the Church, I felt wicked, I felt like shedding blood, but I have got all over that now.” https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Book_of_Mormon/Witnesses/Oliver_Cowdery_joined_the_Methodists#Oliver_Cowdery:_.22My_eyes_saw.2C_my_ears_heard…It_was_no_dream.2C_no_vain_imagination_of_the_mind.E2.80.94it_was_real.22
Maurine
Finally, Martin Harris. He, too, was rankled during the 1837 Kirtland period when so many trials fell upon the Church at once. He explained later that he “lost confidence in Joseph Smith” and “his mind became darkened”. When the Latter-day Saints moved from Kirtland, he stayed behind where he became increasingly “a solitary figure in non-Mormon society, which only ridiculed him for his persistence in declaring that he had seen the angel and the plates.
This did not stop him from declaring his witness. Here’s one account of that:
“When we came out of the meeting Martin Harris was beset with a crowd in the street, expecting that he would furnish them with material to war against Mormonism; but when he was asked if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, he answered yes; and when asked if the Book of Mormon was true, this was his answer: ‘Do you know that is the sun shining on us? Because as sure as you know that, I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that he translated that book by the power of God.’ ”
We’re happy to say that Martin Harris finally came to Utah and rejoined with the Saints and died July 10, 1875 “with his lifelong testimony of the Book of Mormon upon his lips.” (Anderson).
Scot
One last word, when Joseph Smith was translating the plates at the Whitmer home, so much of the burden of having these extra guests in her home, fell on the mother of the home, Mary Whitmer. She, too, became a witness of the Book of Mormon, in her own right, when Moroni showed her the plates.
Mary Whitmer’s encounter is described in three separate accounts. The most famous is from her son, David:
“…my mother was going to milk the cows, when she was met out near the yard by the same old man (judging by her description of him) [whom David had seen on the roadside in a prior incident] who said to her, ‘You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors, but you are tired because of the increase of your toil, it is proper therefore that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened.’ Thereupon he showed her the plates.
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John C. Whitmer recalled this further tidbit from his grandmother’s story:
[The personage] turned the plates over, leaf after leaf, and also showed her the engravings upon them; after which he told her to be patient and faithful in bearing her burden a little longer, promising that if she would do so, she should be blessed; and her reward would be sure, if she proved faithful to the end. The personage then suddenly vanished with the plates, and where he went, she could not tell.
“More insights are offered by another granddaughter, who said Mary Whitmer was irritated when Joseph and Oliver took breaks from translating and ‘skated rocks on a pond.’ ‘[She] thought they might just as well carry her a bucket of water or chop a bit of wood . . .’ and planned to order them out of her house. Such anxieties were relieved by Moroni’s timely visitation.”
Maurine
That’s all for today. We hope you’ve learned a few things and that you’ve come to understand the restoration of the Priesthoods more than every before.
Next week we will be studying Doctrine and Covenants, Section 18 with the lesson entitled: “Stand as a Witness.” Thanks to Paul Cardall for our music and to Michaela Proctor Hutchins for producing this podcast. We’ve loved being with you. Have a great week and see you next time.
