The Bible and Book of Mormon are two testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Yep, that is the claim. And an unsubstantiated claim. And is an outright
lie.
The truth is there are FOUR gospels or "testimonies" of Jesus Christ in
the Canon we call the Bible. There are also a number of letters written
by true apostles of Jesus Christ who were taught by Jesus Christ. We
also have the OT which in toto is a testimony of the anticipated Messiah.
Right there you have two witnesses - the OT prophets and the NT apostles.
You have the OT prophets speaking of the Christ to come, and you have the
apostles testifying of the Lord revealed. There are your two testimonies
that you feel you need - sixty-six books all bundled up in one easily
managed library.
So you have to return to the well of deconstruction and fraud to say that
Joseph Smith provides a SECOND testimony of Jesus Christ.
I forgot to add this to my previous reply of the same post. Jesus said "...
in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."
(Matt. 18:16) Like I have thoroughly explained, Judah and Ephraim are two
witnesses, two nations that are a witness of Jesus Christ.
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know
ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am
God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the
same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall
run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
2 Nephi:29
Who told you that the Bible is the only word of God?
By asking that question in that manner, you either know and intend to
deceive, or you have no clue whatsoever to what is indeed "The Bible".
That was a rhetorical question. I know God continues to give revelation
today as He
did 2000 years ago. Only sectarians like you insist He doesn't. The
scriptures say He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law,
happy is he. (Prov. 29:18)
You will not repent due to your false traditions and darkness of mind so you
will not acknowledge the restoral of the Priesthood authority lost when the
Apostles of the first Church died and was lost for about 1800 years before
Peter, James, and John returned and anointed Joseph Smith the Priesthood
authority and that God once again speaks to us now in the present.
Your purpose is either evil or ignorant. Which is it?
Unlike you, I don't make a habit of just throwing out claims without at
least a newsgroup acceptable level of evidence.
For instance, your question treats The Bible as if some dude just sat down
and wrote the whole thing - sort of how you treat Joseph Smith's writings
or how some Muslim would treat Mohammed's works. Sure there are a number
of ancillary writings by your church leaders and by Muslim imams to expand
and comment on the foundational document.
But the Bible wasn't written in one day, but was written by several
prophets over a period exceeding fifteen hundred years in several
different languages in different cultures and times to different people
and dispensations using many different literary techniques. The apostles
wrote letters that were distributed among the churches. If you want to
hear a detailed description of how the Bible came about, tell a Roman
Catholic that you are protestant and you will be schooled in the
canoninzation of the Bible. Let's put it this way, the compilation of
today's Bible was a massive undertaking, and that is why we have a
trustworthy Bible today, because of the thousands upon thousands of
man-hours of work by true men of God to reject the junk and keep what is
believed to be Divinly inspired books and letters.
Basically, the Joseph Smith letters don't even pass the most basic peer
review. Under any scholarly practice Joseph Smith's letters would be
marked as junk and quickly discarded.
I bear my testimony that Joseph Smith is indeed a true Prophet of God, as
much of a Prophet as any in the Bible. The same Spirit that testified to me
of Jesus Christ strives with me daily. I know it does not with you but you
only spout your opinions based on your false traditions and own noodle.
A true Prophet will teach doctrines and give revelations that may be new but
will not contradict past prophets.
"I hope you will search the Scriptures to see whether these things are not
also consistent with those things which the ancient Prophets and Apostles
have written." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 29)
Another difference between a true servant of God and a false priest or
minister is by the fact that a true servant gets revelations. A false
minister will say that God cannot give revelation any more. All the prophets
in the Old Testament received "Thus saith the Lord" revelations". Joseph
Smith received over 100 revelations that were published. Also a true Prophet
will require that his followers receive a witness of his calling and
teachings by the Spirit not to just blindly follow him. Paul said no man
knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God.
"Search the scriptures--search the revelations which we publish, and ask
your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the
truth
unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory nothing doubting,
He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for
yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for
the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation. No; for
when men receive their instruction from Him that made them, they know how He
will save them." (TPJS, pp. 11-12)
I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere
heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth
of it unto you.... (Moroni 10:4)
16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile
against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day
shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the
earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall
perish.
17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their
wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of
Hosts.
18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the ***** of all the earth,
must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof.
19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must
needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his
everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of
men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that
they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and
thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to
hell.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell;
and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none--and thus he
whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from
whence there is no deliverance.
23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the
devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne
of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go
into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which
is endless torment.
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth
the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the
truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with
gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he
shall fall.
29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we
need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and
blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my
counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will
give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be
taken away even that which they have.
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or
shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given
by the power of the Holy Ghost.
32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding
I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;
nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will
repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long,
saith the Lord God of Hosts.
(2 Ne 28:11-32)
Joseph Smith was born and raised in an area
that was the center of the Great Revival so, due to lack of MTV and other
distractions, a little bit of hype goes a long way.
"Every generation has flattered itself that it is a little better than the
one that preceded it. Every generation has prided itself in its knowledge
and great advancement in the arts and sciences and its superiority over
preceding generations; yet the power of the adversary and his hatred of
righteousness and truth are as great to-day as they ever were since the
creation of the earth." Journal of Discourses, Vol.11, Pg.228 - Pg.229,
George Q. Cannon, May 6, 1866
Furthermore, he was
also raised in a time and place where everyone knew of buried treasure -
think "Oak Island". It was a long lasting fad to believe that pirates
buried treasure along the coast or on islands off the coast. Since money
was hard to come by, this was the equivalent of today's lottery - finding
buried treasure. What makes Joe's story absurd is that we are led to
believe that these great golden plates were buried in little Palmyra.
Has anyone bothered to ask why of all places?
What? Gold plates in a stone box, you say?
http://www.artbulla.com/zion/batcreek.html
"This gold plate of Darius proclaims his majesty and the vast extent of his
Persian empire. It was buried in a neatly made stone box in 516-515 B.C. at
Persepolis. This gold plate and its duplicate silver tablet were discovered
in 1933. Similarly, the Nephites of the sixth century B.C. kept two sets of
records on gold plates, one of which was buried in a stone box in 421 A.D."
Courtesy Paul R. Cheesman.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that if a young impressionable lad
grows up in an area where preachers are revered and where anyone can win
the lottery by just finding that one winning treasure map, that he would
fabricate an entire religion that would enscounce himself in a position of
spiritual leadership based on him discovering hidden treasure. Today's
equivalent would be to win the lottery and then buy a political office.
So of course he found buried GOLD plates, and of course it was alleged to
have been written a "long, long time ago", and in a completely unknown
tongue that required translation by imaginary magic fairy glasses. This
is the plot line for a Raider of the Lost Ark series. This kind of story
would titilate the rubes and the hicks who didn't get their Amway position
in the last Great Revival tent carnival.
What you call "imaginary magic fairy glasses" are called seer stones or
a.k.a Urim and Thummim. This device was the means by which Joseph Smith
translated the ancient writings on the gold plates. Here from Joseph Smith's
own words from "Joseph Smith History" is his account of the meeting with the
resurrected Prophet from the Book of Mormon (you do believe in the
resurrection, don't you?) Moroni who told him the location of the gold
plates.
(Moroni appears to Joseph Smith-Joseph's name is to be known for good and
evil among all nations-Moroni tells him of the Book of Mormon and of the
coming judgments of the Lord, and quotes many scriptures-The hiding place of
the gold plates is revealed-Moroni continues to instruct the Prophet.)
(Verses 27-54.)
27 I continued to pursue my common vocations in life until the
twenty-first of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, all
the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men,
both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had
seen a vision.
28 During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the
vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three-having been forbidden
to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender
years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have
treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored
in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me-I was left to all
kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently
fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the
foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers
temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no
one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to
commit such was never in my nature. But I was guilty of levity, and
sometimes associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that
character which ought to be maintained by one who was called of God as I had
been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my
youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.
29 In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness
and imperfections; when, on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first
of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself
to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins
and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my
state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a
divine manifestation, as I previously had one.
30 While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light
appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter
than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside,
standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness
beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly
thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands
were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his
feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck
were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this
robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.
32 Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was
glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The
room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his
person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left
me.
33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent
from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a
work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among
all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil
spoken of among all people.
34 He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an
account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from
whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel
was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;
35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows-and these stones,
fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and
Thummim-deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these
stones were what constituted "seers" in ancient or former times; and that
God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.
Now how would a 17 year old unschooled simple farm boy know what a "Urim and
Thummim" is ? How could he have had fabricated that ? The Bible talks about
the Urim and Thummim used by Seers in ancient times.
30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the
Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the
LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his
heart before the LORD continually.
Exodus 28:30
8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the
Urim and the Thummim.
Leviticus 8:8
And if Joseph Smith did imagine up Moroni, why would he reference Moroni
quoting the following verses from the OT books of Malachi, Isaiah, and Joel,
huh?
36 After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of
the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and
he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with
a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting
the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus:
37 For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the
proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that
come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them
neither root nor branch.
38 And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto
you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of
the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
39 He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the
hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of
the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth
would be utterly wasted at his coming.
40 In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying
that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts,
twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New
Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet
come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among
the people," but soon would come.
41 He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse
to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to
be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles was soon to come
in. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many
explanations which cannot be mentioned here.
42 Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had
spoken-for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled-I
should not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim
and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I
did I should be destroyed. While he was conversing with me about the plates,
the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates
were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place
again when I visited it.
43 After this communication, I saw the light in the room begin to gather
immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me, and it
continued to do so until the room was again left dark, except just around
him; when, instantly I saw, as it were, a conduit open right up into heaven,
and he ascended till he entirely disappeared, and the room was left as it
had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance.
44 I lay musing on the singularity of the scene, and marveling greatly at
what had been told to me by this extraordinary messenger; when, in the midst
of my meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to
get lighted, and in an instant, as it were, the same heavenly messenger was
again by my bedside.
45 He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done
at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he
informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great
desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous
judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these
things, he again ascended as he had done before.
46 By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep
had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had
both seen and heard. But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same
messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me
the same things as before; and added a caution to me, telling me that Satan
would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my
father's family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This he
forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the
plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive
than that of building his kingdom; otherwise I could not get them.
47 After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I
was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced;
when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me
for the third time, the ***** crowed, and I found that day was approaching,
so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night.
48 I shortly after arose from my bed, and, as usual, went to the necessary
labors of the day; but, in attempting to work as at other times, I found my
strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable. My father, who was
laboring along with me, discovered something to be wrong with me, and told
me to go home. I started with the intention of going to the house; but, in
attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were, my strength
entirely failed me, and I fell helpless on the ground, and for a time was
quite unconscious of anything.
49 The first thing that I can recollect was a voice speaking unto me,
calling me by name. I looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing over
my head, surrounded by light as before. He then again related unto me all
that he had related to me the previous night, and commanded me to go to my
father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received.
50 I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole
matter to him. He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and do
as commanded by the messenger. I left the field, and went to the place where
the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the
distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place
the instant that I arrived there.
51 Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario county, New York,
stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the
neighborhood. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, under a
stone of considerable size, lay the plates, deposited in a stone box. This
stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner
towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the
ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth.
52 Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under
the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in,
and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the
breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was
formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of
the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay
the plates and the other things with them.
53 I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger,
and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet
arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me
that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and
that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until
the time should come for obtaining the plates.
54 Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year,
and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction
and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the
Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be
conducted in the last days.
It's just the little details in the account of Smith's vision of Moroni that
help add credibility to it. It's strange that Smith said Moroni visited him
3 consecutive times that night giving the exact same message and then the
next day while working with his father on their farm, he had the same vision
of Moroni. Funny how, he said Moroni instructed him not to take out the gold
plates until exactly 4 years later but he was to visit Moroni at the
location of the plates annually up till the time of the 4th year.
(Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale-He receives the gold plates from Moroni and
translates some of the characters-Martin Harris shows characters and
translation to Professor Anthon, who says: "I cannot read a sealed
book." )(Verses 55-65.)
55 As my father's worldly circumstances were very limited, we were under
the necessity of laboring with our hands, hiring out by day's work and
otherwise, as we could get opportunity. Sometimes we were at home, and
sometimes abroad, and by continuous labor were enabled to get a comfortable
maintenance.
56 In the year 1823 my father's family met with a great affliction by the
death of my eldest brother, Alvin. In the month of October, 1825, I hired
with an old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal, who lived in Chenango
county, State of New York. He had heard something of a silver mine having
been opened by the Spaniards in Harmony, Susquehanna county, State of
Pennsylvania; and had, previous to my hiring to him, been digging, in order,
if possible, to discover the mine. After I went to live with him, he took
me, with the rest of his hands, to dig for the silver mine, at which I
continued to work for nearly a month, without success in our undertaking,
and finally I prevailed with the old gentleman to cease digging after it.
Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money-digger.
57 During the time that I was thus employed, I was put to board with a Mr.
Isaac Hale, of that place; it was there I first saw my wife (his daughter),
Emma Hale. On the 18th of January, 1827, we were married, while I was yet
employed in the service of Mr. Stoal.
58 Owing to my continuing to assert that I had seen a vision, persecution
still followed me, and my wife's father's family were very much opposed to
our being married. I was, therefore, under the necessity of taking her
elsewhere; so we went and were married at the house of Squire Tarbill, in
South Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York. Immediately after my marriage,
I left Mr. Stoal's, and went to my father's, and farmed with him that
season.
59 At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and
Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one
thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of
another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly
messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be
responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through
any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my
endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them,
they should be protected.
60 I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to
keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had
done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was
it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get
them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for
that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and
multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible.
But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had
accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to
arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and
he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
61 The excitement, however, still continued, and rumor with her thousand
tongues was all the time employed in circulating falsehoods about my
father's
family, and about myself. If I were to relate a thousandth part of them, it
would fill up volumes. The persecution, however, became so intolerable that
I was under the necessity of leaving Manchester, and going with my wife to
Susquehanna county, in the State of Pennsylvania. While preparing to
start-being very poor, and the persecution so heavy upon us that there was
no probability that we would ever be otherwise-in the midst of our
afflictions we found a friend in a gentleman by the name of Martin Harris,
who came to us and gave me fifty dollars to assist us on our journey. Mr.
Harris was a resident of Palmyra township, Wayne county, in the State of New
York, and a farmer of respectability.
62 By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination
in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying
the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and
by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did
between the time I arrived at the house of my wife's father, in the month of
December, and the February following.
63 Sometime in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin
Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the
plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place
relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the
circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as
follows:
64 "I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had
been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon,
a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated
that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen
translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet
translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and
Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate,
certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that
the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I
took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the
house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found
out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered
that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.
65 "He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took
it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to
pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels,
and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I
informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden
to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and
went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said
respecting both the characters and the translation."
So from reading the account of Martin Harris' showing the translated
characters and the translation from the gold plates to Professor Charles
Anthon who verified the the characters and the translation of the characters
are authentic with a certificate (although due to his sectarian tradition
bigotry like your kind have he tore up the certificate) and second
verification by Dr. Mitchell we know on top of the other analysis of Joseph
Smith's experience with Moroni that there is nothing to find fault with
Smith's experience (except in the eyes of anti-Christ wannabe servants of
Christ sectarians.)
But this wasn't the end of Joseph Smith's early run of visions as a young
Prophet. He was anointed the Aaronic Priesthood along with Oliver Cowdery
and they baptized each other for the remission of sins and not too much time
later they received the fulness of the Gospel by both receiving the
Melchizedek Priesthood which was necessary to restore the Church of Jesus
Christ as existed almost 1800 years before the apostasy of the Church. The
Martin Luther Protestant Reformation was a prepratory stage for the return
of the Priesthood.
(Oliver Cowdery serves as scribe in translating the Book of Mormon-Joseph
and Oliver receive the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist-They are
baptized, ordained, and receive the spirit of prophecy. )(Verses 66-75.)
66 On the 5th day of April, 1829, Oliver Cowdery came to my house, until
which time I had never seen him. He stated to me that having been teaching
school in the neighborhood where my father resided, and my father being one
of those who sent to the school, he went to board for a season at his house,
and while there the family related to him the circumstances of my having
received the plates, and accordingly he had come to make inquiries of me.
67 Two days after the arrival of Mr. Cowdery (being the 7th of April) I
commenced to translate the Book of Mormon, and he began to write for me.
* * * * * *
68 We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month
(May, 1829), we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of
the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found
mentioned in the translation of the plates. 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.*
72 The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this
Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called
John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction
of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of
Melchizedek, which Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on
us, and that I should be called the first Elder of the Church, and he
(Oliver Cowdery) the second. It was on the fifteenth day of May, 1829, that
we were ordained under the hand of this messenger, and 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.
74 Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid
open to our understandings, and the btrue 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. In the meantime we
were forced to keep secret the circumstances of having received the
Priesthood and our having been baptized, owing to a spirit of persecution
which had already manifested itself in the neighborhood.
75 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.
Something to think about it that is already surely in your minds. Who else
talks about so strenuously for baptism for remission of sins than the
Mormons and the need for the Melchizedek Priesthood? No one. Could Joseph
Smith just made all this up? Having considered all the facts only a
disingenuous person would continue to blabber false accusations against the
Prophet Joseph Smith.
I mean, since when do angels
tell someone that they aren't the "right person" and then say the "right
person" is someone who will be dead when its their time to act? This
should be a major clue that the "angels" are not of God. Furthermore,
what's with the necromancers? Didn't King Saul lose favor with God for
consulting a necromancer? This whole story about the plates receives the
loud guffaws that it deserves, and sends all but the most gullible running
off.
Why is believing in angels in the past from the Bible so much more
believable ? How about the account of Jacob wrestling an angel all night
long and being renamed by the angel Israel? Or the angel who stopped
Balaam's donkey from moving as they were moving forward? Or the burning bush
speaking to Moses? Or the angel holding up a sword standing in air in front
of David? Or an angel appearing in front of Samson's parents telling them
that the mother would conceive of a child who would deliver Israel from
bondage from the Philistines? Or an angel appearing in front of Zacharias,
John the Baptist's father, telling him that his wife Elizabeth would
conceive despite their old age? Why in your false opinion were the
ministering of angels more viable back then? You are like sectarian
preachers described below:
(Some preachers and other professors of religion reject account of First
Vision-Persecution heaped upon Joseph Smith-He testifies of the reality of
the vision.)(Verses 21-26.)
21 Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with
one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned
religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I
took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was
greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only
lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there
were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such
things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more
of them.
22 I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great
deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause
of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an
obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my
circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world,
yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public
mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among
all the sects-all united to persecute me.
23 It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very
strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age,
and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty
maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient
importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular
sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most
bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was
often the cause of great sorrow to myself.
24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have
thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before
King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a
light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him;
some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and
reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen
a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not
make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he
knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and
heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think
or believe otherwise.
25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of
that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and
though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet
it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking
all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my
heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a
vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think
to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew
it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do
it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under
condemnation.
26 I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was
concerned-that it was not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue
as I was until further directed. I had found the testimony of James to be
true-that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be
upbraided.
It also explains why he made the stupid prediction that the financially
strapped struggling "church" would discover "hidden treasure". If the
parishioners believed it once with the gold plates, maybe they won't
desert him if he makes another winning lottery ticket prediction again.
It was an act of desperation, not one of proving some divine blessing.
So given that his background doesn't recommend him as a prophet, or as one
who would win the lottery ticket of allegedly discovering these gold
plates using demonic "seer stones", "necromancers", dead brothers, and
greedy treasure hunters, why, after using the tools and symbology of the
occult, would God entrust Joe to godly things? Think about it. The
united States was largely made up of reformed Christians who already had
strong knowledge and fear of the Holy Bible. Why not expand operations
in a pagan area of the world like the Far East? God hates Chinamen?
What we have is wild stories of Jesus Christ and Joe Smith preaching to
the choir rather than evangelizing the lost.
Ephraim is the birthright tribe. United States is Ephraim. Through Ephraim
the Gospel has been preached around the world.
The usual procedure found in Scripture is that the child is called out
into the ministry of a prophet through revelation to the parents first,
and then the child is tutored in the ways of the LORD for many decades
before that middle-aged adult begins the ministry. Joseph Smith had NONE
of that. His own biography shows violation after violation of that
Biblical manner and path. There is a reason why God went through the
parents first and had the child go through decades of preparation before
ministry - to eliminate the possibility of charlatans popping up and
claiming to be prophets. Baby Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist and many
others are shown to go down this path. Prophets like Elijah, the Bible
does not desire to show us his character, only his ministry. Yet, we know
of Elijah raising the dead and calling down fire from the sky. What are
Joseph Smith's bona fides? His allegiance with demon and cultic talismans
to discover things that are allegedly of God (and just incidentally are
written on highly valued treasure which was the rage at that time). Did
God write the Decalogue on gold or on stone? You have more red flags
than May Day in Red Square.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Romans 11:29
Paul who in practically all his writings was inspired by the Spirit wrote
the above and knows the verse to be true better than anyone because he was
in an unrepentant state persecuting the Saints when on road to Damascus with
some follower he saw Jesus Christ in a vision that his followers saw as
well.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:34-37
Apostle John who wrote the last book in the NT in your Bible was handpicked
by Jesus. So were all His other 12 Apostles. What about Jeremiah, Isaiah,
Ezekiel, or Amos? They were all called of God personally. So you're just
fabricating your own doctrine on what a prophet should be misleading people.
So now we have you and your handlers falsely telling us that the Bible is
merely one testimony. That is either profoundly ignorant or highly
deceptive characterization of the canon. Take your pick. But this
claim is absolutely necessary in order to conjure up the notion that there
must be a second testimony. Well, if there is to be a second testimony,
what happened to the "Book of Lehi"? Is this a testimony that God
intended to be translated and then consequently lost forever? What kind
of screwed up god couldn't manage to keep a translation around?
And this gets to an important part here. "For verily I say unto you, Till
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law, till all be fulfilled." - Jesus Christ as recorded by Matthew
(5:18).
A prophet of the magnitude that Joseph Smith is alleged to be ranked,
would have as his job description to tell of future things, and to
administer the law. Now Jesus Christ is saying that not one jot or
tittle shall pass from the law, but we have Joseph losing not just a jot
or tittle, but the whole book of Lehi! Compare that to the enormous
effort to preserve the entirety of the OT canon over the millennia,
through wars, sieges, holocausts, dispersion and captivity. The OT canon
has been preserved by God as a testimony to the coming Messiah, while
Joseph and his irresponsible clod buddies are getting drunk and losing
whole books of alleged "second testimony".
Third, we have the canon of Scripture divinly inspired. That is,
Christians believe as an article of faith that the entire Bible has been
inspired by God and that the Spirit wrote down the revelations through
men. Joseph is alleged to have digged up some buried treasure written by
some unknown gnostic mystic on gold plates buried in the north eastern
part of the united States a sleepy little no-name town between Lake
Ontario and Interstate 90, which as we all know has been a hotbed of
ancient Jewish and Christian history and prophecy. Then he hid away in
his home using magic crystals while his face was buried in his hat to read
these plates no one else has seen. I'm sure that Elijah and Moses
routinely strapped on magic fairy rocks and cast chicken bones and eyes of
newt to determine God's revealed plan.
We have the written testimonies of three credible witnesses, Martin Harris,
Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer who saw an angel turn over the pages of
the gold plates in bright daylight. Even though at one point each left the
church (2 came back except Whitmer), they never in their absence from the
Church ever denied their testimonies. Never.
I am not a Mormon and never have been but do believe in Mormonism (I believe
the modern Mormon Church are in apostasy that they have departed from the
correct teachings of the early Mormons.) I have mainly posted to only Mormon
newsgroups but have decided now to make a foray into many Christian
newsgroups. I am not trying to be intrusive or impose myself upon others but
sincerely believe that there are many doctrines of Mormonism that can answer
many of the questions that Christians have about their faith. I know there
must be many Christians out there who are curious of the Mormon faith as
there are a lot of misinformation spread about it so I would like clarify
these issues. I believe in an open dialogue and hope these posts can be of
great benefit.
THE THREE WITNESSES
A Response to the Utah Evangel
by
Ogden Kraut
Ever since the restoration of the Gospel of Christ and the re-establishment
of His Church, there have been a multitude of anti-Mormon writers pouring
out their venom against it. Most of this opposition comes from apostate
Mormons. That is understandable because Christ also suffered most from
apostates. Nevertheless, there should be some response made in vindication.
Oliver Cowdery said it best:
Since then our opposer, have been thus kind to introduce our cause before
the public, it is no more than just that a correct account should be given;
and since they have invariably sought to cast a shade over the truth, and
hinder its influence from gaining ascendancy, it is also proper that it
should be vindicated by laying before the world a correct statement of
events as they have transpired from time to time. (Letters by Oliver Cowdery
to W. W. Phelps, p. 15
This response is very brief in comparison to the volumes that could be
written in answer to the many publications by the anti-Mormons and
ex-Mormons. These people publish newspapers, books, pamphlets and produce
films and videos with a critical and negative attitude of the liberal left
wing of our "modern counterfeit Christians." their entire gospel is
anti-Mormonism. The following article comes from one such newspaper:
[2] The Three Witnesses
by Robert McKay
In the front of every Book of Mormon is found a statement called the
Testimony of Three Witnesses. It is signed by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer,
and Martin Harris. The Testimony says in substance that these three men saw
an angel holding the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was
supposedly translated.
The Mormon church claims that these three men were sober, steady
individuals who would not lie, who could not be easily fooled, and whose
word was reliable. The facts are otherwise. Rather than being unimpeachable,
these witnesses and their testimony are worthless in determining the truth
about the Book of Mormon.
Oliver Cowdery, the first the three witnesses, was not an upstanding
citizen. Among other things, he was a counterfeiter. A booklet published in
Warsaw, Illinois, states, "Joe (Joseph Smith) told me, that in Ohio he...and
Oliver Cowdery...were engaged in a bogus establishment" (The Adventures and
Experience of Joseph H. Jackson, pg. 15). A letter signed by 84 Mormons
declared that "Oliver Cowdery...united with a gang of counterfeiters"
(quoted in Senate Document 189, pg. 8). In 1838 Cowdery was tried before the
Far West (Missouri) High Council. The eighth charge against him was, "For
disgracing the Church by being connected in the bogus business." This charge
was "sustained" (History of the Church, Vol. 3, pgs. 16-17).
The LDS church claims that not one of the witnesses ever denied his
testimony. Yet a poem publishes in 1841 asks if it proves "Book of Mormon
not his (God's) word Because denied, by Oliver?" (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2.
pg. 482). Apparently Cowdery wasn't as sure of his statements as Mormons
would like to think.
David Whitmer was also involved in counterfeiting. His character is further
revealed by Joseph Smith's statement that Whitmer was a "dumb *****" (History
of the Church, Vol. 3. pg. 228). Whitmer himself declared, "if you believe
my testimony to the Book of Mormon...then I tell you that in June, 1838, God
spoke to me again by His own voice from the heavens, and told me to
`separate myself from among the Latter Day Saints (sic)...'" (An Address to
All Believers in Christ, pg. 27). According to this statement, if Whitmer's
testimony to the Book of Mormon is true then the LDS church has apostatized.
But the church denies that what Whitmer says here is true, thus casting
doubt on his testimony to the Book of Mormon.
The third witness, Martin Harris, was no better. It was Harris who lost the
116 pages of the book of Lehi, forcing Joseph Smith to start "translating"
all over again. Because of this incident. Harris was called "a wicked man,
Who...has broken the most sacred promises which were made before God"
(Doctrine & Covenants 3:12-13). An affidavit made in 1833 declares, "I have
been acquainted with Martin Harris, about thirty years... his moral and
religious character was such, as not to entitle him to respect among his
neighbors...He was first an orthadox (sic) Quaker, then a Universalist, next
a Restorationer, then a Baptist, next a Presbyterian, and then a Mormon"
(Mormonism Unvailed, pgs. 260-261). An official Mormon publication said of
Harris, "he changed his religious position eight times" after accepting the
Book of Mormon (Improvement Era, March 69, pg. 63). One of the groups he
joined was the Shakers, who had their own "latter day scripture." At one
point Harris claimed that he believed in the Shakers more strongly than he
did his own testimony to the Book of Mormon (Martin Harris - Witness and
Benefactor to the Book of Mormon, pg. 52).
All three of these witnesses were excommunicated from the Mormon church.
Joseph Smith wrote, "Such characters as...David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and
Martin Harris, are too mean to mention, and we had liked to have forgotten
them" (History of the Church, Vol. 3, pg. 232).
Thus we see that the Testimony of Three Witnesses was signed by men who
were unreliable, who denied their testimony, and who were condemned by those
they aided. To hold these three men and their testimony up to the world as
proof that the Book of Mormon is of God is analogous to letting one
rattlesnake vouch for another. They cannot be trusted.
THE UTAH EVANGEL
Aug.-Sept. 1985
[3] To recap, then, Robert McKay's article makes the following charges
against the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon:
1. Oliver Cowdery denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
2. Oliver Cowdery was a counterfeiter.
3. David Whitmer was a counterfeiter.
4. David Whitmer was told by God to leave the Saints, inferring that the
Church had apostatized.
5. Martin Harris's "moral and religious character was such, as not to
entitle him to respect among his neighbors, . . . " and also that "he
changed his religious position eight times...."
6. The three witnesses were unreliable, denied their testimony, and were
condemned by those they aided. Their testimony is like "letting one
rattlesnake vouch for another. They cannot be trusted."
Oftentimes such accusations are false, overemphasized, or without real
proof, as is the case with the above charges. Without delving extensively
into the subject, here are a few explanations and clarifications that should
be considered in response to these charges by McKay.
Charge 1. Oliver Cowdery denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
In addition to the testimony given in the Book of Mormon, Cowdery made
similar positive statements even after he had left the LDS Church. The
following report was printed in 1910 by Judge C. M. Nielsen of Salt Lake
City. He stated that while he was traveling as a missionary in Minnesota
during the year of 1884, he met a wealthy farmer who became especially
interested in him because he came from Utah. The farmer stated that when he
was 21, an interesting event occurred at the time he was working on his
father's farm in Michigan. On one of his days off, he went to town where the
following incident occurred, as retold by Judge Nielsen:
"Near the courthouse I saw a great many people assembling and others
walking that way, so I went over to see what was up. There was a jam in the
courtroom, but being young and strong, I pushed my way close up to the
center, where I found the prosecuting attorney addressing the court and jury
in a murder trial. The prosecuting attorney was Oliver Cowdery, and he was
giving his opening address in behalf of the state. (After he was
excommunicated from the Church, Oliver Cowdery studied law, practicing in
Ohio, Wisconsin and then Michigan, where he was elected prosecuting
attorney.) After Cowdery sat down, the attorney representing the prisoner
arose and with taunting sarcasm said: `May it please the court and gentlemen
of the jury, I see one Oliver Cowdery is going to reply to my argument. I
wish he would tell us something about that golden [4] Bible that Joe Smith
dug out of the hill; something about the great fraud he perpetrated upon the
American people whereby he gained thousands of dollars. Now he seems to know
so much about this poor prisoner, I wonder if he has forgotten all about Joe
Smith and his connection with him.' The speaker all the while sneering and
pointing his finger in scorn at Cowdery in the hope of making him ridiculous
before the court and jury.
"Everybody present began to wonder if they had been guilty of making such
a mistake as choosing a Mormon for prosecuting attorney. Even the judge on
the bench began looking with suspicion and distrust at the prosecuting
attorney. The prisoner and his attorney became elated at the effect of the
speech. People began asking, `Is he a Mormon?' Everybody wondered what
Cowdery would say against such foul charges.
"Finally Oliver Cowdery arose, calm as a summer morning. I was within
three feet of him. There was no hesitation, no fear, no anger in his voice,
as he said: `May it please the court, and gentlemen of the jury, my brother
attorney on the other side has charged me with connection with Joseph Smith
and the golden Bible. The responsibility has been placed upon me, and I
cannot escape reply. Before God and man I dare not deny what I have said,
and what my testimony contains as written and printed on the front page of
the Book of Mormon. May it please your honor and gentlemen of the jury, this
I say, I saw the angel and heard his voice--how can I deny it? It happened
in the daytime when the sun was shining bright in the firmament; not in the
night when I was asleep. That glorious messenger from heaven, dressed in
white, standing above the ground, in a glory I have never seen anything to
compare with--the sun insignificant in comparison--and this personage told
us if we denied that testimony, there is no forgiveness in this life nor in
the world to come. Now how can I deny it--I dare not; I will not!'"
The man who related this to me was a prominent man in that state; he was a
rich man, a man who has held offices of trust from the people--a man of
respect, one when you look into his face you will not doubt. To strengthen
his statement this man, who knew nothing of "Mormon" history, said Oliver
Cowdery mentioned something he wanted me to explain--that the angel took
back a part that was not translated. We know this and that part of the gold
plates then withheld will be revealed at some future time.
"Since I heard Oliver Cowdery speak," continued my host, "I have not had
peace for these many years. I want to know more about your people. I felt
when I listened to Oliver Cowdery talking in the courtroom, he was more than
an ordinary man. If you can show us that you have what Oliver Cowdery
testified to, we shall be glad to receive it." (Liahona, August 30, 1910)
From this account it is very clear that even after Oliver left the Church,
he still did not deny his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Furthermore, he
had no intention of denying it in the future.
[5] Ten years after Oliver left the Church he returned to it. In October
1848 he arrived in Kanesville, Iowa, with his wife and daughter. He attended
a Church conference there and was invite to speak. Bishop Reuben Miller made
this verbatim account of Oliver's testimony:
"Friends and Brethren--My name is Cowdery, Oliver Cowdery. In the early
history of this Church I stood identified with her, and was 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 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 frown the lips of the Prophet. It contains
the Everlasting Gospel, and came forth to the children of men in fulfillment
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 the 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 sand-bars. 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 Melchizedek 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."
In the early part of November following, Elder Hyde called a High Council
meeting in the log Tabernacle to consider the case of Oliver Cowdery; having
been cut off by the voice of a High Council, it was thought that, if he was
restored, he should be restored by the voice of a similar body. Before this
body Brother Cowdery said:
[6] "Brethren, for a number of years I have been separated from you. I now
desire to come back. I wish to come humbly and to be one in your midst. I
seek no station; I only wish to be identified with you. I am out of the
Church. I am not a member of the Church, but I wish to become a member of
it. l wish to come in at the door. I know the door. I have not come here to
seek precedence. I come humbly and throw myself upon the decisions of this
body, knowing as I do that its decisions are right and should be obeyed."
Brother George W. Harris, President of the Council, moved that Brother
Cowdery be received. Considerable discussion took place in relation to a
certain letter which, it was alleged, Brother Cowdery had written to David
Whitmer. Brother Cowdery again rose and said:
"If there be any person that has aught against me, let him declare it. My
coming back and humbly asking to become a member, through the door, covers
the whole ground. I acknowledge this authority." (Mill. Star 21:544-546)
At this conference Orson Hyde made a motion that Oliver Cowdery be received
back into the Church, which was seconded and carried unanimously. Shortly
afterwards Oliver was again baptized and confirmed a member of the Church.
Here again Oliver gave a strong confirmation of his previous testimony.
There were no qualms, side-stepping or excuses, which would have been the
case if he had previously denied that testimony.
After Oliver Cowdery had rejoined the Saints, he desired to journey out
west to Salt Lake City. However, a severe snow storm compelled him to remain
in Iowa for a couple of weeks. Samuel W. Richards was privileged to spend
much of this time with Oliver, and he wrote the following account of those
visits:
I had but the fall before returned from my first mission to the British
Isles, and was in the spirit of inquiry as to all matters of early history
and experiences in the Church, and soon found there was no reserve on the
part of Oliver in answering my many questions. In doing so his mind seemed
as fresh in the recollection of events, which occurred more than a score of
years before, as though they were but of yesterday. * * *
To hear him describe, in his pleasant but earnest manner, the personality
of those heavenly messengers, with whom he and the Prophet had so freely
held converse, was enchanting to my soul. Their heavenly appearance, clothed
in robes of purity; the influence of their presence, so lovely and serene;
their eyes, that seemed to penetrate to the very depths of the soul,
together with the color of the eyes that gazed upon them, were all so
beautifully related as to almost make one feel that they were then
present....
Before taking his departure he wrote and left with the writer of this, the
following statement, which we believe to be his last living testimony,
though oft repeated, of the wonderful manifestations which brought the
authority of God to men on the earth:
[7] "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 scriptures, 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 administrations, 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.
(Oliver Cowdery, to Samuel W. Richards, January 13, 1849; see Improvement
Era 2:90-96)
Edward Stevenson also relates the following:
"I have often heard him <Oliver Cowdery> bear a faithful testimony to the
restoration of the gospel by the visitation of an angel, in whose presence
he stood in company with the Prophet Joseph Smith and David Whitmer. He
testified that he beheld the plates, the leaves being turned over by the
angel, whose voice he heard, and that they were commanded as witnesses to
bear a faithful testimony to the world of the vision that they were favored
to behold, and that the translation from the plates in the Book of Mormon
was accepted of the Lord, and that it should go forth to the world, and no
power on earth should stop its progress. Although for a time Oliver Cowdery
absented himself from the body of the Church, I never have known a time when
he faltered or was recreant to the trust so sacredly entrusted to him by an
angel from heaven." (Mill. Star 48:420)
Oliver Cowdery died on March 3rd, 1850, at Richmond, Missouri. Phineas
Young, who was present at his death, wrote the following:
"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 administrations."
And . . .
Oliver Cowdery's half-sister, Lucy P. Young a widow of the late Phineas H.
Young, relates that Oliver Cowdery just before breathing his last, asked his
attendants to raise him up in bed, that [8] he might talk to the family and
his friends, who were present. He then told them to live according to the
teachings contained in the Book of Mormon, and promised them, if they would
do this, that they would meet him in heaven. He then said, "Lay me down and
let me fall asleep." A few moments later he died without a struggle.
(Biographical Encyclopedia, Jensen, 1:251)
In 1878 David Whitmer told Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith that:
"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
smile on his face." (Mill. Star 40:774)
As a witness to the Book of Mormon, Oliver died faithful to his testimony.
There are many accounts of that testimony given while he was a member of the
Church, after he left the Church, and when he returned. There are no
conclusive proofs that he ever denied his witnessing the golden plates. Any
accounts otherwise were based on rumor and are without verification.
Charge 2. Oliver Cowdery was a counterfeiter.
From all available research concerning Oliver's involvement in some bogus
money charge, there seems to be only rumors and accusations against him
without any definite proof. His name had been slandered by it, and it
somewhat dampened the reputation of the Church, but I can find no facts to
bear it out. Cowdery never went to prison for such a "crime"; there were no
trial or sentence held against him; nor has there since been any evidence to
prove his "guilt". It is difficult to defend or expose a charge which has no
evidence either for or against it.
But let's consider the type of characters who originated these charges--The
84 "Mormons" who signed the statement charging Oliver Cowdery as being
connected with counterfeiters were not those considered to be orthodox
Mormons. Many of these "Mormons" who testified in the Senate Document were
Sampson Avard, Reed Peck, George Hinkle, John Corrill and others of like
character. A statement by Nancy Rigdon sheds light on the character of
Sampson Avard:
I have heard Sampson Avard say that he would swear to a lie to accomplish
an object; that he had told many a lie, and would do so again. (Senate
Document 189, p. 40)
The same document contained testimony against Joseph Smith and all the
Twelve Apostles, accusing them of "high treason against the State for
murder, burglary, arson, robbery, and larceny." These were charges, too, but
proof was another thing.
[9] The key figure in pressing these counterfeit charges was Joseph H.
Jackson who published them in a booklet in Warsaw, Illinois. By his own
confession, he was a fugitive from the law, and had "committed the darkest
crimes", probably even being guilty himself of counterfeiting. The Warsaw
Signal, with its editor, T. C. Sharp, was a constant source of anti-Mormon
propaganda. Nearly every apostate had joined hands with the mobocrats and
anti-Mormons. These were the "men who had used their uttermost endeavors for
more than two years to incite the people to acts of mob violence against the
saints, . . ." (C.H.C. 2:235) Sometimes they would set fires to buildings
and blame the Mormons for it. From the little evidence available, it appears
that counterfeiting was another false charge against the leaders of the
Church.
In a special Nauvoo City Council session "Theodore Turley, a mechanic, who
being sworn, said that the Laws (William and Wilson), had brought bogus dies
to him to fix." (D.H.C. 6:435) They were apostates trying to bring about the
destruction of Joseph and Hyrum, along with most of the other leaders of the
Church. In that same meeting Hyrum Smith declared that he knew that "Jackson
was engaged in trying to make bogus, which was his principle business."
(Ibid., 6:435) Another witness, Lorenzo Wasson was sworn in and said,
"Joseph H. Jackson had told witness that bogus-making was going on in the
city; but it was too damned small business. Wanted witness to help him to
procure money, for the General (Smith) was afraid to go into it; and with
$500 he could get an engraving for bills on the Bank of Missouri, and one on
the State of New York, and could make money." (D.H.C. 6:436)
The City Council was aware of the bogus money being made in and around
Nauvoo and was trying to get evidence of who was responsible for it. Another
witness was called up by the name of Warren Smith, who stated:
F. M. Higbee came to him, and proposed to have him go in as a partner in
making bogus money. Higbee said he would not work for a living; that witness
might go in with him if he would advance fifty dollars; and showed him
(witness) a half-dollar which he said was made in his dies. (D.H.C. 6:447)
Joseph Smith, as Mayor of Nauvoo, wanted this counterfeiting press to be
dispatched as he did the press of the Nauvoo Expositor. Both were apparently
being operated by the same people. The Warsaw Signal newspaper was
constantly hurling malicious and slanderous attacks against the Saints,
occasionally inciting mob action against them. As a result, Joseph made the
following announcement:
Proclamation
By virtue of my office as Mayor of the city of Nauvoo, I do hereby
strictly enjoin it upon the municipal officers and citizens of said city to
use all honorable and lawful means in their power to assist me in
maintaining the public peace and common quiet of said city. As attempts have
already been made to excite the jealousy and prejudice of the people of the
surrounding country, by libels and [10] slanderous articles upon the
citizens and City Council, for the purpose of destroying the charter of said
city, and for the purpose of raising suspicion, wrath, and indignation among
a certain class of the less honorable portion of mankind, to commit acts of
violence upon the innocent and unsuspecting, in a certain newspaper called
the Nauvoo Expositor, recently established for such purposes in said city,
and which has been destroyed as a nuisance, according to the provision of
the charter. I further call upon every officer, authority, and citizen to be
vigilant in preventing, by wisdom the promulgation of false statements,
libels, slanders, or any other malicious or evil-designed concern that may
be put in operation to excite and ferment the passions of men to rebel
against the rights and privileges of the city, citizens, or laws of the
land; to be ready to suppress the gathering of mobs; to repel, by gentle
means and noble exertion, every foul scheme of unprincipled men to disgrace
and dishonor the city, or state, or any of their legally-constituted
authorities; and, finally to keep the peace by being cool, considerate,
virtuous, unoffending, manly, and patriotic, as the true sons of liberty
ever have been, and honorably maintain the precious boon our illustrious
fathers won.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of
said corporation at the city of Nauvoo, this 11th day of June,
1844. --Signed Joseph Smith, Mayor. (D.H.C. 6:449)
In the session of the City Council, Jackson was exposed as a counterfeiter
and a murderer. Brigham Young spoke at the trial of Sidney Rigdon and
declared:
John C. Bennett said in his exposure, he knew all of Brother Joseph's
secrets, and he would publish them. Joseph H. Jackson, says he has published
all Joseph's secrets, but nobody believes their tales, because they lie! And
if Sidney Rigdon undertakes to publish all of our secrets, as he says, he
will lie the first jump he takes.... Any man that says the Twelve are bogus
makers, or adulterers, or wicked men, is a liar; and all who say such things
shall have the fate of liars, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Who is there that has seen us do such things? No man. (Times and Seasons
5:664)
The publishers of the Nauvoo Expositor were friends of Joseph Jackson and
they defended him when they wrote:
We have reason to believe, from our acquaintance with Mr. Jackson, and our
own observation, that the statements he makes are true; and in view of these
facts, we ask, in the name of heaven, where is the safety of our lives and
liberties, when placed at the disposal of such heaven daring, hell
deserving, God forsaken villains. (Nauvoo Expositor, June 7, 1844, p. 3)
[11] It is interesting to note the method they have of twisting things
around because as they were talking about fear for their "lives and
liberties", they themselves were in the process of plotting to kill Joseph,
Hyrum and others, and driving the Saints from the state in the middle of
winter.
Oliver Cowdery was aware of some others in and around Nauvoo that had made
an attempt to create bogus money according to Frederick G. Williams.
<Frederick G.> Williams, who vacillated between being a dissenter and a
faithful member of the Church, testified that Oliver had personally informed
him of a man in the Church by the name of Davis who would compound metal and
make dies which could print money that could not be detected from the real
thing. (A History of the Latter-day Saints in Northern Missouri from 1836 to
1839, BYU, 1965, p. 146)
Claims were made that Cowdery was an accessory and that he had a warrant
issued against him, but according to all available information, he was never
convicted or proven guilty.
Most of the counterfeit coins were turning up in Warsaw, as admitted by the
Warsaw Signal. Could it be that the bulk of counterfeiting was actually done
in Warsaw? Perhaps those who produced most of the counterfeit money actually
lived in Warsaw and were not Mormons at all. Or, could it be that the Mormon
apostates, anti-Mormons, and others used Nauvoo as headquarters for their
bogus operation? It would be an ideal place for it because if discovered,
they could blame the Mormon Church and its leaders.
There is a species of counterfeit, extensively circulated in this
community, called Nauvoo Bogus. They are half dollars, dated 1828. They are
a pretty good imitation of the genuine coin--so good, that some of our
business men have been imposed upon by them. It is said they are
manufactured in the City of the Saints. (Warsaw Signal, April 24, 1844, p.
2)
Only a few Mormons, or Mormon apostates, were actually involved or aware of
the bogus money, but the Mormons and their leaders were being charged with
the crime of originating it. Some Mormon people became innocent victims of
this bogus money, but it did not mean they were guilty of producing or
sanctioning it. (If you look along the edges of a dime, quarter or
half-dollar today, you will see that we too are the innocent victims of a
poor imitation of real money.)
Even if a Mormon had any association with someone who was or eventually
became connected with the bogus money, their names and reputation were
attached to counterfeiting by the Warsaw Signal. But how strange that all
the people in Warsaw found with most of the bogus money were never mentioned
by name--whether they were innocent or guilty.
[12] Some of those guilty of counterfeiting were eventually caught and
arrested.
We extract the following from the St. Louis Reviele:
Counterfeiters-- Mormon Certificates. Yesterday morning, a boy named
Theron Terrill was arrested, having in his possession twelve American half
and eight Spanish quarter dollars, all counterfeited in some sort of base
metal. On examination by the Marshal, he stated that many had been given to
him by one George Reader, with whom he had lived in former years, but who he
had only recently seen again. For a long time the boy maintained secrecy,
but, eventually, he yielded, and so told his story, Reader was caught and
arrested on board the Ospery, having taken passage for himself and the boy
to Nauvoo.... (Warsaw Signal, June 5, 1844)
It was also later discovered that John Long admitted that he had hidden
"two bogus presses" and stated that the presses belonged to Edward Bonney.
Governor Ford attended the trial of Bonney.
I, Thomas Ford, late Governor of Illinois, do certify that I was present
during the whole trial of Edward Bonney for counterfeiting, . . . I was
fully persuaded from the evidence adduced, that the prosecution was put on
foot, so far as Haight and the other witnesses against Bonney were
concerned, to be revenged on him for ferreting out and bringing to
punishment the murderers of Col. Davenport. And for the further object of
stopping Bonney from pursuing the residue of said murderers, then and yet at
large.--Thomas Ford, Jan. 6, 1847. (The Banditti of the Prairies, p. 259)
Another man called "Eaton" had been accused of making the bogus money, but
the final arrests of the guilty parties were announced in 1845:
Counterfeiters Arrested. Two of the Nauvoo Saints were arrested in
Burlington, Iowa, on the 20th ult., for passing counterfeit money. Their
names were Cyrus Chase and Rufus Adams, and each had passed on the same day
a $10 bill on the Lafayette Bank of Cincinnati. Other counterfeit money was
found upon them. They were both committed for trim. (St. Louis American,
Dec. 2, 1845)
However, Oliver Cowdery was never arrested, tried or found guilty of any of
these nefarious bogus operations. Neither were any of the other General
Authorities of the Church.
Charge 3. David Whitmer was a counterfeiter.
The same charge against Oliver Cowdery included David Whitmer, and evidence
is also lacking in his behalf.
[13]
Charge 4. David Whitmer was told by God to leave the Saints, inferring that
the Church had apostatized.
Church history records many interesting events connected with David
Whitmer. During some very trying times one of the Elders, William McLellin,
lost faith in the leaders of the Church, and "quit praying" and "quit
keeping the commandments of God" and "indulged himself in his lustful
desires." He was excommunicated from the Church at Far West. (D.H.C. 3:31)
From then on--
.. . . he took an active part in the persecution of the Saints in Missouri,
and at one time expressed the desire to do violence to the person of Joseph
Smith, while the latter was confined in Liberty prison. Subsequently he
attempted what he called a reorganization of the Church, and called upon
David Whitmer to take the presidency thereof, claiming that he was ordained
by Joseph Smith on the 8th of July, 1834, as his (the Prophet Joseph's)
successor. (D.H.C. 3:32)
The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote about these events while in Liberty Jail and
said:
But behold the words of the Savior: "If the light which is in you become
darkness, behold how great is that darkness." Look at the dissenters. Again,
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own." Look at Mr.
Hinkle--a wolf in sheep's clothing. Look at his brother John Corrill. Look
at the beloved brother Reed Peck, who aided him in leading us, as the Savior
was led, into the camp of His enemies, as a lamb prepared for the slaughter,
as a sheep dumb before his shearers; so we opened not our mouths.
But these men, like Balaam, being greedy for reward, sold us into the
hands of those who loved them, for the world loves his own. I would remember
William E. McLellin, who comes up to us as one of Job's comforters. God
suffered such kind of beings to afflict Job--but it never entered into their
hearts that Job would get out of it all. This poor man who professes to be
much of a prophet, has no other dumb ***** to ride but David Whitmer, to
forbid his madness when he goes up to curse Israel; and this ***** not being
of the same kind as Balaam's, therefore, the angel notwithstanding appeared
unto him, yet he could not penetrate his understanding sufficiently, but
that he brays out cursings instead of blessings. (D.H.C. 3:228)
Whitmer, like many of the men at that time, was severely tried and tested.
He was mortal and had weaknesses which led him into a wayward position
resulting in his being excommunicated from the Church. But during his trials
and temptations, he did not waver from nor deny his testimony of the Book of
Mormon and its truthfulness. It was in his darkness that he made the
following statement, as referred to in McKay's article:
If you believe my testimony to the Book of Mormon . . . then I tell you
that in June, 1838, God spoke to me again by His own voice from the heavens,
and told me to `separate myself from among the Latter Day Saints.... '
[14] This is a strong possibility, as when men get into that much darkness,
it is reasonable that God would not want them to remain any longer with the
Saints. If Joseph Smith likened Whitmer to "a dumb *****", then God certainly
would not want any of those in His Church! In fact, all these modern
Evangelist preachers who were once Mormons, claiming to be "Christians" but
acting more like dumb asses, were probably told by God to "separate
themselves" from the Latter-day Saints, as well. It would also be better for
them to leave the Saints alone, but they have done just as Joseph said they
would do--
Renegade "Mormon" dissenters are running through the world and spreading
various foul and libelous reports against us, thinking thereby to gain the
friendship of the world, because they know that we are not of the world, and
that the world hates us; therefore they <the world> make a tool of these
fellows <the dissenters>; and by them try to do all the injury they can, and
after that they hate them worse than they do us, because they find them to
be base traitors and sycophants.
Such characters God hates; we cannot love them. The world hates them, and
we sometimes think that the devil ought to be ashamed of them. (D.H.C.
3:230)
David Whitmer made the mistake of falling in with some of these dissenters
and he himself became confused on certain issues in the Church. However, he
never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon. In fact, he strongly
refuted those rumors that he and the other two witnesses had ever denied
their testimonies of this sacred scripture:
It is recorded in the American Cyclopaedia and the Encyclopaedia
Britannica, that I, David Whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the
three witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon; and that the other
two witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, denied their testimony to
that Book. I will say once more to all mankind, that I have never at any
time denied that testimony or any part thereof. I also testify to the world,
that neither Oliver Cowdery or Martin Harris ever at any time denied their
testimony. They both died reaffirming the truth of the divine authenticity
of the Book of Mormon. I was present at the death bed of Oliver Cowdery, and
his last words were, "Brother David, be true to your testimony to the Book
of Mormon." He died here in Richmond, Mo., on March 3d, 1850. Many witnesses
yet live in Richmond, who will testify to the truth of these facts, as well
as to the good character of Oliver Cowdery. The very powers of darkness have
combined against the Book of Mormon, to prove that it is not the word of
God, and this should go to prove to men of spiritual understanding, that the
Book is true. (Address to All Believers in Christ by a Witness to the Divine
Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, by David Whitmer, 1887, p. 8)
[15] In spite of all of Whitmer's straying from Church doctrines, his
difficulties with Joseph Smith, and being influenced by apostates, David
continued to bear a straight-forward testimony of seeing the plates. In 1878
Apostles Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith went to visit him and reported as
follows:
Orson Pratt: "Do you remember what time you saw the plates?"
David Whitmer: "It was in June, 1829, the latter part of the month, and
the Eight Witnesses saw them, I think, the next day or the day after (i.e.,
one or two days after). Joseph showed them the plates himself, but the angel
showed us (the Three Witnesses) the plates, as I suppose to fulfill the
words of the book itself. Martin Harris was not with us at this time; he
obtained a view of them afterwards (the same day). Joseph, Oliver and myself
were together when I saw them. We not only saw the plates of the Book of
Mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the Book of Ether, the
plates containing the records of the wickedness and secret combinations of
the people of the world down to the time of their being engraved, and many
other plates. The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were
sitting just 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 about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C.
Whitmer, sitting a few feet from him), there appeared, as it were, a table
with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of
Mormon, also the sword of Laban, the directors (i.e., the ball which Lehi
had) and the interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed
(striking the bed beside him with his hand), and I heard the voice of the
Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that the
records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and
power of God." (Biographical Encyclopedia, Jensen, 1:266)
Before he died, David Whitmer made the following public announcement of his
testimony:
"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 <and> 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 [16] 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. * * *
"`And if any man doubt, should he not carefully and honestly read and
understand the same before presuming to sit in judgment and condemning the
light, which shineth in darkness, and showeth the way of eternal life as
pointed out by the unerring hand of God?'
"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 WHITMER SEN., Richmond, Mo., March 19, 1881."
(Missouri Conservator, March 25, 1881)
A weekly Missouri newspaper called The Richmond Democrat printed the
following item concerning the death of David Whitmer:
"David Whitmer bore his long illness with great patience and fortitude,
his faith never for a moment wavering, and when the summons came he sank
peacefully to rest, with a smile on his countenance, just as if he was being
lulled to sleep by sweets music. Just before the breath left the body, he
opened his eyes, which glistened with the brightness of his early manhood.
He then turned them toward heaven, and a wonderful light came over his
countenance, which remained several moments, when the eyes gradually closed
and David Whitmer was gone to rest. On Monday last (Jan. 23, 1888), at 10
o'clock a.m., after awakening from a short slumber, he said he had seen
beyond the veil and saw Christ on the other side. His friends, who were
constantly at his bedside, claim that he had many manifestations of the
truths of the great beyond, and which confirms their faith beyond all shadow
of doubt. On Sunday evening, at 5:30 (Jan. 22, 1888), 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 l
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 a 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.'" * * *
[17]
Charge 5. Martin Harris's "moral and religious character was such, as not to
entitle him to respect among his neighbors. . . ", and also that "he changed
his religious position eight times...."
In answer to the last part of this charge, it is easy to understand why
anyone would wander around from church to church before becoming a Mormon.
That's like searching for a gourmet dinner in a 7-11 store. Then, when
Mormons somehow become disaffected with Joseph Smith or with the Church,
they again wander around without finding satisfaction in any of the
organized churches.
Any man on the brink of apostasy will experience feelings of doubt,
dissatisfaction and disappointment. The three witnesses of the Book of
Mormon were no exception; however, they never publicly denied their
testimony of the plates. Martin Harris made public and private statements
about the Book of Mormon, but they were not denials.
The following incident was recorded by David B. Dille, who visited Martin
Harris in 1853. Dille was on his way to fulfill a mission in Great Britain
and stopped enroute to see Harris.
"What do you think of the Book of Mormon? Is it a divine record?"
Mr. Harris replied and said, "I was the righthand man of Joseph Smith, and
I know that he was a Prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon is true."
Then smiting his fist on the table, he said, "And you know that I know that
it is true. I know that the plates have been translated by the gift and
power of God, for His voice declared it unto us; therefore I know of surety
that the work is true. For," continued Mr. Harris, "did I not at one time
hold the plates on my knee an hour and a half, whilst in conversation with
Joseph, when we went to bury them in the woods, that the enemy might not
obtain them? Yes, I did. And as many of the plates as Joseph Smith
translated I handled with my hands, plate after plate." ***
Mr. Harris further said, "I took a transcript of the characters of the
plates to Dr. Anthon, of New York. When I arrived at the house of Professor
Anthon, I found him in his office and alone, and presented the transcript to
him, and asked him to read it. He said if I would bring the plates, he would
assist in the translation. I told him I could not, for they were sealed.
Professor Anthon then gave me a certificate certifying that the characters
were Arabic, Chaldaic, and Egyptian. I then left Dr. Anthon and was near the
door, when he said, `How did the young man know the plates were there?' I
said an angel had shown them to him. Professor Anthon then said, `Let me see
the certificate!'--upon which I took it from my waistcoat pocket and
unsuspectingly gave it to him. He then tore it up in anger, saying there was
no such thing as angels now--it was all a hoax. I then went to Dr. Mitchell
with the transcript, and he confirmed what Professor Anthon had said."
(Mill. Star 21:545)
[18] Edward Stevenson also recorded an interview with Martin Harris:
In the year 1869 I was appointed to a mission to the United States. Having
visited several of the Eastern States, I called at Kirtland, Ohio, to see
the first temple that was built by our people in this generation. While
there, I again met Martin Harris, soon after coming out of the temple. He
took from under his arm a copy of the Book of Mormon, the first edition, I
believe, and bore a faithful testimony, just the same as that I heard him
bear 36 years previously. He said that it was his duty to continue to lift
up his voice, as he had been commanded to do, in defense of the Book that he
held in his hand, and offered to prove from the Bible that just such a book
was to come forth out of the ground--and that, too, in a day when there were
no prophets on the earth--and that he was daily bearing testimony to many
who visited the temple. (Mill. Star 44:79)
Martin Harris, like Oliver Cowdery, eventually came back into the Church.
When he arrived in Utah, the Deseret News published the following:
He is remarkably vigorous for one of his years, his memory being very
good, and his sight, though his eyes appear to have failed, being so acute
that he can see to pick a pin off the ground.... He has never failed to bear
testimony to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He says it is
not a matter of belief on his part, but of knowledge. He with the other
witnesses declared, and their testimony has accompanied every copy of the
book, that "an angel of God came down from heaven, and brought and laid
before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings
thereon." This declaration he has not varied from in 41 years .... We are
glad to see Martin Harris once more in the midst of the Saints. (Des. News,
Aug. 31, 1870)
During his lifetime, Martin frequently related his unwavering testimony;
and up to the time of his death, he was still actively bearing testimony of
the Book of Mormon.
Brother Martin visited many of the wards, continuing to bear his testimony
both of what he had beheld with his own eyes, and verily knew to be true. He
publicly said that many years ago, in Ohio, a number of persons combined and
sought to get Martin to drink wine for the purpose of crossing him in his
testimony. At the conclusion they asked him if he really believed the
testimony that he had signed in the Book of Mormon to be true. He replied
no, he did not believe it, but, much to their surprise, he said he knew it
to be true!
Soon after receiving his blessings in the house of the Lord, he went to
Smithfield, Cache Valley, and lived with his son until he left this mortal
life. Just before he breathed his last, he sat up in his bed, holding the
Book of Mormon in his hand, and bore his last testimony to those who were
present. <Salt Lake City, November 30, 1881> (The Three Witnesses, by
Preston Nibley, p. 133)
[19] William Homer visited Martin Harris at the time of his death and made
the following statement:
The next day, July 10, 1875, marked the end. It was in the
evening--milking time--and Martin Harris Jr., and his wife, Nancy Homer
Harris, had gone out to milk and do the evening chores. In the house with
the stricken man were left my mother, Eliza Williamson Homer, and myself,
who had had so interesting a day with Martin Harris at Kirtland. I stood by
the bedside holding the patient's right hand and my mother at the foot of
the bed. Martin had been unconscious for a number of days. When we first
entered the room, the old gentleman appeared to be sleeping. He soon woke up
and asked for a drink of water. I put my arm under the old gentleman, raised
him, and my mother held the glass to his lips. He drank freely, and then he
looked up at me and recognized me. He said, "I know you. You are my friend."
He said, "Yes, I did see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written;
I did see the angel; I did hear the voice of God; and I do know that Joseph
Smith is a Prophet of God, holding the keys of the Holy Priesthood."
This was the end. Martin Harris, divinely chosen witness of the work of
God, relaxed, gave up my hand. He lay back on his pillow, and just as the
sun went down behind the Clarkston mountains, the spirit of Martin Harris
passed on. --Signed, William Harrison Homer. (Imp. Era, March 1926)
Edward Stevenson adds another statement about an interview with Martin
Harris:
At an evening visit of some of my friends at my residence in Salt Lake
City, to see and hear Brother Harris relate his experience (which always
delighted him), Brother James T. Woods, who is now present while I am
writing this article, reminds me that himself and G. D. Keaton were present
on that occasion, and asked him to explain the manner in which the plates
containing the characters of the Book of Mormon were exhibited to the
witnesses. Brother Harris said that the angel stood on the opposite side of
the table on which were the plates, the interpreters, etc., and took the
plates in his hands and turned them over. To more fully illustrate this to
them, Brother Martin took up a book and turned the leaves over one by one. *
* *
On the afternoon of his death he was bolstered up in his bed, where, with
the Book of Mormon in his hand, he bore his last testimony to those who were
present. Brother Harris was over ninety years of age at the time of his
death, and had always enjoyed good health. Bishop Rigby, who preached his
funeral sermon, placed the Book of Mormon on his breast, while he lay in his
coffin, and it was buried with him. --Signed, Edward Stevenson. (Mill. Star,
June 21, 1886)
A prayer and final resume of Martin Harris's life and testimony were
published in the Deseret News at the time of his death, including the
following excerpt:
[20] Notwithstanding these great favors shown to this remarkable man he
had, like all of Adam's race, his imperfections. He did not follow up his
brethren in all their persecutions in the states of Missouri and Illinois,
but remained for many years in Ohio; this gave rise to many conjectures that
Mr. Harris had apostatized. But it can truly be said that Mr. Harris never
faltered nor swerved in the least degree from the great testimony given in
the Book of Mormon. (Des. News, July 17, 1875)
Martin Harris and the other two witnesses had their faults and weaknesses.
They may have differed in some of their beliefs, and they did not all return
to the Church, but they never publicly denied their testimony as printed at
the beginning of the Book of Mormon.
Now to answer the first part of Charge No. 5, McKay took this quote from E.
D. Howe's book Mormonism Unveiled:
"I have been acquainted with Martin Harris about thirty years. .... his
moral and religious character was such, as not to entitle him to respect
among his neighbors...." (pp. 260-261)
Howe was a master anti-Mormon. Getting a character reference of Martin
Harris from him would be like asking the Mafia for a character reference of
the Police Department. Talk about one rattlesnake vouching for another!
In spite of his personal weaknesses, Martin Harris was a man of veracity as
a witness to the Book of Mormon. He displayed weakness by continuing to ask
Joseph for the manuscript of 116 pages even after the Lord had forbid it.
However, after losing the manuscript, the Lord later permitted him to assist
in the work.
He contributed much time to the restoration, and gave $3,000 towards
publishing the first edition of the Book of Mormon. When the United Order
was first established, Martin Harris was the first one called of God by name
to set an example before the Church in laying his money before the Bishop.
(see D. & C. 58:35)
In 1835 he assisted in electing, ordaining and instructing the first quorum
of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation. He was active in the Church all the
while the Saints were in Kirtland.
When the Saints moved to Missouri, Martin chose to remain in Ohio. This
display of weakness caused him to become influenced by the Strangites, an
offshoot of the Mormons. However, his venture with them in 1846 didn't last
long.
After residing in Kirtland for many years, he left to emigrate to Salt Lake
City in 1870. His years in Kirtland did not prove "his moral and religious
character was such, as not to entitle him to respect among his neighbors."
[21] An Elder making a visit to New York said:
I found there an aged gentleman, 74 years old, who knew Martin Harris, and
said that he was known in that neighborhood as an honest farmer, having
owned a good farm three miles from that place. (see Mill. Star 44:78)
Martin tells about his relationship with his neighbors in Ohio during an
incident previously referred to in this section:
He <Martin Harris> said that on one occasion several of his old
acquaintances made an effort to get him tipsy by treating him to some wine.
When they thought he was in a good mood for talk, they put the following
question very carefully to him: "Well, now, Martin, we want you to be frank
and candid with us in regard to this story of your seeing an angel and the
golden plates of the Book of Mormon that is so much talked about. We have
always taken you to be an honest, good farmer and neighbor of ours, but
could not believe that you ever did see an angel. <Martin went on to tell
them he did not believe it, he knew it.> (Biographical Encyclopedia, Jensen,
p. 274)
Because Martin visited with other churches in Ohio after becoming a Mormon,
it is an indication of his good moral and religious character. When people
refuse to associate with churches or religion, then there can be justifiable
doubts about their character.
Charge 6. The three witnesses were unreliable, denied their testimony, and
were condemned by those they aided. Their testimony is like "letting one
rattlesnake vouch for another. They cannot be trusted."
In his article of the three witnesses, Robert McKay tries to set a pattern
for judging the validity of these men at witnesses. He casts doubt upon
their testimony of the Book of Mormon by casting aspersions upon their
character and judgment. By exposing and exaggerating upon their moral and
ethical weaknesses, McKay assumes that their testimony of the Book of Mormon
is such that "they cannot be trusted."
Every crafty lawyer will attempt to discredit the testimony of a person by
attacking their character and by exposing any personal weaknesses or
failings. If a lawyer can destroy, or make the appearance of destroying, the
integrity and character of a person, then he can assume to destroy their
testimony as well. Such lawyers care nothing about validity. Truth is
immaterial to men who are so avid in the defense of their own case. However,
this means of judging is certainly not correct nor wise.
As has been mentioned several times already in this response, in spite of
the human weaknesses evident in each of these three witnesses, they never
did deny their testimonies of the Book of Mormon.
[22] Testimony of Bible Witnesses
If we were to use McKay's method of logic for doubting men's testimonies,
we could apply it to anything else--even the Bible itself. For instance,
let's use this anti-Mormon tactic by applying it to three of the witnesses
of Christ. We will judge the testimonies of John the Baptist, Simon Peter,
and Judas Iscariot by examining the imperfections of their characters as a
means of determining the credibility of their testimonies.
John the Baptist
The first consideration of John the Baptist could be concerning his
< |
