[Footnote G: "History of the Church," Vol. I, pp. 54, 55.]
The vision was ended. David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery had obtained their desire. They had beheld the plates in the hands of an angel; and they had heard the voice of the angel, and another voice from heaven declaring the correctness of the translation made by the Prophet. It was a marvelous manifestation; these men could not but testify of what they had seen and heard.
In the meantime, Martin Harris was in another part of the wood pleading with the Lord. Earlier in the day, the Prophet had said to him solemnly, "Martin Harris, you have got to humble yourself before your God this day, that you may obtain a forgiveness of your sins. If you do, it is the will of God that you should look upon the plates in company with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer."[H] But Martin Harris had not sufficiently humbled himself. The testimony from heaven was not given until Martin had withdrawn from his friends. He began then more fully to appreciate his unworthiness. He retired some distance from his brethren, and began there to supplicate the Lord, striving earnestly so to abase the pride of his spirit that he might receive the divine favor.
[Footnote H: Lucy Smith, "History of the Prophet Joseph Smith," ch. 31.]
It was in this frame of mind, and thus occupied, that the Prophet found him at the close of the angelic visit. The spirit of Martin Harris was thoroughly humbled. He besought the Prophet earnestly to join him in his supplications. He craved earnestly the sublime testimony that had been given his associates. Accordingly, the Prophet knelt again with him in prayer. "And ultimately [we] obtained our desires," writes the Prophet, "for before we had yet finished the same vision was opened to our view, at least it was again opened to me, and I once more beheld and heard the same things; whilst at the same moment, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an ecstasy of joy, ''Tis enough; 'tis enough; mine eyes have beheld; mine eyes have beheld;' and jumping up, he shouted, 'Hosanna,' blessing God, and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly."[I]
[Footnote I: "History of the Church," Vol. I, p. 55.]
The three chosen witnesses to the Book of Mormon had, then, all received their testimonies by divine manifestation. The fact that Martin Harris experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining the testimony, and that he overcame that difficulty is significant. It adds materially to the reality and the value of the testimony, that the three, though separated in the actual seeing of the vision, can yet bear testimony to the same manifestation in every detail. And all three did bear testimony. Just after the title-page, in the Book of Mormon, appears "The Testimony of Three Witnesses."[J] This testimony is declared "with words of soberness;" and those who gave it to the world never once faltered in its defense.
[Footnote J: See Chapter VI.]
Besides these three, there were others also who were favored to see and handle the original plates of the Book of Mormon. These others, however, were not shown the plates by divine manifestation. It was soon after the testimony of three witnesses had been obtained through the ministrations of an angel. The Prophet, Joseph Smith, had gone from Fayette to Manchester to arrange for the printing of the Book of Mormon. He was accompanied by Hiram Page, and several of the Whitmers. At Manchester, he was joined by Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith. The company thus consisted of the Prophet, with Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith. The Prophet himself showed to the eight witnesses the original plates of the Nephite record. It was a plain, matter-of-fact exhibition. The witnesses not only saw the plates, but handled them, and examined the engravings on them. And "with words of soberness" they, too, testified of what they had seen.
It is small wonder that, in the light of the evidence here presented, it is asserted that the "Book of Mormon" is the best authenticated sacred record of which the history of the world can boast. Eleven witnesses, on their honor, testify that they have seen and examined the plates from which the translation was made. Three of them testify further that an angel appeared before them and assured them that the translation of the engravings on the plates was accomplished by the power of God, and was correct. What better or stronger testimony could be required? In the case of the "Book of Mormon," at least, the assertion is true, that not a single important step in the progress of the restoration was taken without corroborative testimony or the presence of witnesses.