The Restoration of the Gospel

by Osborne J. P. Widtsoe

In 1881, one John Murphy asserted that David Whitmer had denied his testimony as one of the three witnesses to the "Book of Mormon." David Whitmer immediately published in the Conservator of Richmond, Missouri, a refutation of the lie:

"That the world may know the truth," he wrote, "I wish now, standing as it were in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this public statement:

"That I have never 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 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."^[L]

[Footnote L: Quoted in "Historical Record," pp. 210, 211.]

The Prophet, Joseph Smith, had been dead nearly forty years when this renewed testimony was published by David Whitmer. It would be the grossest kind of folly to assume that after more than forty years of independent life and thinking—apart from the Church founded by the Prophet, with the Prophet himself removed—David Whitmer was still under "hypnotic," or other, influence of the Prophet. With his testimony so firm and unshaken, after so many years, it would be the height of folly to assume that David Whitmer was under any psychic subjection to the Prophet even at the time of the angelic ministration. And other false reason for subscribing to such a testimony there could be none. David Whitmer was not related to Joseph Smith. He was not interested with him in any business venture. He received no worldly benefits from his association with the new Church. In short, there was no reason under heaven why he should have abetted fraudulent purposes of Joseph Smith, had he been an impostor. David Whitmer's testimony, then, like Oliver Cowdery's, must remain forever unimpeached, the stronger for the reason that it remained as firm, as steadfast, after David Whitmer left the Church, as it ever was before. Whitmer died at Richmond, Mo., January twenty-fifth, 1888. On his deathbed he bore a last, irrefragable testimony to the divine authenticity of the "Book of Mormon," and the truth and integrity of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses.

Martin Harris was one of Joseph Smith's earliest and closest friends. Yet, his relations to the Prophet, like those of Oliver and David, became strained before the martyrdom of the Prophet. Martin Harris was born at Easttown, New York, May eighteenth, 1783. He met the young Prophet for the first time in 1827, soon after the Prophet had received from the angel the plates of the "Book of Mormon." He was baptized soon after the organization of the Church, in 1830. Martin Harris, too, was honored in the new Church. He held several positions of distinction, and as long as the Saints lived in Kirtland, he was active in the performance of his duties. When, however, the Saints moved to Missouri, Harris remained in Ohio. Rumors spread that he had apostatized. Martin Harris never wavered, however, in his testimony to the "Book of Mormon." After the martyrdom of the Prophet, Martin Harris came under the influence of the apostate leader, James J. Strang. While under that influence, he went to England, in 1846, ostensibly to oppose the Mormon elders laboring there, and to misrepresent the Church. It seems, however, that he did no harm to anyone. In 1870, Harris came to Utah, and located in Smithfield. Five years later, in 1875, he died at Clarkston, nearly ninety-three years of age.

Thirty-one years had passed since the Prophet was slain, and forty-six years had passed since the miraculous manifestation in which Martin Harris saw the angel and the plates. Many things had happened during the long life. While Martin Harris had never actually left the Church, he had become estranged, and was not in full fellowship for many years. Yet, in spite of his varied experiences, his testimony never faltered. And like Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, his dying words were in confirmation of the testimony he had given forty-six years before.

"[Martin Harris] was taken sick a week ago yesterday," writes Martin Harris, Jr., under date of July ninth, 1875, "with some kind of stroke, or life became so weak and exhausted, that he has no use in his limbs. He cannot move, only by our aid. * * * He has continued to talk about and testify to the truth of the "Book of Mormon," and was in his happiest mood when he could get somebody to listen to his testimony; if he felt dull and weary at times, and some one would come in and open up a conversation and give him an opportunity of talking, he would immediately revive and felt like a young man for a little while."^[M] In this mood he passed away, brightening the last moments of his long life with the fervor of his testimony to the truth of the "Book of Mormon."

[Footnote M: Quoted in "Historical Record," p. 214.]

All three of the special witnesses to the divinity of the "Book of Mormon," became estranged from the Prophet and his work. In spite of all estrangement, however, and even bitterness, they were steadfast to the last in affirming the truth of their great testimony. Not one of them wavered; not one of them weakened; not one of them gave that testimony the lie, either while in the Church or while out of it. And as the three were true to the last, so also were the eight.