(2 Ne. 11:3; 2 Cor. 13:1; Deut. 19:15; Eth. 5:2–3; D&C 17:1–3; History of the Church, 1:52–57
A murder trial was in progress in the town where Mr. Barrington then lived, and walking along the main street one day Mr. B. noticed a great many people walking up to the county courthouse, and not knowing what was going on there, he says, ‘I became inquisitive, and made up my mind to go there also, and on entering the courtroom I found that the same was crowded to overflowing, but being young and strong I soon made my way up to the railing in front of the bench and jury box, and then I learned from a friend that it was murder trial on before the court, and that the young attorney who was then addressing or making his opening argument to the jury was the county attorney, Oliver Cowdery; as soon as Mr. Cowdery closed his opening argument the attorney fro the prisoner arose, and, in a sneering way, said: “May it please the Court, and gentlemen of the jury, I challenge Mr. Cowdery, since he seems to know so much about this poor defendant, to tell us something about his connection with Joe Smith, and the digging out of the hill of the Mormon Bible, and how Mr. Cowdery helped Joe Smith to defraud the American people out of a whole lot of money by selling the Mormon Bible, and telling them that an angel appeared to them from heaven, dressed in white clothes.” After having kept on for a while in this way, abusing Mr. Cowdery, he (attorney for the defendant) began to argue the case to the jury; but all interest was shifted from the prisoner and his case and directed towards Oliver Cowdery; everybody was wondering in what manner he would reply to the accusation just made. The people did not believe, or know before this, that they had elected a county prosecutor who had been an associate of the ‘Mormon Prophet,’ Joseph Smith. Finally, when the defendant’s attorney had completed his argument, Oliver Cowdery’s turn came to reply, and everybody in the courtroom strained their necks to catch a glimpse of Mr. Cowdery.
“He arose as calm as a summer morning, and in a low but clear voice which gradually rose in pitch and volume as he proceeded, said: ‘If your honor please, and gentlemen of the jury, the attorney of the opposite side has challenged me to state my connection with Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon; as I cannot now avoid the responsibility, I must admit to you that I am the very Oliver Cowdery whose name is attached to the testimony, with others, as to the appearance of the angel Moroni; and let me tell you that it is not because of my good deeds that I am here, away from the body of the Mormon church, but because I have broken the covenants I once made, and I was cut off from the church; but, gentlemen of the jury, I have never denied my testimony, which is attached to the front page of the Book of Mormon, and I declare to you here that these eyes saw an angel, and these ears of mine heard the voice of an angel, and he told us his name was Moroni; that the book was true, and contained the fulness of the gospel, and we were also told that if we ever denied what we had heard and seen that there would be no forgiveness for us, neither in this world nor in the world to come.’” (Affidavit-files, Church Historian’s Office as quoted in Berrett and Burton, Readings in LDS Church History, vol. 1, pp. 59–61.)
(Alma P. Burton and Clea M. Burton, Stories From Mormon History [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], 49–50.)
I do not believe that in any court of justice in the world if a man were being tried for murder and twelve reputable citizens testified of their knowledge of the circumstances leading to the murder, and there were no one who could testify against what they said, there would be failure to convict the man. We have the testimony of Joseph Smith and the testimony of three witnesses to the effect that God gave them a knowledge regarding the Book of Mormon, that an angel of God declared from heaven that the book had been translated by the gift and power of God. These men were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. They left the Church, but to the day of their death they maintained their testimony regarding the declaration of the angel, and that they were commanded to bear witness of the divinity of this book, and they did so. Eight men, some of whom were excommunicated from the Church, maintained their testimony that they had seen and handled the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and they remained true to that testimony to the day of their death. The disbelief of all the world does not prove that those men did not tell the truth.
(Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards [Salt Lake City: Improvement Era Publication, 1942], 27.)
Upon hearing the story of golden plates delivered by an angel, some people today ask: “Where are the plates now?” They seem to think if they could see the plates, it would make the testimony of the witnesses more credible. But this is not the way the Lord works. He operates through a law called the law of witnesses. This law provides that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the truth of His word be established in all ages (see D&C 6:28; 2 Ne. 27:12–14).
(Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 50.)
David Whitmer published a declaration in 1887 which contains the following:
It is recorded in the American Encyclopaedia and the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, 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 of 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 nor Martin Harris ever at any time denied their testimony. They both died reaffirming the truth of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
(William E. Berrett and Alma P. Burton, Readings in L.D.S. Church History, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1953–1958], 1:62.)
It was in Clarkston, Utah, July, 1875.
Early in the morning a thought came to my mind, that I would go and see brother Harris. It was only three blocks from my home. I heard that he was not feeling well, and people came from other towns to see him, and hear his testimony on the Book of Mormon. But when I arrived, there were two men present. Brother Harris lay on his bed leaning on his elbow. I said, “How are you brother Harris?” He answered slowly, “Pretty well.”
“We came to hear your testimony on the Book of Mormon.” “Yes,” he said in a loud voice, as he sat up in bed, “I wish that I could speak loud enough that the whole world could hear my testimony. Brother, I believe there is an angel here to hear what I shall tell you, and you shall never forget what I shall say. The Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and myself went into a little grove to pray; to obtain a promise that we should behold it with our own eyes. That we could testify of it to the world. We prayed two or three times, and at length the angel stood before Oliver and David, and showed them the plates. But, behold I had gone to myself to pray and in my desperation I asked the Prophet to kneel down with me, and pray for me, that I might also see the plates. And we did so, and immediately the angel stood before me and said, “Look.” And when I glanced at him I fell; but I stood on my feet and saw the angel turn the golden leaves over, and I said, “It is enough, my Lord, my God!” Then I heard the voice of God say, “The book is true, and translated correctly.” … “As sure as you are standing here and see me, just so sure did I see the angel with the golden plates in his hand; and he showed them to me.” … His lips trembled and tears came into his eyes… . I refreshed myself and shook hands with him and thanked him and left.
When I think of the day I stood before Martin Harris, and saw him stretch forth his hand and raise his voice and bear his testimony, the feeling that thrilled my whole being I can never forget, nor can I express the joy that filled my soul. This is true testament.
(Signed) Ole A. Jensen
John Godfrey
James Keep
(William E. Berrett and Alma P. Burton, Readings in L.D.S. Church History: from Original Manuscripts, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1953], 1:62–63.)
David Whitmer, in 1881, as reported in the Richmond Conservator, of March 25, that year, made this statement:
Those who know me best know well that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again affirm the truth of all my statements as then made and published… .
In the spirit of Christ, who hath said, “Follow thou me, for I am the Life, the Light, and the Way,” I submit this statement to the world; God in whom I trust being my judge as to the sincerity of my motives and the faith and hope that is in me of eternal life.
On Sept. 7, 1878, David Whitmer, in the presence of Elder Joseph F. Smith, Elder Orson Pratt, and a number of other persons, including his eldest son, a grandson, and a son, Jacob Whitmer, bore this testimony:
He (the angel) stood before us. Our testimony, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, is strictly and absolutely true.
In 1886, David Whitmer said to Elder Edward Stevenson:
As sure as the sun shines and I live, just so sure did the angel appear unto me and Joseph Smith and I heard his voice and did see the angel standing before us.
(Francis W. Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America, 2 vols., rev. ed. [Salt Lake City: Utah Printing Co., 1942–1959], 248–49.)
The testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon stands forth in great strength. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate. As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. All three went their separate ways, with no common interest to support a collusive effort. Yet to the end of their lives—periods ranging from 12 to 50 years after their excommunications—not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness.
(Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, May 1999, 36.)