Show THE BOOK OF MR TESTIMONY to the editor of the journal and courter courier whilst in west haven a few days ago a friend called my attention to a statement made in your issue of the of march namely that the three wit witnesses nesses who declared that they saw an angel of god come down with the golden goiden book which joseph smith interpreted had subsequently renounced mormonism and declared their testimony false havin having visited mr david whitmer on the loth of maich and being familiar with his feelings and his wishes could give some items that would be interesting to man mam of your readers who may wish to be in informed more fully in relation to his attitude and views sai sal book mn hir whitmer is the only living witness of the eleven whose nai nal names nes are published and who declare they saw the plates and one of the three who declared they saw an of god who showed them the plates the three did leave the church is as you state but not one of them ever denied the statement aforesaid the other two oliver cowder cowdery and martin harris returned to the church a few years before their death and bore the same testimony to the end mr whitmer referring to the statement which had appeared in some other journals felt very indignant and declared to me in the presence of his son and others that his statement was true that he had never denied it and that lie he was with oliver cowdery on his death berthat bed bcd that he then and there bore the same testimony he had always borne through life mr whitmer is not a member of the 1131 mormon ormon church he retired with a great many others in 1838 when the church was expelled from missouri Miss onri at the point of the bayonet the sunn sufferings re in sand and afflictions were greater than many could bear and they dropped out by the way but they never wavered in their statement and though nearly 8 year sold as you say he is immovable in rc regard erd ard to what he saw and heard as published on the fifth page of the book of mormon as any person may know by callin calling upon him at h his I 1 s home in RI richmond ray cou con county ty missouri for the benefit benefit of litt those iose lose who would wish for f further evidence and have no opportunity of hearing his statement nt orally orally I 1 su subjoin join a statement published over his Is signature and dated richmond klch rich mond march 1881 unto all nations kindreds tongues and people unto whom these presents shall come elit eilt having been represented b by on one e john murphy of polo caldwell coun ty missouri that 1 I in conversation with him last summer denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon I 1 to the end therefore that he may understand me now if he did not t then en and that the world may kuo kno know w tie the truth I 1 wish now standing as it were tere v in the very sunset of life and in t the ie fear of god once for all to make I 1 this public alic statement I 1 tuat trat that I 1 have never at anytime denied that testimony nor any part thereof which has so long since been publish published ea with that book as one of the three witnesses those who know moe ine best well know that I 1 have always adhered to that testimony and that no man may be misled or doubt my cresent present views in regard to the same ma I 1 do C 0 again affirm the truth of all my statements as then made and published he that hath an ear car to hear let him hear it was no d on what is written is written an audne av e that readeth let him understand 7 As stated above I 1 had an inte interview rhew with the said david whitmer two weeks ago when he reiterated the above witha with a boldness and assurance that would convince the most skeptical of his absolute conviction of the truth of III ill his remarkable statements A 1 person person might believe him to b be e deceived but could not believe him to be insincere JAMES H hart harl |