Show OLIVIR OLIVER LAST LETTER following n g is a letter from elder samuel W richards enclosing one from the late oliver cowdery Cowd ery cry one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon this Is believed to be the last letter written by him on earth and for that reason it bears a peculiar interest it is also a plain and pointed testimony concerning the restoration 0 of f the holy priesthood by heavenly messengers from one who participated brithe in the glorious manifestations from on high hl h if auy any of a later communication min from the hand of that tha t departed brother we shall be pleased to learn leam of it and give place to it in this paper rf 0 SAIT LUCE CITY march 21 1884 editor Deseret mews mems I 1 take the liberty to land hand you the accompanying compa nying communication written by yOl yoi collver oliver iver iven Cowd cowdery ery cry as s a direct mony of the facts therein s set e t f forth rth to myself personally at the time indicated at by the date affixed at thal that time thile lie ho with his family was spending a f few ew days lly liy with me at my thuu thun residence in missouri I 1 lb as habas on his way to visit david whitmer and family in richmond mo prior to his contemplated departure for or salt sait lake city that coming spring to 10 spend the remainder of his days with and in laboring laboria for the church As he wasa was about bout to take his leave after several days of most interesting and familiar conversation with me he penned with his own hand and in my presence the testimony and statement herewith which I 1 deem worthy of record SOIL soll S OIL oll IV RICHARDS olivir oliver leitter leitten while darkness covered the caran and gross darkness tile the people long after the he 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 f of the sacred scripture the everlasting gospel was proclaimed by the mighty angel Moro moroni nl who clothed with the authority a ut hority of hll lit his bis mis this slon sion on gave glory to god in inthe the highest this gospel is the stone taken from the mountain without hands john the ll holding the keys of tho priesthood peter james and john holding holdi Dg the keys of the melchisde dek priesthood have also ministered for those who shall shall shail be heirs of salvation and with these thee ministrations ordained men to the same Priest hoods these Priest hoods with their author 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 J oseph joseph the ahe seer secer was blessed with the above ministrations and who earnestly and devoutly hopes to meet you in the celestial glory OLIVER COWDERY to elder samuel IV richards ric klc hards january 1849 |