BEING A WITNESS

 

 

It’s quite surprising, is it not, that all three witnesses of the Book of Mormon plates who saw an angel, left the Church at some point.

David Whitmer left and never came back, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris were eventually rebaptized and died in full fellowship. I don’t know why David Whitmer never came back but I was happy to read he died with a testimony on his lips as he addressed those around his bedside:

“Now you must all be faithful in Christ. I want to say to you all, the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon) is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear testimony on my death-bed. All be faithful in Christ, and your reward will be according o your works. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ forever, worlds without end. Amen.”  (In Jenson, Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:270)

Martin Harris also bore his testimony on his deathbed: “I did see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written; I did see the angel; I did hear the voice of God; and I do know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, holding the keys of the Holy Priesthood.”  (In Francis W. Kirkham, New Witness of Christ, 1:253-4)

It would seem that David Whitmer was in contact with Oliver Cowdery as he witnessed his death and said this concerning his departure: “Oliver died the happiest man I ever saw. After shaking hands with the family and kissing his wife and daughter, he said,: ‘Now I lay me down for the last time; I am going to my Saviour’, and he died immediately with a smile on his face.’ (In Francis W. Kirkham, New Witness of Christ, 1:248)

The persecution of the early saints was horrendous and I guess even seeing an angel would not have eliminated the stress and pressure these men were under hence the walking away. However, a lot of them that never saw the gold plates or an angel survived and remained in full fellowship. It goes without saying, the testimony of the spirit is stronger than one of sight.

No judgment here. I don’t know what the persecution of that time was like but I have faced opposition to my testimony during my life. I am facing it even now from someone close to me. I don’t know if I would be able to withstand it if I had never nurtured the seed of my faith for the past 49 years since my baptism, and never allowed it to sprout and grow into a tree as per Alma’s inspired discourse in Alma 32.

The promise is that because of diligence and patience in nourishing the word, we shall eventually pluck the fruit of the tree, ‘which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and we shall feast upon this fruit even until we are filled, that we hunger not, neither shall we thirst’ (Alma 32:42).

The fruit of our faith is none other than Christ himself. Because of the fulness of our faith in Him, we too can exclaim at our departure, “I am going to my Saviour” and leave with a smile on our face……This is the sweet death that we should want.

Your truth pierces my soul

And binds me to Your loving heart.

Your teaching moments

Find my hungry mind

And feed me like a bird in flight.

My faith is laid at Your feet

And I, I come to you dear Saviour

Clutching these riches that are mine to keep.

 

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Gift by Annie Henrie Nader)