History of the Prophet Joseph, by His MotherSmith, Lucy
History
History of the Prophet Joseph, by His Mother
Smith, Lucy
Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
The evening was spent in reading the manuscript, and it would be
superfluous for me to say, to one who has read the foregoing pages,
that we rejoiced exceedingly. It then appeared to those of us who did
not realize the magnitude of the work, as if the greatest difficulty
was then surmounted; but Joseph better understood the nature of the
dispensation of the Gospel which was committed unto him.
The next morning, after attending to the usual services, namely,
reading, singing and praying, Joseph arose from his knees, and
approaching Martin Harris with a solemnity that thrills through my
veins to this day, when it occurs to my recollection, said, "Martin
Harris, you have got to humble yourself before God this day, that you
may obtain a forgiveness of your sins. If you do, it is the will of God
that you should look upon the plates, in company with Oliver Cowdery
and David Whitmer."
In a few minutes after this, Joseph, Martin, Oliver and David, repaired
to a grove, a short distance from the house, where they commenced
calling upon the Lord, and continued in earnest supplication, until he
permitted an angel to come down from his presence, and declare to them,
that all which Joseph had testified of concerning the plates was true.
When they returned to the house it was between three and four o'clock
p.m. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith and myself, were sitting in a bedroom
at the time. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and
exclaimed, "Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord
has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself.
They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have
to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for
themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel
as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to
bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to be entirely
alone in the world." Upon this, Martin Harris came in: he seemed almost
overcome with joy, and testified boldly to what he had both seen and
heard. And so did David and Oliver, adding, that no tongue could
express the joy of their hearts, and the greatness of the things which
they had both seen and heard.
Their written testimony, which is contained in the Book of Mormon, is
as follows:--
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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