"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom his work shall come, * * * We declare with words of soberness that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, * * and the engravings thereon, and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes, nevertheless the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with Him eternally in the heavens." "OLIVER COWDERY, "DAVID WHITMER, "MARTIN HARRIS." Though these three witnesses; through transgression, lost the Spirit of God, and wandered away from the fold of Christ, they never denied the testimony they bore to the truth of the Book of Mormon. Two of them previous to their death came back to the Church, and died in the faith. The other--David Whitmer--died at Richmond, Mo., in January, 1888, and on his deathbed, as he had always done previously, solemnly declared that his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon was true. THE COMING OF THE MESSENGER. While the Book of Mormon was in course of translation, a very important event took place, viz, the coming of the MESSENGER {169} to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. This is described by Joseph Smith as follows: "We (Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery) still continued the work of translating; when in the ensuing month (May, 1829), we, on a certain day, went into the woods to pray, and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for remission of sins. "While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us; saying unto us--'Upon you, my fellow servants, 'in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins,' and this shall never be taken from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord of righteousness.'