SANDY GROVE,
Hickman Co., Tenn.,
January 21st, 1878.
Editors Herald: — This, my fourteenth trip across the plains — five times by team and nine by train, was a successful one in every particular; no accident of any description on the whole route. The weather was delightful, and the scarcity of snow at this season of the year was very remarkable.
One of the reasons for my present trip was a desire to visit and converse with David Whitmer, the only one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon now living. On the 22d ult. I visited him at Richmond, Mo., and since that time have had three interviews with him, occupying in all about ten hours. Mr. Whitmer ia [is] 73 years of age, 5 feet 10 in height, well proportioned, and possessing good physical abilities. I found him in a pleasant mood and very communicative on various topics. In reply to a question by me, as to his present views as a witness to the plates of the Book of Mormon, he said: "I was plowing in my field, when I heard a voice, saying, 'Blessed is the name of the Lord and those that keep his commandments.' After I had plowed one more round, the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery came along, and said: 'Come and be one of the witnesses.' We passed through a clearing and sat on a log. While there, a light appeared, which grew brighter, until an angel stood before them with the plates and other things. The angel turned the leaves so that we could see the engravings, &c. We then heard a voice, saying that those things were true and that the translation was correct. This was about 11 o'clock, a. m."
Mr. Whitmer also showed me the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon, written by Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, Emma Smith and Christian Whitmer. This fell into the present owner's hands at the death of Oliver Cowdery, and is now held as a choice relic. Mr. Cowdery died at the residence of Mr. Whitmer, in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri.
After these interviews with this aged surviving witness to the originals of that world-renouned [world-renowned] book, I left for St. Louis, from which place I took the Iron Mountain and Southern railway to Chattanooga... The climate is moderate; the population mixed, but made up of affable, generous and kind people.
More anon,
EDWARD STEVENSON.