No. 663 Walnut St., CHICAGO, Illinois, June 4th, 1884.
Bro. Joseph Smith:—On April 25th, with Bro. R. Etzenhouser in company, I called upon David Whitmer, which I had longed to do for years. We were very hospitably entertained, and enjoyed the interview much. The following are some of the facts as stated to us:
Oliver Cowdery's name being mentioned we asked as to his last statement. In response we were told, that it was re-affirmed, accompanied with a solemn charge to keep the manuscript as he had.
"Would you like to see them?"
I replied that we would. He stepped into an adjoining room and in a few moments brought them to us. They were large sheets of foolscap paper, were rather brown, or yellow colored, not so clear and white as the paper of now a days; written closely in a fine hand, with capital letters in all proper places, and well preserved. He then remarked:
"I was present when Joseph gave these manuscripts to Oliver, O, it was such a solemn charge. He (Joseph) said, I feel it in my bones that there will be a division in the church, like it was with the Nephites and Lamanites, and if these manuscripts are not preserved, I fear that the church may be injured, and when you deliver them up to others, be sure they are left in good hands.' I now see why they should be preserved. A delegation once waited on me from Utah, Orson Pratt headed it, to secure them. And he said:
"'Set your own price on them.' There is millions in the treasury and we are authorized to draw any amount for them, so you may not be particular, ask any price.'
"I replied, They are not for sale. He said:
"'Why not?'
"I answered, I know, and that is enough. There is not enough gold in the world to purchase them. Pratt urged the matter saying:
"'You are not very well off, and it will do your children good.'
"I then told him, You have not got money enough in Utah to purchase them."
O, brethren, the above sentences were spoken by the good old man in such accents and tone, it fairly gave life to his sterling worth, as the man more precious than fine gold, even a man worth more than the golden wedge of Ophir (Isaiah 13: 12). His integrity is above suspicion. God bless his memory and his heart, ever more, amen.
This brings to my mind a statement of the Elect Lady, Emma, in the winter of 1856. She said to me, "When you see David Whitmer you will see an honest man." And in the same conversation, she remarked of her husband Joseph's limited education while he was translating the Book of Mormon, and she was scribe at the time, "He could not pronounce the word Sariah." And one time while translating, where it speaks of the walls of Jerusalem, he stopped and said, "Emma, did Jerusalem have walls surrounding it." When I informed him it had, he replied, "O, I thought I was deceived."
Bro. Whitmer added that since Oliver's death it was alleged that they both had denied their testimony. He said that preachers and others got this up and heralded it about.
NARRATIVE OF SEEING THE ANGEL.
"In June, 1829, I saw the angel by the power of God, Joseph, Oliver and I were alone, and a light from heaven shone round us, and solemnity pervaded our minds. The angel appeared in the light, as near as that young man. [Within five or six feet]. Between us and the angel there appeared a table, and there lay upon it the sword of Laban, the Ball of Directors, the Record, and Interpreters. The angel took the Record, and turned the leaves, and showed it to us by the power of God. They were taken away by the angel to a cave, which we saw by the power of God while we were yet in the Spirit. My testimony in the Book of Mormon is true; I can't deviate from it. I was troubled with so many by letter and otherwise, all over the United States, and some from Europe, that I made my proclamation of March 19th, 1881. In this way thousands read it, who would never have done so otherwise. I have the original manuscripts. They have the printer's marks. The printers here have examined them, and say they are genuine. When being printed, Oliver Cowdery would take about a dozen pages of them at a time, and remain and proof read and see that the work was done properly, and continued his vigil to the end."
Brother in Christ, after a visit with Bro. David Whitmer, one of the chosen witnesses of the Book of Mormon, I want to say that I felt to admire the man; his humble, meek manner is wonderful to behold, in comparison with the self-called ministry of the present age. He is a devout Christian, and speaks of Bro. Joseph, and the rise of the latter day work with endearing words of love. As he said:
"The boys, Joseph and Oliver, worked hard, early and late, while translating the plates. It was slow work, and they could write only a few pages a day."
Of Joseph he continued;
"He could not do a thing except he was humble, and just right before the Lord."
I said, "Why not?"
He replied:
"The Urim and Thummim would look dark; he could not see a thing in them."
"How did it appear in them?" we asked.
His answer was:
"The letters appeared on them in light, and would not go off until they were written correctly by Oliver. When Joseph could not pronounce the words he spelled them out letter by letter. Ah! Joseph was a good man, but he had a hard task to manage with the people in the early days of the church. They were sectarian (Brigham Young was only a sectarian) and came in with all of their own views, and were hard to manage. In fact, they sought office in the church, and when they were ordained it was only putting new wine into old bottles in many cases."
I asked him why he did not go with the church.
He replied:
"I had good reasons, but do not wish to speak of them now. I was directed to remain here in Richmond."
He gave me his statement entitled "Proclamation," of March 19th, 1881, saying:
"I have but a few left."
I remarked that more should be published. He answered:
"You may tell Joseph he may print them, and send them broadcast, if he will not change them; print them just as they are."
Bro. David is a bright looking man, nearly eighty years old. Firm as a rock in Christ, and in his testimony of seeing the angel of God, as he descended from heaven in a halo of light, and turned over the leaves of the plates just as a man would the leaves of a book. His family, wife, son and daughter, who were present, are of a quiet, meek spirit. All seem to dwell in love, and are firm in Christ, and love to bear their testimony in the gospel, and hear the aged witness talk, just as though they had never heard it before, though it has been their theme all these days.
I arrived in this city on the 1st inst. Took charge of the prayer meeting at Bro. Goode's on 501 Madison street, in the afternoon, and have another appointment this evening. Am hopeful; and once more I am enlisted for the right, and am the freest from bondage to the world I ever was, and rejoicing more in the gospel of Christ than ever did before.
Yours in bonds of truth and love,
E. C. BRIGGS.