CORRESPONDENCE.
VISIT TO INDEPENDENCE—DAVID WHITMER.
New York City, Feb. 16, 1886. President D. H. Wells. Dear Brother—I have had the pleasure of calling at Independence, Jackson County, Mo., and visiting friends and looking over the sacred temple lot, selected by our honored Prophet Joseph Smith. The beautiful location and surroundings themselves are evidences of the divine mission of our loved Prophet. From this point to the North, as well as the South and West, the ground is sloping as far as the eye can see. Ten miles northwest is Kansas City; the lights of which may be seen at night. To the east is the main portion of [Independence]. The courthouse is ten or fifteen minutes walk away and a little more elevated. The population is about 4,000. Although the location is so very desirable the wicked have not had power to intrude upon it, though all around it is built up, and until recently it has lain waste. The Hedrickites, one of the many branches who have separated from the true Church of Jesus Christ, paid up taxes, fenced it with a nine wire fence, and hold it as the Lord's property. The dimensions are, on the [East] 105, South 109, West 70, Northeast 49 yards; thence East to place of beginning 62 yards. Thus you see, one corner, the Northwest, is cut off by the road. The Josephites have [some], mostly apostates, who are hoping that the Lord will do something for them sometime. Little do they know that they are still in Babylon, and will partake of her plagues. I pity them. I visited John E. Page's near the Southeast corner of the temple lot. One of his sons lives with his mother. It will be remembered that John E. Page was one of the original twelve apostles under Joseph our true Prophet. After hearing my testimony they said they felt better about the Salt Lake Mormons. After my visit to Independence I took a run down to Lexington Junction, 42 miles from Kansas City, and up the Lexington Railroad five miles to Richmond, Ray County, Mo., and called on David Whitmer, desiring to see once more the only surviving witness of the visitation of the angel who commanded him with others to bear record of the truth of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and this Gospel dispensation of the nineteenth century. Eight years ago I visited him, and 52 years ago I heard him bear his testimony, as also [Oliver] Cowdery, and Martin Harris, when I was only a boy 14 years of age, and I am a witness that each time their testimony has been by the power of God, that thrills through the whole system like a two-edged sword. David Whitmer is now just past 81 years of age, and only by a hair's breadth has escaped from a death bed. He is very feeble, his frame weighing less than one hundred pounds. In this his last testimony, he said to me, "As sure as the sun shines and I live, just so sure did the angel appear unto me and Joseph Smith, and I heard his voice, and did see the angel standing before us, and on a table were the plates, the sword of Laban, and the ball or compass," and although so weak and feeble, yet he fired up, so that after a time I was necessarily obliged to check him and let him rest, while in turn I talked to him. I was kindly received and entertained from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and it gave me much pleasure to ask a blessing at the dinner table of this last surviving witness, and to see his continued firmness. A son of Hiram Page, one of the eight witnesses, also dined with us. I remain, &c.,
EDWARD STEVENSON.