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Source: Church History Vol. 1 Chapter 4 Page: 55 (~1829)

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55 "Before I bade him good-bye, I said to him, 'Can I, Father Whitmer, say, I this day have seen a living witness to the Book of Mormon?' whereupon he raised his eyes heavenward, and said: 'AS MY TESTIMONY STANDS, SO IT IS; I HAVE NOT, NOR WILL I DENY IT."'-Saints' Herald , vol. 21, p. 564.

We received a letter from him in 1876 which is quite positive and to the point. 5

John Whitmer, one of the eight witnesses, when leaving the editorial chair of the Messenger and Advocate, in 1836, in an address published in March issue of that year, said:-

"It may not be amiss in this place to give a statement to the world concerning the work of the Lord, as I have been a member of this church of Latter Day Saints from its beginning.

5 RICHMOND, Ray Co., Mo., December 5, 1876.

Heman C. Smith; Dear Sir:-As concerning the Book of Mormon, and its contents, and my views, for which you inquire: I can say the book and its contents are true, and my testimony in connection with the book is also true.

In his "Address to All Believers in Christ," pages 8, 9, 10, he makes this statement:-

"A Proclamation.

"Unto all nations, kindred, tongues, and people, unto whom these presents shall come:-

"It having been represented by one John Murphy, of Polo, Caldwell County, Missouri, that I, in a conversation with him last summer, denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the 'Book of Mormon.'

"To the end, therefore, that he may understand me now, if he did not then; and that the world may know the truth, I wish now, standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this public statement:-

"That I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that book, as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again affirm the truth of all of my statements, as then made and published.

"'He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear;' it was no delusion! What is written is written, and he that readeth let him understand.

"And that no one may be deceived or misled by this statement, I wish here to state: that I do not indorse polygamy or spiritual wifeism. It is a great evil, shocking to the moral sense, and the more so, because practiced in the name of religion. It is of man and not of God, and is especially forbidden in the Book of Mormon itself.

"I do not indorse the change of the name of the church, for as the wife takes the name of her husband so should the Church of the Lamb of God take the name of its head, even Christ himself. It is the Church of Christ.

(page 55)

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