The preparatory work was now fast advancing. Joseph was rapidly developing, and Oliver was an excellent scribe. Three "witnesses" were to be favoured with a "manifestation" and, from among the personal friends of Joseph, David Whitmer was selected to join Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris with the assurance that if they would exercise faith they should have a view of the plates and also of the Urim and Thummim. They did exercise faith, and in their "testimony," prefixed to the Book of Mormon, they "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."[1] This event occurred, according to Mormon chronology, in June or July, 1829. Another "testimony" is given to the world by eight witnesses the father and two brothers of Joseph, four of the Whitmer family, and one Page. They affirm that they had seen the original plates, "hefted" them, and that they had "the appearance of gold, and were of ancient work and curious workmanship."
In the commencement of 1830 the translation was published under the title of The Book of Mormon, and thus was laid the foundation of the new faith.
- ↑ The Author entered into correspondence with one of the Whitmers to elicit from him information concerning his mental condition during the time that he affirms he saw the plates. Whitmer was asked if he was in his usual condition of consciousness and was sensible of surrounding objects while he beheld the plates; but he refused to answer the enquiry. Harris is reported to have said that he witnessed them by "the eye of faith."
