, 1870-09-20

Ono OF tho Men Who Snxv the Angel
Giving Joe Smith tho Hook Of Nor
tt1nn.

GtF1uE Joe Smith tho hook OIL WoF-
mon.
From The Salt Lake He.ss, dug. 81.
Considerable interest has been felt " our
people in tho arrival in this citT Of Martin
Harris, one Of three witnesses Of the Book Of
Mormon. He arrived here at 7.30 p. m: yes
te1daE, in the company OF Elder Edward Ste.
1n1y. tor tho the @ purpose s Of bringing @ him ont Of
Kirkland, Ohio, where he hns been living
since the Saints first moved there-183l-
thlrty-n!ne years ago. Brother stevenson
has bad = strong desire to hare Martin
thought for yea1s that his mission was IN
Kirkland, he feeling that tho Lord required
him to stay there and bear testimony to the
Book Of Mormon and the first principles,
which he has been earnest in doing. md he
Stevenson corresponded with him about COM
ing ont to the Valley, lie replied that the
epirit testified to him that lie should come
here. and in every letter that he efterward
received from him he expressed a still stronger
collection, and, after raising sufficient means,
| went 10 Kirkland and brought llira on.
| Martin Harris. il in his 83sll year. He ia
remarkably vigorous for one Of his years, and
still retains the use Of his faculties, his MEM
orr being good, and bis s1ght, though his
that be can see to pick = pin OF the ground.
He has experienced many changes aud vicis-
STUDIES: but on one point, 70 far "a NC have
heard, be has never changed; ho has never
failed to hear testimony to the divine authen-
ITCHY Of the Book Of Mormon. He says it ia
not a matter 81 belief on his part, but OF
knowledge. He, with tho other two Witnesses,
declared-aud their testimony has accompa-
MED every COPE Of the book "that m angel
Of God came down from Heaven, aud be
held and saw the plates aud the engrayings
thereon" This declaration he has not varied
from in forty-one yeara; and it is remarka-
BILE fact that, though away from the Church,
and not maintaining their connection
With the Prophet Joseph Smith. not one OF
known, to bear testimony to the truth of their
united declaration contained in the preface OF
the Book Of Mormon! Deny whatever they
might of other points Of doctrine Of Joseph's
authority, or Of his management, they have
never denied the testimony which they have
given to the world concerning the Book ot
Mcrmont
We are glad to gee Martin Harris once moro
in the midst Of the Sninte. Tie feels that this
people are led by God, that they arc happy
ance Of enjoying Gods favor. They arr
doing the very. work which the Boos
Of Mormon said should be done, and are tht
only people who, as people. believe in tha
book.
. The history of the veteran member OF tlt
I
J iEg. II written, as his course since the sever
ance Of his connection with tie Prophet Jo
| seph, at the early rise Of the Church, ha
becu singular. One of the original witnessc
Of TIE lock q Mormon. la saw the angel
; and handled tbs plates from which that bool
wae translated. 1n relation to this his tcs
timony has noTer wavered, yet be, for stm'
cause or other, has ;hl2ssst himself aloof from
the church for ;:anr years, and Las taken n,
part in carrying Oh tho great work Of which he
ln connection with Joseph and Others. 1a;t
the foundation No greater proof could b
given than the history and course Of thi,
man, that the work Of God is not dependen
trious. or favored be may bo Martin Harri.
having seen that which few in the flesh ar
favored to behold. and having received {
testimony Of the divinity Of this wofl; and o.
tho divine authenticity Of the Book Of Mormon
that It was utterly impossible to destroy, one
might have supposed, yiowins things from a
merely human standpoint. that the progress
and prosperity Of the work would Lave de-
pended to como considerable extent on Iii.
cooperation, and that, lacking that, 1t woult
have been retarded. But sucl. is not ths
case, and in this fact human pride, vanity
will.
Air. Harris saw fit to Withdraw from tie
cause. but it's course, owing to the working:
Of Divinity through faithful agents. has beer
onward to a remarkable degree. The Saints
by thousands, hare been gathered from the
nations, territory has been peopled, and tllt
foundation of kingdom hid which will never
again be uprooted from the earth; aud 1Iartir
Aat1ls, no longer able to resist the conviction
that God ati)l ,gnides and controls the les
tines Of His kingdom and people, gladly re
turns to share in tho blessings and privilege,
Of that kingdom.
There Is still one other Of tho "orig:na
witnesses living. nasnely, Mr. David Whit
not be surprised if tho yearning Of his hear
should yet lead him to follow tie course O.
III. Har1is, and again throw III his lot with tht
Saints, aud close his earthly career in thci