Jesse R. Badham’s Account of an Interview with
David Whitmer, March 1881
Source: Diary of Jesse R. Badham, Whitmer Papers, RLDS Archives.
20 March 1881. In Richmond, Ray County, Missouri. Visited David Whitmer the remaining living witness to the Book of Mormon—He bore a strong testimony—that an angel shewed him the book and the characters thereon. And that the voice of God declared from the Heavens that it was translated by the gift and power of God.
That this ministration was not the only one by any means—that [a] messenger had come to him in the field, and he was prepared for the coming testimony.
He, Whitmore [Whitmer], has in his possession the original manuscript—and the original characters presented to Professor Anthony [Anthon] of New York by Martin Harris both of which I saw and handled. Also heard a blessing read pronounced for him by Joseph the Prophet which he holds very sacred—