Letter from J. C. Whitmer and John J. Snyder, 3 February 1888
Richmond Mo,
Dear Brethren:
It has pleased the Lord to
take from our midst our dear aged Brother David
Whitmer. God alone knows how we mourn his loss,
yet we know that it pleased God to take him,
because the righteous purposes and work of God must
roll on. The Testator has died: His testimony that
the Truth is now established, and the Book of
Mormon and Bible was true, was given by him on
his death bed; therefore, as he has sealed his testimony
with his death, it is now in full force to the
condemnation or justification of the world.
Upon his death bed he gave us his testimony in
these words; "I know the work is set up;
Truth is established; Hold fast to the Rock."
By the same spirit as he gave this testimony, he bore
his testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon.
O brethren and sisters, we cannot describe to you
in a letter, what we have seen and heard, and
what the Lord has made known to us through
our dear brother in his dying hours. Only those who
saw and heard can fully feel and know these
great things in their fullness. We can only write
a part of these testimonies; and when we see
you face to face, and can talk with you in
the Spirit, then we will tell you more, for we
know that these things are strength and comfort to
all who are in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Last spring, soon after Bro. David had finished
