The Fourth Witness

I’m sorry I’ve been absent for so long! I’m taking a minor break from the Book of Mormon sketches to include some artwork I did of some of the most sacred places in New York. This is a true story I wrote about the only woman to have seen the golden plates (that were translated to the Book of Mormon). It happened in Fayette, New York. If you have any questions about the story or about the golden plates, please leave a comment and I will get back to you, or email me!

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Sweet Mary Whitmer knew that taking care of a farming household with many children was hard.  However, she soon found that taking care of a farming household with many children plus the Prophet Joseph himself, his friends, and his family was almost unbearable.  She felt the weight of this responsibility and almost hit the breaking point one summer.  In just a few short months her world changed.

It began early one spring when her son David became enamored with this Joseph Smith character.  Through letters to a friend named Oliver, David was convinced Joseph needed to come stay with them on the Whitmer farm to finish some alleged “holy work.”  Mary didn’t much like that idea.  A stranger coupled with so many odd rumors coming to stay with her family didn’t sound very appealing, that was until the miracles began to occur.

When work on the farm was being completed by three mysterious figures Mary could no longer deny that God was involved somehow.  David found himself with enough free time to go retrieve Joseph during the busiest planting season of the year, and after he came, many others soon followed.  Mary now knew she had the one living prophet to make comfortable in her home as he completed the translation of a set of golden plates.  She sacrificed many of her personal affairs to tend to everyone and never complained.  Instead of attending choir she did laundry.  Instead of visiting friends and neighbors, she cooked and cleaned.  Instead of attending her old church, she made sure the prophet Joseph had privacy.  And the worst part of it all was Mary couldn’t even see the process upstairs in her own home that would validate her sacrifice.

Anxiety continued to build. Tears threatened to fall.  Mary was relying completely on faith as she labored to allow the smooth translation of these records she wasn’t allowed to see.  She may not have persevered if God didn’t show her mercy at the last moment.

One day Mary was on her way out to milk the cow when a gentleman met her at the fence.  If some of her guests saw him they would have identified him with the name “Moroni.”

“You have been faithful and diligent in your labors, but you are tired because of the increase of your toil; it is proper therefore that you should witness that your faith may be strengthened,” he told Mary.

Then at that instant the thing she was blindly working for everyday was shown unto her.  Mary Whitmer became the one and only woman to see the golden plates.  It changed not only her but the whole family as well.  The extra strength she gained helped prepare all seven children to become either one of the witnesses of the plates or the wife to one.  After the trial of her faith Mary received a witness, divine approval for her efforts, and so much more.  The chores didn’t seem quite so hard after that.

When in Need

In contrast to those who are prideful, the Lord smiles down upon those who are humble and willing to call upon His name.  He truly does love all of us His children.  One man named Alma  did listen to Abinadi and lead away a group of righteous and obedient people. At one point all these good people came under bondage and were persecuted for praying out loud.  Instead of becoming discouraged or angry at God, the people began to pour out their souls to the Lord in their hearts, and He heard every word.  Sometimes we go through these trials even though we did nothing wrong, but there is always a sweet and tender mercy at the end.  These good people were delivered out of bondage when a deep sleep came upon their persecutors.  They were able to sneak away with all their loved ones and with their testimonies and love of God even stronger.  See Mosiah 24:11-13.

Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

Contentions between the Nephite group and Lamanite group continued to grow and many wars ensued.  However, sometimes the wars would be internal within one group, and many times they weren’t just physical but spiritual.  In The Book of Mormon we learn much about the damage to the soul pride causes and how it can destroy nations.  Because of pride, many would turn away from a prophet’s voice thinking they knew better.  This drawing shows just one example.  When the prophet Abinadi came to the group of people lead by evil King Noah, the people grew angry with him when he told them they needed to repent.  The people were so wicked that they burned to death him for his preaching!  Maybe we don’t physically burn our prophets today, but disregarding the vital things they have to say is a similar treatment. You can read the exciting  full story of Abinadi starting in Mosiah 11.

The Tribes of Israel

Once Lehi, Nephi, and their family reached the American continents, they established themselves and began to grow.  A sad part of that growth included a division in the group between those who followed Nephi’s wicked brother Laman, and those who followed Nephi. The two groups called themselves the Nephites and the Lamanites. In order to stay faithful in a culture of many dangers and temptations, the Nephites would often listen to the counsel of their spiritual leaders concerning Jesus Christ and his gospel. One such counsel was what we call the Allegory of the Olive Tree. It illustrates how the house of Israel would be scattered then gathered back together again, and it included the part of Israel that moved to the Americas and became the Nephites and Lamanites. This sketch I did shows Christ acting as the master of the vineyard (which we can call the world), and his servants the prophets working in the background. You can read about the symbolism of the trees and the  branches in Jacob 5.

As Their Boat Crossed the Angry Sea

Even though the Lord blessed Lehi’s family so much, eventually many of them turned away from Him. After Nephi built a boat to travel the big sea, it wasn’t too far into their journey before part of the family rebelled against God once more. The Lord chastises us at times out of love, and this He did with them in the way of a great storm. It was only after the wicked part of the family repented that the Lord calmed the storm once more and took them all the way to their destination. See 1 Nephi 18 for more of the story. 

The Journey of Lehi’s Family

The Book of Mormon begins with the story of Lehi and his family. Lehi’s righteous son Nephi narrates the story of how his father was warned by the Lord to take his family and leave Jerusalem in 600 B.C. before it was destroyed.  They had to travel through the wilderness and across deep waters until they finally reached the Promised Land (the Americas), but it was a journey of many trials.  One such trial was when the sons of Lehi were hunting and the bow broke. Instead of mourning and murmuring like the rest of the family, Nephi was courageous and decided to act.  Sometimes we face this same situation day to day. When things go wrong, are we like Nephi and act instead of mourn? This is a drawing I sketched of him making a new bow. You can read about this story in 1 Nephi 16.

Book of Mormon Stories

This last transfer (which is what we missionaries call a set of 6 weeks) all the missionaries in western New York read the whole Book of Mormon. It was miraculous. We had to make a lot of sacrifices to get in 13 pages of reading a day in our already ridiculously busy schedule, but was it worth it? Absolutely. I already had a great love for that book, but somehow I love it even more. I almost obsess with it! I just know without a doubt that that book comes from God. There is no way on earth or in heaven that the Book of Mormon is anything short of scripture because it changes the world for the better. It has changed mine. I am no longer the same person I was before I gained a testimony that it is true.  I never will be the same, and I never ever want to be.

The Book of Mormon is true! If you don’t think so it’s because you haven’t truly read it.

I’m so sorry I haven’t had a moment to write a single post on this blog in so long, but I am excited to begin posting the sketches I made while we read. My dear companion was kind enough to read to me the whole 13 pages on certain days so I could draw as I listened. I will start posting them all shortly! Thank you!