"That Book Is True"

[Hemidakota]

Remembering Oliver Cowdery...

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"Oliver Cowdery shared with the Prophet Joseph Smith many of the profound events of the Restoration, such as their baptism under the authority of John the Baptist, the conferral of the Aaronic Priesthood, the marvelous appearances in the Kirtland Temple, and writing with his own pen 'the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet [Joseph Smith].' No one except the Prophet Joseph was more honored with the ministering of angels than Oliver Cowdery.

"But when the Prophet Joseph fell upon hard times, Oliver was critical of him and became estranged from him. Despite the efforts of the Prophet to reach out the hand of fellowship to him, he became hostile to the Prophet and the Church and was excommunicated 12 April 1838.

"A few years after the death of the Prophet, Oliver repented and expressed interest in coming back to the Church. . . . Oliver appeared before the high priests quorum and said: 'Brethren for a number of years I have been separated from you. I now desire to come back. I wish to come humbly and be one in your midst.--I seek no station. I only wish to be identified with you. . . . I wish to become a member of the church again. I wish to come in at the door. I know the door. . . . I come humbly and throw myself upon the decision of this body.' . . .

"He also bore his testimony in these words: 'Friends and brethren my name is Cowdery, Oliver Cowdery. In the early history of this church I stood identified with [you]. . . . I . . . handled with my hands the gold plates from which [the Book of Mormon] was translated. I also beheld the interpreters. That book is true. Sidney Rigdon did not write it. Mr. Spaulding did not write it. I wrote it myself as it fell from the lips of the prophet.'"

(James E. Faust, " 'Some Great Thing,' " Liahona, Jan. 2002, 54)