See here for background.
Texas.
I wish to bear my testimony to the readers of this paper that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. The gospel was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Spirit of God bears witness to my spirit that it is true. – Arthur Bodine, Southmayde, Texas.
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I wish to bear my testimony to the truth of the gospel. I know that it is true, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. I can bear this testimony to the whole world. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is life and salvation to all who will receive it. I am not ashamed to be called a “Mormon,” for I am one from the heart and would be glad for the whole world to know it. – Mary C. Harris, Kelsey, Texas.
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I am a little boy seven years old. I am not old enough to be baptized, but I have a testimony of the gospel. I am sure it is the true work of the Lord, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. As soon as I am old enough I want to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. – Henry Harris, Kelsey, Texas.
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I want to bear my testimony to the world that I know the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only way whereby man may be saved. I was baptized July 19, 1903, by Elder Geo. F. Jackson, at Hamburg, La. I enjoy the work of the Lord more every day. My testimony grows stronger that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I wish I had a voice like thunder so that I could let everybody know that I am a “Mormon.” – Wm. H. Harris, Gilmer, Texas.
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I can bear my testimony to the world. I am a Latter-day Saint and I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I can bear this testimony to the world wherever I go, at home or abroad. I have it within my heart and I am not ashamed of it, neither am I ashamed to be called a “Mormon.” – John N. Harris, Kelsey, Tex.
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I have a testimony of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was baptized in July, 1903, and I now know this work is the work of the Lord. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the Lord. This is the only Church in which men can be saved. God bless us all, is my prayer. – Emma Harris, Gilmer, Texas.
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I am a little girl 10 years old. I have a testimony of the gospel, that it is the true work of the Lord. I go to Sunday school every Sunday and I love to learn my lessons. I was baptized April 6, 1906. I know the gospel is true and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. – Gladys Harris, Kelsey, Texas
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To all who read this testimony: I would advise you to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the plan of God unto salvation. I know the prophet Joseph Smith was chosen by God to receive visions, revelations and prophecies in these last days. “Mormonism” will grow. Investigate it. It is good. it is true. God bless the truth is my humble prayer. – A.J. Harris, Pritchett, Texas.
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I know this work we are engaged in called “Mormonism” is the work of God. I desire with all my heart to serve God. I have seen some miraculous healings in my family, and I have been healed several times by the servants of God. Success to the spreading of “Mormonism” is my prayer. – S.J. Harris, Pritchett, Texas.
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I know the gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. Anyone will receive this testimony who will obey his teachings. It is my earnest desire to be good, and to serve God by helping to spread the gospel to the honest in heart. May “Mormonism” grow, is my prayer. – Millie Harris, Pritchett, Texas.
Virginia.
With gratitude to my Heavenly Father I present my testimony with a band of witnesses to the gospel as restored in these last days. I know the gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I humbly pray that many may yet come to this knowledge of the truth, and that, despite our weakness, we may be found faithful at the last day. – Vidella C. Tuck, College Park, Lynchburg, Va.
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I am glad to have an opportunity to hear my testimony to the truth of the gospel of Christ. I know it is true, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. May we live up to his teachings. – Nannie F. Tuck, College Park, Lynchburg, Va.
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I am one that can’t say much, but I can testify that I know that the gospel I have embraced is true, and that the Lord made it known to me before I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that the elders were preaching the true gospel of Christ. – Mary J. Brown, Nathalie, Va.
Washington.
I have a knowledge of the truth of the gospel as taught by Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true, as the Spirit bears record. I know God sent His servants with the message to me. I did not believe in the teachings of the orthodox churches, as they did not comply with the teachings of Christ nor have the spirit that I found in the restored gospel of Jesus. – Mrs. Mary J. Burrows, Nighthawk, Wash.
Wyoming.
I do believe in the Latter-day Saints. I know the gospel is true. I feel this blessing stronger every day. I believe in the Book of Mormon. I thought I had heard the gospel preached, but not until I heard Latter-day Saint elders did I hear the truth. I thank God I have had this privilege. – E. Creath, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Canada.
I desire to bear my testimony of the truth of the “Latter-day Gospel,” and thank the Lord for His prophet, Joseph Smith; also for allowing me to live in this dispensation. I investigated this doctrine nearly two years ago, and praise the Lord for sending the elders to my home with the “gospel news.” – Jessie Petit, 445 Furby street, Winnipeg, Canada.
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Our invitation for scattered Saints in the several missions of the United States to bear in writing their testimonies to the gospel and send them in for publication has met with a profuse response. In addition to those already published we have hundreds on file yet to appear. They will fill all the space we can give to them for weeks to come. We are obliged to condense them, but as far as possible will preserve their language and spirit.
Experience has shown that it is necessary to protect the signers of these testimonies from annoyance by correspondents who write with other than a proper motive; and for this reason we shall hereafter withhold the town in which the signer lives, and shall give the state only. The originals of all testimonies will be kept on file in this office, and any person making proper inquiries respecting them will be cheerfully furnished with the information he desires. Testimonies from missionaries or from Saints in the stakes of Zion will not be published. Those from scattered Saints only will be given.
Alabama.
I know of a surety that this latter-day work is God’s work, and I know that Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hands of God of bringing it about. And I know the Book of Mormon to be true. One may ask, How do I know all this to be true? By studying the writings of inspired men, my heart is inspired to know. There is nothing that makes me any happier than to learn about Jesus and His teachings. – Maggie Peacock, Ala.
Georgia.
I am one of the Saints who would like to bear testimony to the restored gospel. I know without a doubt that it is true, and that Joseph Smith was an instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing forth this latter-day work. I bear this testimony in all meekness and in the name of Jesus, Amen. – Emma A. Bragg, Ga.
I know the gospel taught by the Latter-day Saints is the true plan of salvation, that the Book of Mormon is a divine record, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I know that God lives. I know these things through obedience to His commandments. By this I have His Spirit burning deep down in my soul telling me these things are true. Besides I have received many great blessings. I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus, Amen. – Serepta Bragg, Ga.
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I am only a boy, 13 years old, but I have a testimony of the gospel. I know that it is true, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I know this by the Spirit that burns within me. – George Bragg, Ga.
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I believe this is the work of the Lord, that the Book of Mormon is an inspired record, and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. I am in a very bitter part of the world in regard to the Church, but it does not weaken my faith. – John and Delilia Harris, Ga.
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I know without a doubt that the gospel the Latter-day Saints teach is true, and since I have obeyed the same I have been restored to health. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of the living God, and that the Book of Mormon is a divinely inspired record. – Lulu B. Scarborough, Ga.
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I bear testimony of the gospel of Christ. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is an inspired record. I know this gospel is true by the divine Spirit which leads me into all truth. I know this kingdom is set up never to be torn down nor given to another people. – G.C. Scarborough, Ga.
Jessie Pettit is my great-grandmother! My mother is sitting here with me and I showed her too!
Whoa! How exciting! So happy you noticed that!
Winnipeg was the first thing that caught my eye, on the off chance that there might be something from my grandmother’s people.
My grandmother was born in Winnipeg in 1900. Her father had died when she was a little girl. The family moved back to England for several years where they met the elders before migrating back to Manitoba. They eventually moved to SLC. Jessie is buried in Salt Lake and I have visited the grave many times in past years.
(I’m also wondering if the Petit spelling is how it was published. Not that I would suspect you of a transcription error of course!)
It’s on my list to verify or correct, Left Field — just didn’t get that far today.
Found it, in the issue of 2 May 1908 — For once it’s somebody else’s error. They misspelled it.
Thanks for checking. It could have been bad handwriting, too, I guess.
I looked up the street view of that address, and it plausibly could be the same house there now. Also, it just occurred to me that I inherited Jessie’s mitochondrial DNA!