“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” – Hebrew 12:1

In 1907, B.F. Cummings, editor of Liahona, the Elder’s Journal, issued an invitation to the scattered Saints of the Canadian and United States missions:

We hereby invite all Latter-day Saints in the United States and Canada, outside of the stakes of Zion, of all ages and both sexes, to express in written words such a testimony of the gospel as they may possess, and forward the same for publication in Liahona. The Elders’ Journal. Included in this invitation are believers who have not yet been baptized, and investigators and friends wh have not yet reached a definite conclusion as to the truth of the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints.

He expected to have an outpouring of testimonies, so limited the promise to publish such testimonies to those received within a month of the invitation. His anticipations were more than met: There was such a flood of incoming mail that he was compelled to open the invitation indefinitely, and to promise to devote a portion of every issue to publishing the testimonies for as long as it took. At one point, he estimated that 1,500 responses had been received – we’ll eventually see how accurate that estimate was, because we’ll reprint all those testimonies here at Keepa, some of them each Fast Sunday for as many months as it takes.

TESTIMONIES

California.

I know as I live that Joseph Smith, and his legal successors, are prophets of the living God, and that this gospel was restored by an angel. * * I am the only one of my father’s large family and of my relatives who has embraced the everlasting gospel, and I did this twelve years ago. I hope and pray to be faithful and have the way opened before me to perform the holy ordinances for my kindred dead. I have had testimony after testimony that this gospel and the Book of Mormon are true. – Heinrich Victors, San Jose, Cal.

Florida.

I feel it a blessing to have he privilege to bear my testimony, for I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that the Book of Mormon is true. I am alone in my faith here, but I don’t mind being called a “Mormon.” – Mrs. F.L. Mitton, Kingston, Fla.

Georgia.

I verily believe the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints is the true gospel. I also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God; also that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I have no further evidence than my strong faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ. I hope to obtain more evidence. – Wm. Griffis, Millwood, Ga.

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I do believe the Latter-day work is the work of God. I also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. I believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. I also believe the gospel is the true gospel of God. I have strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I hope to learn more. – Olive Griffis, Millwood, Ga.

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I can say boldly and without fear that I know that this doctrine called “Mormonism” is the true gospel of Christ, as taught by Him while He was on the earth; for I have been healed by the power of God through His servants the elders; and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I wish there was room in your paper so that I could tell the world why I am a “Mormon,” and of some of the blessings that I have received from my Heavenly Father since I have been in the Church. Above all I thank Him for the knowledge I have of His gospel. What a blessed thought to know that I belong to the Church of Christ. – Aldora Yarn, Union Point, Ga.

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I know that the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints is the true plan of salvation, and that the Book of Mormon is a divine record. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of the living God. This is my testimony in the name of Christ. Your sister, S.E. Pardue, 806 Liberty St., Augusta, Ga.

Iowa.

Dear brothers and sisters of the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: I am an old lady of nearly 82 years. I joined the Latter-day Saints two years ago last October and I know I joined the true faith of the Lord, and that I am in the true path that leads to everlasting life. I believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God; and my faith grows stronger in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ of Latter-days every day. I never was so happy in my life as I have been since I joined them. Your sister in the truth. – Harriet H. Dooley, 417 W. 4th st., Boone, Iowa.

Illinois.

I can say I asked God to show me His true gospel and He sent it to my house and heart, and I know it is true. He has blessed me and has answered my prayers, and I feel to thank Him and ask Him to help me to do right. I am alone, the only Saint in my family, deprived of Christian privileges; but I will do the best I can, and I know the dear Lord will keep me faithful. – Mrs. Mary M. Miller, 2320 St. Louis Ave, East St. Louis, Ill.

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I have been a Latter-day Saint for two years, come May, and I know we have the true gospel of the living God, for I have the witness of the Holy Ghost. And I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. May God bless us, each and every one, is my prayer. And this is my testimony in the name of Jesus. Amen. – Mary E. Hatfield, Girard, Ill.

Indiana.

In the cause of truth, having this great privilege of bearing testimony to the world, it is with thankful heart that we praise our Heavenly Father for the precious gospel which has been restored in these last days, through our Prophet and Seer, Joseph. – Miss Edna Magaw, Columbus, Indiana.

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It is with joy and gladness I can say “Amen” and “glory to God” for His many blessings to me, a Latter-day Saint. If we are out in the cold world yet we are made glad, for the gospel has been restored in all its fullness, and I can say with Job, I know that after worms shall destroy the body, yet in my flesh I shall see God, face to face with Joseph, our martyred prophet, and with all of God’s chosen. – Pearl Magaw, Columbus, Indiana.

Kansas.

Brothers and sisters: I give my testimony of my faith. I believe in Jesus Christ, and I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I have been blessed and am still being blessed, and I am thankful for being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ. I am stronger in the faith every day. Now I can understand the word of God. – R.G. Stowe, 709 E. Antelope st., Girard, Kansas.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters: – I wish to bear my testimony. I believe in the Church of Christ. I believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I know I have been blessed more in the short time that I have been in the Church than all the rest of my life. After baptism I felt light and happy. I have faith to believe that if I ask our Heavenly Father I shall be answered. I know by experience. – Emma Stowe, 709 E. Antelope st., Girard, Kansas.

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I know that this work is true. I have many testimonies of its truth. After hearing the first elders I heard preach I went home and said that if I should join any church this would be the one. In less than three months I was baptized and since then the Lord has blessed me more than I feel worthy of. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith and all of his successors were men of God. – James E. McGie, Easton, Kansas.

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I say in words of soberness, This is the work of God, and Joseph Smith was a prophet, as were all of his successors. The first testimony I received was after asking the Lord which was right, spiritualism or sectarianism. I did not know then that the “Mormons” had any religion, or that any of them were near. But the elders came and handed me Morgan’s tract No. 2. The last of it rested upon me, and I felt that if I rejected it I should be condemned. – Rosa M. McGie, Easton, Kansas.

Kentucky.

To Liahona, the Elders’ Journal: – By request I send you my written testimony. I know that the gospel preached by the Latter-day Saints is true, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. I have seen Joseph Smith in a dream, and I saw that he was a prophet of God. – S.K. Louden, Sulphur, Ky.

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I believe the gospel as taught by the Latter-day Saints is true, but I have never been baptized. – Ruth A. Louden, Sulphur, Ky.

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The elders came preaching the gospel. I was a Baptist, and persecution was hard until I and three other men agreed to buy some of the books. I told them that if I could honestly condemn the “Mormons” I would. I bought the Voice of Warning, went home and began to read it. The fear of the Lord came upon me and I trembled. I saw it was written in the Bible that darkness had covered the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. I laid the book down and said to my wife: “The Mormon church is the only true church upon the earth.” We were baptized and confirmed and now I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the earth, and that its gospel is true and preached in purity, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet sent of God, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. – George Jett, Jackson, Ky.

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I can bear my testimony to the world that I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ taught by the Later-day Saints is true, and I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that he was one of God’s noblemen; and that the Book of Mormon is divinely true. – Belle Bowen, Lewisport, Ky.