[Katharin Smith Salisbury] ... I am the only surviving sister of the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and will soon be 73 years old. I can testify to the fact of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and also to its truth...
I well remember the trials my brother had, before he obtained the records. After he had the vision, he went frequently to the hill, and upon returning would tell us, "I have seen the records, also the brass plates and the sword of Laban with the breast plate and interpreters." He would ask father why he could not get them? The time had not yet come, but when it did arrive he was commanded to go on the 22d day of September 1827 at 2 o'clock. We had supposed that when he should bring them home, the whole family would be allowed to see them, but he said it was forbidden of the Lord. They could be seen only by those who were chosen to bear their testimony to the world. We had therefore to be content until they were translated and we could have the book to read. ...
After the records were translated and the book printed, we often met together and held prayer meetings. Some of our neighbors would come to these meetings and ask us mockingly, if we expected with our little band to convert the world and make them to believe the golden bible? ... I was one of the number who met in the first conference held in these last days, when the church was first organized. We only numbered thirty, but we were a happy little band. It was a great day of rejoicing for us, and a number were added to the fold by baptism. ...
[Source: Katharine Smith Salisbury, Letter to "Dear Sisters," 10 March 1886, Saints' Herald 33 (1 May 1886): 260., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Katharine Smith Salisbury To Dear Sisters]
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