The Smith family was driven from New
York, and a small church had been organized. Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and
Ziba Peterson were members. Well, I being anxious, though young, to learn about
the plates from those who knew all about it, my mother and I went up to the
Smith family the next night after they came to Kirtland. As I went in, there
were two or three others present. They were all there, from the old gentleman
and his wife to all the sons and daughters. As we stood there talking to them,
Joseph and Martin Harris came in. Joseph looked around very solemnly. It was
the first time some of them had ever seen him.
Said he, “There are enough here to
hold a little meeting.” They got a board and put it across two chairs to make
seats. Martin Harris sat on a little box at Joseph’s feet. They sang and
prayed. Joseph got up and began to speak to us. As he began to speak very
solemnly and very earnestly, all at once his countenance changed and he stood
mute. Those who looked at him that day said there was a search light within
him, over every part of his body. I never saw anything like it on the earth. I
could not take my eyes off him; he got so white that anyone who saw him would
have thought he was transparent. I remember I thought I could almost see the
cheek bones through the flesh. I have been through many changes since but that
is photographed on my brain. I shall remember it and see in my mind’s eye as
long as I remain upon the earth. (AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARY E. LIGHTNER)
