My Testimony of Joseph Smith
Ezra T. Clark
Farmington, Utah - 24th of July 1901

To my Wives and Children:

Feeling that I shall not enjoy the privilege of addressing you in a united capacity many more times during my earthly sojourn, I am impelled by a husband's and father's love to offer you my final parting instructions. I bear you this my testimony:

Before I left Nauvoo, I hear the Prophet Joseph say he would give the Saints a key whereby they would never be led away or deceived, and that was: The Lord would never suffer the majority of these people to be led away or deceived by imposters, nor would he allow the records of the Church to fall into the hands of the enemy. I heard Joseph say this, and I also heard him say that he would roll the burden of the Apostleship upon the Quorum of the Twelve. I heard Joseph preach many times; heard him, in the last sermon he ever delivered, bear testimony to the truth of the work that God had called him to; also, that the Lord had never suffered him to be slain by his enemies, because his work had bot been done, until a short time ago. He had now laid the foundation of this work, and rolled the burden of the priesthood upon the Twelve; and, having given them their washings and anointings, they would now bear off this work triumphantly, and it would roll on faster than ever before;  and, if the Lord was willing to accept of him, he was willing to go.

This he spoke to the people. I was one who heard his voice, and know that he spoke like an angel from heaven. I never heard him speak with more power than then, and I heard him many times. I was satisfied, I know him to be a prophet of God. I heard him prophecy many times and had seen his prophecies fulfilled; and had also shaken hands with him, and he had blessed me, and I had felt the influence and power of the Lord upon him and upon me, and I have never forgotten that blessing from that day to this, and I never shall. Two days later, the Prophet was martyred, and two or three weeks later, when the saints held a conference, and Brigham Youg arose as leader of the church, I want to bear record that he spoke as Joseph used to speak; to all appearances, the same voice, the same gestures, the same stature. I bear this record to all the world, to my children, and to my children's children and also bear record that this work is God's work and that it will roll on as it has fone from that day to this.

I have never turned my face away, and have always had delight in keeping the counsel of His servants in every particular. I have had many privations and many trying scenes traveling on the plains and on the desert, and I know that those men who have stood at the head of His Chruch are men of God, and also the men who now stand at the head, and they will bear off this work triumphantly, and I say to my children and to my grandchildren if they will do right and keep the commandments of God, no good thing shall be withheld from them, and they shall have a testimony that God set up this work, and it will roll forth, and those who help it will stand and those who fight against it will fall and crumble to the wicked.

I bear testimony, and leave it for the benefit of my children and my children's children, for I realize I have but a short time to live upon this earth. I have passed my seventy-seventh year, and it has been a pleasure to me to be associated during that time with the Prophet and apostles and those whom I know were men holding the holy Melchezidek Priesthood. I bear this testimony and wish it written that my children and my children's children many know that I have finished my work, and bear this testimony before them, and all the world, in the name of the Lord, Jesus, even so. Amen.

Ezra T. Clark

(Ezra T. Clark passed away 17th Oct. 1901)