Why the Three Witnesses left the Church, why two came back, and how, despite never coming back, David Whitmer stood by his testimony even at his gravesite

 (ldsliving.com)

In a talk given in the May 1999 general conference, President Dallin H. Oaks said of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon: 

The testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon stands forth in great strength. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate. As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. All three went their separate ways, with no common interest to support a collusive effort. Yet to the end of their lives—periods ranging from 12 to 50 years after their excommunications—not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness.

https://www.ldsliving.com/Why-the-Three-Witnesses-left-the-Church-why-two-came-back-and-how-despite-never-coming-back-David-Whitmer-stood-by-his-testimony-even-at-his-gravesite/s/94408?utm_source=ldsliving&utm_medium=email