This site was developed and is maintained by individuals who wish to help the world come to the conclusion that the book of mormon is the word of god. Other men clicked their guns to reinforce the order but david boldly testified of the book of. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom this work shall come, that wethrough the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christhave seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of jared, who came from the tower of which. David whitmer died at his home in richmond, on the 25th of january, 1888, in the eightyfourth year of his life. By a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of mormon. But is the testimony of these eleven men a solid foundation for faith in the authenticity of the book of mormon. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. In 1833 when missouri vigilantes were harassing the mormons, a mob of about five hundred men put davids testimony to the test. Though he never returned to the church in his lifetime, he never denied the authenticity of the book of mormon, and even publicly defended it near the end of his life in the richmond. David whitmer 18051888 david became the most interviewed of the three witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. By the 1820s, the whitmer family had moved to a farm in fayette, in new yorks finger lakes area. The most significant witnesses are the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, all of whom allowed their names to be used on two separate statements included with the book of mormon. In 1809 the family moved to fayette, new york, where they worked a large farm.
This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmers statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. This knowledge can only be gained through a witness of the holy ghost. You can read the entire knowhy and not find a single mention of a critical aspect of david whitmers testimony, one he repeated often. Together with her husband she was baptized by oliver cowdery in seneca lake, april 18, 1830.
The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by eight witnesses, has been printed with nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. For one thing, he was the most interviewed of the three witnesses and often seemed to go out of his way to fulfill his duty to testify of the book of mormon. The canada revelation to sell the to the book of mormon, published by the church as part of the joseph smith papers, once called an anti mormon lie created by david whitmer in his address to all believers, also now confirmed true. David whitmer took advantage of his high office in the church for his own personal gain. Once he left the church he continued to use his testimony of the bom as a means of gaining authority in subsequent mormonbased movements including his own. Why is david whitmers witness of the book of mormon so. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. One of these visitors was a witness to the book and had seen an angel which declared its truth his name was david whitmer. David whitmer, along with other men, was forced into the ironically named independence square with a bayonet at his back, where he had his clothing removed and he was tarred and feathered. Book of mormon central why is david whitmers witness of.
Interview with david whitmer by orson pratt and joseph f. The book the trial of the book of mormon and this web site are not the work of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. David whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Oliver cowdery 18061850, scribe to joseph smith and witness of the book of mormon 1829, second elder of the church 1830, and assistant president of the church 1834, editor, and lawyer.
According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible. David whitmer an address to all believers in christ. Whitmer called his family and a number of his friends to his bedside, and to them delivered his. Joseph smith drifting into errors after translating the book of mormon, is a stumblingblock to many, but only those of very weak faith would stumble on this account. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon. John whitmer was born on august 27, 1802, in york, pennsylvania to peter whitmer, sr.
David served in a number of important leadership capacities in the early days of the church, 9 and his unwavering testimony of the book of mormon often inspired those around him. For a number of reasons, david whitmers lifelong testimony is uniquely valuable. Dec 10, 2011 david whitmer took advantage of his high office in the church for his own personal gain. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to. John whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Those who gain this divine witness from the holy spirit will also come to know by the same power that jesus christ is the savior of the world, that joseph smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is the lords kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the messiah. Believing that all the brethren who are rid of prejudice, and desire the truth only as christ has given it to us in the two sacred books, will write for my pamphlet, which will be sent to.
To say that the book of mormon is a revelation from god, i have no hesitance. Though he never returned to the church in his lifetime, he never denied the authenticity of the book of mormon, and even publicly defended it near the end of his life in the richmond, missouri, conservator on march 25, 1881. Mclellin, a school teacher in paris, illinois, heard of the discovery and translation of the book of mormon from david whitmer. David whitmer said that god told him to leave the latter day saints summary. Even under duress whitmer refused to deny his testimony. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Oliver served as scribe to joseph smith during the translation of the book of mormon, was the first person to be baptized into the church, was. Cowdery was with joseph smith when the aaronic and melchizedek priesthoods and keys were restored. I believe with all of my heart and mind that it is a sacred record, one authored by prophets through the ages, meant to establish and tie together eternal principles and precepts, rounding out basic. David whitmer david whitmer always maintained a strong testimony about the truthfulness of the book of mormon and the encounter he experienced with the angel who showed him the plates. Jan 02, 2018 book of mormon central america is trying to control the present and yet david witmers testimony contradicts the entire premise of book of mormon centrals overriding corporate mandate to increase understanding of the book of mormon as an ancient mesoamerican codex.
John whitmer 18021878 was an early leader of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Mary musselman whitmer, the only woman who saw the plates of the book of mormon, was born aug. By a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of mormon, richmond, missouri 1887 x x96 x edward stevenson 2 january 1887 juvenile instructor. The reaffirmations david whitmer made of his testimony to the divine authenticity of the book of mormon are too many to give. The canada revelation to sell the to the book of mormon, published by the church as part of the joseph smith papers, once called an antimormon lie created by david whitmer in his address to all believers, also now confirmed true. David whitmers final testimony of the book of mormon. His final testimony was given under the following circumstances. Once he left the church he continued to use his testimony of the bom as a means of gaining authority in subsequent mormon based movements including his own. John whitmer was clerk of the church of christ, built upon the book of mormon and bible alone. The story of the church the book of mormon witnesses. For instance, in 1833 nearly 500 men marched whitmer and other church leaders into a town square, stripped them, and tarred and feathered them. David whitmerwitness to the book of mormon fairmormon. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to the hitherto.
David whitmer s final testimony of the book of mormon. Flooding the earth with the book of mormon said, we commend the members of the church who have participated in the familytofamily book of mormon program, placing their pictures and testimonies inside copies of the book. He learned about the book of mormon from oliver cowdery, who was scribe for joseph smith during the translation. David whitmer, the young man to whom the angel addressed himself in 1829 in the fayette woods lived on for many years, the last remaining witness to the book of mormon. David whitmer and cumorah moronis america the north. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. David whitmer was not aware of this commandment, or had forgotten it, and without doubt, believed that the printers copy was the original. Smith, millennial star 40, 9 dec 1878, 7717 in an interview, david referrred to the hill where the plates were retrieved from as the hill cumorah. In missouri in 1833 a mob of about five hundred men too david to a public square where he was stripped, tarred, and feathered. My testimony of the book of mormon i bear witness to my family, my loved ones, my posterity, and the world that the book of mormon is true and is indeed the word of god and that joseph smith was the person god chose to restore the true gospel to the earth, in this last of dispensations, in preparation for the second coming of the savior. My personal explanation of the book of mormon is one of testimony.
We have nearly 90,000 missionaries worldwide and we too can contribute. A common muslim testimony i bear you my testimony that i know the book of mormon is true, i know that joseph smith is a true prophet of god and i know that the church is the only true church i bear witness that there is no god but allah, and i bear witness that mohammed is the servant and messenger of allah. Marsh, history of thomas baldwin marsh, millenial star, 26 1864. Even many years after he believed that joseph smith had become a fallen prophet, david whitmer never denied his testimony of the book of mormon. As a friend of oliver cowdery, david was an eyewitness to many of the earliest key events in the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. During one mob attack, david whitmer was threatened with death if he would not admit that the book of mormon was a fraud. Part first of this pamphlet is a brief address to those who have not read the book of mormon, and who are not conversant with the denominations that believe in that book.
David whitmer was excommunicated from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1838 for turning against church members and joining in persecuting them. In 1829, joseph baptized david whitmer as a member of the church, and just a short time later, david whitmer was a witness of the gold plates from which the book of mormon had been translated. Smith, millennial star 40, 9 dec 1878, 7717 in an interview, david referrred to the hill where. David whitmer january 7, 1805 january 25, 1888 was an early adherent of the latter day saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the three witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmer s statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. If you desire to know whether or not the book of mormon is true, read the book and investigate it even many years after he believed that joseph smith had become a fallen prophet, david whitmer never denied his testimony of the book of mormon. John dehlin january, 2007 mormon, mormon stories please click here to support mormon stories by digging this podcast, or click on the post link above to find the sustain this. There is no disagreement between my testimony and the testimony of these brethren. He was also the first official church historian and a member of the presidency of the church in missouri. John whitmer s brother, david, and his entire family became members of the mormon church. May 30, 2008 oliver served as scribe to joseph smith during the translation of the book of mormon, was the first person to be baptized into the church, was witness to the truthfulness of the book of mormon. While whitmer believed the book of mormon to be true, he did not believe that the true church was to be led by one man.
He was one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon. David whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Questions about the witnesses to the reality of the. David was ordained as an elder on april 6, 1830, and was one of the original six members of the church. The original manuscript of the book of mormon book of. David whitmer grave mormon historic sites foundation. David whitmers dying testimony lds scripture teachings. David whitmer was one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. For some people, the fact that eleven men would sign their names to a written statement and never denounce the book of mormon is sufficient evidence for believing the book of mormon is of divine origin. The original was never in the hands of the printer. He was ordered to denounce the book of mormon or face death. After joseph smiths death he formed the church of christ. Jan 09, 2014 david whitmer, along with other men, was forced into the ironically named independence square with a bayonet at his back, where he had his clothing removed and he was tarred and feathered.
A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true. There david whitmer and his family experienced extreme persecution because of their membership in the church. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. They were led out of their errors, and are upon the record to this effect, rejecting the book of doctrine and covenants. A letter from david whitmer, one of the 3 witnesses who actually held the original plates of the book of mormon. Rfm post by lds critic on fairs defense of whitmer. After david and his family were driven by mobs from jackson county, they settled in clay county, missouri, along with other latterday saint that had fled. I have concluded not to request the saints herald to publish my epistle, as i will not enter into a newspaper controversy. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. On the evening of sunday, january 22, at half past five oclock, mr. David whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer farm.
Witnesses to the book of mormon david whitmer general. He resided in the same town, richmond, missouri, for about half a century, one of the most remarkable men ever connected with the history of ray county. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. Mclellin recorded in his journal that after whitlock preached about the book of mormon and explained why he believed it was a divine revelation, david whitmer then arose and bore testimony to having seen an holy angel who had made known the truth of the book of mormon to him. David whitmers name will forever be associated with the book of mormon as one of the three witnesses to the truthfulness of that volume. A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true to their testimonies of the book of mormon. David whitmer 18051888 david became the most interviewed of the three witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates david whitmer died at his home in richmond, on the 25th of january, 1888, in the eightyfourth year of his life. Whitmer invited us to his house where, in the presence of david whitmer, esq. Mary whitmer book of mormon witness lds scripture teachings. Whitmer, son of david the witness george schweich, grandson of david colonel childs and others david whitmer brought out the mss. And yet david witmers testimony contradicts the entire premise of book of mormon centrals overriding corporate mandate to increase understanding of the book of mormon as an ancient mesoamerican codex. Personally, i think david whitmer is a complex man as complex as any.
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