David Whitmer (1805

Mormon History 1830-1844

David Whitmer (1805–1888)

One of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, baptized nearly a year before the organization of the church, one of the first ordained to the office of elder and to the High Priesthood. Ordained president of the church in Zion and Joseph's successor if the Prophet should fall §. Becomes disaffected in 1836 over the law of consecration and stewardship and Joseph's increasingly authoritarian administration. Preferred by Kirtland dissidents to lead the church, bolstered by reports of a revelation that Joseph would fall §. Withdraws from involvement in the church 1837, excommunicated in 1838. Established his own Church of Christ in 1847, then again in 1876 §.
Born	January 7, 1805 near Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania	D. Whitmer, "Mormonism," Kansas City Daily Journal, June 5, 1881. Source
Died	January 25, 1888 in Richmond, Ray County, Missouri
Father	Peter Whitmer (1773–1854)
Mother	Mary Musselman (1778–1856)
New York	1809 family moves to New York "settling at a point midway between the northern extremities of Lake Cayuga and Seneca, two miles from Waterloo, seven miles from Geneva, and twenty-seven miles from Palmyra, where I lived until the year 1831."	D. Whitmer, "Mormonism," Kansas City Daily Journal, June 5, 1881. Source
Gold plates	[1828] I made a business trip to Palmyra, New York, and while there stopped with one Oliver Cowdery. A great many people in the neighborhood were talking about the finding of certain golden plates … Cowdery and I, as well as others, talked about the matter, but at that time I paid but little attention to it, supposing it to be only the idle gossip of the neighborhood. Cowdery said he was acquainted with the Smith family, and … he intended to investigate the matter.	Ibid.
Joseph's partners	I had conversation with several young men who said that Joseph Smith had certainly golden plates, and that before he had attained them he had promised to share with them, but had not done so and they were very much incensed with them. Said I, 'how do you know that Joe Smith has the plates?' They replied, 'we saw the plates [place] in the hill that he took them out of just as he described it to us before he obtained them.' …
	[After Oliver writes] I went down to Harmony and found everything just as they had written me. The next day after I got there they packed up the plates and we proceeded on our journey to my father's house …
Baptized	June [1–14], 1829 baptized by Joseph Smith in Seneca lake	Joseph's 1839 history in Papers 1:294
One of the three witnesses	June [1–14], 1829 one of the three witnesses of Book of Mormon.
Called to search out the Twelve	June [1–14], 1829 called with Oliver Cowdery to select the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles.	¶ D&C 18:37
Marries	I was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1805, but when only four years of age my parents removed to the state of New York, In the year 1830 I was married to Miss Julia A. Jolly who is still living. The fruit of our union was a son, David J. Whitmer.
Elder	By June 9, 1830 ordained an elder.	Minutes of June 9, 1830
Fund-raising mission	October 11, 1831 called on a fund-raising mission with Reynolds Cahoon to raise funds so Joseph and Sidney can finish revising the Bible.
High Priesthood	October 25, 1831 ordained to the High Priesthood by Oliver Cowdery.	¶ Minutes of October 25–26, 1831
Leaves on mission	November 1831 leaves on fund-raising mission with Reynolds Cahoon.
Jackson County	October 5, 1832 attends council of high priests in Zion.	Minutes of October 5, 1832
President of high council	July 3, 1834 high priests in Clay County select David as president of the first high council.	Minutes of July 3, 1834
President of the church in Missouri, Joseph's successor	July 7, 1834 ordained president of the church in Missouri and to succeed the Prophet if he falls. Joseph refers this ordination at a March 15, 1838 meeting when he:	Minutes of July 7, 1834
President of the church in Missouri, Joseph's successor	gave a history of the ordination of David Whitmer, which took place in July 1834, to be a leader, or a prophet to this Church, which (ordination) was on the conditions that he J. Smith jr did not live to God himself.	¶ Minutes of March 15, 1838
To Kirtland	August 1834 after little more than two months as president of the church in Missouri, David moves to Kirtland. As far as is known, he does not return to Missouri for two years and three months.	Minutes of August 7, 1834
Select, ordain the Twelve	February 14 and 15, 1835 names and participates in the ordination blessings of the Twelve with Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris.	Minutes of February 14, 1835 Minutes of February 15, 1835
General Assembly	August 17, 1835 Uncle John Smith substitutes for David as president of the high council from Zion at the General Assembly in Kirtland.	Where is David? MIA, protesting? Minutes of August 17, 1835
Agent for Literary Firm	September 16, 1835 agent for the Literary Firm in Kirtland. The other agent called is Samuel H. Smith.	Minutes of September 16, 1835
Captain of the Lord's Host	September 24, 1835 designated "Capt of the Lords host" that is planned to restore Mormons to Jackson County in 1836.	J. Whitmer, 173; Diary-2 in Papers 2:4243.
Dedication of the House of the Lord	March 27, 1836 occupies the third pulpit in the west end with John Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery for the dedication of the Kirtland House of the Lord.	American prophet, 143.
Feet washing	March 29, 1836 feet washed by Hyrum Smith during the all-night temple session. David washes W. W. Phelps' feet. Phelps washes John Whitmer's feet.	American prophet, 153.
Kirtland Safety Society	January 6, 1837 present when Joseph announces that he had heard the "audible voice" of the Lord that all would be well with the Kirtland Safety Society "if we would give heed to the Commandments."	WWJ 1:120.
Far West construction committee	April 7, 1837 high council of the stake in Zion appoints David (absent), John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps committee to superintend construction of temple in Far West "and receive Revelations Visons &c. concerning said house."	Minutes of April 7, 1837
Kirtland dissent	May 29, 1837 Kirtland high council meets to try David, Frederick G. Williams, Parley P. Pratt (h), Lyman E. Johnson (h), Warren Parrish for conduct "unworthy of their high calling," but ultimately decides it lacks authority.	Minutes of May 29, 1837 WWJ 1:148; Lucy,190.
Missouri	By July 29, 1837 is in Far West.	FWR,115–116.
President of the church in Missouri	November 7, 1837 retained as president of the church in Missouri after objections by Thomas B. Marsh (h), Caleb Baldwin, Seymour Brunson.	Minutes of Nov. 7, 1837
Dissent over temporal/spiritual	January 30, 1838 meets with Frederick G. Williams, John Whitmer, and Jacob Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, and Lyman E. Johnson in Far West to discuss the effort of church leaders "to unite ecclesiastical and civil authority and force men to use their earthly substance contrary to their own interest and privilege, and also how said authorities are endeavoring to make it a rule of faith for said church to uphold a certain or men right or wrong."	Oliver to Lyman and Warren Cowdery, Jan. 30, 1838 in Oliver's letterbook cited in Faithful dissenter, 35.
Rejected as president in Missouri	February 5, 1838 rejected as President of the Church in Missouri by vote of the membership.	Minutes of February 5, 1838
Excommunicated	April 13, 1838 excommunicated.	¶ Minutes of April 13, 1838
Salt Sermon	June 17, 1838 Sidney Rigdon delivers "the salt sermon," declaring it is the duty of people "to trample [dissenters] into the earth" or hang them. Joseph reportedly says, "Though I don't want the brethren to act unlawfully; but I will tell them one thing, Judas was a traitor, and instead of hanging himself was hung by Peter."	All known salt sermon texts and an excellent analysis are in Salt sermon; Reed Peck Manuscript 7; Sidney Rigdon 218–219.
Warned out	June 19, 1838 A document signed by Hyrum and eighty-three others warns David, Oliver, W. W. Phelps, and Lyman E. Johnson to leave Far West immediately "or a more fatal calamity shall befall you."	Document, 103–106, in Sidney Rigdon, 218–219.
Flee	Lyman and the other dissidents leave Far West immediately, fueling fears among non-Mormon residents that Mormons were ready to shed blood. David moves to Richmond.
Base iniquities	[Joseph:] I would mention or notice something about O. Cowdery David Whitmer Lyman E. Johnson and John{son} Whitmer who being guilty of bace iniquities and that to manifest in {all} the ages of all men, and being often entreated would continue in their course seeking the lives of the First Presidency and to overthrow the Kingdom of God which they once testified off.	JS journal 1838 in Papers, 249, in the hand of George W. Robinson after July 4.
Richmond	Operates a livery stable in Richmond, Missouri for many years.
Church of Christ	September 1847 William E. McLellin baptizes David and John Whitmer, Hiram Page, and Jacob Whitmer into "the Church of Christ," then the others "reordained" David with "all the gifts and callings to which he had been appointed through Joseph Smith." David is not enthused about the new church and nothing comes of it.	Faithful dissenter, 38.
Richmond mayor briefly	Elected to fill the unexpired term of Richmond's mayor (1867–1868).
Church of Christ	1876 organized another Church of Christ by virtue of his 1834 ordination. His 1887 pamphlet, An Address to All Believers in Christ was written to promote the church. George W. Robinson, the Prophet's former scribe, edited the organization's periodical, The Return in the 1890s.	Faithful dissenter, 38–39.

	David meets Joseph
Oliver introduces David to Joseph	David received letters from his friend, Oliver Cowdery, who was serving as the Prophet's scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon. Oliver asked David to bring a team and wagon to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and take them to Father Whitmer's home in Fayette, New York, where they would finish the translation.
Field plowed mysteriously.	He decided to make the trip after the spring planting. But one morning discovered that someone had plowed five acres for him. "It was a testimony to me," he recalled, "that I did not have any business to put off going after Joseph."	Orson Pratt/Joseph F. Smith 1878 interview in David Whitmer interviews, 51; also 41.
Joseph knew David's actions	As he approached the house where Joseph was staying, Oliver came out and told him "that Joseph had informed him when I started from home, where I had stopped the first night, how I read the sign at the tavern, where I stopped the next night, etc., and that I would be there that day before dinner … all of which was exactly as Joseph had told Oliver, at which I was greatly astonished."	Orson Pratt/Joseph F. Smith 1878 interview in David Whitmer interviews, 41.
One of the Nephites	En route to Fayette, about the first of June 1829, an elderly gentleman, heavy set with an army knapsack strapped to his shoulders approached the wagon. David offered the man a ride, but the stranger declined, saying, "I am going across to the hill Comorah." They started off again but soon looked back to find the man had disappeared. David asked Joseph to inquire of the Lord. The Prophet did so and replied that the man was "one of the Nephites," was carrying "the plates" in the knapsack."	Edward Stevenson 1877 and 1886 interviews in David Whitmer interviews, 13, 182; also Orson Pratt/Joseph F. Smith 1878 interview in the same volume, 50.
	On arriving at the Whitmer home, the travelers:
	were impressed that the Same Person was under the bed & again they were informed that it was So.
Book of Mormon plates	They Saw whare he had been & the next Morning Davids Mother Saw the Person at the Shed and he took the Plates from A Box & Showed them to her. She Said that they Were fastened with Rings thus D. He turned the leaves over. This was a Sattisfaction to her.
	Book of Mormon translation (1881)
	I, as well as all of my father's family, Smith's wife, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, were present during the translation. The translation was by Smith and the manner was as follows:	D. Whitmer, "Mormonism," Kansas City Daily Journal, June 5, 1881. Source
Seer stone Mechanical translation June–July 1829	"He had two small stones of a chocolate color, nearly egg-shape and perfectly smooth, but not transparent, called interpreters, which were given him with the plates. He did not use the plates in the translation, but would hold the interpreters to his eyes and cover his face with a hat, excluding all light, and before his eyes would appear what seemed to be parchment, on which would appear the characters of the plates in a line at the top and immediately below would appear the translation, in English, which Smith would read to his scribe, who wrote it down exactly as it fell from his lips. The scribe would then read the sentence written, and if any mistake had been made the characters would remain visible to Smith until corrected, when they faded from sight to be replaced by another line. The translation at my father's occupied about one month, that is from June 1 to July 1, 1829."
	Book of Mormon translation (1885)
Joseph's seer stone translation	Joseph initially translated the Book of Mormon with the "Interpreters," but they were taken from him "as a punishment" when Martin lost the 116 pages of manuscript. Then he translated:	Zenas H. Gurley 1885 interview in David Whitmer Interviews, 157–158.
	by the use of a 'Seer stone' which he had, and which he placed in a hat into which he buried his face, stating to me and others that the original character [158] appeared upon parchment and under it the translation in english, which enabled him to read it readily.
	Three Witnesses (1831)
March 19, 1831 account Joseph and David find plates on ground	The first published account of David's description of the Book of Mormon plates appeared in the Palmyra Reflector, March 19, 1831. According to this version, David and Joseph found the plates lying on the ground. They were secured by three small rings and had been cut in half, then half sealed, the other half opening like a book. No mention of an angel, a vision, or Oliver Cowdery.	Gold Bible, No. 6 Early documents 2:248–250.
	Three Witnesses (1878)
September 7, 1878 account	Interview with Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith on September 7, 1878. Lyndon Cook compared Joseph F. Smith's journal with Joseph Fielding Smith's Life of Joseph F. Smith, and found no discrepancies in this section other than minor spelling and punctuation corrections. He therefore followed the son's rendition for the David Whitmer Interviews. It appears that Joseph F.'s journal was used to prepare the Millennial Star report published just ten days after the interview.

		Life of Joseph F. Smith, 242–243	Millennial Star 50 (September 17, 1878)	Also see D. Whitmer, "Mormonism," Kansas City Daily Journal, June 5, 1881. Source
Late June 1829	¶	David Whitmer: "It was in June 1829, the very last part of the month, and the eight witnesses, I think, the next day. Joseph showed them the plates himself.
Three Witnesses see Book of Mormon plates, brass plates, others		We (the Three Witnesses) not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but the Brass Plates, the plates containing the record of the wickedness of the people of the world, and many other plates.
An angel shows plates to Joseph, Oliver, and David Martin sees plates same day			The angel showed us (the Three Witnesses) the plates, as I suppose to fulfill the words of the book itself. Martin Harris was not with us at this time; he obtained a view of them afterwards (the same day).
Many records			Joseph, Oliver and myself were together when I saw them. We not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the Book of Ether, the plates containing the records of the wickedness and secret combinations of the people of the world down to the time of their being engraved, and many other plates.
As though sitting on log Vision		The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting just here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. It was not the light of the sun nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell, but in the midst of this light,	The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting just here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. It was not the light of the sun nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell you how far, but in the midst of this light
2–3 feet from angel		about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer who was sitting 2 or 3 feet from him)
Table: many records, Laban's sword, Liahona, Urim and T.		there appeared, as it were, a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the sword of Laban, the Directors (i.e. the ball which Lehi had) and the Interpreters.	there appeared, as it were, a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the sword of Laban, the directors—i.e., the ball which Lehi had, and the interpreters.
		I saw them just as plain as I see this bed (striking the bed beside him with his hand),	I saw them just as plain as I see this bed (striking the bed beside him with his hand),
Hears voice of the Lord		and I heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that they (the plates) were translated by the gift and power of God.	and I heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and power of God.
	¶	Orson Pratt: "Did you see the Angel at this time?"	[Questioned whether he saw the angel at this time:]
	¶	David Whitmer: "Yes, he stood before us.	Yes, he stood before us.
		I don't think he saw all that we did, but our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is strictly and absolutely true just as it is there written.

	Three Witnesses (1885)
Three Witness event	Asked about the nature of the vision in which the Three Witnesses saw the Book of Mormon plates lying on a table and an angel turning the leaves—for example, "Was the table literal wood; or was the whole a vision such as often occurs in dreams? —David replied, "The table had the appearance of literal wood as shown in the vision, in the glory of God."	Zenas H. Gurley 1885 interview in David Whitmer Interviews, 152.
	Kirtland dissidents
Lucy's version Seer stone A third turn against Joseph	According to Lucy Mack Smith, David asked a young woman (Adaline M. Bernard, adopted daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth Cowdery) who lived with David and Julia, to look into a seer stone she had found, to learn what Joseph meant when he said that a third of the church would turn against him.	Lucy, 601–603.
Young woman predicts Joseph's fall, David's succession	… her answer was that he would fall from his office because of transgression and either he (David Whitmore) or Martin Harris would be appointed in his place and the one who did not seceed Joseph in his office would be a councillor to him who did. Those persons who were disaffected towards Joseph commenced collecting together around this girl as soon as this news came to their ears untill Dr Williams who was also one of the dissenters <and> He wrote the revelations that were given to the girl.	Lucy, 602.
"Pure church"	After a prayer meeting, in which the dissenters did not participate, they announced they would hold meetings of "the pure church" every Thursday and circulated a roster to see how many would attend.	Lucy, 603.
Many attend	It was ascertained that a great proportion of those whom we considered good members were decidedly in favor of the new party.
Went to Missouri and contaminated others	In this spirit they went to Missouri, and contaminated the minds of many of the brethren against Joseph, in order to destroy his influence.
	Danites
	[1838] Elders Jos. Smith and Sidney Rigdon came out from Ohio and were dissatisfied with the church, and gave new laws, revelations, etc. The leaders of the Far West church refused to conform to the new laws of Smith and Rigdon, and they issued a decree organizing what was termed the 'Danites, or Destroying Angels,' who were bound by the most fearful oaths to obey the commandments of the leaders of the church. The Danites consisted only of those selected by Smith and Rigdon. They threatened myself, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Lyman Johnson with the vengeance of the Danites unless we took the same oath, but we refused, and fled for our lives to Clay County, and since that time I have had nothing to do with the so-called 'Latter-Day Saints' church, but I still hold to the truth of the original Church of Christ, as organized in New York. During the fall of 1838 the church of Far West became very violent towards the citizens of Caldwell County, which terminated in an uprising similar to that in Jackson County, and they were driven from the state.	D. Whitmer, "Mormonism," Kansas City Daily Journal, June 5, 1881. Source

	Family
Wife	Julia Ann Jolley (1815–1885) md. Jan. 9, 1831 in Seneca County, New York
Chlidren	David J. (1833–1895) Julia Ann (1835–1914)
	Biographies