WHITMER, David, Mormon elder, born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 7 January, 1805; died in Richmond, Missouri, 25 January, 1888. He moved to Ontario county, New York, when a youth, and in 1829 was engaged in farming near Palmyra, New York, when Oliver Cowdery, the village school-master, told him that he intended to visit Joseph Smith and examine the alleged discovery of golden plates that bore upon their face curious inscriptions that no one could read.

In June, 1829, Cowdery and Smith called upon Whitmer, and, by instruction from an angel of the Lord, as claimed by Smith, requested Whitmer to go into the woods near by. On reaching a secluded spot they all engaged in prayer, when suddenly a very brilliant light filled the space around them. A moment later an angel appeared, and also a table on which were several golden plates that they were told to examine. They were commanded to bear witness of their experience to the world. This they have done by prefixing a statement to each copy of the "Book of Mormon," where it is stated that they, "through the grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is the record of the people of Nephi."

In June, 1838, Mr. Whitmer withdrew from the Mormon Church, taking with him the original manuscript of the "Book of Mormon," and settled in Richmond, Missouri, where he resided until his death, a useful and respected member of the community. In 1887 he issued "An Address to all Believers in Christ," in which, among his reasons for withdrawing from the Mormon church, were the ordaining of high-priests in 1831, the compiling of a book of doctrines and covenants in 1835, the publication of many revelations that were made, the organization of a band of Danites in 1838 at Far West, and the revelations that favored polygamy.

He claimed to "believe in the doctrine of Christ as it is taught in the New Testament and the 'Book of Mormon,' the same gospel being taught in both these books." In the "Book of Mormon" is a positive command that "not any man among you have save it be one wife and concubines shall he have none; for I the Lord delight in the chastity of woman." He was a faithful believer in Mormonism to the end, declaring during the last few hours of his life, " I want to say to you, the Bible and the record of the Nephites [the 'Book of Mormon'] is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death-bed." He was the last of "the three witnesses" to the divine authenticity of the record of the Nephites. See "Early Days of Mormonism," by James Harrison Kennedy (New York, 1888).

WHITMER, David, Mormon elder, born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 7 January, 1805; died in Richmond, Missouri, 25 January, 1888. He moved to Ontario county, New York, when a youth, and in 182.9 was engaged in farming near Palmyra, New York, when Oliver Cowdery, the village school-master, told him that he intended to visit Joseph Smith and examine the alleged discovery of golden plates that bore upon their face curious inscriptions that no one could read. In June, 1829, Cowdery and Smith called upon Whitmer, and, by instruction from an angel of the Lord, as claimed by Smith, requested Whitmer to go into the woods near by. On reaching a secluded spot they all engaged in prayer, when suddenly a very brilliant light filled the space around them. A moment later an angel appeared, and also a table on which were several golden plates that they were told to examine. They were commanded to bear witness of their experience to the world. This they have done by prefixing a statement to each copy of the " Book of Mormon," where it is stated that they, "through the grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is the record of the people of Nephi." In June, 1838, Mr. Whitmer withdrew from the Mormon church, taking with him the original manuscript of the "Book of Mormon," and settled in Richmond, Missouri, where he resided until his death, a useful and respected member of the community. In 1887 he issued "An Address to all Believers in Christ," in which, among his reasons for withdrawing from the Mormon church, were the ordaining of high-priests in 1831, the compiling of a book of doctrines and covenants in 1835, the publication of many revelations that were made, the organization of a band of Danites in 1838 at Far West, mid the revelations that favored polygamy. He claimed to "believe in the doctrine of Christ as it is taught in the New Testament and the 'Book of Mormon,' the same gospel being taught in both these books." In the "Book of Mormon" is a positive command that "not any man among you have save it be one wife and concubines shall he have none; for I the Lord delight in the chastity of woman." He was a faithful believer in Mormonism to the end, declaring during the last few hours of his life" " I want to say to you, the Bible and the record of the Nephites [the 'Book of Mormon'] is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death-bed." He was the last of "the three witnesses" to the divine authenticity of the record of the Nephites. See " Early Days of Mormonism," by James Harrison Kennedy (New York, 1888).

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