I have concluded not to request the saints herald to publish my epistle, as i will not enter into a newspaper controversy. An unassailable witness of the book of mormon posted by admin on february 12, 2018 february, 2018 when i was a boy, back in the early to mid 1950s, my mothers father, john william dunn, told me about an experience he had regarding the book of mormon. The book of mormon is canonized mormon scripture that describes the migration of two jewish people groups from the ancient near east to the americas. David whitmers rebuttal to john murphys june 1880 claims regarding his experience as a book of mormon witness summary. The church changed my life and inspired me to be baptized at the age of 26. The plot of land on which the home was located included the area designated by the lord to be the temple site. 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. Blakeslee, 15 december 1881 david whitmer interview with j. After joseph smiths death he formed the church of christ. He was also the first official church historian and a member of the presidency of the church in missouri. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. This thing which we call testimony is difficult to define, but its fruits are plainly evident. Whitmer ordered that his testimony to the book of mormon be placed on his tombstone.
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. Testimony of the book of mormon eyewitnesses come reason. A letter from david whitmer, one of the 3 witnesses who actually held the original plates of the book of mormon. David whitmerinterview with john murphy in june 1880. David whitmer was interviewed by john murphy in june 1880. 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. In 1833 when missouri vigilantes were harassing the mormons, a mob of about five hundred men put davids testimony to the test. Olson, now studying to be a christian minister as of 2011 i spent my church life as a mormon before i knew the lords grace. David whitmers statments regarding the translation of the. A june 1829 revelation confirmed that oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and. But if i found out that the book of mormon is truethen everything was going to change. Cowdery october 3, 1806 march 3, 1850 was, with joseph smith, an important participant in the formative period of the latter day saint movement between 1829 and 1836. Murphy reported that whitmer claimed that the angel that showed him the plates had no appearance or shape and that whitmer saw nothing, in the way you understand it. This knowledge can only be gained through a witness of the holy ghost.
Some of the witnesses of the book of mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of god, were afterwards left to doubt and to disbelieve that they had ever seen an angel. Christian whitmer, the eldest son of peter whitmer sr. I wrote a blog post at the mormon therapist articulating my official stance on masturbation. Fanny alger is josephs first known plural wife, whom he came to know in kirtland during early 1833 when she, at the age of 16, stayed at his home as a. The book of mormon states it is the work of one man, joseph smith. How could there be so many witnesses of the book of mormon and the plates and not one of them deny their testimony even when some of them became bitter toward joseph smith. I cant deny the spiritual and logical reasons that were presented to me as part of my testimony of that books truthfulness. John served for some time as a scribe for joseph smith, helping to move the work of translation along much more quickly. Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Elizabeth, described his lasting testimony in a letter to her brother david whitmer. David whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. 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. Whitmer stated his religious views in three publications.
My whole being is the desire to serve the lord jesus beyond my human abilitieseven from my childhood. April 14, 1773 august 12, 1854 was an early member of the latter day saint movement, and father of the movements second founding family. Whitmer was born in pennsylvania and married mary elsa musselman. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret news. 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. John whitmer was born on august 27, 1802, in york, pennsylvania to peter whitmer, sr. Elder hollands 10 best talks of all time utahvalley360. While still fairly young, he moved out of his parents house and settled in seneca county, new york.
Also see the vast body of scholarship in past and current publications at the maxwell institute. Christian, jacob, john, david, catherine, peter jr. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. John whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Book of mormon central why is david whitmers witness of.
Whitmer called his family and a number of his friends to his bedside, and to them delivered his. Adultery yes after it was discovered that joseph had an affair with his 16 year old housemaid, members of the church wanted to replace joseph smith with david whitmer as leader of the church chronology of affairs. 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. This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmers statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Holland by mormonblogger on tuesday, may 31st, 2016 no comments 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.
My letter to elder holland re book of mormon heres your reply, assuming youre still a member. Oliver wrote to his friend, david whitmer, testifying of the work and enclosing samples of the translation of the book of mormon. 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. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. Whitmers testimony was recorded in newspapers, personal. This is the element which motivates the membership to forsake all in the service of the lord. Available in stores and online at deseret book, seagull book, and the byu store this new book is a compilation of reedited and updated knowhys written by john w. Think joseph smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance. What if you were one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon. His final testimony was given under the following circumstances. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. In 1809 the family moved to fayette, new york, where they worked a large farm.
The testimonies of the witnesses affirm that these things occurred. A proclamation published march 24, 1881, an address to believers in the book of mormon published. We have nearly 90,000 missionaries worldwide and we too can contribute. Here is the eyeopening testimony from a former mormon elder, todd k.
But is the testimony of these eleven men a solid foundation for faith in the authenticity of the book of mormon. Most latterday saints are aware of the testimonies of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. David whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. On the evening of sunday, january 22, at half past five oclock, mr. David whitmer, a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of. Chatburn, 1882 david whitmer interview with james h. Weve all read, or at least skimmed the testimony of the three witnesses. My letter to elder holland re book of mormon very long. For a huge array of resources, talks, articles, videos, and so forth, go to or. John whitmer 18021878 was an early leader of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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. David was ordained as an elder on april 6, 1830, and was one of the original six members of the church. Brother phillips, the stake presidency is considering formal disciplinary action in your behalf, including the possibility of disfellowship or excommunication, because you are reported to have participated in conduct unbecoming a members of the church and evil speaking of the. All the whitmers eventually gained testimonies of the work.
In the introductory pages of the book of mormon, there is a page that contains the. David whitmer to the editor, kansas city daily journal, june 19, 1881. Rfm post by lds critic on fairs defense of whitmer. David whitmer died at his home in richmond, on the 25th of january, 1888, in the eightyfourth year of his life. Personal testimony is the factor which turns people around in their living as they come into this church. David whitmer was one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon.
Mary musselman whitmer, the only woman who saw the plates of the book of mormon, was born aug. I love elder holland and his special witness of the savior and of the book of mormon. He was the first baptized latter day saint, one of the three witnesses of the book of mormons golden plates, one of the first latter day saint apostles, and the second elder of the church. They considered the churchs founder, joseph smith, a prophet, and his book of mormon a work as sacred as the bible. In 1829, oliver cowdery baptized john whitmer, probably in senaca lake in senaca, new york. They were both included in the list of the eight witnesses in the book of mormon, and they proclaimed to their last moments, the certainty of their former testimony. According to the book of mormon, the first group called jaredites sailed to the new world shortly after god confused the language at the tower of babel at about 2,000 b.
One of the best sources of current scholarship on the book of mormon and other lds topics is the new mormon interpreter, a site managed by daniel peterson. 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. He was one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon. One of the most powerful testimonies of the book of mormon. A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true to. Together with her husband she was baptized by oliver cowdery in seneca lake, april 18, 1830. 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. He learned about the book of mormon from oliver cowdery, who was scribe for joseph smith during the translation. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. Smith recorded that he alone supposedly translated lost plates which give an account of the history of ancient north america and was the author of subsequent works doctrine and. David whitmers final testimony of the book of mormon.