Unwavering Witness: The Life and Legacy of David Whitmer and the Book of Mormon
David Whitmer, born January 7, 1805, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, stands as a pivotal figure in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, Whitmer claimed to have seen golden plates revealed by an angel, a testimony he steadfastly upheld until his death, despite his excommunication from the church in 1838. His life, marked by faith, conviction, and eventual separation from the church he helped establish, reflects the complex dynamics of early Mormonism. The following article, published in The Butler Weekly Times on February 1, 1888, chronicles Whitmer’s passing and his enduring commitment to his testimony. This historic piece offers a glimpse into his final days, his unwavering belief in the Book of Mormon, and his role as guardian of its original manuscript, providing a window into a foundational moment in American religious history.1
DAVID WHITMER DEAD.
The Last Witness to the Authenticity of the Book of Mormon Passed Away.
Richmond, Va., January 22.—David Whitmer, the last witness to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormons, who has been in feeble health for some weeks past, passed peacefully away at 5 o’clock this afternoon. His son, David Whitmer, Jr.; his grandson, Geo. W. Schwelch; his granddaughter, Mrs. Josie Vancleave, of Chicago; Mr. J. Snyder, the accredited historian of the anti-polygamon branch of the Mormon Church, and one or two old friends were with him at the time of his death.
A night or two since he called his physician, Dr. Buchanan, to his side and told him that his testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon was true. Yesterday he said to the members of his family that he had been permitted to look behind the veil and had seen Jesus Christ waiting for him on the other side. His mind was clear and unclouded to the last. Those who are acquainted with him have no doubt but that he witnessed what he claimed. No arrangements have yet been made for the funeral.
David Whitmer was one of the three witnesses (Martin Harris and Oliver Cowderly being the other two) who testified to “all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples” that they had seen the golden plates upon which were engraved the hieroglyphics that were translated into the Book of Mormon; “that an angel of God came down from heaven and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates and engravings there-on.”
WHITMER’S CAREER.
Mr. Whitmer was born near Harrisburg, Pa., in the year 1804, and when 4 years of age his parents moved to the state of New York, settling near the northern extremities of Lakes Cayuga and Seneca, two miles from Waterloo. He received a good education in the schools of that section, and in 1830 was married in Seneca county, N.Y. He, with other members of his family who had been converted to the belief of Joseph Smith, in 1837, emigrated to Caldwell, Mo. In 1838 a large number of Mormons, under the leadership of Smith, established a settlement in Caldwell county and called it Far West.
The people of the section regarded the Mormon religion as inimical to society, peace and civilization, and as a result of this feeling war followed. But it was brief and almost bloodless resulting in the surrender of 1,000 Mormons, among the number many men prominent in church affairs, and the agreement of the remainder to leave the state.
In 1838, Mr. Whitmer, seeing the course affairs were taking, cut loose from Joseph Smith . In that year he and his brother John were one day notified by a friend that unless they made confession of their apostacy they would be killed, as the leaders in the church at Far West were conspiring against them. Immediately after receiving the warning they hastily arranged their personal affairs and prepared for flight. At this time John Whitmer was clerk of the church at Far West and had in his possession the church records and original manuscript of the Book of Mormon. On the day of their flight the manuscript was given to Oliver Cowdery for safe keeping, who subsequently delivered it to David Whitmer, in whose possession it has ever since been.
From the day of their flight both John and David Whitmer kept aloof from the Latter Day Saints, although firm in the faith as taught by the Book of Mormon. They were also always confident that Joseph Smith never sanctioned or practices polygamy.
Leaving Far West, Mr. Whitmer stopped at Richmond, and for many years was one of the leading business men of the town. But for several years he has been in poor health and has lived in quiet retirement at the home of his son, David Whitmer, Jr. He has made three trips in the past fifty years to the Hill Comorah, and each time saw the tablets and seer stone.
A SACRED MANUSCRIPT.
At various times during the past few years delegations and representatives from the various branches of the Mormon Church have visited him at his home in this city for the purpose of seeing the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon and comparing it with the printed book. Many of them have made overtures looking to the purchase of the manuscript, but Mr. Whitmer has held it as a sacred thing, and never for a moment allowed it to leave his room or pass from his sight.
While Mr. Whitmer always shrank from all unnecessary promulgation of creed, and keenly felt the disgrace that the Danites, the Brighamites and other “ites” which had from time to time sprang up and threatened the overthrow of the Mormon religion, brought upon him, he would have staked his honor and even his life on the reliability and authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He was also a firm believer in the Bible, and considered the Book of Mormon as but a supplement to it. He always protested against the Book of Covenants, and considered it as merely a compilation of special revelations which Joseph Smith and his successors pretended to have received. He had frequently declared that should any of the high priests of the polygamous-Utah branch of the Church ever claim any of their interpolations to be from the original tablets, or proclaim that their doctrines of practices were authorized by the true version, he would bring forth the records and confound them. Until such an opportunity offered, he, and he alone, would be the custodian of the sacred documents.
There is no doubt that Mr. Whitmer was firmly convinced of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon, and while he made no effort to intrude his views or beliefs on the public, he wanted the world to know that so far as he was concerned there was no “variableness or shadow of turning.”
The manuscript of the Book of Mormon, which Mr. Whitmer has so zealously guarded for nearly half a century, is now in the possession of his son. It is a document yellow with age, but it is almost an impossibility for a stranger to get a glimpse of it.
“David Whitmer Dead,” The Butler Weekly Times (Butler, Mo.), February 1, 1888, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress, https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89066489/1888-02-01/ed-1/seq-3/.