David Whitmer

I heard the voice of the Angel just as stated in said Book, and the engravings on the plates were shown to us, and we were commanded to bear record of them; and if they are not true, then there is no truth, and if there is no truth there is no God; If there is no God then there is no existence. But there is a God, and I know it.

David Whitmer was excommunicated April 13, 1838 and never returned (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minute-book-2/135)

Whitmer’s own writings claim that his excommunication occurred after he left the body of the saints in June of 1838 and without his knowledge.

As David Whitmer’s beliefs evolved to reject all revelation given after the translation of the Book of Mormon, so to did the way he remembered events in church history, often confusing dates and occasionally details. Despite this, David remained adamant in his testimony of the Book of Mormon and although he considered Joseph to be fallen prophet he wrote in 1887:

”Greater abominations are recorded of David in the Bible, than is recorded to-day of Joseph Smith; but do you reject the Psalms on this account? Do you reject the Proverbs because Solomon was a Polygamist? Stop and think, ye who are hasty to condemn. If you desire to know whether or not the Book of Mormon is true, read the book and investigate it”

Included here are numerous accounts which David either wrote himself or was directly quoted

1857

“He replied, ‘as sure as there is a God in heaven, [I] saw the angel, according to [my] testimony in that book.’”

“History of Thomas Baldwin Marsh.” November 1857. Printed in Deseret News, March 24, 1858. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/desnews1/id/179432.

1875

“My testimony to the world is written concerning the Book of Mormon, and it is the same that I gave at first and it is the same as shall stand to my latest hour in life, linger with me in death and shine as Gospel Truth beyond the limits of life, among the Tribunals of Heaven”

                        David Whitmer to Mark H. Frorscutt, 2 March 1875, Scrapbook, 16-17;

1876

My testimony to the Book of Mormon is true and I am admonished neither to add to nor take from my testimony already appended to the Book. And if I should do so must be extremely guarded under the risk of being misunderstood.

David Whitmer, to Heman C. Smith, 5 December 1876, Community of Christ LIbrary-Archives

1877

“We walked through a clearing and all sat on a log. It was about 11 a.m., when a light appeared and it grew brighter until an angel stood before us and on the appearance of a table was laid the plates, urim and thummim, ball or director, sword of Laban, etc., and a voice declared and bore record of the truth of the translation turning the leaves over, and thus the vision ended.”

David Whitmer, in Edward Stevenson, Journal, 14:10-18, entry of 22-23 December 1877, LDS Church Archives

1878

Orson Pratt: “Did you see the Angel at this time?”

David Whitmer: “Yes, he stood before us. Martin Harris was not with us at this time. 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.“

David Whitmer, interview with Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, 7-8 September 1878; Joseph F. Smith, Diary, 7-8 September 1878, Church Archives

“I saw the angel, and I saw the sword of Laban, and the breast-plate, and the Urim and Thummin, and the plates, and the director, and the angel stood before us, and he turned the leaves one by one.”

David Whitmer Interview with Wilhelm Poulson, in the Deseret News, 13 August 1878; in Vogel, ed., Early Mormon Documents, 5:38.

1879

As you read my testimony given many years ago, so it stands as my own existence; the same as when I gave it, and so shall stand throughout the cycles of eternity.

David Whitmer in letter to James N. Seymond, cited in Saints’ Herald 26 (15 July 1879): 223-24

1881

It having been represented by one John Murphy of Polo Mo. that I in a conversation with him last Summer, denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon. To the end therefore, that he may understand me now if he did not then, and that the world may know the truth, I wish now standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this public Statement; That I have never at any time, denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long been published with that book as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that I have adhered to that testimony.– And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do now again affirm the truth of all my statement[s], as then made and published.

David Whitmer, A Proclamation, 19 March 1881;

“Did you see the angel?” “Yes; he stood before us. Our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is absolutely true, just as it is written there.”

David Whitmer, Interview with Kansas City Journal (1 June 1881) https://whitmercollege.com/interviews/kansas-city-journal-1881/

“I was plowing in the field one morning, and Joseph and Oliver came along with a revelation stating that I was to be one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. I got over the fence and we went out into the woods, near by, and sat down on a log and talked awhile. We then kneeled down and prayed. Joseph prayed. We then got up and sat on the log and were talking, when all at once a light came down from above us and encircled us for quite a little distance around; and the angel stood before us. He was dressed in white, and spoke and called me by name and said ‘Blessed is he that keepeth His commandments.’ This is all that I heard the angel say. A table was set before us and on it the records were placed….While we were viewing them the voice of God spoke out of heaven saying that the Book was true and the translation correct.”

David Whitmer, Interview with William H. Kelley and George A. Blakeslee, 15 December 1881; published in William H. Kelley to the Editor, 16 January 1882, Saints’ Herald 29 (1 March 1882)

1882

We asked him if his testimony was the same now as it was at the time the Book of Mormon was published, regarding seeing the plates and the angel. He rose to his feet, stretched out his hands and said, “These hands handled the plates, these eyes saw the angel, and these ears heard his voice; and I know it was of God.“

David Whitmer, interview with Jonas W. Chatburn, Saints’ Herald (15 June 1882):

My testimony as published in connection with the Book of Mormon is true–And why Should men ask to know more in regard to all the particulars connected with that all Overshadowing truth–If they will not believe the three and 8 witnesses would they believe though one Should arise from the dead, testify to its truth again.

David Whitmer, to S. T. Mouch, 18 November 1882, Richmond, Missouri, Whitmer Papers, Community of Christ Library-Archives;

In answer to questions by the brethren he recited with graphic distinctness the scene in which he received the testimony he bore any years past and still bears to the Book of Mormon; and averred anew that the statement made by him as published in the book is true. No one who listens to him can doubt the sincerity and truthfulness of the man

David Whitmer, Interview with Joseph Smith III and others on 4 April 1882, Saints’ Herald 29 (1 May 1882): 141;

1883

“I have been visited by thousands of people, believers and unbelievers, men and ladies of all degrees, sometimes as many as 15 in one day, and have never failed in my testimony. And they will know some day that my testimony is true….I heard the voice of the Angel just as stated in said Book, and the engravings on the plates were shown to us, and we were commanded to bear record of them; and if they are not true, then there is no truth, and if there is no truth there is no God; If there is no God then there is no existence. But there is a God, and I know it.”

David Whitmer, interview with James H. Hart on 21 August 1883, Journal-Notebook, 21 August 1883, Special Collections and Manuscripts, Harold B. Lee Library, BYU

1884

Mr. Whitmer on being asked if he saw the angel, as stated in some accounts, opened the book and pointing to a section said, “there is my testimony. Read it; that tells all that is necessary for me to say about it. That contains the solemn testimony of myself and the other persons named.”

                        David Whitmer, interview with St. Louis Republican 77 (16 July 1884): 7

“Mr Whitmer felt very indignant while speaking of certain statements published recently to the effect that he and Oliver Cowdery had denied their statement as published in the Book of Mormon. This he denounced as false in every particular. He said: “Oliver never wavered in his testimony, and when he was on his death bed, I was there, with many of his friends, until he passed away. He bore the same testimony on his dying bed that he had always borne through life, and earnestly called upon all to cleave to the truth revealed through the Prophet Joseph, and to serve the Lord. As for myself, I have never denied my testimony that is published in the Book of Mormon, for I know that God has revealed these things for the salvation of the children of men, and to Him belongs all the honor, the power and the glory.”

David Whitmer, interview with James H. Hart on 10 March 1884, Letter to Deseret News (18 March 1884)

In June, 1829, I saw the angel by the power of God, Joseph, Oliver and I were alone, and a light from heaven shone round us, and solemnity pervaded our minds. The angel appeared in the light, as near as that young man. [Within five or six feet – note in original] Between us and the angel there appeared a table, and there lay upon it the sword of Laban, the Ball of [sic] Directors, the Record, and Interpreters. The angel took the Record, and turned the leaves, and showed it to us by the power of God….My testimony in the Book of Mormon is true; I can’t deviate from it.

David Whitmer, Interview with E.C. Briggs, 1884; recorded in E.C. Briggs to Joseph Smith III, 4 June 1884, Saints’ Herald 31 (21 June 1884): 396-97

I saw the angel as plainly as I see you; he was surrounded by the glory of God, which overshadowed us, and we heard his voice, and we saw the records of the Book of Mormon…My testimony is the same as at the beginning, as is true.

David Whitmer, interview with J. Frank McDowell on 8 May 1884, Saints’ Herald 31 (9 August 1884): 508;

I saw this apparition [the angel] myself and gazed with awe on the celestial messenger and heard him say, “Blessed is the Lord and he that keeps his commandments.” Then, as he held the plates and turned them over with his hands so that we could see them plainly, a voice that seemed to fill all space was heard, saying: ‘What you see is true. Testify to the same.” Oliver Cowdrey and I, standing there, felt, as the white garments of the angel faded from view, that we had received a message from God, and we have so recorded it. Two or three days later the same angel appeared to Martin Harris while he was in company with [Joseph] Smith, and placed the same injunction upon him. He described the sight and his sensations to me, and they corresponded exactly with what I had seen and heard.

David Whitmer, Interview with Unknown Reporter, around July 1884, unidentified and undated newspaper clipping, William H. Samson, Scrapbook, 18:76-77, Rochester Public Library, Local History Room, Rochester, New York

Rather suggestively [Colonel Giles] asked if it might not have been possible that he, Mr. Whitmer, had been mistaken and had simply been moved upon by some mental disturbance, or hallucination, which had deceived them into thinking he saw the Personage, the Angel, the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the sword of Laban. How well and distinctly I remember the manner in which Elder Whitmer arose and drew himself up to his full height—a little over six feet—and said, in solemn and impressive tones: “No, sir! I was not under any hallucination, nor was I deceived! I saw with these eyes and I heard with these ears! I know whereof I speak!“

Interview with Joseph Smith III et al. (Richmond, Missouri, July 1884), originally published in The Saints’ Herald (28 January 1936) and reprinted in Cook, ed., David Whitmer Interviews, 134—35

 
1885

Mr. Whitmer turned his large, kind, but penetrating eyes upon me and, in a very pleasant and considerate, but firm and steady voice said: ‘Read the printed testimony of the three witnesses, which you will find on one of the front pages of the Book of Mormon–and I say to you that every word of it is true.

David Whitmer, Interview with Franklin D. Richards and Charles C. Richards, 22 May 1885

I did see the angel of God, and was commanded to testify of these things, and they are true.

David Whitmer, to E.C. Brand, 8 February 1885 in Kingston [Missouri] Times (23 December 1887)

1886

“As I live and stand upon the earth so sure did I see the angel who stood before us. While we were sitting upon a log (that is Joseph and I and Oliver Cowdery) we were talking when a bright light began to shine around us. It grew bright and brighter until an angel stood before us. A table in front of him on which was the plates and the other plates, the sword of Laban, ball or compass, etc. The plates were shown us leaves turned over. A portion of them were sealed. We also heard a voice commanding us to bear a testimony of these things to the world.”

David Whitmer, interview with Edward Stevenson, Journal, 24:30-37, entry of 9 February 1886, LDS Church Archives

1887

David said to Mr S[tevenson], “My testimony as found in the Book of Mormon is verily true and I cannot deny it.” “I know,” he said, “that the Book of Mormon is as true as the Bible.” He relates seeing a messenger while plowing who said “Blessed is the name of the Lord and they who keep his Commandments.” Soon after Joseph Smith and O[liver] Cowdery came along. David tied his team to the fence. The three were about 40 rods from his father’s. While sitting on a log and angel appeared in the midst of a brightness that preceded him. ON a table in front of him was the ball or compass…sword of Laban, Urim and Thummim or Interpreters. Also the plates, which was shown to them and they were commanded to bear testimony of these things, and he said as he lived those things were true. He fired up with zeal.”

David Whitmer, Interview with Edward Stevenson, Journal, 28:123-130, entry of 2 January 1887, LDS Church Archives

I did see the Angel as it is recorded in my testimony in the Book of Mormon. The Book is true.

David Whitmer, to Robert Nelson, 15 February 1887, Richmond, Missouri, David Whitmer Papers, Community of Christ Library-Archives

It is recorded in the American Cyclopedia and the Encyclopedia Britannica, that I, David Whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the Three Witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon: and that the two other witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, denied their testimony to that book. I will say once more to all mankind, that I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof. I also testify to the world, that neither Oliver Cowdery nor Martin Harris ever at any time denied their testimony. They both died affirming the truth of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.

David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ by a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of The Book of Mormon (David Whitmer: Richmond, Virginia, 1887), 31

You ask me if I saw the Angel when he brought the plates. I saw the angel when he brought the plates, and the Angel told us that we must bear testimony to the world, as contained in my testimony written in the Book of Mormon. Doubt not–sister–the Book of Mormon is the Word of God.

David Whitmer, to Sister Gates, 11 February 1887, Richmond, Missouri, David Whitmer Papers, Community of Christ Library-Archives

In regards to my testimony to the visitation of the angel, who declared to us three witnesses that the Book of Mormon is true, I have this to say: Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it is at any time. Martin Harris, you say, called it “being in vision.” We read in the Scriptures, Cornelius saw, in a vision, an angel of God, Daniel saw an angel in a vision, also in other places it states they saw an angel in the spirit. A bright light enveloped us where we were, that filled [the woods as] at noon day, and there in a vision or in the spirit, we saw and heard just as it is stated in my testimony in the Book of Mormon.

David Whitmer, to Anthony Metcalf, 2 April 1887; printed in A[nthony] Metcalf, Ten Years before the Mast ([Malad City, Idaho]: n.p. [1888]), 73-74

On Sunday evening before his death he called the family and his attending physician, Dr. George W. Buchanan, to his bedside and said, “Doctor do you consider that I am in my right mind?” to which the Doctor replied, “Yes, you are in your right mind, I have just had a conversation with you.” He then addressed himself to all present and said: “I want to give my dying testimony. You must be faithful in Christ. I want to say to you all that the Bible and the record of the Nephites, (The Book of Mormon) are true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death bed….

On Monday morning he again called those present to his bedside, and told them that he had seen another vision which reconfirmed the divinity of the “Book of Mormon,” and said that he had seen Christ in the fullness of his glory and majesty, sitting upon his great white throne in heaven waiting to receive his children.

Richmond Conservator Report (26 January 1888); quoted in Lyndon W. Cook ed., David Whitmer Interviews: A Restoration Witness (Grandin Book Company, 1993), 226.

Unknown date

“I have been asked if we saw those things with our natural eyes. Of course they were our natural eyes There is no doubt that our eyes were prepared for the sight, but they were our natural eyes nevertheless.”

David Whitmer, interview with Nathan Tanner, Jr., Letter to Nathan A. Tanner, 17 February 1909, typed copy, LDS Church Archives