Aug 02, 2015 in utah, book of mormon strikes a chord the tony awardwinning musical, the book of mormon, opened in salt lake city last week. The whitmer family prior to the book of mormon b dan. Book of mormon witnesseseight witnesses john whitmer, one of the eight witnesses. Mary musselman whitmer, the only woman who saw the plates of the book of mormon, was born aug. The teachings of christ in the book of mormon are pure, plain, simple and full. The sendup of missionaries from the church of jesus christ of. May 01, 2012 for those who have devoutly believed in the book of mormon and the other lds scriptures, such as the book of abraham, as the word of god, coming to the realization that these books are not what they claim to be can cause ripple effects throughout their belief system. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. The earliest documented statement of the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisis their statement in the handwriting of oliver cowdery subsequently published in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. Christian whitmer january 18, 1798 november 27, 1835 was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sr. And heres the kicker, jacob whitmer has an image of an open book of mormon etched into his headstone.
Dec 18, 2014 village performing arts centre full time 2014 perform turn it off from the book of mormon. Born january 18, 1798, in dauphin, pennsylvania, whitmer moved with his parents family to new york in 1809. Hart, about the book of mormon, deseret news, 9 apr. John served for some time as a scribe for joseph smith, helping to move the work of translation along much more quickly. Three witnesses of the book of mormon christian defense. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. I have concluded not to request the saints herald to publish my epistle, as i will not enter into a newspaper controversy. He is primarily remembered as one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormons golden plates. In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer. Rfm post by lds critic on fairs defense of whitmer.
Maxwell, 1 and building on my chapter in the second edition of opening the heavens, 2 this article strives to be as precise as possible about the timing of the events and progress of the book of mormon. Book of mormonwitnesseseight witnesses book of mormon. Of christian whitmer, one of the future eight witnesses to the book of mormon, romig reports that. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Its yours for the price of a ticket to the book of mormon. The whitmer log home was a house of refuge for joseph smith and oliver cowdery in troubled times.
This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. Both books contain gods guidance as revealed to prophets, as well as religious histories of different civilizations. As a young man, christian, being recognized as a natural leader, was commissioned as. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. The book of mormon spooky mormon hell dream lyrics by azmad202. It was probably later that same week in june 1829, that the eight further book of mormon witnesses were shown the plates and, unlike the three, they were allowed to handle them. If the book of mormon and the book of abraham are not true. The signature of david whitmer, one of the three witnesses, is displayed on a document he wrote about the book of mormon on friday, feb. While the timetable of the translation is not known with certainty, analysis of the manuscript suggests that js translated the portion from the first book of nephi through words of mormon what became the first part of the book of mormon at the whitmer.
In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer farm. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the. The whitmer family prior to the book of mormon a april 25, 2020 dan peterson patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Latinautor warner chappell, amra, latinautor umpg, latinautor, walt disney. He showed us the original manuscript of the book of mormon written by four different persons, martin harris, oliver cowdery, emma smith, and christian whitmer. While still fairly young, he moved out of his parents house and settled in seneca county, new york. Book of mormon christian joseph smith book of mormon church whitmer college book of mormon geography dr.
Near the end of translation process, a prophecy was translated from the second book of nephi that three, and a few others, might see the golden plates. The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. Christian whitmer, the eldest son of peter whitmer sr. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Christian whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book.
Dec 26, 2015 a very plausible lost and missing novel by solomon spalding manuscript found, separate and distinct from the oberlin manuscript has not been ruled out by mormon apologists. David whitmer and cumorah moronis america the north. The confirmations of christian, jacob, and john whitmer are in the german minutes on 5 april 1822. The eldest son, christian, was commissioned ensign in his new york militia regiment in 1825 and was elected one of the six town constables of fayette, new york in both 1828 and 1829the same year he became a book of mormon witness. David whitmer january 7, 1805 january 25, 1888 was an early adherent of the latter day saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the three witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Lead vocals by tom ragen, logan dunstan, sam malseed and aj nerona. The book of mormon department of christian defense. 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. The angel explained that the plates contained an account of the former inhabitants of this con. It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals, enthuses the washington post. The book of mormon translation was finished at the whitmer home in fayette, and near it the three witnesses saw moroni and the plates. Another episode illustrating david whitmer s special status as a witness to important events of the early church, as well as his proclivity to provide fascinating testimony, is related to the provenance of the book of mormon.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon. The testimony of eight witnesses, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. Christian whitmer, one of the book of mormon witnesses and the eldest son of peter whitmer, had married anna schott in 1825.
David whitmers final testimony of the book of mormon. While yet in harmony, pennsylvania, they had been the recipients of the aaronic and melchizedek priesthoods at the hands of heavenly ministrants during the month of may 1829. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. In 1830 they left fayette, new york, to take the book of mormon s message. Tom ragen turn it off from the book of mormon village. Mclellin, a school teacher in paris, illinois, heard of the discovery and translation of the book of mormon from david whitmer. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon. Full gospel whitmer college antimormon, probook of mormon. Mary whitmer whitmer college antimormon, probook of mormon. Modern mormon spin doctors write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the mormon church but they never the book of mormon. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god and not by man david whitmer, an address to all believers in christ concord, ca. All the whitmers eventually gained testimonies of the work. While the bible is written by and about the people in the land of israel and surrounding areas and takes place from the creation of the world until shortly after the death of jesus christ.
Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book the foundation of the church. Joseph smith did not refer to passages from the book of mormon in his writings or sermons, nor was it cited very often by early church leaders. The book of mormon translation was finished at the whitmer. Of christian whitmer, one of the future eight witnesses to the book of mormon, romig reports that as a young man, christian, being recognized as a natural leader, was commissioned as an officer in. This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmer s statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon.
The book of mormon tickets the book of mormon tickets. Christian whitmer 17981835 was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sr. According to his brother david whitmer, christian served as one of several book of mormon scribes. Jun 10, 2012 the book of mormon original broadway cast recording licensed to youtube by.
David whitmers final testimony 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. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. The first book of mormon witnesses to travel to missouri were oliver cowdery and 21yearold peter whitmer jr. After joseph smiths death he formed the church of christ. Toward the end of june 1829, at the peter whitmer, sr. Although whitmer was excommunicated from the church in 1838, he never repudiated his testimony of the book of mormon, reaffirming it thereafter on at least seventy recorded occasions.
In 1829, oliver cowdery baptized john whitmer, probably in senaca lake in senaca, new york. For the twelve million members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints worldwide six million in the united states. Together with her husband she was baptized by oliver cowdery in seneca lake, april 18, 1830. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. In 1833 when missouri vigilantes were harassing the mormons, a mob of about five hundred men put davids testimony to the test. Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book. Mary whitmer book of mormon witness lds scripture teachings. The following from the saints herald of april 24, 1907, is an excerpt from the minutes of the reorganite conference. Smith, hiram page, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni. Mar 11, 2018 to accept m2c, you have to disbelieve two of the three main witnesses to the book of mormon. Proof the book of mormon isnt true the book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. David whitmer, an address to all believers in christ, p.
The m2c proponents make every effort to persuade you these two men were not reliable witnesses when it comes to the issue of cumorah being in new york. He is primarily remembered as one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon s golden plates born january 18, 1798, in dauphin, pennsylvania, whitmer. Joseph smith stated, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts than any other book. Mormons claim the book of mormon is the most perfect book ever written. Christian became one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Book of mormon musical opening number hello youtube. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing.
I am therefore very confident that the unknown scribes handwriting from the book of mormon sampled above is that of christian whitmer, and that using those handwriting samples, christian. The book of mormon is the word of god, like the bible. The opening song, hello, where missionary trainees practice their doorbellringing skills is a hoot, and another number, where the villagers confuse mormon history with star wars, among other things, will make your. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. David whitmer, and martin harris, and eight witnesses, composed of christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. John whitmer stood by his testimony as one of the eight witnesses even after he left the church parent page. Rarely does a show have people rolling in the aisles, but book of mormon does. As we have already shown, joseph smith claimed that on the night of september 21, 1823, when he was seventeen years old, an angel appeared to him and stated that gold plates were buried in the hill cumorah. David whitmer to the editor, kansas city daily journal, june 19, 1881. The bible has stood alone for many yearsbut in the last daysits becoming evident why the bible needs the book of mormon. One of these visitors was a witness to the book and had seen an angel which declared its. They must have lived in close proximity to peter whitmer while the book of mormon was being translated. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. The bible is by definition a collection of books written by various authors that were not necessarily eye witnesses to the events that took place in it.
Five of the scribesoliver cowdery, martin harris, john whitmer, christian whitmer, and samuel smithalso gave their testimonies as witnesses of the book of mormon. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smith s translation had been accomplished by the gift and power of god. Christian whitmer a witness of the book of mormon christian whitmer, the eldest son of peter whitmer sr. Why the bible needs the book of mormon greg trimble. Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. The whitmer family prior to the book of mormon a dan. On the back is an inscription that reads jacob was one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Their engagement in the translation of the book of mormon. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. The whitmer family in missouri church history museum. David whitmer was one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon.
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. David whitmers statments regarding the translation of the. The prophet alma wasnt the only author to use the word state, but he used it far more than any. Christian whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The book of morm on another testament of jesus christ wide margin edition.
The original manuscript of the book of mormon book of. Mar 02, 20 ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon. Christian whitmer jacob whitmer peter whitmer, fils john whitmer. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon. Christian whitmer jacob whitmer peter whitmer, jun. Book of mormon christian is about the converting power of christ through the holy book of mormon and not of any denomination. Of the book of mormon s eleven witnesses, seven were whitmers by blood or marriage. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. You may be wondering why a christian would go to see such a thing, but yeeees changing the subject in the same manner as a mormon asked why joseph smith.