David Whitmer

David Whitmer
Photo of David Whitmer
President of the Church
(Church of Christ—Whitmerites)
January 28, 1876 – January 25, 1888
SuccessorJohn C. Whitmer[1]
ReasonReorganized
President of the Church
(Church of Christ—Whitmerites)
September 7, 1847[2] – ca. 1848[4]
ReasonWilliam E. McLellin asserted Whitmer's claim[3]
End reasonSeparated from McLellin.
President High Council
July 3, 1834 – January 1838
ReasonElected by vote of the Council.
End reasonVote of the Council.
President of Zion
July 7, 1834 – February 5, 1838
End reasonVote of members.
Latter Day Saint Apostle
June 1829 – June 1838[5]
Called byJoseph Smith
End reasonSeparated from the Church
Mayor of Richmond, Missouri[6][7]
In office
May 23, 1867 – January 1, 1868
Councilman
In office
pre-1867 – pre-1867
Personal details
Born(1805-01-07)January 7, 1805
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 25, 1888(1888-01-25) (aged 83)
Richmond, Missouri, U.S.
Resting placeRichmond Cemetery
39°16′44″N 93°59′10″W / 39.279°N 93.986°W / 39.279; -93.986 (Richmond Cemetery)
Baptism DateJune 3, 1829
Known ForBook of Mormon Witness
Founding Church Member
Notable worksA Proclamation (1881)
An Address To Believers in the Book of Mormon (1887)
An Address to All Believers in Christ (1887)
Spouse(s)
Julia Ann Jolly
(m. 1831)
Children2
ParentsPeter Whitmer Sr.
Mary Musselman Whitmer
RelativesChristian Whitmer (brother)
Jacob Whitmer (brother)
John Whitmer (brother)
Peter Whitmer Jr. (brother)
Hiram Page (brother-in-law)
Oliver Cowdery (brother-in-law)
Signature 
Signature of David Whitmer

David Whitmer (January 7, 1805 – January 25, 1888) was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint Movement and one of the Three Witnesses to the gold plates of the Book of Mormon. Whitmer later distanced himself from Joseph Smith and was excommunicated from the church in 1838, but continued to affirm his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He was the most interviewed Book of Mormon witness.

  1. ^ There was no formal beginning. John C. Whitmer was baptized at the age of 44 on September 15, 1875, then ordained an Elder January 28, 1876 and commissioned to "go forth and preach the Gospel...organize a new church...was to be the first Elder." (Jenson, Andrew; Stevenson, Edward; Black, Joseph S. (September 26, 1888). "Historical Landmarks". Deseret News. No. 37. p. 579. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2021.)
  2. ^ On this day David was "re-ordained" (according to his previous ordination by Joseph Smith on July 8, 1834) by William McLellin, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, & John Whitmer. This entailed "holy priesthood," "high priests," and a "presidency" framework. See McLellin, William E. (August 1849). "Our Tour West in 1847". The Ensign of Liberty. Vol. 7, no. 1. Kirtland, Ohio. pp. 99–104. Retrieved February 17, 2021..
  3. ^ Whitmer did not seek the position but acknowledged that he was in fact ordained by Joseph Smith to succeed him. Whitmer was ordained a "prophet, seer, and revelator." (Bringhurst, Newell G.; Hamer, John C., eds. (September 10, 2007). Scattering Of The Saints: Schism Within Mormonism. Independence, Missouri: John Whitmer Books. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-934-90102-1.)
  4. ^ McLellin was based in Kirtland, Ohio. Whitmer however never traveled to Kirtland or assisted McLellin to grow his branch. McClellin did have a publication called Ensign of Liberty which the Whitmer branch refused after June 1848.[citation needed]
  5. ^ For the date Whitmer said he left the Mormons: An Address to All Believers in Christ, p. 8.
  6. ^ Richmond Conservator. Richmond, Missouri. June 22, 1867. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ^ Johnson, Liz (September 1, 2017). "A Witness becomes mayor" (PDF). Richmond News. Richmond, Missouri. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 23, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021. It is believed that upon the death of Mayor John Shaw, who was shot in the chest during the robbery of the Hughes & Wasson Bank in Richmond on May 23, 1867, Whitmer became mayor to fulfill Shaw's mayoral term until Jan. 1, 1868.