Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book the foundation of the church. In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer farm. 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. John served for some time as a scribe for joseph smith, helping to move the work of translation along much more quickly. He is primarily remembered as one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormons golden plates. The testimony of eight witnesses, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. Rfm post by lds critic on fairs defense of whitmer. Mar 02, 20 ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon.
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. As a young man, christian, being recognized as a natural leader, was commissioned as. 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. Born january 18, 1798, in dauphin, pennsylvania, whitmer moved with his parents family to new york in 1809. Full gospel whitmer college antimormon, probook of mormon. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. 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. Book of mormon witnesseseight witnesses john whitmer, one of the eight witnesses. According to his brother david whitmer, christian served as one of several book of mormon scribes. Rarely does a show have people rolling in the aisles, but book of mormon does. 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.
Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. Mary musselman whitmer, the only woman who saw the plates of the book of mormon, was born aug. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon.
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. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up. The whitmer family prior to the book of mormon b dan. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. 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. They must have lived in close proximity to peter whitmer while the book of mormon was being translated. Hart, about the book of mormon, deseret news, 9 apr. The first book of mormon witnesses to travel to missouri were oliver cowdery and 21yearold peter whitmer jr.
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. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. The book of mormon translation was finished at the whitmer. Christian whitmer jacob whitmer peter whitmer, jun. If the book of mormon and the book of abraham are not true. David whitmers final testimony of the book of mormon. Christian whitmer, one of the book of mormon witnesses and the eldest son of peter whitmer, had married anna schott in 1825. David whitmers statments regarding the translation of the. 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 tickets the book of mormon tickets. This is a critics response to fairs defense of whitmer s statement if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. 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. 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.
David whitmer and cumorah moronis america the north. Book of mormon christian is about the converting power of christ through the holy book of mormon and not of any denomination. Latinautor warner chappell, amra, latinautor umpg, latinautor, walt disney. The whitmer family prior to the book of mormon a dan. The following from the saints herald of april 24, 1907, is an excerpt from the minutes of the reorganite conference. 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. In 1830 they left fayette, new york, to take the book of mormon s message. 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.
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. Jacob whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Toward the end of june 1829, at the peter whitmer, sr. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon. 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. The confirmations of christian, jacob, and john whitmer are in the german minutes on 5 april 1822.
It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the. Mary whitmer whitmer college antimormon, probook of mormon. Christian whitmer, the eldest son of peter whitmer sr. The angel explained that the plates contained an account of the former inhabitants of this con. David whitmer was one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon.
Both books contain gods guidance as revealed to prophets, as well as religious histories of different civilizations. Smith, hiram page, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. 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. The bible has stood alone for many yearsbut in the last daysits becoming evident why the bible needs the book of mormon. The book of mormon is the word of god, like the bible. 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. Tom ragen turn it off from the book of mormon village. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829.
The whitmer family in missouri church history museum. John whitmer stood by his testimony as one of the eight witnesses even after he left the church parent page. Book of mormon christian joseph smith book of mormon church whitmer college book of mormon geography dr. Book of mormon musical opening number hello youtube. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. Jun 10, 2012 the book of mormon original broadway cast recording licensed to youtube by. Christian whitmer 17981835 was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sr. Christian whitmer a witness of the book of mormon christian whitmer, the eldest son of peter whitmer sr. In 1829, oliver cowdery baptized john whitmer, probably in senaca lake in senaca, new york. The teachings of christ in the book of mormon are pure, plain, simple and full.
One of these visitors was a witness to the book and had seen an angel which declared its. On the back is an inscription that reads jacob was one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon. Mormons claim the book of mormon is the most perfect book ever written. The book of morm on another testament of jesus christ wide margin edition. 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. 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. The book of mormon department of christian defense. All the whitmers eventually gained testimonies of the work.
Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book. 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. In his youth, jacob was educated and learned hard work by helping to run the whitmer. For the twelve million members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints worldwide six million in the united states. Their engagement in the translation of the book of mormon. The whitmer log home was a house of refuge for joseph smith and oliver cowdery in troubled times. Dec 18, 2014 village performing arts centre full time 2014 perform turn it off from the book of mormon. Of christian whitmer, one of the future eight witnesses to the book of mormon, romig reports that. 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.
Mar 11, 2018 to accept m2c, you have to disbelieve two of the three main witnesses to the book of mormon. Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Why the bible needs the book of mormon greg trimble. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. 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. Christian whitmer january 18, 1798 november 27, 1835 was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sr. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. 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. 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. David whitmer to the editor, kansas city daily journal, june 19, 1881.
The prophet alma wasnt the only author to use the word state, but he used it far more than any. 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. After joseph smiths death he formed the church of christ. Its yours for the price of a ticket to 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 signature of david whitmer, one of the three witnesses, is displayed on a document he wrote about the book of mormon on friday, feb. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon. Of the book of mormon s eleven witnesses, seven were whitmers by blood or marriage. Together with her husband she was baptized by oliver cowdery in seneca lake, april 18, 1830. 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. It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals, enthuses the washington post. Lead vocals by tom ragen, logan dunstan, sam malseed and aj nerona. Mclellin, a school teacher in paris, illinois, heard of the discovery and translation of the book of mormon from david whitmer.
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. 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. The sendup of missionaries from the church of jesus christ of. Three witnesses of the book of mormon christian defense. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. 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 is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The original manuscript of the book of mormon book of. 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. And heres the kicker, jacob whitmer has an image of an open book of mormon etched into his headstone. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Mary whitmer book of mormon witness lds scripture teachings. I have concluded not to request the saints herald to publish my epistle, as i will not enter into a newspaper controversy.
Christian whitmer jacob whitmer peter whitmer, fils john whitmer. David whitmer, and martin harris, and eight witnesses, composed of christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. Christian whitmer mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. 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. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness.
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. While still fairly young, he moved out of his parents house and settled in seneca county, new york. 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. Christian whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book. David whitmer, an address to all believers in christ, p.
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