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David Whitmer, a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon

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Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1952 David Whitmer, a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon Ebbie L.V. Richardson Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the History Commons, and the Mormon Studies Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Richardson, Ebbie L.V., "David Whitmer, a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon" (1952). Theses and Dissertations. 5072. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/5072 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. DAVID tanwirIMMEIRWHITMER A WITNESS TO tretiieTHE DIVINEDIVMTE AWHENTICITYauthenticity OF THE BOOK OF moronUQRONMORIMN A thethesissis presented to the faculty of the division of religion Brigbrighamharn young university in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree master of arts tal1l11M v 40 JJ by ebbie lvrichardsonLVL V jlichardsonRichardson august 1921952 this thesis by ebbie L V richardson is accep- ted in its present fornform birby the division of religion younyoung of brigham university as satisfyingJ C the thesis requirements for the decreedemreedegree of lasterraster of arts date yllmelmenjorajor profprofessoressorassor thesis committee PREFACE this thesis DAVID WHITMER A wlWITNESSrn TO THE DIVINE authenticity OF TOETHEmoe BOOK OF moreonMORMON tre 9.9 is an attempt to give an unbiased history of the life and religious activities of a man who spent fifty years apart from the church he was so much an instrument in establishing his testimony has been a considerable factor in promoting its growth and success the title of this work was suggested by a text 1v1mr1rar whitmer wrote in the year previous to his demise the subject by A william lund assistant latter day saint church historian particular emphasis has been placed upon that phase of david whit bertmertmerss life that touched the church both for good and bad and is not an attempt to elaborate upon his life prior to the year 1829 or to give a comprehensive account of his progenitors and posterity nearly all those who knew him in life have long since joined him in death my thanks to those few who yet live their contributions have become a part of this work collecting materials and information for this thesis has not been without its difficulties to those individuals and institutions who ren- dered assistance in making the task less arduous I1 here wish to express my sincere appreciation especially to drs hughfaugh nibley and sidney B sperry of the division of religion of the brigham young university who gave help and encouragement when it was most needed and to president iii joseph fielding smith church historian and his staff who made available to me the materials found in the church library alvin F smith librarian was most helpful neither would I1 slight the help rendered by those me- mbers of the brigham young university library staff they were quite coo- eraperativetive citizens and officials of the city of richmond liislilsIlisilissourimissourisourigouri long time home of david witmerwhitnerwhitmer rendered invaluable aid krmr tom mccluskey my me acting as guide saved many hours of searchingC because of his ex- cellent knoknowledgeledge of that vicinity and its history he and his wife were very kind to me during my stay there for the courtesies shown me by dr ray cheville of GraorabracelandGraeoraegracelandgraeelandgracelandceland college lamoni iowalowaand officials and members of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints in allowing me access to materials in their archives at Independenindependencecejcep Missourmissouriip to citizens in the farilfaralfar aestwestbestif vicinity and at other old mormon sites and to officials and members of other churches of the restorationtrrestorationft I1 extend my humble thanks without the help received from the staff of the library of the university of missouri columbia mo which houses the newspapers docu- ments records etc of the state historical society of missouri the chronologchronologyy and coherence of david ihitmersilhitmer1 s life story would be considerably me less than is now possible the consideration shown duringz1za my weeks there is cordially appreciated there are many others too numerous to mention here to whom my thanks are due please know that I1 am grateful to any and all who made this thesis possible iv TABLE OF COMMTTSCONTENTS page LIST OF ILLUSTRATillustrations11 OITS viii chapter I1 introduction american frontier of that titinetimeme reasons for writ- lnaing the whitmer story importance of nis life to the ftprestorationesto ration movements ivanymany visit Ricrichmondhondbondwond old acquaintances of yrmr whitmer living among the enemies of the church IITI11 FAYILYFAMILY AMMID gf7hrGENERALL htsroy7 colrcOcalrcolm Lr OF DADAVIDvibVID WIUTMERaL 8 the toiitmer11hitmer famil meets the prophet to be a wit ness goes to lasmissourisouri leaves the church early life in richmond As public servant citizenship of the whitterswhitmersWhitmers home and family description of david and his town cyclone disaster declining years founder of church and author itiIII111 A SPFCIAL 4i1tnWITNESSESS TO treTHE OOKwookpookFOOK OF YOTTnormonMORMONY 014 24 first hears of Ymormonism the prophet at home with the viitmersvlhitmers miraculousvlraviraKiraculous experiences david litmerditmer1itmerwiltmer explains method of translation sees and hears the angel nkA family of witnesses plates described IV PUBLIC MINISTRY IN TE CHURCH OF rFTSTCHRTST 40 davids work to establish zion organization of the church INismissionsionslonto10 levillecolevilleCo hiram pagespagers f1peeppeep stonestonellstonefl fission to issourimissouriissourisouni back in ohio leaderdeader of mormon forces aagainstainstainest the mob president of church in zion activities in ohio calling the twelve powers of healing temple experiences kirtland safety society bank functions as president of zion v chapter page V 1 I ITIEHEREBYIEPYwerywepy itTRA7mra17 FROFRCT YOUR fellcwsktpfellunsthpi 62 dissentionsdissentiousDissentions of 1837 sims of davids disaffection A president with opposition digh4ighgh council places lonionzion presidency on trial zion rejects the presi dency david whitmer withdraws his fellowship VI ffbalafi2iBALAAM S ASS assoctaten mtrMTH y1m1ya LELTJNTS 72 more siens of apostasyapostacyapostacy sidney ri7donsrigdonsRigdons proclama- tion banished from far iestlestvestyest balsamsbalaamsbalaam1 s assaass A new church of christ in kirtland david is made presi- dent recognized error of nmovementovement 0 VII BUSPTBUSINESSlessIESS mahpahYANAN ATANDn citieciti7CITIZEN714.714 it110utWITHOUTo STAIN 83 established business cityolty councilman Tlayornayormayon of richmond widely known citizen businessr3ra growth and improvement season of interviews defense of a totonstomstonsmantomismantomsmanimsmanisnanman inte7cintegrityiteity braden lectures on ormonismformonisnmormonismOrmonism 4rittenbrittenitfcn up inn tiaazine111afazineTia azine of american itten i p history the respect o-ofL a tovnjovn VIII A witnessWITMESSWTTNESS PIrn DEFENSE OF A TESTIMONY 959 visited bv thousands becomes last witness chicago timesTiroesrmesmoes interview vivisitedsited by edward stevenson also dr poulson talkzalkzaik with james H hart apostles framfrom salt lake A valuable manuscript john murphy discord retortedreported by kansas city journal chicago tinestimes more mormon missionaries denies his testi- mony report of president james H moyiemoyle chicago interinteroceanicoceanicoceanictf rhitmeriflhitnerwhitmer not dead harris feeble minded IX THE manuscript controversy 107 two manusmanuscriptcrint copies of book of cormonvormoniyormon received lisIISMS from oliver cawder3cawderycowdery alsoaiso has history of church orsonor son pratt bouldxouldprocure l3y313ya church makes offer of 1001000000001ooo000 lpilmiimil6 lionsillions in church trtreasicreasitreasuryeasieasl r would use forgery to sanction polygamy church neverneven author- ized an offer orioorlooriginalinalinai r3raS in corner stone of nauvoo houseeouse YS now in independence ban-bankc vi chanter papepaget X caitrovsrsycuitrovy03t otthzt1ttth14 tletiieTIE joseptjosepirftzs11177s 117 iryr shithershitmerahitmer opens old wounds ltruelttrue church of christ missionary activities followed girl soothe sayer charreschareescharges and countercharrescountercharfescountercharres fallen prophet practical bolvoolvoolypamistanistlamis withered brancbranchi t1wornworn and weakenedveakened in mind and body david vhitmermiitmerwhitmer defended by nephew fiA letter to the president herald sources challenged the trial as david saw it Soothesoothesayersayer an innocent follower of christ fl david one of troblmobicded not a mobocrat XI TO ALL BELIEVERS INN CETTSICHRISTI1 128 error of mlellinismmlellinisinrichmonds church of christ ordained josephjosephss successor daviddavidss blessinblessingc ex- tent of church of christ commcommentsentsants of reorganized Chchurelchurchureiurelurdi Puthorsauthorsauthorsiftoeftoto all believers in aristhrist lf part first plea againestagainst prejudices 5 part second piesh ainst arm 0ofL fleshpleshi polygamy not to be floneone man mouth- piece 11 doctrine and covenants rejected objects to changes in revelations no hihaiginhigin priests chang- ing name of churchchurchechurchy
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