Peter Whitmer, Sr. Farm Home Fayette, New York, United States of America The Peter Whitmer, Sr. Farm Home served as the location for many important events in the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter-day Saints. Much of the Book of Mormon was translated here, the Three Witnesses were shown the plates in a wooded area near the home, and the Whitmer farm was the location of the organiza- tion of the Church. In late May 1829, David Whitmer received a letter from Joseph Smith requesting him to come to Pennsylvania and bring Joseph and Oliver Cowdery back to Fayette where they could finish the translation of the Book of Mormon. David had a unique experience which helped serve as a The Peter Whitmer, Sr. Farm Home witness from God that it was necessary for him Photo courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh to leave his crops and travel to Pennsylvania.1 He arranged for Joseph and Oliver to move Fayette whether they were satisfied that we should pro- and board with his father, Peter Whitmer, Sr. until ceed and be organized as a Church according the work of translating the Book of Mormon was to said commandment which we had received. complete. To these several propositions they consented by Shortly after his arrival in Fayette, Jo- a unanimous vote. I then laid my hands upon seph received a revelation in June 1829 that Oli- Oliver Cowdery, and ordained him an Elder ver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris of the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day would obtain a view of the plates, the breastplate, Saints;’ after which, he ordained me also to the the sword of Laban, and the Urim and Thummim.2 office of an Elder of said Church. We then The four retired to a forest near the Whitmer home took bread, blessed it, and brake it with them; where Moroni appeared to them and showed them also wine, blessed it, and drank it with them. the aforementioned items. We then laid our hands on each individual On Tuesday, April 6, 1830, The Church of member of the Church present, that they might Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially or- receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and be con- ganized with six members: Joseph Smith, Jr., Oli- firmed members of the Church of Christ. The ver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Holy Ghost was poured out upon us to a very Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer.3 In relation great degree—some prophesied, whilst we all to the meeting, Joseph stated the following: praised the Lord, and rejoiced exceedingly. “On Tuesday, the sixth day of April, A. D., We now proceeded to call out and ordain some one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Hav- others of the brethren to different offices of the ing opened the meeting by solemn prayer to our Priesthood, according as the Spirit manifested Heavenly Father, we proceeded, according to unto us: and after a happy time spent in wit- previous commandment, to call on our brethren nessing and feeling for ourselves the powers and to know whether they accepted us as their teach- blessings of the Holy Ghost, through the grace ers in the things of the Kingdom of God, and of God bestowed upon us, we dismissed with 2 Peter Whitmer, Sr. Farm Home, Fayette, New York, United States of America the pleasing knowledge that we were now in- The Three Witnesses’ Experience dividually members of, and acknowledged of God, “The Church of Jesus Christ,” orga- nized in accordance with commandments and 1 revelations given by Him to ourselves in these Joseph Smith last days, as well as according to the order of “Not many days after.... we four, viz., Mar- the Church as recorded in the New Testament. tin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Several persons who had attended the above myself, agreed to retire into the woods, and try to meeting, became convinced of the truth and obtain, by fervent and humble prayer, the fulfil- came forward shortly after, and were received ment of the promises given in the above revela- into the Church; among the rest, my own father tion—that they should have a view of the plates. and mother were baptized, to my great joy and We accordingly made choice of a piece of woods consolation; and about the same time, Martin convenient to Mr. Whitmer’s house, to which we Harris and Orrin Porter Rockwell.” 4 retired, and having knelt down, we began to pray in much faith to Almighty God to bestow upon us In 1926, Elder B. H. Roberts purchased a realization of these promises. 120 acres on behalf of the Church at the location According to previous arrangement, I com- of the Peter Whitmer, Sr. farm.5 The original lo- menced prayer to our Heavenly Father, and was cation of the site was located in 1946-47 and, in followed by each of the others in succession. We 1979, a replica was constructed.6 President Spen- did not at the first trial, however, obtain any answer cer W. Kimball dedicated the site on April 6, 1980 or manifestation of divine favor in our behalf. We in a General Conference broadcast commemorat- again observed the same order of prayer, each call- ing the sesquicentennial of the organization of the ing on and praying fervently to God in rotation, Church. but with the same result as before. Upon this, our second failure, Martin Har- SOURCES ris proposed that he should withdraw himself from us, believing, as he expressed himself, that his pres- 1 Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, Revised and Enhanced, ence was the cause of our not obtaining what we edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor (Salt wished for. He accordingly with drew from us, and Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996). we knelt down again, and had not been many min- 2 See Doctrine & Covenants 17. utes engaged in prayer, when presently we beheld 3 a light above us in the air, of exceeding bright- Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (Salt ness; and behold, an angel stood before us. In his Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hands he held the plates which we had been pray- 1932-1951), 1: 80. ing for these to have a view of. He turned over the leaves one by one, so that we could see them, and 4 Ibid, 1:74-79. discern the engravings theron distinctly. He then 5 Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History, edited by Arnold K. addressed himself to David Whitmer, and said, Garr, Donald Q. Cannon, & Richard O. Cowan (Salt Lake ‘David, blessed is the Lord, and he that keeps His City: Deseret Book, 2000), 1339. commandments;’ when, immediately afterwards, 6 Ibid. we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying, “These plates have been revealed by the power Peter Whitmer, Sr. Farm Home, Fayette, New York, United States of America 3 of God, and they have been translated by the tween three and four o’clock. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. power of God. The translation of them which Smith, and myself were sitting in a bedroom, my- you have seen is correct, and I command you to self on a bedside. When Joseph came in, he threw bear record of what you now see and hear.’” himself down beside me and exclaimed, ‘Father! Mother! You do not know how happy I am. The I now left David and Oliver, and went in Lord has caused the plates to be shown to three pursuit of Martin Harris, whom I found at a con- more besides me. They have also seen an angel siderable distance, fervently engaged in prayer. He and will have to testify to the truth of what I have soon told me, however, that he had not yet pre- said, for they know for themselves that I do not vailed with the Lord, and earnestly requested me go about to deceive the people. I do feel as though to join him in prayer, that he also might realize the I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was al- same blessings which we had just received. We ac- most too much for me to endure. But they will cordingly joined in prayer, and ultimately obtained now have to bear a part, and it does rejoice my soul our desires, for before we had yet finished, the that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the same vision was opened to our view, at least it was world.’ again opened to me, and I once more beheld and Martin Harris then came in. He seemed heard the same things; whilst at the same moment, almost overcome with an excess of joy. He then Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an ecstasy testified to what he had seen and heard, as did also of joy, ‘Tis enough; ‘tis enough; mine eyes have be- the others, Oliver and David, who added that no held; mine eyes have beheld;’ and jumping up, he tongue could express the joy of their hearts and shouted, ‘Hosanna,’ blessing God, and otherwise the greatness of the things which they had both rejoiced exceedingly.” seen and heard. Their testimony was the same in substance as that in the Book of Mormon.” Lucy Mack Smith2 “The next morning after breakfast, we re- David Whitmer Interview on September 7, 18783 paired to the sitting room, and after attending the Elder Orson Pratt: “Do you remember what morning service, namely reading, singing, and pray- time you saw the plates?” ing, Joseph arose from his knees and approached David Whitmer: “It was in June, 1829, the Martin with a solemnity which thrills through my latter part of the month, and the eight witnesses veins to this day, whenever it comes to my recol- saw them, I think, the next day or the day after (i.