Christian Whitmer

Christian Whitmer (January 18, 1798 – November 27, 1835) was the eldest son of Peter Whitmer, Sr. and Mary Musselman. He is primarily remembered as one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates.

Christian Whitmer
Personal details
Born(1798-01-18)January 18, 1798
Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedNovember 27, 1835(1835-11-27) (aged 37)
Clay County, Missouri
Known ForOne of the Eight Witnesses
Spouse(s)Ann Schott
ParentsPeter Whitmer, Sr.
Mary Musselman

Biography

Born in Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Whitmer moved with his parents to New York in 1809. On February 22, 1825, he married Ann Schott (1801–1866) in Fayette, New York. In June 1829 he possibly assisted Joseph Smith with the translation of a few pages of the Book of Mormon by acting as his scribe.[1][2] That same month, Joseph Smith showed Whitmer, along with several of his brothers, the gold plates; Whitmer subsequently signed a declaration of the Eight Witnesses. On April 11, 1830, he and Ann were baptized into the newly organized Church of Christ. Upon its organization, Whitmer was made a teacher in the church.[3] They subsequently moved to Jackson County, Missouri, where Whitmer was appointed a leading elder of the church.

By 1835, Whitmer and his family had relocated to the new Latter Day Saint settlement of Far West, Missouri, where Whitmer was a member of the high council. He died there on November 27, 1835,[4] leaving no children. His widow, Ann, eventually returned to Fayette.

Notes
  1. Welch, John W. (2005). "The Miraculous Translation of the Book of Mormon". In Welch, John W. (ed.). Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations, 1820-1844. BYU Press. pp. 94–95.
  2. Skousen, Royal (2020-07-01). "Summary of Spelling in the Manuscripts and Editions, Part 6 of Volume 3, The History of the Text of the Book of Mormon". Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. "The Joseph Smith Papers: Minutes, 9 June 1830". The Church Historian's Press: The Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  4. "Died". Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate. Vol. 2. December 1835. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

References
  • Jenson, Andrew (1901). Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia: A compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, Utah: The Andrew Jenson History Company (Printed by The Deseret News Press). p. 276.
  • Keith W. Perkins, "True to the Book of Mormon—The Whitmers", Ensign, February 1989.
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