RICHMOND, Mo., Dec. 9th, 1886.
Dear Brethren—I regret
that one of the Editors of the Herald has seen fit to cast a shadow over
the honor and integrity of Bro. David Whitmer, the last witness to the divinity
of the Book of Mormon—a man whose past record is beyond reproach. I can account
for it only in this light: That he began to fear lest some of the Saints should
leave the Reorganized Church and come into the Church of Christ; so he has been
tempted to do all he could toward destroying the good influence of Bro. David.
I desire to show the brethren what brothers Joseph and Alexander think of the
honesty and integrity of David Whitmer. When they were here a few years ago,
Bro. Joseph told Bro. David Whitmer that he believed in the integrity of his
heart, and believed that he loved his father (Joseph). Bro. Alexander said to
Bro. David Whitmer’s wife as follows: “Before mother died, she told us to visit
the Whitmers, that they were good people; and when we saw David Whitmer we
would see an honest man.” I will also give you here the names of old citizens
of Richmond, over half of whom have known David Whitmer since he came here in
1838. The following is taken from a leaflet published by him in 1881, and sent
forth in affirming his testimony to the Book of Mormon because of some false
reports being circulated.
We, the undersigned citizens of Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, where
Daivd Whitmer has resided since the year A.D. 1838, certify that we have been
long and intimately acquainted with him and known him to be a man of the
highest integrity, and of undoubted truth and veracity. Given at Richmond,
Missouri, this March, 19th, 1881:--A. W. Doniphan (the lawyer who defended the
Saints in 1838); George W. Dunn, judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit; T. D. Woodson,
president of Ray county bank; J. T. Child, editor of Consecrator; H. C.
Garner, cashier of Ray county bank; W. A. Holman, county treasurer; J. S.
Hughes, banker, Richmond; James Hughes, banker, Richmond; James W. Black, attorney
at law; L. C. Cantwell, postmaster, Richmond; George I. Wasson, mayor; James A.
Davis, county collector; C. J. Hughes, probate judge; George W. Trigg, county
clerk; W. W. Mosby, M.D.; J. P. Amssinberry, merchant; W. R. Holman, merchant;
George W. Buchanan, M. D.; A. K. Reyburn, and others.
Your brother in the faith of Christ,
John C. Whitmer. (John C. Whitmer, Letter, December 9, 1886, repr. The
Saints’ Herald 34, no. 6 [February 5, 1887]: 89)
So we see that all they had against me was for “not keeping the Word
of Wisdom,” and disbelieving some of Joseph’s revelations, and not teaching
them. You will notice the remarks of the writer in the Herald about me
not keeping the Word of Wisdom; I have this to say: If he drinks tea or coffee,
or violates the Word of Wisdom in the least particular, I want him to read in Matt.
7:5, what Christ calls the man who says to his brother, “Let me pull out the
mote from your eye, when behold a beam is in his own eye.” As for me, my
conscience does not condemn me for not keeping the word of Wisdom; but those
who believe it to be of God, if they violate it in the least particular,
their conscience can not be clear of doubt; and he that partakes with doubt is
condemned. (David Whitmer, Letter, December 9, 1886, repr. The
Saints’ Herald 34, no. 6 [February 5, 1887]: 90)
Responding to the
rumor that he encouraged “the Missouri mobocrats to push their persecutions
against the Church in 1838—which finally resulted in the death of Joseph and
Hyrum in 1844”:
Brethren, it is ridiculous; it is wrong; it is an injury to an
innocent man; and an injury to the cause and to my testimony of the Book of
Mormon! It is an abomination in the sight of God, and he will justly reward all
those who have originated such falsehoods about me!! (David Whitmer, Letter,
December 9, 1886, repr. The
Saints’ Herald 34, no. 6 [February 5, 1887]: 90)
The “choice seer” spoken of in the Book of Mormon is not brother Joseph.
I will give you here a brief outline concerning this “Choice Seer” who is yet
to come forth. The man who is not learned (in 2 Nephi 11:18), refers to
Bro. Joseph. But the “Choice Seer” (in 2 Nephi 2) is another man. He is
to come from the American Indians. He is to come from the fruit of the loins of
Joseph (of Egypt), that seed being the “branch which was to be broken off” at
Jerusalem, to whom this land was consecrated for their inheritance forever—being
Lehi and his seed; Lehi’s seed being “little Joseph,” who received this
blessing from his father Lehi, that his seed should not utterly be destroyed;
for out of this seed, which should not all be destroyed (the Indians)
should come this “Choice Seer.” This is the interpretation of this chapter.
This “Choice Seer will be an Indian. His name will be Joseph, and his father’s
name Joseph. He is to translate sealed records yet to come forth (spoken of in
1 Nephi 11:18). “And not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but
to the convincing them of my word.” How many Indians did Bro. Joseph
convince? He never preached a sermon to them in his life. May God help you,
brethren, to understand this chapter, for it can only be understood by the
enlightening power of the Holy Ghost. It is very plain to me. I will speak in
full on this matter hereafter. (David Whitmer, Letter, repr. The
Saints’ Herald 34, no. 6 [February 5, 1887]: 91)
