Editing David Whitmer (section)

{{short description|Book of Mormon witness (1805–1888)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography
 | name                = David Whitmer
 | image               = David Witmer.JPG
 | image_size          = 
 | alt                 = Photo of David Whitmer
 | caption             = 
 | birth_date          = {{birth date|1805|01|07}}
 | birth_place         = [[Harrisburg]], Pennsylvania, U.S.
 | home_town           = 
 | death_date          = {{death date and age|1888|01|25|1805|01|07}}
 | death_place         = [[Richmond, Missouri]], U.S.
 | death_cause         = 
 | resting_place       = Richmond Cemetery
 | resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|39.279|-93.986|type:landmark|display=inline|name=Richmond Cemetery}}
 | baptism_date        = June 3, 1829
 | known_for           = [[Three Witnesses|Book of Mormon Witness]]<br/>[[History of the Latter Day Saint movement#Organization of the Church of Christ|Founding Church Member]]
 | residence           = 
 | education           = 
 | alma_mater          = 
 | occupation          = 
 | employer            = 
 | organization        = 
 | notable_works       = [[s:A Proclamation by David Whitmer|A Proclamation]] (1881) <br/>[[s:An Address To Believers in the Book of Mormon|An Address To Believers in the Book of Mormon]] (1887)<br/>[[s:An Address to All Believers in Christ|An Address to All Believers in Christ]] (1887)
 | title               = 
 | spouse              = {{marriage|Julia Ann Jolly|1831}}
 | children            = 2
 | parents             = [[Peter Whitmer Sr.]]<br/>[[Mary Whitmer|Mary Musselman Whitmer]]
 | relatives           = [[Christian Whitmer]] <small>(brother)</small><br/>[[Jacob Whitmer]] <small>(brother)</small><br/>[[John Whitmer]] <small>(brother)</small><br/>[[Peter Whitmer Jr.]] <small>(brother)</small><br/>[[Hiram Page]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small><br/>[[Oliver Cowdery]] <small>(brother-in-law)</small>
 | awards              = 
 | signature           = David Whitmer Signature.jpg
 | signature_alt       = Signature of David Whitmer
 | website             = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
 | portals             = movement
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 | position_or_quorum1 = [[President of the Church]]<br/>([[Church of Christ (Whitmerite)|Church of Christ—Whitmerites]])
 | start_date1         = January 28, 1876
 | end_date1           = January 25, 1888
 | ordination_reason1  = Reorganized
 | successor1          = John C. Whitmer<ref name="deseretnews">There was no formal beginning. John C. Whitmer was baptized at the age of 44 on September 15, 1875, then ordained an Elder January 28, 1876 and commissioned to "go forth and preach the Gospel...organize a new church...was to be the first Elder." ({{cite news |last1=Jenson |first1=Andrew |last2=Stevenson |first2=Edward |last3=Black |first3=Joseph S. |author1-link=Andrew Jenson |author2-link=Edward Stevenson |author3-link=Joseph S. Black |title=Historical Landmarks |url=http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/deseretnews4,6807 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722175429/http://udn.lib.utah.edu/u?/deseretnews4,6807 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-22 |access-date=February 17, 2021 |work=[[Deseret News]] |issue=37 |date=September 26, 1888 |page=579}})</ref>
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 | position_or_quorum2 = [[President of the Church]]<br/>([[Church of Christ (Whitmerite)|Church of Christ—Whitmerites]])
 | start_date2         = September 7, 1847<ref name="EnsignOfLiberty">On this day David was "re-ordained" (according to his previous ordination by Joseph Smith on July 8, 1834) by [[William McLellin]], [[Hiram Page]], [[Jacob Whitmer]], & [[John Whitmer]]. This entailed "holy priesthood," "high priests," and a "presidency" framework. See {{cite news |last1=McLellin |first1=William E. |author1-link=William E. McLellin |title=Our Tour West in 1847 |url=https://archive.org/details/EnsignOfLiberty18471849/page/n98/mode/1up |access-date=February 17, 2021 |work=[[The Ensign of Liberty]] |issue=1|volume=7 |date=August 1849 |location=[[Kirtland, Ohio]] |pages=99–104}}.</ref>
 | ordination_reason2  = [[William E. McLellin]] asserted [[Succession crisis (Latter Day Saints)#David Whitmer|Whitmer's claim]]<ref>Whitmer did not seek the position but acknowledged that he was in fact ordained by Joseph Smith to succeed him. Whitmer was ordained a "prophet, seer, and revelator." ({{cite book|editor1-last=Bringhurst|editor1-first=Newell G.|editor2-last=Hamer|editor2-first=John C.|editor1-link=Newell G. Bringhurst|editor2-link=John C. Hamer|title=Scattering Of The Saints: Schism Within Mormonism|date=September 10, 2007|publisher=John Whitmer Books|location=[[Independence, Missouri]]|isbn=978-1-934-90102-1|page=59}})</ref>
 | end_date2           = ca. 1848<ref>McLellin was based in [[Kirtland, Ohio]]. Whitmer however never traveled to Kirtland or assisted McLellin to grow his branch. McClellin did have a publication called ''Ensign of Liberty'' which the Whitmer branch refused after June 1848.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}</ref>
 | end_reason2         = Separated from McLellin.
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 | position_or_quorum3 = [[Presiding High Council|President High Council]]
 | start_date3         = July 3, 1834
 | ordination_reason3  = Elected by vote of the Council.
 | end_date3           = January 1838
 | end_reason3         = Vote of the Council.
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 | position_or_quorum4 = [[Presiding High Council#Types of High Councils|President of Zion]]
 | start_date4         = July 7, 1834
 | end_date4           = February 5, 1838
 | end_reason4         = Vote of members.
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 | position_or_quorum5 = [[Latter Day Saint]] [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostle]]
 | called_by5          = [[Joseph Smith]]
 | start_date5         = June 1829
 | end_date5           = June 1838<ref name="Address">For the date Whitmer said he left the Mormons: [[s:An Address to All Believers in Christ|An Address to All Believers in Christ]], p. 8.</ref>
 | end_reason5         = Separated from the Church
<!--Political Office Holders  -->
 | political_office1   = [[Richmond, Missouri|Mayor of Richmond, Missouri]]<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Richmond Conservator]] |date=June 22, 1867 |location=[[Richmond, Missouri]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Liz |title=A Witness becomes mayor |url=http://archives.etypeservices.com/Richmond204/Magazine183115/Publication/Magazine183115.pdf |access-date=February 17, 2021 |work=[[Richmond News]] |date=September 1, 2017 |location=[[Richmond, Missouri]] |page=1 |quote=It is believed that upon the death of Mayor John Shaw, who was shot in the chest during the robbery of the Hughes & Wasson Bank in Richmond on May 23, 1867, Whitmer became mayor to fulfill Shaw’s mayoral term until Jan. 1, 1868. |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223030900/http://archives.etypeservices.com/Richmond204/Magazine183115/Publication/Magazine183115.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | term_start1         = May 23, 1867
 | term_end1           = January 1, 1868
 | office_predecessor1 = 
 | office_successor1   = 
 | political_office2   = Councilman
 | term_start2         = pre-1867
 | term_end2           = pre-1867
}}
'''David Whitmer''' (January 7, 1805 – January 25, 1888) was an early leader of the [[Latter Day Saint movement|Latter Day Saint Movement]] and one of the [[Three Witnesses]] to the [[Golden plates|gold plates]] of the [[Book of Mormon]]. Whitmer later distanced himself from [[Joseph Smith]] and was excommunicated from the church in 1838, but continued to affirm his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He was the most interviewed [[Book of Mormon witnesses|Book of Mormon witness]].