Part
I - Doctrine and Covenants
Thought: {March 1, 1883 Wilford Woodruff 76 years of
Age} This is my birth day. I have lived to see 76 years in the flesh this day
at 10 o'clock. Through the Blessing of God I have lived to reach this age and
Am in the Enjoyment of good health. I thank my Heavenly Father for this great
Blessing, and Especially that I have lived to receive the fulness of the
Everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ and have been blessed with the Apostleship
and have the great honor of being the President of the Twelve Apostles of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and through the Blessings of God
have been Enabled in Connexion with my family of Being Baptized for about 3,000
of my Dead relatives and Also through the Assistance of friend I have been
Enabled to get Endowments in the Temple of St George for about 2,500 of my
relatives Besides having Been Baptized in the font of St George Temple for 100
Eminent Men including all the Signers of the Declaration of Independence of the
United States. For these Blessings I feel to thank my Heavenly Father and
Praise his Holy Name. My wife Phebe W Carter Woodruff has been preserved unto
me we having been Married 49 years the 13 day of next month April. This is also
my wife Emma Birth day Making her 45 years old today she being born March 1,
1838.
WHITMER FAMILY
1. Peter Whitmer Sr. -
A.
Born April 14, 1773 - Pennsylvania
B.
Married Mary Musselman who was shown the plates by an angel.
C.
Eight children; David, Jacob, John, Peter Jr., Christian, Elizabeth Ann
(Oliver’s wife), Catherine (
Hiram Page’s wife). A daughter, Nancy, died in infancy.
D.
Attended Zion’s Church, a German Presbyterian Church before his conversion.
E.
His property was a very important site in early Church history.
1)
Book of Mormon translation completed 2) Three Witnesses saw plates on his
property 3)
Church Organized in his home 4) First three Church Conferences held in his
home.
F.
Baptized into Church April 18, 1830.
G.
Moved family to Kirtland in 1831.
H.
Moved family to Jackson County Mo. In 1831-2.
I. Moved to Clay County in 1833.
J.
Moved to Far West, Mo. where he left Church in 1838 with 3 sons; David, Jacob
and John.
K.
Moved to Richmond, Mo. where he died in 1854 at the age of 81.
L. 11official
witnesses to the Book of Mormon included 5 of his sons and 2 sons-in-law.
2. David Whitmer - 4th
son
A.
Born January 7, 1805 in a small trading post near Harrisburg, Penn.
B.
Raised in Fayette, New York.
C.
Friend of Oliver Cowdery - Baptized in June, 1829
D.
Traveled 200 miles to move Joseph, Emma and Oliver into his family home.
E.
One of three witnesses to Book of Mormon and one of 6 original members of
Church.
F.
Married Julia Ann Jolly on January 9, 1831.
G.
Moved to Kirtland and then to Mo. In 1831.
H.
Pres. of the Church in Mo. In 1834. (A position of such stature that the
presidency of the stake in Mo. sat on the
stand with 1st Presidency of the Church at the Kirtland Temple dedication.)
I.
Rebelled against prophet in 1837, excommunicated in April 13, 1838. (At this
time many were proposing that David
replace Joseph as the head of the Church.)
J.
Joined reorganized church in 1846-7, but not with enthusiasm.
K.
Organized Church of Christ in 1870.
L.
Mayor of Richmond, Mo. 1867-8.
M.
Operated a livery and feed stable for nearly quarter of century.
N.
Died in Richmond bearing testimony of Book of Mormon on death bed, Jan. 25,
1888.
3. John Whitmer- 3rd
son
A.
Born August 27, 1802. Fayette, New York
B.
Worked as scribe for Book of Mormon and Bible and as Church Historian.
C. Baptized
by Oliver shortly after Joseph & Oliver's arrival in Fayette. One of 8
witnesses.
D.
Carried revelations to Mo. w/ Oliver to be printed in Book of Commandments.
E. Editor of Messenger and Advocate in Kirtland.
F.
Purchased land for Church in Far West, Mo.
G.
Offered self as hostage to stop abuse of mobs in Mo.
H.
Excommunicated in March, 1838 for unchristian-like conduct related to sale of
lands in Mo. when he refused to be
called into account financially ($2000) or to appear at councils.
I.
Purchased cheap land in Far West after Saints expelled and stayed for rest of
life.
J.
Died in Far West, July 11, 1878, the last of the 8 Witnesses.
4. Peter Whitmer Jr.-
5th son
A.
Born September 27, 1809, Fayette, New York, the fifth son.
B.
Served as scribe to translation and was one of 8 Witnesses to Book of Mormon.
C.
Baptized by Oliver Cowdery in June 1829. Made Elder in June 1830.
D.
Went on mission to Lamanites in 1831 with Oliver, Parley and Ziba Peterson in
Oct. 1830.
E.
Became tailor and made suits for Alexander Doniphan and Lilburn W. Boggs.
F.
Died September 22, 1836 near Liberty, Mo. Ten months after the death of his
brother Christian, who was a fellow
witness to the Book of Mormon who also died in the faith.
5. Christian Whitmer-1st
son
A.
Born January 18, 1898, in Pennsylvania. The eldest of the Whitmer children
B.
Married Anna Schott in 1825. They had no children. He and Jacob married
sisters.
C.
Witness of Book of Mormon. He and Ann baptized in 1830.
D. A
shoemaker, served in bishopric, member of first Mo. High Council.
E.
Threatened with death in Mo. with pointed guns if he would not deny his
testimony.
F.
Died November 27, 1835 of infections after suffering for years with a growth on
leg.
6. Hiram Page
A.
Born in Vermont, 1800
B.
Married Catherine Whitmer November 10, 1825
C.
One of 8 Witnesses
D.
Baptized April 11, 1830.
E.
Found Seer Stone in Sept. 1830. (D&C 28).
E. Nearly
whipped to death by mobs in Jackson County when he posed as his wife.
F.
Left Church when his brothers-in law lost their membership
G.
Called a Dr. earlier in his life, but was apparently not schooled to be such.
Listed in census of 1850 as a
farmer.
H.
Died in 1852.
7. Jacob Whitmer- 2nd
son
A.
Born January 27, 1800 in Pennsylvania.
B.
Married Elizabeth Schott in 1825. They had 9 children.
C.
One of 8 Witnesses. Baptized with wife April 11, 1830.
D.
Left Church when his brothers did.
E.
Settled in Richmond, Mo. Made living as shoemaker and farmer.
F.
Died April 21, 1856.
8. Elizabeth Whitmer
A.
Baptized by Oliver Cowdery in 1830
B.
Married Oliver in 1832
C.
Testified that her husband had been true to his testimony 37 years after his
death.
Sections 14, 15, 16 - Joseph used the Urim and Thummim
14:7 - When
Moroni showed the plates to the 3 Witnesses he turned directly to David &
said, "David blessed is he that endureth to the end." (BH
Roberts Conference Report, October 1926, p.126)
15&16:4-6
- Have you ever wondered what you could do that would be of most worth?
Section 17 - Ether 5:2-4; 2 Nephi 11:3
Vs. 1 - Why did the Lord insure that the plates and
the other sacred objects were passed down from generation to generation?
Further, why were they preserved to be seen by the Three Witnesses? One reason
is that they serve as evidence that the events of the Book of Mormon are true.
Each of the sacred objects that were seen by the Three Witnesses stands as
proof to the world that the Book of Mormon people and events are real. There
are those who have argued that the events recounted in the Book of Mormon are
simply a story told to illustrate various points or doctrines. Such a view
would discount the reality of the appearance of Moroni to the youthful Joseph
Smith. Similarly, the brass plates and the sword of Laban as seen by the
witnesses evidenced the existence of Nephi and the account he wrote concerning
his obtaining the brass plates by beheading Laban with Laban's own sword.
Lehi's journey through the wilderness and his travels to the Americas are
evidenced by the witnesses viewing the Liahona. The many records, along with
the Urim and Thummim and the breastplate witnessed that the translation of the
Book of Mormon occurred just as the Prophet Joseph Smith declared.David Whitmer
described, "We not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but also the
brass plates, the plates of the Book of Ether, the plates containing the record
of the wickedness and secret combinations of the people of the world down to
the time of their being engraved, and many other plates. The fact is, it was
just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting just here on a log, when we
were overshadowed by a light. It was not like the light of the sun nor like
that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I
cannot tell how far, but in the midst of this light about as far off as he sits
(pointing to John C. Whitmer, sitting a few feet from him), there appeared, as
it were, a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the
Book of Mormon" (Millennial Star, 49:772). There is no other
account of anyone else seeing the Liahona in the latter days except for the
vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses on this
occasion.
Vs. 2 - Tis
enough; 'tis enough; mine eyes have beheld; mine eyes have beheld;' and jumping
up, he shouted, 'Hosanna,' blessing God, and otherwise rejoiced
exceedingly" (Smith, History of the Church, 1:55).
Vs. 3 - David Henry Cannon met with
both Martin Harris and David Whitmer in 1861. Concerning the testimony he heard
Martin Harris bear, he stated, "There was a feeling accompanied his
testimony, when he bore it, that I have never experienced either before or
since in any man that I ever heard bear testimony" (Evans, Cannon
Family Historical Treasury, 250). Regarding the experience with David
Whitmer, he explained, "There was a feeling accompanied this testimony
which was similar to the one I experienced with Martin Harris" (Evans, Cannon
Family Historical Treasury, 251). Similarly, George A. Smith expressed,
"We loved to hear brother Oliver testify, we were blessed with his
witness" (Journal of Discourses, 17:200). Wilford Woodruff
concurred, "I have seen Oliver Cowdery when it seemed as though the earth
trembled under his feet. I never heard a man bear a stronger testimony than he
did when under the influence of the Spirit" (Collected Discourses,
1:220).
Section 18 -
Vs. 1- Joseph
asked Oliver to write a foundational document for the organization of the
Church. Oliver asked Joseph to ask the Lord for help. D&C 18 is the answer.
Vs. 2 -
Savior's testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.
Vs. 3 - Rely
upon the things written in the Book of Mormon.
Vs. 4 - 5 -The Book of Mormon had to be published
before the Church was organized for it was the FOUNDATION. The Rock is the Testimony of Jesus-See Hel.
5:12; D&C 33:12-13; Matt. 16:15-19 - The Rock of REVELATION.
"Gospel" see 3 Nephi 11:31-39
Vs. 8 - "Joseph" usually means "the
Lord addeth" possible taken from the Hebrew "Asaph" with meaning
of he who causes to return or gather. A great name for the prophet of the
Restoration.
Vs. 9
Brigham Young taught that David, Oliver and Joseph were the 1st apostles in
this dispensation. Martin was added later. These men were instructed to find
and ordain 12 others who would form the quorum of 12 in 1835. An apostle is a
special witness of events.
Vs. 10- A
"redeemed soul' is the object of most worth. The price paid is the
precious blood of Christ. We determine the worth by the price paid. Thus vs. 13.
Vs. 15-16 -
My favorite verses in this section. Look at them from a family perspective.
Vs. 22 -
Remember D&C 14:7
