Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-20
THE BOOK OF MORMON.
WHITMER. JOE SMITHS AssO
CIATE, ON HIS DEATH-BED,

WHITdER, JOE SMITHS ASSO-
CIATE, ON HIS DEATH-BED,
De Describee the Translation of the
Golden Tablets at Which He Assisted
The Angel in the Pasture-His Ha-
tired of Polygamy-Hi Services in the
Church.
From the Chicago Tribune.
RICHMOND, Mo-, Dec. 15.--David Whit
mer, one OF the founders of the Mormon
Church, and d resident of this quaint and
interesting village for almost a half CEN
fury, lies at the point of death. At the
family homestead are gathered the chill
dren. grandchildren and gFeat-grandehil-
dren of the dying patriarch, and beside
bis death-bed is the devoted woman who
linked her life and fortune with his more
than fifty years ago. When your cores
pondent called at the house to-day and
was summoned into the bed-chamber
where Father Wbitmer was calmly await
ing the final summons, smile lighted up
the old mans countenance as he half rose
and feebly pressed the visitor
hand. and then, as If overcome by the
effort, his head sunk back on the pillows.
When told of the VISITORS mission, and
that be had journeyed from Chicago to
prepare an historical sketch of one who
had played so important a part in trans
lating the Mormon Bible and PROSECUTING
for the Mormon church, the request tor
Information met with a cheerful response.
Fearing, however, that the task would be
TOO great the family deputed member of
the household to relate the history in the
presence Of Father Whitmer, the narra-
ton being closely followed by him and
subjected to frequent corrections and in
terp0lauOns,
David Whitmer was born in Pennsylva-
MIA Jan. 6, 1905. While David was vet an
infant his father, who served his country
through the Revolutionary war, removed
with his family to Western New York
and settledsOn farm IN Ontario county,
near Watkins Glen. The father, who was
a hard-working, God-leariRg man, was a
strict Presbyterian and brought his
children up with rigid. sectarian discip-
line. Besides a daughter, who married
Oliver Cowdery, the village schoOl-master
there were four sons-Jacob, John, David
and Christian-who helped their father
I'LL his farm until they had
arrived at the age of manhood.
During the early part of June, 1929,
Oliver Cowdery incidentally learned that
a young man named Joseph Smith had
found a valuable golden treasure in the
northern part of the county, and i'm
parted the information to David. They
decided to investigate the rumor, and
Cowdery Travelled to the home OF Smith
Tor that purpose. On the road he found
me community teeming with excitement
over the alleged treasure and heard sew
eral persons threaten to kill the finder I'M
less be divided his wealth with them.
when asked how they knew such treas
lLe had been found, several asserted that
taey had seen the receptacle from which
II was taken by Smith. COwdery, as
sured that there was more to the vague
Iumors than he had at first believed,
pushed on to the home of Smith, who was
living on his fathers farm near Manches-
Ter. At first he found Smith inclined to
oe uncommunicative, but was finally per-
mltted to view the treasure, and was
greatly impressed by the sight. In fact
ms W0nderment was so great that he at
OAce wrote to David TO come without
DELAY. David did SO and was equally
|mysti6ed.
lle treasure consisted Of number Of
y zen plates, about eight inches long
ava seven inches wide, about as thick as
urinary sheet-tin. and bound together in
,ue FORM OF volume by three gold rings.
large portion of the volume was secure
sealed, but on the loose pages were
.ugfaved hieroglyphics expressive OF
some language at that time unknown to
#ely Of the persons mentioned. Together
WIN the golden tablets were pair OF
pectacles, set in silver bows.
Ar. Whitmer then described Smiths
ofy or the vision in which the location
Inc plates was revealed, with the his
uy OF he Nephites, Moronps labor, and
ullih's finding OF the tablets, with which
very one is familiar.
TRANSMITTING THE PLATES.
Whitmer and Cowdery were greatly I'M
essed by the recital OF this strange sto-
and were conducted TO the hill, where
KY personally viewed the receptacle in
.icn Moroni, at the beginning Of the
20 century, he'd concealed the history
W. fathers. Smith also said that he
oeen commanded to at once begin the
quslati0n OF the work IN the presence Of
zee Witnesses. In accordance with this
umand, Smith, C0wdery aud Whitmer
oSeeded 10 the latter's home, accompa-
~ oy SMITHS wife, and bearing with
IN the precious plates and spectacles.
w mouse OF the senior Whitmer was
lullliYe and poorly designed structure,
~ was deemed the most secure
carrying out the sacred trust, on
cunt Of the threats that had
made against Smith by his
cenary neighb0rs. In order 10 give
Facy 70 the proceeding a blanket,
I'm served as a porliere, was stretched
oss the family living room 10 shelter
Uanslators and the plates from the
Oh any who might call at the house
Ae lhe work was in progress. This,
"hitner SAYS, was the only use
ue OF the blanket, and 1t was not for
. purpose Of concealing the plates or
translator from the eyes Of the amanu-
In fact, Smith was at no time
Zen lrom his collaboratore, and the
lsl ston was performed In the pres
9i moi only the persons mentioned,
ol the hntire Whitner household and
lal OF imith's relatives besides.
ne Wort Of tranelating the tablets con-
su abnt eight months, Smith acting
W. sect and Oliver Cowdery. Smiths
aud Christian Whitmer, brother Of
fll, nGiOrmcd tho dufioa OF amanu-