Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-06-29
DAVID ]. WHITnER DEAD,
A Missouri Paper R5Yi,TS lbe Itsii.
mOly Of His Father, David
Wilmer
one Of Tho Ibres wiiuessos 10 tho
BnoH Of Mormon - tue 'ust"d'"" "'
tho Primers nRnuscfir'.

Witnesses 10 the Book OF Mormon ulaA
al Richmond. Clay county, Missouri
His funeral took place from the family
residence at 10 a. M, on June 10Th, and
the body was inferred 10 Che new GENE
terry at that place David J WINNER
received from his ia,hcr and retained 100
his possession the manasci1t from
which the printers set the type for the
6fs. edition Of the Book 20. Mormon
noi:ihe original manuscript 800 English
but the original transcript taken there
lrom-pf.1ied in New York Boo la'y The
Richmond DtHJfydf OF June i5,h, has
an article relating thereto, under the
heading. 1.-THE Original Transcript
The Origin Of the Mormon Bible
Owned by the Late David Wnlimer '
which /, reproduced here Much Of %
was published ~ the NEWs at the time
Of David Whtmcrs death, but IN COM
aection with the demise Of his son will
again prove interesting reading I"e
Dcm0rJaf says.
In connection with the sad death OF
David j. Whitmer yesterday we rs'
publish an article which appeared In the
Dsn5gag 90 isss nc the time Of the
death OF David Whimcr ST. % being
the last interview with that famous
Mormon disciple. IL Is what he said
Just be ore his death IN speaking Ol the
origin OF the Mormon BiDlc.
He was the last TO 30 OF the three
Witnesses to "the divine authenticity OF
the record OF the Ncphltes,' and a, the
history Of this BOOK OF Mormon is not
much known, we think this fitting
occasion to repeat what Mr., Wm,mcr
has often said ON tic subject taken ln
part hOm an article wrtun by Joe
Johnson, OF the Piatts1urg DsMJEylk Il
is as follows:
When he was % years OF age aud
working ON hi, fathers farm near
Palmyra, New York, al that section Of
country was more or less excited over
the reported discovery by Joseph Smith
Vi the gold plates from which the Book
Of Mormon was translated. Diver Cow
derry, the village school teacher, men'
toned the matter to him and announced
his determination 10 visit Smith and In.
ycsligaie the matter tot himself, promis.
ing Mr.. Whtmcr. at the laIer's request,
to advise him OF the result. a few days
later he received letter from CuwdcTy
urging him to join him, which he did,
being received by the "Pfuphsr with
open arms. Alter remaining long enough
to satisfy himself OF the divine inspira.
ton Of Smith, the three returned to
Whltmcr's home. where 1t was agreed
the work ol translation should be pros.
ecuicd.
shortly after his return, and while he
was blowing in the field one afternoon,
he was visited by Smith and CowIery.
who requested that he should accom-.
pany them into the woods on a hill
across the road Tor tue purpose OF
Witnessing a manifestation that should
qualify he 80 COwdery to bear witness
to the divine authenticity OF The Book vi
Mormon, Smith explaining that such
procedure was IN accordance with eX-
pliclt instructions he had received from
the angel OF the Lord.
Repairing 10 the woods they engaged
in prayer for = short time, when sudd a..
ly great light shonu round about them
Tar brighter and more dazzling than the
brilllancy OF the noon day sun, seem.
inglY cnveloping the wood Tor a con.
siderable distance. A spirit OF cleya.
ton seized him as OF Joy Understandable
and a strange influence stole over him
which so cntranced him that he felt that
he was chained to the spot A moment
later and divine parsonage clothed Ia
white ralment appeared unto them, and
Immediately in front OF the parsonage
stood a table on which lay number VI
gold plates, some brass plates, the "Uum
and Thummin' and the Sword OF
l-aban." All OF these they were directed
TO examine carefully and after their cx.
animation they we're told that the ord
would demand that they bear witness
thereof to all the world. These plates
were engraved with characters termed
in the Book OF MormUn "reiJmed
Egyptian characters unknown to the
linguists Of the present day, which h.
claimed as iulhlment Of the prophecy
oi lsaiah'
"And the word OF the Lord has be-
come unto them as the leave, VI a book
which Is sealed, aud which Is delivered
unto him that Is learned. saying. Read
this, pray thee, and he 5aycth, can
not, Tor II Is sealed, etc,
a slip Of paper containing iaDt sim.
pie Ol these characters, traced by Joseph
smith, was submitted to the celebrate d
Professor Aulhon and others and all
confessed their inability TO translate
them, recognizing in them Characters
ties OF several ancient alph1Uyls. This
slip IS still in Mr.. Whitmcr's possession
and IS cherished with the same sacred
care that he bgstuWI ON the original
manuscript Of the Book vi Mormon,
which he also has,
While describing this vision TO us. ail
traces OF severe cold from which Doc
was suffering disappeared Tor the time
being, his form aira'.htguui, his g0uute
nance assumed almost "a uyauhel gN
preston and hIa tones became strangely
eloquent Although evidently no STUDIED
e.olt, the description was "a magnificent
piece OF wood painting, and he carue'
lls hearers with him to that lonely u,l
3y the old farm aud they stood Their.
with him awcd ~ the divine presence.
Skgpuc5 may laugh luI sc1u Il tley
"Ili, but no man can listen o. Ma. Wait
uer as he talks OF his Interview Wtl Oh.
angels Of the Lord, without hcing most
.oTclby convinced that he has heard ar
honest man tell what he honestly l.
lcyts 10 be true,
The result of this vision was pro
-.amJuyn setting forth ,he facts cnuur
sIatuI.
The 'UuIm and THummn" mentioned
the account VI the vision we've "a pair
IT tan parent stone sprcWcl.g, Smit
Would put ON the SpCCAClg5. when a few
words OF the text of the Boo. of Nor
mon would IUnTlF tu f.fH 1.r... l.f...r