The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-08-17
MORMONS
To HONOR
WHITMER
kMkEENTMM m
Richmond, No., Man, HsIped
TO Translate the Book
Of Mormon

Richmond, Mo Aug. IA marble
SHAFT is to mark the grave of David
! Whitman, one OF the early leaders OF
THE Latter Day Saints, in the old
cemetery here Mr. Whitman was
zone OF the three witnesses to the
translation Of the Book Of Mormon
Iby Joseph Smith, the prophet, from
the plates of gold In him was cen
tered much Of the proof to the Saints
of the divine Inspiration of Joseph
Smith
When the Saints were driven out
of Independence and Jackson county
early in the sos, Mr. Whitmer accom-
panied Joseph Smith and others OF
the faithful to the settlement Of far
West InsIS3S he came to Richmond
and lived here until his death in 1881
He, like thousands Of others who re-
Imained in Missouri, Illinois and Iowa
when Brigham Young led the exodus
to Utah, refused to accept the alleged
forged revelations published by Young
including that of pOlygamy, and unit
/ ed under the leadership OF the pres
ent Joseph Smith OF Independence in
/ the re-organized church of Jesus
1 Christ of Latter Day Saints
Heard the Story Many Times
George w. Schweich, a grandson Of
Mr. Whitmer, lives in Richmond To
him the grandfather told many times
I the story Of the translation of the
plates. Joseph Smith, founder of the
lchurch said he was guided by holy
visions to the Hill of Cumorah, about
twenty miles from Seneca Falls, ~ r.
! Io t.Io frh
fhad been re called to him in q vision
The translation Of the plates is said
/ TO have been completed IN the Whit
mer home.
II have heard my grandfather tell
hundreds of times Of that wonderful
day" Mr.. Schweich said today He
always said Joseph Smith was a true
prophet OF God and translated the
I Book Of Mormon word for word as
revealed to him through the power
OF Cod through the medium of the
gold plates
"a piece of something like parch-
n ant would appear, my grandfather
said, and on that appeared writing.
J one character at time would ap'
/ lear and under it was the interpre-
tation in English BrotheA Joseph
would read off the English to oliver
Cowdery, his principal scribe, anu
when it was written down and repeat
ed 10 Brother Joseph to see if it was
correct, then it would disappear"
Told What They Saw
/ In the front of the so-called Nor
mon Bible appears the testimony OF
David Whitmer and two other wit
inesses to the translation of the book
/ In this Whitmer declared:
BE It known unto all nations, kin
dreds, tongues and people unto whom
this work shall come, that we,
through the grace OF God the Father,
and our Lord Jesus Christ have seen
the plates which contain this record,
which is record OF the people OF
Nephi. and also of the Lamanites,
their brethren, and also Of the people
OF Jared, who came from the tower
OF which hath been spoken; and we
also know that they have been trans
lated by the gift and power OF God,
for his voice hath declared 1t unto
us. wherefore we know OF a surety
that the work is true. And we also
testify that we have seen the engraV-
ings which are upon the plates; anU
they have been shown unto us by Vle
power of God, and not OF man. Ana
we declare with words of soberness,
that an angel of God came down from
heaven. and he brought and laid ne
fore our eyes. that We beheld ana
saw the plates, and the engravlhss
thereon. and we know that 1t is by
the grace of God the Father, and our
4 ord Jesus Christ, that We beheld
ana hear record that these things are
TINE. and it is marvellous in our eyes,
nevertheless the voice OF the Loiu
commanded us that we should bear
record of it. wherefore, ta be oneoi-
ant INTO the commandments of COO,
we hear testimony of these Things.
And we know that ii we are taithlhl
:, Christ. we shall rid our garments
of the blood OF all men, and be iouhu
snotless before the Judgment seat oi
Christ and shall dwell with nun
eternallv i'm the heavens. And Nhe
bonor be TO the Father. and TO tae
son ana TO the Holy Ghost, when Is
one Cod Amen
Whitmer was the custodian OF MAJ
of the relies Of the Latter Day same
Among these were the manuscript 90
tbe poolz of Mormon given TO Tue
nrinters as prepared by Olive NoNu
CIV CHRISTIAN Wbitmer ana Emma
smith. the wife of the prophet st,N st
ne translation as Il fell from t50
Inns of Joseph Smith and was reeo'"
ed by oliver Cowdery. .,r be-
.sWhen my grandfather dled w
came custodian of some OF tness,
Mr. schweich said. The manusclt,ps ~
M the Book OF Mormon given 20 ny
nrinters I turned over 10 Joser-
srsith of Independence many yeea
ero with a history of the church VIZ
ten by John Whimer. .,-...-.- is
The monument 20 Mr. MhitnleI -
m he erected within a Few weeaSn
SAINTS from over al Che NorA W. ~
-en5 represeutaJives here ior
ceremony.