The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Plates
The Three Witnesses
Date of Birth Place of Birth
Age When
Shown Plates Occupation Membership in the Church Death
Oliver Cowdery
Oct. 3, 1806
Wells, Rutland
County,
Vermont
23 School
teacher,
lawyer
Baptized May 15, 1829
Excommunicated Apr. 12, 1838. Rebaptized Oct.
1848. Died in full fellowship. Never denied his
testimony concerning the Book of Mormon
Mar. 3, 1850
Richmond,
Missouri
David Whitmer
Jan. 7, 1805
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
23 Farmer Baptized June 1829
Excommunicated Apr. 13, 1838. Never returned
to the Church. Never denied his testimony
Jan. 25, 1888
Richmond,
Missouri
Martin Harris
May 18, 1783
East-Town,
Saratoga
County,
New York
45 Farmer Baptized Apr. 6, 1830
Excommunicated last week of Dec. 1837. Baptized
again Nov. 7, 1842. Never denied his testimony
concerning the plates. Died in full fellowship
July 10, 1875
Clarkston, Utah
The Eight Witnesses
Date of Birth Place of Birth
Age When
Shown Plates Occupation Membership in the Church Death
Christian Whitmer
Jan. 18, 1798
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
30 Shoemaker Baptized Apr. 11, 1830
Always a faithful member of the Church
Nov. 27, 1835
Clay County,
Missouri
Jacob Whitmer
Jan. 27, 1800
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
28 Shoemaker Baptized Apr. 11, 1830
Apostatized 1838. Never returned to the Church.
Never denied his testimony of the plates
Apr. 21, 1856
Richmond,
Missouri
Peter Whitmer Jr.
Sept. 27, 1809
Fayette,
New York
20 Tailor,
farmer
Baptized June 1829
Always a faithful member of the Church
Sept. 22, 1836
Liberty, Clay
County, Missouri
John Whitmer
Aug. 27, 1802
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
27 Farmer Baptized June 1829
Excommunicated Mar. 10, 1838. Never returned
to the Church. Never denied his testimony of the
plates or the Church
July 11, 1878
Far West,
Missouri
Hiram Page
1800
Vermont 29 Physician,
farmer
Baptized Apr. 11, 1830
Apostatized 1838. Never denied his testimony
Aug. 12, 1852
Excelsior Springs,
Missouri
Joseph Smith Sr.
July 12, 1771
Topsī€Ÿeld,
Essex County,
Massachusetts
58 Farmer Baptized Apr. 6, 1830
Always a faithful member of the Church
Sept. 14, 1840
Nauvoo, Illinois
Hyrum Smith
Feb. 9, 1800
Tunbridge,
Vermont
28 Farmer Baptized May 1829
Always a faithful member of the Church
June 27, 1844
Carthage, Illinois
Samuel H. Smith
Mar. 13, 1806
Tunbridge,
Vermont
22 Farmer Baptized May 1829
Always a faithful member of the Church
July 30, 1844
Nauvoo, Illinois
While the Three Witnesses were not related to each other, the Eight
Witnesses were very much interrelated. They were made up of the
extended families of the Smiths and the Whitmers. Joseph and Emma
Smith lived with the Whitmers on their farm. The Whitmers helped
Joseph during the days of translation. Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr., and
John Whitmer were all sons of Peter Sr. and Mary Whitmer. Hiram
Page later married Catherine Whitmer, the oldest daughter of Peter
Sr. and Mary Whitmer. Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel
Smith were the father and brothers of the Prophet Joseph Smith.