“He shall yet stand upon the land of Zion, from whence he has been driven, and shall find inheritance there; and shall be a ruler in Zion until he is old and well stricken in years.” — Joseph Smith¹

David Whitmer was one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. He was ordained a high priest by Oliver Cowdery on October 25, 1831, in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He traveled to Jackson County, Missouri, with Harvey G. Whitlock in 1831.² Whitmer opposed publishing the Book of Commandments, fearing it might cause problems for the Saints in Jackson County.³ After being driven from Jackson County by vigilantes in November 1833, Whitmer relocated to Clay County, Missouri.² On July 7, 1834, he was appointed president of the church in Missouri and he called W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer as his counselors.⁴

1. Blessing to David Whitmer, 22 September 1835

2. “Whitmer, David,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 13, 141

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 19, 209