John Whitmer Receives Commandment to Record Church History

John Whitmer documented his divine calling to record the history of the Church. He wrote: 'I shall proceed to continue this record, being commanded of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to write the things that transpire in this Church (inasmuch as they come to my knowledge,) in these last days.' Whitmer was set apart to preserve the historical record of the early Church, and his record became one of the most important contemporary accounts of the Restoration. This calling to be Church historian was given by direct revelation through Joseph Smith, demonstrating the Lord's concern for preserving a record of His work in the latter days.