David Whitmer's Deathbed Testimony — 'The Bible and the Book of Mormon Are True'

David Whitmer (1805–1888) was the last surviving member of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon — the men who, in June 1829, beheld an angel, saw the golden plates, and heard the voice of God declare the translation true. Though Whitmer eventually separated from the main body of the Church and spent the last fifty years of his life in Richmond, Missouri, outside Church membership, his testimony of the Book of Mormon never wavered.

Over the decades, reporters, investigators, and Church leaders regularly made the journey to Richmond to interview him. Each time, Whitmer affirmed what he had seen. He published a pamphlet in 1887 — 'An Address to All Believers in Christ' — in which he again reaffirmed his witness of the plates and the angel, while expressing his personal religious views.

As January 1888 arrived, it became clear that David Whitmer was dying. On the evening of Sunday, January 22, at half past five o'clock, he called his family and friends to his bedside for a final testimony. First, knowing that his words would be scrutinized, he asked his attending physician: 'Dr. Buchanan, I want you to say whether or not I am in my right mind before I give my last testimony.' The doctor answered: 'Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have just had a conversation with you.'

Satisfied, Whitmer then addressed everyone gathered around him:

'Now, you must all be faithful in Christ. I want to say to you all that the Bible and the record of the Nephites [Book of Mormon] are true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death bed. All be faithful in Christ and your reward will be according to your works. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ for ever, worlds without end. Amen.'

David Whitmer died three days later, on January 25, 1888, in the eighty-fourth year of his life — the last of the Three Witnesses, and, to the end, an unbroken voice for the reality of what he had seen and heard in the summer of 1829.

On Monday, January 23, 1888, at 10:00 a.m., after awakening from a brief slumber, Whitmer reported that he had 'seen beyond the vail and had seen Christ on the other side.' According to accounts from those at his bedside, he experienced other manifestations of the afterlife that solidified their faith. His death occurred on January 25, 1888, described by onlookers as a peaceful passing where, just before he expired, his eyes brightened and a 'wonderful light' appeared on his countenance for several moments.