David Whitmer's Final Vision and Testimony
Published October 6, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, spent his final days in Richmond, Missouri, where he was frequently visited by those curious about his foundational 1829 experience with the angel and the golden plates. Having outlived his fellow witnesses, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, Whitmer consistently affirmed his testimony until his death. On the evening of Sunday, January 22, 1888, at half past five o'clock, he called his family and several friends to his bedside to deliver his final message. Concerned that his mental clarity be verified before documenting his ultimate witness, he asked his attendant physician, Dr. George W. Buchanan, to confirm his state of mind. Dr. Buchanan replied, 'Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have just had a conversation with you.' Whitmer then addressed those present, urging them to be faithful in Christ and declaring that both the Bible and the Book of Mormon (the record of the Nephites) were true. He expressed his trust in Christ for eternity and encouraged his loved ones to hold to their faith. David Whitmer passed away shortly thereafter on January 25, 1888, in the eighty-fourth year of his life, having maintained his testimony to his final hour.
Fuller account of this event (as retold in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 50, p. 412):
On the evening of Sunday, January 22, at half past five o'clock, Mr. Whitmer called his family and a number of his friends to his bedside, and to them delivered his dying testimony. Addressing his attendant physician he said: '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.' He then directed his words to all who surrounded him, saying: '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.'
In Their Own Words
“On the evening of Sunday, January 22, at half past five o clock, Mr. Whitmer called his family and a number of his friends to his bedside, and to them delivered his dying testimony. Addressing his attendant physician he said: 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. He then directed his words to all who surrounded him, saying: 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. — The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 50, p. 412”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 27 February 1888 (Vol. 50, No. 9). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-02-27_50_9 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, Interpreter Foundation, https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/three-witnesses/david-whitmer/statements/ LDS Scripture Teachings, David Whitmer's Dying Testimony, https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/2017/01/david-whitmers-dying-testimony/ Fuller account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 50, p. 412 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-02-27_50_9
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