Three Witnesses Monument
Richmond, Missouri, United States of America
Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David
Whitmer were appointed to be three special wit-
nesses of the Book of Mormon in June 1829. Ev-
ery copy of the Book of Mormon includes their
testimony of their experience in which the angel
Moroni appeared unto them and showed them
the plates from which the Book of Mormon was
translated. Their testimony is as follows:
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues,
and people, unto whom this work shall come: That
we, through the grace of God the Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which con-
tain this record, which is a record of the people of
Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren,
The Three Witnesses Monument at the Oliver
and also of the people of Jared, who came from Cowdery Gravesite
the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also Photo courtesy of Steve Mortensen
know that they have been translated by the gift and
power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto Although each left the Church, Oliver
us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work Cowdery and Martin Harris eventually returning,
is true. And we also testify that we have seen the they never denied this testimony.
engravings which are upon the plates; and they have Oliver Cowdery returned to the Church in
been shown unto us by the power of God, and not 1848 after having been absent from membership
of man. And we declare with words of soberness, for ten years. He visited the Saints in Kanesville,
that an angel of God came down from heaven, and where he was rebaptized. He hoped to travel west
he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld with the Saints, but his health failed him and he
and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and died in 1850 in Richmond, Missouri. The monu-
we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, ment is located over his gravesite.
and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear The monument was erected in 1911 under
record that these things are true. And it is marvel- the direction of Junius F. Wells. A metal casket
ous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord within a concrete base was placed under the mon-
commanded us that we should bear record of it; ument which contained copies of the History of
wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments the Church, Volume 1, the Book of Mormon, the
of God, we bear testimony of these things. And Doctrine & Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price,
we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall the Cowdery Family Genealogy, the Contributor,
rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be Volume 5 containing George Reynolds’ “History
found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, of the Book of Mormon,” and engraved por-
and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. traits of Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, & David
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, Whitmer. The dedication of the monument oc-
and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. curred on November 22, 1911 and was performed
by Elder Heber J. Grant.1
2 Three Witnesses Monument, Richmond, Missouri, United States of America
The monument remains a symbol of the exceeding brightness; and behold, an angel stood
truth of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus before us. In his hands he held the plates which
Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. we had been praying for these to have a view of.
He turned over the leaves one by one, so that
SOURCES we could see them, and discern the engravings
theron distinctly. He then addressed himself to
1
Junius F. Wells, “The Oliver Cowdery Monument at David Whitmer, and said, ‘David, blessed is the
Richmond, Missouri,” Improvement Era, Vol. 15, No. 3, Lord, and he that keeps His commandments;’
January 1912. when, immediately afterwards, we heard a voice
from out of the bright light above us, saying,
Various Accounts of the “These plates have been revealed by the power of
God, and they have been translated by the power
Experience of the Three Witnesses of God. The translation of them which you have
seen is correct, and I command you to bear re-
cord of what you now see and hear.”
Account of the Three Witnesses as recorded in His- I now left David and Oliver, and went in
tory of the Church1 pursuit of Martin Harris, whom I found at a con-
“Not many days after.... we four, viz., Mar- siderable distance, fervently engaged in prayer. He
tin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and soon told me, however, that he had not yet pre-
myself, agreed to retire into the woods, and try to vailed with the Lord, and earnestly requested me
obtain, by fervent and humble prayer, the fulfil- to join him in prayer, that he also might realize
ment of the promises given in the above revela- the same blessings which we had just received. We
tion-that they should have a view of the plates. accordingly joined in prayer, and ultimately ob-
We accordingly made choice of a piece of woods tained our desires, for before we had yet finished,
convenient to Mr. Whitmer’s house, to which we the same vision was opened to our view, at least it
retired, and having knelt down, we began to pray was again opened to me, and I once more beheld
in much faith to Almighty God to bestow upon and heard the same things; whilst at the same mo-
us a realization of these promises. ment, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an
According to previous arrangement, I ecstasy of joy, ‘Tis enough; ‘tis enough; mine eyes
commenced prayer to our Heavenly Father, and have beheld; mine eyes have beheld;’ and jump-
was followed by each of the others in succession. ing up, he shouted, ‘Hosanna,’ blessing God, and
We did not at the first trial, however, obtain any otherwise rejoiced exceedingly.”
answer or manifestation of divine favor in our be-
half. We again observed the same order of prayer, Account of the Three Witnesses by Lucy Mack
each calling on and praying fervently to God in
Smith2
rotation, but with the same result as before.
“The next morning after breakfast, we
Upon this, our second failure, Martin
repaired to the sitting room, and after attending
Harris proposed that he should withdraw himself
the morning service, namely reading, singing, and
from us, believing, as he expressed himself, that
praying, Joseph arose from his knees and ap-
his presence was the cause of our not obtaining
proached Martin with a solemnity which thrills
what we wished for. He accordingly with drew
through my veins to this day, whenever it comes
from us, and we knelt down again, and had not
to my recollection. ‘Martin Harris,’ he said, ‘you
been many minutes engaged in prayer, when
have got to humble yourself before your God this
presently we beheld a light above us in the air, of
day and obtain, if possible, a forgiveness of your
Three Witnesses Monument, Richmond, Missouri, United States of America 3
sins. If you will do this, it is God’s will that you David Whitmer: It was in June, 1829, the latter
and Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer should part of the month, and the eight witnesses saw
look upon the plates.’ them, I think, the next day or the day after (i. e.
one or two days after). Joseph showed them the
Soon after this, these four left and went into a plates himself but the angel showed us (the three
grove a short distance from the house, where they witnesses) the plates, as I suppose to fulfill the
continued in earnest supplication to God, until he words of the book itself. Martin Harris was not
permitted an angel from his presence to bear to with us at this time; he obtained a view of them
them a message, declaring to them that all which afterwards (the same day). Joseph, Oliver and my-
Joseph had testified of concerning the plates was self were together when I saw them. We not only
true, and showing them the same. saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but also
the brass plates, [a jewish record carried by Lehi’s
When they returned to the house, it was between colony from Jerusalem and frequently referred to
three and four o’clock. Mrs. Whitmer, Mr. Smith, in the Book of Mormon] the plates of the Book
and myself were sitting in a bedroom, myself of Ether, the plates containing the record of
on a bedside. When Joseph came in, he threw the wickedness and secret combinations of the
himself down beside me and exclaimed, ‘Father! people of the world down to the time of their
Mother! You do not know how happy I am. The being engraved, and many other plates. The fact
Lord has caused the plates to be shown to three is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were
more besides me. They have also seen an angel sitting just here on a log, when we were overshad-
and will have to testify to the truth of what I owed by a light. It was not like the light of the
have said, for they know for themselves that I do sun nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and
not go about to deceive the people. I do feel as beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell
though I was relieved of a dreadful burden which how far, but in the midst of this light about as
was almost too much for me to endure. But they far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer,
will now have to bear a part, and it does rejoice sitting a few feet from him), there appeared, as it
my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely were, a table with many records or plates upon
alone in the world.’ it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon,
also the sword of Laban, the directors, [i. e. the
Martin Harris then came in. He seemed almost ball with spindles which Lehi had, and the inter-
overcome with an excess of joy. He then testi- preters]. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed
fied to what he had seen and heard, as did also (striking the bed beside him with his hand), and I
the others, Oliver and David, who added that no heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever
tongue could express the joy of their hearts and heard anything in my life, declaring that the re-
the greatness of the things which they had both cords of the plates of the Book of Mormon were
seen and heard. Their testimony was the same in translated by the gift and power of God.
substance as that in the Book of Mormon.”
Elder Orson Pratt: Did you see the angel this
Account of David Whitmer given in an interview time?
to Elder Orson Pratt and Elder Joseph F. Smith on
September 7, 18783 David Whitmer: Yes, he stood before us. Our
testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon
Elder Orson Pratt: Do you remember what time is strictly and absolutely true, just as it is there
you saw the plates? written. Before I knew Joseph, I had heard about
4 Three Witnesses Monument, Richmond, Missouri, United States of America
him and the plates from persons who declared know what Cumorah meant. We all gazed at him
they knew he had them, and swore they would get and at each other, and as I looked around en-
them from him. When Oliver Cowdery went to quiringly of Joseph, the old man instantly disap-
Pennsylvania, he promised to write me what he peared, so that I did not see him again.
should learn about these matters, which he did.
He wrote me that Joseph had told him his (Ol- Elder Joseph F. Smith: Did you notice his appear-
iver’s) secret thoughts, and all he had meditated ance?
about going to see him, which no man on earth
knew, as he supposed, but himself, and so he David Whitmer: I should think I did. He was, I
stopped to write for Joseph. Soon after this, Jo- should think, about five feet eight or nine inches
seph sent for me (D. W.) to come to Harmony to tall and heavy set, about such a man as James
get him and Oliver and bring them to my father’s Vancleave there, but heavier; his face was as large,
house. I did not know what to do, I was pressed he was dressed in a suit of brown woolen clothes,
with my work. I had some twenty acres to plow, his hair and beard were white, like Brother Pratt’s,
so I concluded I would finish plowing and then but his beard was not so heavy. I also remember
go. I got up one morning to go to work as usual, that he had on his back a sort of knapsack with
and on going to the field, found between five and something in, shaped like a book. It was the mes-
seven acres of my ground had been plowed dur- senger who had the plates, who had taken them
ing the night. I don’t know who did it; but it was from Joseph just prior to our starting from Har-
done just as I would have done it myself, and the mony.”
plow was left standing in the furrow. This enabled
me to start sooner. When I arrived at Harmony, SOURCES
Joseph and Oliver were coming toward me, and
met me some distance from the house. Oliver 1
Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ
told me that Joseph had informed him when I of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes
started from home, where I had stopped the first by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of
night, how I read the sign at the tavern, where Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 1:
I stopped the next night, etc., and that I would 54-55.
be there that day before dinner, and this was
why they had come out to meet me; all of which 2
Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, Re-
was exactly as Joseph had told Oliver, at which I Enhanced
vised and Enhanced, edited by Scot Facer Proc-
was greatly astonished. When I was returning to tor and Maurine Jensen Proctor [Salt Lake City:
Fayette, with Joseph and Oliver, all of us riding Bookcraft, 1996].
in the wagon, Oliver and I on an oldfashioned
wooden spring seat and Joseph behind us; while 3
Contributor, vol. 5 (October 1883-September
Contributor
traveling along in a clear open place, a very pleas- 1884), Vol. V. August, 1884. No. 11. 404.
ant, nice-looking old man suddenly appeared by
the side of our wagon and saluted us with ‘good
morning, it is very warm,’ at the same time wiping
his face or forehead with his hand. We returned Dedicatory Prayer of the Three
the salutation, and, by a sign from Joseph, I in- Witnesses Monument1
vited him to ride if he was going our way. But he
said very pleasantly, ‘No, I am going to Cumorah.’
This name was something new to me, I did not “O God, our Heavenly and Eternal Father, we
Three Witnesses Monument, Richmond, Missouri, United States of America 5
approach thee at this time in the name of thy may be led to investigate the gospel.
Son, Jesus Christ, and we pray thee that thy Spirit
may be attendant with us. We pray thee, Father, to “Guide us always, and may thy Spirit be with us
accept, as an offering from our hearts, the monu- during the remainder of this meeting, and finally
ment that has been erected to the memory of the bring us back in thy presence, we ask it all, in the
late Oliver Cowdery, in the cemetery of this city. name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
We pray thee that in the ravages of the elements,
in the future, that this monument may never be SOURCES
disturbed, but remain firm and steadfast, that
those who visit the same may read the testimony 1
Junius F. Wells, “The Oliver Cowdery Monu-
this man bore to all the world: That he was called ment at Richmond, Missouri,” Improvement Era,
of God, and that the claim made by him concern- Vol. 15, No. 3, January 1912.
ing the Book of Mormon is correct.
“We thank thee that the angel did descend
from heaven and restore the sacred record, the
Visitor Information
Book of Mormon, and the message of love and
salvation that thy servants are declaring unto the
world. We thank thee not only, Heavenly Father,
for this spot of ground where the remains of Oli- Address:
ver Cowdery lie, but we thank thee, also, because N. Thornton and Crispin Street
of Father Peter Whitmer, and his wife, and those Richmond, MO, 64085
who were loyal and true to the cause of truth,
whose remains lie in this cemetery. GPS Coordinates:
“We thank thee for the feeling of good N39° 17.123’ W93° 58.589’
will and fellowship that has been manifested by
the inhabitants of this city, during the erection Hours of Operation:
of this monument, and we pray thee that it may Daylight to dark
continue, and that the bond of love and sympathy
between the believers in the Book of Mormon Admission:
and the people of Richmond, and those who read Free
the message of this monument, may grow and
increase in strength every year.
“We thank thee for the gospel of thy Son, Further Reading
Jesus Christ, and for those who have received
a testimony of the same. We thank thee for the
knowledge we have received that Jesus is the
“The Three Witnesses,” Utah Genealogical and His-
Christ; for the testimony we have that Joseph
torical Magazine, October 1927-October 1929,
Smith was and is, in very deed, a prophet of the
Vol. 18-20, 5-part series.
true and living God, and for Oliver and David
Richard Lloyd Anderson, Testimonies of the Three
and Martin, and for all those who bore these
Witnesses, (Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient
testimonies; and we ask thee that, as we grow in
Research and Mormon Studies, 1994).
years and understanding, we may grow in knowl-
Richard Lloyd Anderson, “Did Oliver Cowdery,
edge, that we may grow in power to live, that our
One of the Three Special Book of Mormon
light may so shine that men may glorify thee, and
6 Three Witnesses Monument, Richmond, Missouri, United States of America
Witnesses, Express Doubt About His Testi-
mony?” Ensign, April 1987, 23-25.
Richard Lloyd Anderson, “The Most Interviewed
Witness,” Improvement Era, May 1969, Vol. 72,
76-83.
Preston Nibley, Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses,
(Provo, UT: Adult Education Center, Office of
Special Courses and Conferences, BYU, 1962),
15-21.
Janne M. Sjodahl, “Credibility of the Witnesses,”
Improvement Era, September 1923, Vol. 26, 969-
79.