Selected from Joseph Smith’s first June 1829 revelation
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Date Given: June 1829
Location Given: Fayette, New York – Whitmer Farm
Background: Rumors had been circulating for years about Joseph Smith Jr.’s supposed gathering of the Golden Plates and now the dictation and transcription process. One of Oliver Cowdery’s chief purposes of going to Harmony, Pennsylvania was to determine if the stories were true. Cowdery was acquainted with David Whitmer and his family, and told them that he would send them letters about what he learned and sent them at least 3 from Harmony.
The Whitmer family was very excited about The Book of Mormon and wanted to help in any way they could. In June 1829 the Whitmers invited Smith and Cowdery to live on their farm in Fayette, New York with free room and board so they could complete the dictation and transcription of The Book of Mormon. They accepted the invitation and moved to Fayette.
On the way to Fayette, David Whitmer later in his life recounted that he, Cowdery, and Smith, encountered an old man and had an odd and short conversation along the road. David offered him a ride, but the man politely declined and said that he was going to Cumorah and then disappeared. Smith identified as a heavenly messenger who had taken the plates from his just before they departed for Fayette.
The residents of Fayette were very interested in the dictation and transcription process and wanted to see it be done. They also wanted an opportunity to meet Joseph Smith Jr. This put an even heavier burden on the Whitmers, particularly Mary and Elizabeth Ann, to tend to the visitors.
During this time Joseph Smith Jr. came close to the whole family, especially John, David, and Christian. David and Christian even offered to serve as transcribers to give Cowdery a break. David would go on to be one of the Three Witnesses to The Book of Mormon, and would also claim successorship after the Successionist Crisis.
This revelation was given to David Whitmer through Joseph Smith Jr.’s seer stone after David asked how he could best help. A similar revelations were given to Joseph Smith Sr., Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, and Joseph Knight Sr..
1. And it shall come to pass that if you shall ask the Father in my name, in faith believing, you shall receive the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance, that you may stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see; and also, that you may declare repentance unto this generation.
2. Behold I am Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, which created the heavens and the earth; a light which cannot be hidden in darkness: wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel.