Mary Whitmer

Mary Musselman Whitmer was the wife of Peter Whitmer Sr. and mother of five of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (Christian, Jacob, John, David, and Peter Jr.). Her home in Fayette, New York, was the site where much of the Book of Mormon translation took place and where the church was formally organized.

Mary is sometimes considered an unofficial witness to the Book of Mormon. According to her grandson John C. Whitmer, she had a divine encounter with an angel (described as ‘Brother Nephi’ or identified by some as Moroni) who showed her the golden plates while she was burdened with the extra work of hosting Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery during the translation.

She was baptized on April 18, 1830, by Oliver Cowdery. Her daughters Catherine and Elizabeth Ann married Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery respectively—both of whom were witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

After the church disputes of 1838, Mary and Peter Sr. remained in Richmond, Missouri. She died in January 1856, outliving her husband by about two years. The entire Whitmer family maintained their testimonies regarding the Book of Mormon throughout their lives.