Peter Whitmer Jr.

Peter Whitmer Jr. was one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and one of the six officially recorded members when the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830. He testified that he saw and handled the golden plates in June 1829.

The youngest son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman, Peter Jr. was only 19 when he became a witness. Shortly after the church’s organization, he was called on the famous ‘Mission to the Lamanites’ with Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson to preach to Native Americans. This mission contributed to the significant conversion of Sidney Rigdon and others in Ohio.

Peter Jr. relocated to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1831 and later served on the church’s High Council in Far West. He married Vashti Higley on October 14, 1832, and they had three daughters, one born after his death.

Peter Jr. suffered from tuberculosis and died on September 22, 1836, near Liberty, Missouri, at just 26 years old. He remained faithful to his testimony until death and was buried beside his brother Christian.