The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Plates

While the Three Witnesses were not related to each other, the Eight Witnesses were very much interrelated. They were made up of the extended families of the Smiths and the Whitmers. Joseph and Emma Smith lived with the Whitmers on their farm. The Whitmers helped Joseph during the days of translation. Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr., and John Whitmer were all sons of Peter Sr. and Mary Whitmer. Hiram Page later married Catherine Whitmer, the oldest daughter of Peter Sr. and Mary Whitmer. Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel Smith were the father and brothers of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Three Witnesses
Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Age When Shown Plates	Occupation	Membership in the Church	Death
Oliver Cowdery Oct. 3, 1806	Wells, Rutland County, Vermont	23	School teacher, lawyer	Baptized May 15, 1829 Excommunicated Apr. 12, 1838. Rebaptized Oct. 1848. Died in full fellowship. Never denied his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon	Mar. 3, 1850 Richmond, Missouri
David Whitmer Jan. 7, 1805	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	23	Farmer	Baptized June 1829 Excommunicated Apr. 13, 1838. Never returned to the Church. Never denied his testimony	Jan. 25, 1888 Richmond, Missouri
Martin Harris May 18, 1783	East-Town, Saratoga County, New York	45	Farmer	Baptized Apr. 6, 1830 Excommunicated last week of Dec. 1837. Baptized again Nov. 7, 1842. Never denied his testimony concerning the plates. Died in full fellowship	July 10, 1875 Clarkston, Utah

The Eight Witnesses
Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Age When Shown Plates	Occupation	Membership in the Church	Death
Christian Whitmer Jan. 18, 1798	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	30	Shoemaker	Baptized Apr. 11, 1830 Always a faithful member of the Church	Nov. 27, 1835 Clay County, Missouri
Jacob Whitmer Jan. 27, 1800	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	28	Shoemaker	Baptized Apr. 11, 1830 Apostatized 1838. Never returned to the Church. Never denied his testimony of the plates	Apr. 21, 1856 Richmond, Missouri
Peter Whitmer Jr. Sept. 27, 1809	Fayette, New York	20	Tailor, farmer	Baptized June 1829 Always a faithful member of the Church	Sept. 22, 1836 Liberty, Clay County, Missouri
John Whitmer Aug. 27, 1802	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	27	Farmer	Baptized June 1829 Excommunicated Mar. 10, 1838. Never returned to the Church. Never denied his testimony of the plates or the Church	July 11, 1878 Far West, Missouri
Hiram Page 1800	Vermont	29	Physician, farmer	Baptized Apr. 11, 1830 Apostatized 1838. Never denied his testimony	Aug. 12, 1852 Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Joseph Smith Sr. July 12, 1771	Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts	58	Farmer	Baptized Apr. 6, 1830 Always a faithful member of the Church	Sept. 14, 1840 Nauvoo, Illinois
Hyrum Smith Feb. 9, 1800	Tunbridge, Vermont	28	Farmer	Baptized May 1829 Always a faithful member of the Church	June 27, 1844 Carthage, Illinois
Samuel H. Smith Mar. 13, 1808	Tunbridge, Vermont	22	Farmer	Baptized May 1829 Always a faithful member of the Church	July 30, 1844 Nauvoo, Illinois