January 7, 1805
Born to Peter Whitmer, Sr., and Mary Musselman Whitmer near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the fourth of nine children.
Peter Whitmer Home
1809
The Whitmer family moves to Fayette, New York, where they work a large farm.
March 12, 1825
Elected sergeant in a newly organized militia called the Seneca Grenadiers.
December, 1828
Makes a business trip to Palmyra, New York, where he meets Oliver Cowdery and from him first learns of Joseph Smith and the golden plates.
May, 1829
Arrives in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and first meets Joseph Smith.
June, 1829
Joseph Smith moves to Fayette, New York with David’s aid, to continue the translation at the home of David Whitmer’s father, Peter Whitmer.
Doctrine & Covenants 14 is received and directed to David indicating that he will be “called to assist” and to “stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see.”
David is baptized by Joseph Smith.
Doctrine & Covenants 17 is received authorizing Oliver, David, and Martin to “have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim.”
The Three Witnesses see the golden plates and testify of the book’s truth.
Joseph Smith finishes translating the Book of Mormon at the Whitmer home.
April, 1830
The Church is formally organized in Fayette, New York, with David as one of the six original members.
David is ordained an Elder.
January 9, 1831
Marries Julia Ann Jolly.
1831
Moves to Kirtland, Ohio with other members of the Church.
October 5, 1831
Ordained High Priest by Oliver Cowdery.
1832
David moves with his extended family to Jackson County, Missouri.
October - December, 1833
Church members are driven from Jackson County, Missouri.
July 7, 1834
Joseph Smith ordains David to be the president of the church in Missouri and his own successor.
February, 1835
David, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris comply with a revelation that was given to them by selecting the twelve men that would be ordained to the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.
April, 1838
Numerous Church authorities are excommunicated for apostasy including David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery.
June 17, 1838
Sidney Rigdon preaches the “Salt Sermon” in which he declares that dissenters from the faith (understood to include Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer), were “as salt that had lost its savor” and that it was the duty of the faithful to cast them out “to be trodden beneath the feet of men.”
David and the entire Whitmer family move to nearby Richmond, Missouri.
David opens a livery stable, which he operates until his death in 1888.
September 7, 1847 - 1848
David Whitmer exercises his claim to be Smith’s successor and the Church of Christ (Whitmerite) is formed in Kirtland, Ohio. However, David never joins the body of the new church and it dissolves relatively quickly.
March, 1850
Oliver Cowdery travels to meet with David Whitmer in Richmond, Missouri to persuade him to move west and rejoin the Saints in Utah. Cowdery, however, succumbs to tuberculosis and dies on March 3, 1850, in David’s home.
1867 -1868
David is elected to fill an unexpired term as mayor.
January 28, 1876
David Whitmer resurrects the Church of Christ (Whitmerite) by ordaining his nephew, John C. Whitmer, an elder and giving him the title “First Elder”.
March 24, 1881
David publishes “A Proclamation” reaffirming his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
"An Address to All Believers in Christ"
April 1887
David publishes “An Address To Believers in the Book of Mormon” and “An Address to All Believers in Christ”, further stating his religious views.
January 25, 1888
David Whitmer passes away and is buried in Richmond, Missouri.