Behold, I say unto you David Whitmer that you have feared man and not relied on me for strength as you ought.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 30 verse 1.

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Book of Mormon Central, and today's podcast addresses the question,

Why was David Whitmer excommunicated from the church?

The Whitmer family were among the earliest supporters of Joseph Smith. They provided Joseph and Oliver

Cowdery with temporal and spiritual support during the final month of the

translation of the Book of Mormon. Five of the Whitmer brothers are counted among the Book of Mormon

witnesses, and two more of those witnesses married into the Whitmer family. In addition, the family's

matriarch, Mary Whitmer, was an informal witness to the plates.

Of this important family, David Whitmer was the most prominent in the early years of the restoration.

His friendship with Oliver Cowdery was the link that connected the Whitmer's to Joseph Smith.

He was the same age as Joseph and appears to have had the closest relationship with him of all the Whitmer brothers.

He was also chosen to serve as one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon.

Having seen a heavenly angel and the Nephite records and relics for himself,

he remained true to his witness of those sacred events and of the Book of Mormon throughout the remainder of his life.

He later heeded the Lord's call to gather to Ohio and then became the leader of the church

in Missouri. Given all that he did for the church, why was David Whitmer excommunicated

on April 13, 1838? After his experience with the angel and the plates in the summer of 1829, David continued

to faithfully support the church. In 1831, he gathered with the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri.

When the Saints were forcibly driven from their homes in the fall of 1833, David was among those

who lost nearly all of his earthly possessions. He was among the church

members who met with Joseph Smith when he arrived in Missouri with Zion's camp in the summer of 1834. During this

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