Without Disclosing My True Identity
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery was no less respected by Joseph than Martin. Although he was forced
to publicly demean him for the sake of the evolving desires of the Church, Joseph stayed true to
Oliver and kept things within his heart that only he knew about his once-beloved friend. Joseph
knew about Cowdery’s suppressed homosexuality and had one last desire for his once-dear
friend before he left mortality. He hoped to show Oliver his genuine appreciation for him and
acceptance of his latent emotional longings for intimate male companionship. Joseph received
the desire of his heart for Oliver through the posthumous birth of his last son:
David Hyrum Smith
On November 18, 1844, David Hyrum Smith was born.^48 He was the last mortal son
of Joseph and his beloved Emma. David was born a homosexual. He eventually ended up so
distraught because of his natural desires that he spent some of his life in a mental
institution. Now this was not because he was in any way insane, but because his mortal
siblings, who refused to conform to their humanity, made him feel that way because of his
homosexual tendencies.
Oliver met the young David only once. He lifted the three-year-old boy into the air
and saw in his blue eyes the same twinkle that he often saw in Joseph’s. Oliver left that day
and found himself dreadfully alone. He cried miserably for ever abandoning his friend and
prophet. Joseph always had a special feeling in his heart for Oliver; and Oliver would
always have one for him.
David Whitmer
David Whitmer became the most outspoken critic among the Three Witnesses to the
plates. He never understood Joseph’s intent, but could never deny his great love for the Book of
Mormon. Whitmer hated priesthood authority and the way that it controlled the Church and
even Joseph. He never understood why Joseph purposefully constructed so many stumbling
blocks for the people. Because of this, it led him to the only plausible conclusion he could come
up with—that Joseph was a fallen prophet. Yet, Whitmer often pondered on the thought that no
true prophet could ever “fall.” There was no scriptural precedence to show that any prophet,
called properly by God, had ever fallen. This added to the emotional dilemma that plagued
Whitmer’s mind for the rest of his life.
In 1843, David Whitmer’s brother John visited him and attempted to recruit him to
support the plan of Bennett and Rigdon to get rid of Joseph. David would have nothing to do
with it. Although he disagreed with virtually everything that Joseph had done besides
translating the Book of Mormon, David had actually seen an advanced being. He had never seen
one before and he never saw one after, and this fact also weighed heavily upon his mind. To
ease his conscience, David produced many later writings.^49 He was also asked to take part in
establishing a reformed Church of Christ.^50
Other “Witnesses”
With the exceptions of Joseph’s loyal brothers Hyrum and Samuel, and his father
who had died, all of the other eight witnesses who subscribed their names to an affidavit of