Without Disclosing My True Identity
Page (age 25), who was married to his sister Catherine. Because they now knew the Smiths
and had a deep respect for their own son and brother, David’s relation of his special
visitation and witness of the gold plates strengthened the other Whitmers’ testimonies of
Joseph and his work.
Unfortunately, Lucy Harris’ allegations against Joseph followed him to the
Whitmer community, located near Fayette, New York, about 30 miles east of Palmyra.
The rumors and tension exploded about Joseph’s alleged fraud against the Harris family.
Many in and around Fayette became concerned that one of their most respected citizens,
Peter Whitmer, Sr., would fall prey to the same. Peter had been elected by the people of
his community to be a school trustee and a commissioner over the roads.^37 But now,
because of the claims Lucy Harris had made against the man whom Peter Whitmer had
embraced and protected, his reputation was jeopardized.
The judge assigned to hear the Harris vs. Joseph Smith case ended up dismissing the
case when the one who was supposedly defrauded, Martin Harris, testified in favor of the
accused. But the court’s judgment didn’t stop Lucy Harris from doing anything within her
power to discredit Joseph. Following this, Martin decided to leave his wife for good, but the
damage had been done and the Harris’ separation continued to fuel the fires of distrust that
the public had about Joseph and his “golden Bible.” Joseph needed to take dramatic
measures to protect himself and his work.
Affidavits to Protect Joseph and the Work
Shortly after the Three Witnesses were shown the plates (the existing histories
and published testimony tell well enough the story of this event), Joseph gathered the
Whitmers and his own family together at the Whitmer home on June 21, 1829. The
families had gathered on this Sabbath Day to hear Joseph speak. However, instead of
speaking about his work and the things the Lord was doing upon the earth, Joseph
explained the precarious nature of not being able to show the plates and Urim and
Thummim to the public. He passed the Urim and Thummim around so that all present
could hold and examine the rocks. After doing so, he explained that what he was about
to ask of any so willing, would help protect him from further persecution.
Joseph wanted those present to sign an affidavit that would “give [their] names unto
the world, to witness unto the world that which [they had] seen,” testifying, “And we lie
not, God bearing witness of it.”^38 Joseph told them that he was not allowed to show them
the plates, but that their testimonies would protect him from any further frivolous suits or
claims that might be made against him. Joseph took out the first part of the book of Nephi
and read to them the account of how Nephi had to break the law and the commandments
(i.e., murdering Laban and stealing the plates of brass) to do the will of the Lord and have
the record of brass for future generations.^39 He also related a biblical story to them of how
Abraham had lied by perpetrating a deception in a foreign land to protect his wife (because
of her beauty, from the certainty of abuse) by presenting her as his sister;^40 and how even
Jesus himself told others to keep the things that they saw him do in their heart.^41 (See
Appendix 3, “Why True Messengers Do Not Reveal the Real Truth.”)
After explaining these things to the Whitmers and Smiths, his father and two
brothers agreed. Of course, they would do anything he asked of them. And because the
Whitmers had heard David’s testimony and believed him, the Whitmer men agreed to sign
the affidavit and never reveal that they had not actually seen the plates. Peter Whitmer, Sr.