Monument to the Eight Witnesses

The monument to the Eight Witnesses honors the eight men who saw the gold plates and signed their names to a testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon. This memorial sits in a small cemetery just outside of Liberty, Missouri, on property once owned by Michael Arthur. The monument is a large granite obelisk near the graves of Christian and Peter Whitmer. It was dedicated on November 19, 2011.

In June of 1829, Joseph Smith went into the woods near his home in Manchester, New York. There he showed a group of his family and close friends the gold plates. They “hefted” the ancient artifact and examined its engravings. Among them were Joseph’s father, Joseph Smith Sr.; and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel. Members of the Whitmer family also participated, including Christian, Jacob, Peter Jr., and John, and Hiram Page, their brother-in-law. These men became known as the Eight Witnesses .

After the Whitmers moved to Missouri, members of their family, including John Jr. and Christian, worked for Michael Arthur. Arthur was a prominent member of the community and sympathetic to the Saints after their expulsion from Jackson County in 1833. The Arthur farm, where the Whitmers worked, was a gathering place for Church leaders. In addition, the Church held local meetings and conferences there. On the farm in July 1834, Joseph Smith organized the first Missouri Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is also the location where Zion’s Camp officially disbanded.

When Christian Whitmer died in 1835, he was buried on Arthur’s property. Ten months later, Peter Whitmer Jr. died as the Saints were leaving for Caldwell County. He was buried next to his brother and fellow Book of Mormon witness. Today, the monument stands as a witness not only to those who dedicated their lives to the Book of Mormon but also to the kindness of those citizens who helped the Saints in Missouri.

What to Expect

The Monument to the Eight Witnesses sits at the top of a small hill outside of Liberty, Missouri. There is a dirt and compressed-gravel space that can be used for parking. From there, guests walk up the hill to reach the cemetery gates. The monument is toward the bottom of the cemetery and features a large granite obelisk with information inscribed along the base and sides.