https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v2/part-3/30-a-steady-onward-movement?lang=eng
Saints relates some of the details of the visit with David Whitmer, but summarizes other details with this sentence:
Orson and Joseph asked more questions about the Church’s past, and David answered them with as much detail as he could.
Obviously the book cannot contain all the details, but an important detail about Cumorah has been omitted from the summary. Readers should be familiar with it, so you can read it here. [Red text is alternate wording from Joseph F. Smith's notes; underlined text is added to Joseph F. Smith's notes.]
When I arrived at Harmony,
Joseph and Oliver were coming toward me, and met me some distance from the
house, Oliver told me that Joseph had informed him when I started from home,
where I had stopped the first night, how I read the sign at the tavern, where I
stopped the next night, etc., and that I would be there that day before dinner,
and this was why they had come out to meet me; all of which was exactly as
Joseph had told Oliver, at which I was greatly astonished. When I was returning
to Fayette with Joseph and Oliver all of us riding in the wagon, Oliver and I
on an old fashioned wooden spring seat and Joseph behind us, while traveling
along in a clear open place [or prairie, we were suddenly approach
by], a very pleasant, nice-looking old man suddenly appeared by the
side of our wagon who saluted us with, “good morning, it is very warm,” at
the same time wiping his face or forehead with his hand. We returned the
salutation, and by a sign from Joseph I invited him to ride if he was going our
way. But he said very pleasantly, “No, I am going to Cumorah.’ This name
was something new to me, I did not know what Cumorah meant. [and] We all
gazed at him and at each other, and as I looked round enquiringly of Joseph the
old man instantly disappeared, so that I did not see him again.
J.F.S.—Did you notice his
appearance?
D.W.—I should think I did, he
was, I should think, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall and heavy set, about such
a man as James Vancleave there, but heavier, his face was as large, he was
dressed in a suit of brown woolen clothes, his hair and beard were white like [bro.]
Brother Pratt’s, but his beard was not so heavy. I also remember that he
had on his back a sort of knapsack with something in, shaped like a book. It
was the messenger who had the plates, who had taken them from Joseph just
prior to our starting from Harmony. [Mr. W. continued:] Soon
after our arrival home, I saw something which led me to the belief that the
plates were placed or concealed in my father’s barn I frankly asked Joseph if
my supposition was right, and he told me it was. Sometime after this, my mother
was going to milk the cows, when she was met out near [by] the yard
by the same old man (judging by her description of him) who said to her, “You
have been very faithful and diligent in your labors, but you are tried because
of the increase of your toil, it is proper therefore that you should receive a
witness that your [strength may] faith
may be strengthened!” Thereupon he showed her the plates. My father and
mother had a large family of their own, the addition to it therefore of Joseph,
his wife Emma and Oliver very greatly increased the toil and anxiety of
my mother. And although she had never complained she had sometimes felt that
her labor was too much, or at least she was perhaps beginning to feel so. This
circumstance, however, completely removed all such feelings, and nerved her up
for her increased responsibilities.
Elder O.P.—Have you any idea
when the other records will be brought forth?
D.W. – When we see things [by] in the
spirit and by the power of God they seem to be right here [present]—the present
signs of the times indicate the near approach of the coming forth of the other
plates, but when it will be I cannot tell. The three Nephites are at work among
the lost tribes and elsewhere. John the Revelator is at work, and I believe the
time will come suddenly, before we are prepared for it.
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