Historical Background

This is a list of historical figures who chose The Holy Book of Mormon over the teachings of Joseph Smith.

Three Witnesses

  • Martin Harris
  • Oliver Cowdery
  • David Whitmer

Eight Witnesses

  • Christian Whitmer
  • Jacob Whitmer
  • Peter Whitmer Jr.
  • John Whitmer
  • Hiram Page

Other Notable Witnesses

Josiah Stoal-Stowell (1770 – 1844)

John Corrill (1794 – 1842)

William Law (1809-1892)

William E. McLellin (1806 – 1883)

Oliver Cowdery (1806 – 1850)

David Whitmer (1805 – 1888)

Ebenezer Robinson (1816-1891)

William Peter Brown (1832–1907)

George Schweich (1853-1926)

Pauline Hancock – Independence, MO (1903-1962)

Frank W. Wipper – Fresno, CA (1883 – 1970)

James R. Snell – Kansas City (1970-1993)

Book of Mormon Christian (1994-2024)

Bibliographical References

  • Dunford, G. Osmond. “Heretic Factions from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: ‘The Church of Christ’, or the ‘Whitmerites’ and ‘The True Church of Jesus Christ’, Or ‘Cutlerites’,” 1959
  • Flanders, Robert Bruce. “The Mormon’s Who Did Not Go West.” Master’s thesis, University of Wisconsin, 1954
  • Hilton, Hope. Joseph’s Scattered Flock, BYU Extensions Publications, July 1958, Typescript BYU Leadership Week
  • Rich, Russell R. Those Who Would Be Leaders (Offshoots of Mormonism), B. Y. U. Extension Publications, July 1958
  • Shields, Steven L. Divergent Paths of the Restoration, 4th ed. Independence: Herald Publishing House, 2001
  • Roger, Launis D. and Linda Thatcher eds. Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994
  • Bringhurst, G. Newell and John C. Hamer eds. Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism. Independence: John Whitmer Books, 2007