The testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses
to the Golden Plates
are among the first words that many read in the Book of Mormon.
But did you know that there are other “unofficial”
witnesses,
including some prominent women of the early restoration.
Among these women, Mary Whitmer is unique.
She is the only person, other than the official witnesses,
to have been shown the Golden Plates by an angel.
In April 1829,
persecution intensified as Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery began the translation of the Book of Mormon.
For safety, and so the work could continue uninterrupted,
they relocated to the home of the Whitmer family in Fayette, NY.
The Whitmers were a large family, and the
burden fell especially hard on Mary,
who bore the brunt of household tasks.
Although she never complained, she may have
felt that the labor was too much.
However, one day, in the course of her chores, she went to the barn and met a stranger carrying a knapsack.
Although she was frightened of the man at first,
"He spoke to her in a kind, friendly tone,
and began to explain to her the nature
of the work which was going on in her house,
and she was filled with inexpressible joy and satisfaction.”
The man, an angelic messenger, opened the
knapsack and showed Mary a bundle of plates,
and “turned the leaves of the book of plates
over, leaf after leaf,
and also showed her the engravings upon them.”
He told her “to be patient and faithful
in bearing her burden a little longer”
and made the promise that if Mary did,
“she should be blessed; and her reward would be sure, if she proved faithful to the end.”
The appearance of the messenger with the plates
coming before the experiences of the Three and the Eight Witnesses
provided Mary with
the spiritual and physical solace she needed
to help move the work forward.
Of her testimony, Mary’s grandson said,
“I knew my grandmother to be a good, noble and truthful woman,
and I have not the least doubt of her statement in regard to seeing  the plates being strictly true.
She was a strong believer in the Book of Mormon
until the day of her death.”
From this experience we learn a valuable lesson.
Just as the Lord did for Mary Whitmer and
countless men and women throughout the scriptures,
the Lord will speak to each of us at our times
of need.
We can each receive our own witness of the
truthfulness of the work.
And now you knowhy
