| 458 John C. Whitmer, son of Jacob Whitmer, also one of the eight witnesses; David J. Whitmer, son of David Whitmer, Sr., and George Schweich, grandson of David Whitmer, forming a family all firm believers in the Book of Mormon and all anxious that the work should be fairly and well done, and that it should redound to the glory of God and the good of the cause. The sittings were opened by prayer; he who offered the supplication on each occasion asking for each and all engaged in the work divine guidance and support. At the close, divine blessing was asked upon the complete work of the committee.
The suggestive character of the men engaged in the examination ordered by the General Conference last spring, and the importance attaching to such examination as a fact, with the results likely to follow may be understood if thought is had upon the following facts. The Book of Mormon was first published in 1830, at Palmyra, New York, by E. B. Grandin, printer, for Joseph Smith. It was copyrighted in the United States district for Northern New York. Since then an edition was published at Kirtland by P. P. Pratt and E. S. Goodin, known as the Kirtland edition. Another at Cincinnati, Ohio, under the supervision of Ebenezer Robinson; known as the Cincinnati edition; another at Nauvoo, Illinois, called the Nauvoo edition; all during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, first president of the church, and presumably all with his knowledge. In addition to those above named, there was issued what are known as the first, second, third, fourth and fifth European editions, published at Liverpool, England, under Brigham Young's administration; but supervised by Orson Pratt for the earlier, and Franklin D. Richards for the later editions, if we are correctly informed. There is also a later issue of the work, with references, edited by Orson Pratt, and published at Liverpool, England, by John Henry Smith, in 1883. Another edition still was printed in New York, for Russell Huntley and Zadoc Brooks, in the interest of what is known as the Brooks faction of the church, and issued about 1856. There are editions in the German, Danish, French, and we believe Italian languages; and maybe others.
It has been stated by some who are believers in the Book of Mormon that there are differences between these editions; especially that in the Danish tongue there have been changes quite unjustifiable, and which antagonize the English rendition. Changes in phraseology, if not in sentiment, have long been known between the Palmyra and subsequent editions. The Reorganization in pursuance of its once work of reorganizing and restoring, set about the comparison accomplished by the committee, and have had the hearty sanction of Elder David Whitmer, and the active countenance and assistance of his entire family.
There is reason to believe that there was a manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon placed in the southeast corner-stone of the Nauvoo House, at Nauvoo. Bro. E. Robinson thinks that he witnessed the deposit of such copy in that stone. Two years since Major Lewis C. Bidamon, who married Emma Smith in 1847, and is in possession of the Nauvoo House, took
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