 Another difference is that the Eight testified they were shown the plates by Joseph Smith rather than by an angel as had the Three.Christian Whitmer died in 1835 and his brother Peter Whitmer, Jr. died the following year.In 1838, the surviving Whitmers became estranged from Joseph Smith during a leadership struggle in Far West, Missouri, and all three were excommunicated with other dissenters, never to rejoin The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.