why was john whitmer excommunicated

John Whitmer was excommunicated from the Church on March 10, 1838, primarily for "persisting in unchristianlike conduct," particularly related to financial dealings. He was accused of allotting $2,000 worth of church funds for his own personal use and, along with others, purchasing deeds to land in Far West in their own names instead of the church's. Additionally, after his excommunication, he refused to turn over the historical documents and records he had worked on as Church Historian to Joseph Smith and the church leadership. These combined issues led to his excommunication during a leadership struggle at the church headquarters in Kirtland which later relocated to Far West, Missouri.