Readers of the book of mormon are undoubtedly familiar with the three witnesses. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret. This is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by eight witnesses, has been printed with nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. The three witnesses see the golden plates and the angel moroni. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon.
Joseph smith only had three witnesses who claimed to see an angel. Jan 26, 2017 this monument to the three witnesses of the book of mormon was erected by the lds church in pioneer cemetery in richmond, missouri, where oliver cowdery is buried and is shown here on june 2, 2010. In studying the history of joseph smith and the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, referred to as the mormons, we emphasize joseph smiths own testimony of the book of mormon, that book of additional scripture that is another testament of jesus christ. Published in every edition of the book of mormon are the testimonies of eight witnesses who saw the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account and of three witnesses who not only saw the plates but who were shown them by an angel. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. When it comes to the three witnesses, the history of the church clearly states they saw the plates in vision. Apr 15, 2019 your claim that they all recanted a physical witness is false in its intent and is an example of a common misrepresentation often made by critics who, if they really are as knowledgeable about the issue as they claim, should know better. The eightwitness statement, on the other hand, has been a little more problematic since it has three instances of the decidedly legalistic phrase the said smith as well as the dubious reference in. We will discuss these methods in more detail, but first lets consider a.
When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. On 26 mar 2019 a book entitled the sealed book of mormon was published. Realize that dna research has revealed that the book of mormon s claims that. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. It begins with a testimony of three witnesses from brazil who claim to have seen the plates of mormon and the sword of laban, and to have shaken hands with the angel moroni. Mar 19, 2020 the witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. How to witness to mormons,whitney hopler read more about spiritual life growth, christian living, and faith. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. Jun 29, 2012 those who frequently witness to mormons seem to gravitate to one of three different approaches. Most latterday saints are aware of the testimonies of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it.
Plainly, the lord still follows this pattern, and mary whitmer can justly be counted the 12th witness to the book of mormon. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. The testimony of the three witnesses to the book of mormon stands forth in great strength, president dallin h. Both are accompanied by a few other witnesses of the plates only. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. Here are some of the ways the book of mormon deepens our understanding of christs atonement. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. In the lds church, much emphasis is placed on the witness of three men who said that they saw the gold plates which were translated by joseph smith into the book of mormon, as well as eight additional witnesses who testified of their belief in the book of mormon.
The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. What if you were one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. You try spraying, scrubbing, and still were left with so many persons whose testimonies of the physicality of the golden plates, angels, and other artifactsnever wavered. Bibliographic citation lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses in deseret sunday school union leaflets. In their statement, they give binding testimony that they. For the story of the three witnesses we will turn to josephs record in history of the church. Zenoss allegory in jacob 5, lehis dream in 1 nephi 8, and almas discourses on righteousness in alma 5 and 32. In fact, william insisted in the same statement that he was convinced joseph was not lying about.
Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. A frequent claim is that a book of mormon witnesses said that he only handled the plates while they were covered in a tow frock. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this. Witness of the bible and book of mormon latter day light. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Imagine the twelve apostles suddenly denying jesus rose from the dead in public, only to ask people to ignore their denials and accept their testimony once again. This book will be convincing to those already certain that the gold plates actually existed and that the eleven witnesses saw them.
The book of mormon contains the testimonies of three men who proclaim that they along with joseph smith where shown these plates from which the book of mormon was taken by an angel and that the voice of god declared to them that the book of mormon is true. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. Their written testimony of three witnesses has been included in all of the almost 100 million copies of the book of mormon the church has published since 1830. The hearsay accounts show that ones faith in the book of mormon witnesses or lack thereof is based not simply on hearing the witnesses testimonies but on how one chooses to receive and understand their testimonies. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day saint movement who stated that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which joseph smith, jr. Joseph smith gave this account of of when he, whitmer, cowdery and. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Would you bear witness yet again that you heard the voice of god and that an angel laid the plates, the liahona, the sword of laban, and the urim and thummim before your eyes. Oaks, first counselor in the first presidency, has said. The shakers, however, had a large number of witnesses who claimed they saw angels and the roll and book.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. In the course of the work of translation, we ascertained that three special witnesses 1 were to be provided by the lord, to whom he would grant that they should see the plates from which this work the book of mormon should be translated. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. According to jesus, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established matthew 18. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. But, what people are not told is that the experience was visionary in nature. According to volume one, page 54, smith, cowdery, whitmer, and harris engaged in fervent and humble prayer, and when the first attempt to see the plates failed, martin harris. Modern mormon spin doctors write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the mormon church but they never the book of mormon. The testimony of these three prophets interlink in order to establish the veracity and power of each others witness of christ. The solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added.
And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since.
Your claim that they all recanted a physical witness is false in its intent and is an example of a common misrepresentation often made by critics who, if they really are as knowledgeable about the issue as they claim, should know better. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses 12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to. The three witnesses monument photo courtesy steve mortensen. Since all three served as scribes for joseph smith as he dictated the book of mormon, its perplexing why an angel would need to come down and show them the plates eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Realize that dna research has revealed that the book of mormons claims that. In the summer of 1829, after the translation of the book of mormon had been completed, the three of them with joseph smith went to a nearby grove to receive a witness of the book of mormon.
As christians, we always want to use the bible and its timeless truths as our primary tool in. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. Book of mormon witnesses facts, controversies, and contradictions. However, this report is from william smith, one of josephs brothers who was not a book of mormon witness. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the combined testimony of three ancient witnesses. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce. The testimony of three witnesses book of mormon central. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. The prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of god. Those who frequently witness to mormons seem to gravitate to one of three different approaches. Perhaps one should not expect that a book about the witnesses to the book of mormon published by deseret book company would be anything other than an attempt to strengthen the readers faith in the book of mormon. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.
Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon, he wrote. The bible is certainly a magnificent witness of jesus christ and his divinity, but the crowning witness of the savior and his atonement is to be found in the book of mormon. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimonies the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. They said that the same divine voice commanded us that we should bear record of it. The history of when david whitmer, oliver cowdery and martin harris saw the golden plates of the book of mormon. The names of oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris are familiar to most of us, notably because of their role as witnesses to the reality of the book of mormon. In the first, oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris affirm that theyve seen the plates from which the book of mormon was translated by. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimoniesthe testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses.
Why does the book of mormon use the three witness testimony. May 21, 2014 this is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. As a preface to this answer, please see our article on mormonism and what mormons believe. The most significant witnesses are the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, all of whom allowed their names to be used on two separate statements included with the book of mormon. Believers in the book of mormon heard the witnesses declare that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. The three witnesses are shown the golden plates by the angel, moroni. The joint statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer has been printed with a separate statement by the eight witnesses in nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. The testimony of three witnesses summarizes the supernatural event that followed, when an angel appeared and showed them the plates and engravings and they heard the lord declare that the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god. The tree is the primary symbol in three significant sections in the book of mormon, showing the development of nephite theology. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. The book of mormon mentions that there will indeed be three witnesses of the angel and the plates, but it now appears that it actually mentions two sets of three witnesses, one set of three for part 1 and another set of three for part 2.
He witnesses of the book of mormon what did they really see. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Three witnesses the three witnesses are david whitmer, oliver cowdery, and martin harris, who mortgaged his farm to finance the first printing of the book of mormon. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. I have always assumed that the threewitness statement was a part of the text of the book of mormon, that its language was the same as the english language found in the book of mormon proper. The printed statement of the three witnesses, as contained in the front of the book of mormon, states that they saw the plates and the engravings. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate. Oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer were appointed to be three special witnesses of the book of mormon in june 1829. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of. While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube.