Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history episode info. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. 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.
The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. The three witnesses, utah genealogical and historical magazine, october 1927october 1929, vol. These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Many critics of the book of mormon witnesses say that the witnesses of the book of mormon denied their written testimonies in statements to different people over the years. From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar. Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to.
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. Their testimonies and lives give us an inside view at how the book of mormon came to be and how joseph smith took advantage of those around him, perpetuating the lies. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. The mission of byutv is to create purposeful, engaging viewing and listening experiences that entertain, inspire, uplift, and improve families and communities. Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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. Examines the authenticity of the book of mormon in light of the testimonies of the eight witnesses and the three witnesses, noting that although some left the church, none ever denied that they had seen the. For nearly 200 years, skeptics and critics have been trying to explain away what many book of mormon witnesses statedthat they had seen angels and hefted golden metal plates containing ancient inscriptions. Like the three witnesses, the book of mormon prophecies that there will be others which will testify of this work, and there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of god, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men. The book of mormon and the three witnesses book of. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory.
Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that. Behold, i say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of laban, the urim and thummim, which were given to the brother of jared upon the mount, when he talked with the lord face to face3 and after that you have obtained. 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. 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. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. 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. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1994. And joseph iii said david whitmer stood up to his full height which was nearly. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd.
Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. By providing the testimonies of witnesses and including them at the end of the book of mormon, joseph smith was following not only the ancient pattern called for by nephi, but also the guidance and inspiration of the lord. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. The book of mormon is a sacred, ancient record that was translated by the gift and power of god into english in 1830 through joseph smith jr.
The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. Read the story from gold plates to the book of mormon having your child help trace the path. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. The witnesses were men known for truthfulness and sobriety almost two hundred years after the fact, the book of mormon witnesses still play a vital part of mormonism. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. I grew up believing that i belonged to the only true church on the face of the earth and even though there were teachings about the church i didnt agree with, it never occurred to me they didnt have physical proof for the book of mormon.
See the full list here the church of jesus christ of latterday saints editors note. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. The law of witnesses in 2 nephi religious studies center. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. To their dying days, these witnesses defended their testimonies even in the face of cruel mobs, the ridicule of society, and betrayal by. Testimony of three witnesses church of jesus christ. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. 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.
The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Number of temples opened for husbandwife sealings grows from 17 to 34. Most of the evidence for such an argument is based on two statements made by martin harris. The objective of this restoration edition has been to recover the text of the book of mormon back to what joseph smith intended it to be before his death. The witnesses were also told in a revelation that they should testify that ye have seen them even as my servant joseph smith jr.
Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. 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. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Nephi included another application of the law of witnesses in 2 nephi 29, when he wrote of at least three sets of scriptures that the lord will bring forth.
The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Since its publication in 1830, the book of mormon has been accompanied by the testimony of three witnesses claiming to have seen the an angel with the plates and the testimony of eight witnesses. 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. Brigham young said, some of the witnesses of the book of mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of god, were afterwards left to doubt and to disbelieve that they had ever seen an angel. In 1841 the mormons published a poem which stated or book of mormon not his word, because denied by oliver. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Oliver cowdery was excommunicated from the mormon church and joined the methodist church. They knew that three people would be allowed to see the plates and would testify to the world that the book of mormon is true ether 5.
The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. A passage in the book of mormon similarly indicated that the testimony of the witnesses and the book of mormon would come forth at the same time. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. On may 11, 2020, the first presidency of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints updated the list of temples in the first phase of reopening. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. And testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning. These divinely appointed witnesses help the book of mormon fulfill one of its primary purposesto convince the world that jesus is the christ, the eternal god. Nephi, one of the earliest prophets of the israelitish colony, predicted nearly 600 years before the christian era, that when the records containing the history of his people should be revealed from the dust, it would be in a day when the people would deny the power of god, the holy one of israel. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr.
Richard lloyd anderson, testimonies of the three witnesses, provo, ut. When i was a member of the church i honestly never thought about checking up on the witnesses of the book of mormon. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Richard lloyd anderson, did oliver cowdery, one of the three special book of mormon witnesses, express doubt about his testimony. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. Book of mormon audiobook podcast of the book of mormon.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Check out the viewpoint on mormonism podcast series 15 witnesses to the book of mormon part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 february 1518, 2016 joseph smith claimed that in 1823 he was visited by an angel named moroni and that this angel told him that there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.