Nthree witnesses to the book of mormon

The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. When the angel moroni showed the plates to the three witnesses, he fulfilled prophecy uttered at both the beginning and the end of the book of mormon. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard l. 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 case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. Mar, 2008 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. Their contemporaries did not know quite what to make of three such men who testified of angels and gold plates, but they did not impugn the character or reliability of the men who bore that testimony.

The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. Some may not realize that, aside from viewing the plates, the three witnesses of the book of mormon beheld several other nephite artifacts, including the miraculous directors which were given to lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the red sea doctrine and covenants 17. The three witnesses oliver cowdery david whitmer martin harris. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central.

Some of the most important evidence for the reality and divine nature of the book of mormon comes from detailed scholarship about the witnesses to the book of mormon. Oliver cowdery is one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. In the introductory pages of the book of mormon, there is a page that contains the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. The testimony of these witnesses contain qualifications which indicate there was a spiritual, visionary dimension to the encounter with the plates and the angel. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. Like martin harris, each of the three witnesses to the book of mormon willingly accepted visionary or second sight experiences as objective, unquestionable reality. Bibliographic citation lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses in deseret sunday school union leaflets.

The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. In this light, niggling criticisms that the testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses dont prove the plates ancient and dont rigorously demonstrate the existence of an ancient nephite civilization plainly miss the point. Mar 22, 2017 by june 1829 martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer had verbalized a desire to be the special three witnesses alluded to in the book of mormon. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. We talk at length about our assumptions that the three witnesses has a spiritual event, that the eight witnesses had a physical event, whether their experience was consistent, and how the institutional church may have. The 11 witnesses were all good, honorable men and regarded as upstanding members of the community. 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 book of mormon is an additional set of sacred prophetic writings adopted by the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as well as it many offshoots, collectively referred to as the mormonism as both holy scripture and another witness of the divinity of jesus christ an important element to proving the divine authenticity of this scripture is the testimony of latterday witnesses. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Joseph smith records the following in the history of the church. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates.

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. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. 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. The book of mormon is a witness to the truth of the bible. Some people seem to deal with them by simply waving them aside. Some of the major events in the coming forth of the book of mormon are dramatized, including the loss of the 116 pages of the original manuscript. Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f. Some, unable or unwilling to take the witnesses to the book of mormon at their word, question their claims of seeing and hefting the golden plates, insisting instead that the witnesses saw only with spiritual eyes which means, effectively, in their imaginations.

The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the combined testimony of three ancient witnesses.

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. 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 solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. 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. 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. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. A granite monument in a pioneer cemetery here memorializing the three witnesses to the book of mormon was celebrated saturday for its 100 years of existence. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The three special witnesses saw the angel moroni and the plates. Each book stands as evidence that god lives and speaks to his children by revelation to his prophets.

When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. This is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. These statements are most valuable as evidence of how a variety of people have chosen to interpret and respond to the book of mormon witnesses. The testimony of these three prophets interlink in order to establish the veracity and power of each others witness of christ. 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.

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. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris.

The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. The earliest documented statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisis their statement in the handwriting of oliver cowdery subsequently published in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Witnesses are important at first, i was confused why ces letter devoted so much space to the book of mormon witnesses. Hours later, a new monument was dedicated in liberty, 30 miles to the west, honoring the eight additional witnesses who attested that they saw and handled the metal plates from which joseph smith jr. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since.

The earliest documented statement of the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisis their statement in the handwriting of oliver cowdery subsequently published in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, was the second son of peter whitmer, sen. Apr 26, 2010 the bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to the book of mormon. 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.

An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. In every copy of the book of mormon is the signed statement by the witnesses of the bom. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. In the course of the work of translation of the book of mormon, we joseph smith and oliver cowdrey ascertained that three special witnesses were to be provided by the lord, to whom he would grant that they should see the plates from which this work the book. Answers to questions about the witnesses to the book of mormon. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. 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.

The witnesses to the book of mormon the witnesses to the book of mormon have always been extremely impressive to me. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. After copying these two documents by hand, president smith read them in at least two public discoursesonce in march 1939 and again in the october.

The witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings. Many people that wholeheartedly believe the book of mormon witnesses do so because they have a hard time thinking that these people would either lie or could have been deceived. They said that the same divine voice commanded us that we should bear record of it. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the book of mormon was written for the intent that ye may believe the bible. 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. 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. 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. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered.

And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or eight are consistent. Monument to three witnesses to the book of mormon has. Fairmormon answers wiki table of contents all of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses left the church in 1838 and were hostile, at. Like most mormons i never considered the witnesses and anything more than a nice supporting page for the truthfulness of 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. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. An important episode associated with the translation and coming forth of the book of mormon was the experience of two sets of witnesses eleven totalwho, among other things, claimed to have actually seen the gold plates, which were delivered by the angel moroni to joseph smith. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by.

Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account known as the book of mormon. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. Readers of the book of mormon are undoubtedly familiar with the three witnesses. The three witnesses of the book of mormon parent page. David whitmer january 7, 1805 january 25, 1888 was an early adherent of the latter day saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the three witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. 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. From a legal and historical perspective, they are less valuable as evidence of what the witnesses experienced. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. He removed with his parents to new york state when a boy, and married elizabeth schott, september 29, 1825. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. Mar 11, 2018 scriptural witnesses authenticate each other.

More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how he first heard of the book of mormon. President smith was also privileged to handle a handwritten testimony of oliver cowdery, another of the three witnesses 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. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. 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. Richard andersons work on the three witnesses and the eight witnesses demonstrates conclusively. In my personal experience, and as a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes mistakenly called the mormon church, i have heard it described as everything from interesting, false, uplifting, or contrary to the bible. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Dec 05, 2009 president nelson grandfathers visit from the other side of the veil and family history work duration. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Book of mormon witnesses the witnesses were men considered honest, responsible, and intelligent.

That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which. 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. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to. A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. Believers in the book of mormon heard the witnesses declare that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. Questions about the witnesses to the reality of the.

We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. 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 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. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Did the witnesses who left the church continue to maintain their witness of the book of mormon.