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. When i was a member of the church i honestly never thought about checking up on the witnesses of the book of mormon. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. 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.
Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ. 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. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2.
And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory. 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. 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. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. 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. 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 combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Book of mormon audiobook podcast of the book of mormon.
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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. 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. 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. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon.
More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830.
It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. This press release was originally published on may 7, 2020. 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. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates.
These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. 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. 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. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of.
Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. End by showing your child a copy of the book of mormon. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by. 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. 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.
Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. 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. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history episode info.
From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. 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. The law of witnesses in 2 nephi religious studies center. The three witnesses, utah genealogical and historical magazine, october 1927october 1929, vol. In 1841 the mormons published a poem which stated or book of mormon not his word, because denied by oliver. 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. For the story of the three witnesses we will turn to josephs record in history of the church. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. 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. Most of the evidence for such an argument is based on two statements made by martin harris. 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. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. 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.
Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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 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 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.
Oliver cowdery was excommunicated from the mormon church and joined the methodist church. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. The mission of byutv is to create purposeful, engaging viewing and listening experiences that entertain, inspire, uplift, and improve families and communities. 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. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. And joseph iii said david whitmer stood up to his full height which was nearly. See the full list here the church of jesus christ of latterday saints editors note. To their dying days, these witnesses defended their testimonies even in the face of cruel mobs, the ridicule of society, and betrayal by. Richard lloyd anderson, did oliver cowdery, one of the three special book of mormon witnesses, express doubt about his testimony. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. 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 first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon.
Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1994. Let your child color the pictures before folding this booklet to read to them, the book of mormon teaches me about jesus christ. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. Testimony of three witnesses church of jesus christ. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. And testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning.