The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of. All three men upheld their testimony of the book of mormon at their deaths. 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. They knew that three people would be allowed to see the. Get insight into the witnesses to the gold plates, the book of mormons translation and printing, and the opposition to and reception of early saints because of it. The testimony of the three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon is a key part to the testimonies of many members of the church. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon youtube. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. The book of mormon relies not only on the record of an ancient people, but also on the separate testimonies of three and eight witnesses published in the back of the books original 1830 edition and. 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. Testimony of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon when the church of jesus christ of latterday saints was formally organized on april 6, 1830, john was one of the people of whom six were required by new york law to organize a new church who was blessed to become an official member that day.
Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Oct 08, 2019 the witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. Three witnesses the testimonies of the witnesses printed in the book of mormon offer compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous origin. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation.
By 1847, not a single one of the surviving eleven witnesses were affiliated with the mormon church. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. 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.
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. Jan 05, 2020 the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the book of mormon ever denied 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. 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. However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. The only thing this book continuously stressed is that jesus is god, the holy spirit is god, and the trinity is one being. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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.
All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church. It uses biblical quotes to disprove the book of mormon and the nwt of the jws bible. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. Jun 24, 2019 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. It uses biblical quotes to disprove the book of mormon and the. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. 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. Beyond the testimony of the holy ghost, the witnesses represent the only evidence for the book of mormon provided by the lord himself. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Book of mormonwitnesseseye of faith and spiritual eye.
Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. Are members to take all of these visions as gospel truth, in the way that the lds church encourages them to accept the story of the witness of the gold plates. 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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one.
It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Palmyra, known as swifts landing and tolland before being renamed palmyra, 1796. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. Yet, harper observes, critics of the book of mormon to the extent that they engage the witnesses at all repeatedly choose to privilege selected hearsay more than the direct statements of. 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.
The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Oct 18, 2018 however, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Soon after josephs arrival at fayette from pennsylvania the summer of 1829, peter became a zealous friend of the prophet and an able assistant in the translation of. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. By 1847, not a single one of the surviving eleven witnesses were affiliated. The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book and included minor grammatical corrections. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimoniesthe testimony. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
Also cited in richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. Dec 31, 2015 yet, harper observes, critics of the book of mormon to the extent that they engage the witnesses at all repeatedly choose to privilege selected hearsay more than the direct statements of the witnesses, interpreting it by means of speculations and conjectures. 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. George mantle to marietta walker, 26 december 1888, saint catherine, missouri, cited in autumn leaves 2 1889. Mar 19, 2020 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. The earliest documented statement of the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and.
Which is basically like using a spiderman comic book to prove that batman is wrong. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. 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. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men.
Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael.
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. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Their straightforward and unambiguous claims cannot be easily dismissed or ignored.
Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. The three men called to serve as special witnesses of the coming forth of the book of mormon by the power of god, are oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness.
Their written testimony of three witnesses has been included in all of the almost 100. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. Three witnesses the three witnesses are david whitmer, oliver. Evidences and witnesses of the book of mormon by daniel c. Thus, we find every living book of mormon witnesses, except oliver cowdery, accepting strang as their prophet, at least for a time. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and.
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. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. 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.
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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated. Whatever one may think of the book of mormon origins, the three witnesses along with the other eight witnesses and the prophet joseph smith himself could accurately be described as being stumbling blocks to the skeptic, critic, and unbeliever. 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. Eyring, first counselor in the first presidency, has testified, the effect of the book of mormon on your character, power, and courage to be a witness for god is certain. Critics began by labeling the book bungling and stupid, joe smith a perfect. The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent. 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. 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 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley.
Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Anderson, in his faithpromoting book titled investigating the book of mormon witnesses, insists that readers must take the testimony of the eleven witnesses at face value. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. 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 book of mormon relies not only on the record of an ancient people, but also on the separate testimonies of three and eight witnesses published in the back of the books original 1830 edition and in the front of its more recent editions. 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. Journal of discourses, vol 7, page 164, 1859, brigham young. The book of mormon witnesses historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. 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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Candidly examining all substantial arguments, pro and con, this project will argue powerfully for their credibility.