The 3 witnesses of the book of mormon

The witnesses were also told in a revelation that they should testify that ye have seen them even as my servant joseph smith jr. These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. Today, i will be grateful that god sends witnesses to help us recognize the truth. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. 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 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 every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. By richard packham at the front of every copy of the book of mormon you will find the testimony of three witnesses, as signed by oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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 of. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ. There were two formal groups whose witness buttressed joseph smiths account of the gold plates. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom.

Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Both ezekiel in the old testament and lehi in the book of mormon indicate that they shall grow together to confound false doctrine, establish peace, and bring us to a knowledge of the covenants. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. 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 of the book of mormon nibley, preston on. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. In the evening of september 21, 1823, three and a half years after. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. 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. Current mormon doctrine on the nature of god, the priesthood, use of temples, baptism for the dead, and men becoming gods, is nowhere contained in the book of mormon. Joseph smith only had three witnesses who claimed to see an angel. The three witnesses monument photo courtesy steve mortensen. So right at the outset of the translation, the promise of book of mormon witnesses was given by revelation.

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. Edward stevenson, the thirteenth witness to the plates of the book of mormon, ms 55 1893. Nephi stated that none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 nephi 27. 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. Oct 08, 2019 the witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible.

Who were the three witnesses of the book of mormon. According to this revelation, there would only be three witnesses. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down still visible. I will be grateful that many people can testify that the book of mormon is the word of god. Two separate sets of witnesses, a set of three and a set of eight, testified as having seen the golden plates, the record from which the book of mormon was translated. 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. Posted in false gospel, false prophecies of joseph smith, false prophecies of the mormon church, false prophet joseph smith, false prophets, tagged 3 witnesses didnt see plates, 3 witnesses to book of mormon, christianity, sword of laban on 05222012 1 comment. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. Here is their formal statement, which is present in every copy of the book of mormon.

We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. 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. 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. Beyond the testimony of the holy ghost, the witnesses represent the only evidence for the book of mormon provided by the lord himself. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. As reported in the book of mormon, certain objects were passed down from generation to generation by the nephite leaders. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. 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. Additionally, each of the three witnesses martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer left the church during joseph smiths lifetime and considered smith to have been. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. Why did the nephites preserve some items as national. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible.

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 world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon youtube. And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. This book will be convincing to those already certain that the gold plates actually existed and that the eleven witnesses saw them. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated. Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. 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.

Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how he first heard of 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. 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. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to. 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. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. 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. For the story of the three witnesses we will turn to josephs record in history of the church. Anson in a nutshell, the case of the three witnesses to the book of mormon is as follows.

The three witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Book of mormon punch card book of the mormon intro witnesses moroni jarom omni enos alma mosiah mormon ether 3 nephi 4 nephi 1 2 s book of mormon punch card book of the mormon intro witnesses moroni jarom omni jacob enos alma helaman words of mormon mosiah mormon ether 3 nephi 4 nephi 1 nephi 2 nephi s book of mormon punch card book of. Book of mormon witnesses facts, controversies, and contradictions. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Tammy uzelac hall, the host of lds livings sunday on monday, shares an answer to this and other questions readers might have in their studies of the book of mormon this week. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition.

It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Most of the evidence for such an argument is based on two statements made by martin harris. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. 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. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. The shakers, however, had a large number of witnesses who claimed they saw angels and the roll and book. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. 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. 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. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. While translating the book of mormon, joseph learned that the lord would choose witnesses to see the plates. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. All of the 11 witnesses were related either by blood or by business interests.

The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. And testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning. 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. 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. 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.

Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Joseph smith records the following in the history of the church. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Candidly examining all substantial arguments, pro and con, this project will argue powerfully for their credibility. 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.

Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses.

The three witnesses oliver cowdery david whitmer martin harris. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. The testimony of three witnesses book of mormon central. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the book of mormon ever denied their testimonies. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. 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. Anderson, richard lloyd 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.

I will particularly remember the three witnesses, who provided contemporary testimonies corroborating joseph smiths. 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. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. Dec 05, 2009 book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. 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. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. 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. It is recorded in the american cyclopedia and the encyclopedia britannica, that i, david whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the divinity of the book of mormon.

Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Only david whitmer and perhaps oliver cowdery saw the angel together. Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. 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. Whats going on in the book of mormon isaiah chapters. All right, if you go back to the first reaction to the witnesses of the book of mormon in the palmyra reflector, ridicule is pretty standard. Oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer were appointed to be three special witnesses of the book of mormon in june 1829. 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 book of mormon. The case against the three witnesses to the book of mormon. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus.

All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. Even if the majority of the witnesses to the book of mormon did not deny their testimony of the book itself, this does little to support mormonism today. Browse the papers documents journals administrative records revelations and translations histories legal, business, and financial records other contemporary papers. 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. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. They said that the same divine voice commanded us that we should bear record of it. They were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. 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. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these.

The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to. Also, joseph later found that the book of mormon prophesies in two places of its modern witnesses. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. 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 by the gift and power of god. From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar. Their straightforward and unambiguous claims cannot be easily dismissed or ignored. 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. 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. The work of the translation was proceeding nicely in harmony, pennsylvania for quite a while. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by richard lloyd anderson.