The three witnesses 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. They were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. According to this revelation, there would only be three witnesses. Here is their formal statement, which is present in every copy of the book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. I will be grateful that many people can testify that the book of mormon is the word of god. 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. But, oliver cowdery, according to the mormon publication times and seasons, did deny. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.

The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. 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. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed. 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. 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. The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. I will particularly remember the three witnesses, who provided contemporary testimonies corroborating joseph smiths. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates. The three witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs.

The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. 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. The book includes two blank front flyleaves and two blank back flyleaves other copies have three back flyleaves. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church.

Critics began by labeling the book bungling and stupid, joe smith a perfect ignoramus, and they claimed any blunderhead, with the bible at his side, might have written it. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. David whitmer was one of the three witnesses of 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. 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. 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. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. In the first, oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris affirm that theyve seen the plates from which the book of. Who were the three witnesses 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. Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. The signature of david whitmer, one of the three witnesses, is displayed on a document he wrote about the book of mormon on friday, feb. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book.

It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Today, i will be grateful that god sends witnesses to help us recognize the truth. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of.

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. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. The book is bound in brown calfskin, with a black label on the spine. The case against the three witnesses to the book of mormon. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous.

Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. 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. This page collects statements from the witnesses to the book of mormon plates in one convenient location. Book of mormon, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which. 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. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. 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. Jun 08, 2017 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.

However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Likely given that three of the eight witnesses were either excommunicated or left the church and as with the three witnesses, they never recanted their testimony as published in the book of mormon to explain the testimony of the witnesses, something that joseph smith fabricated a set of 10 or led plates they used to trick them with. 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. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon 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 that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims.

Every copy of the book of mormon includes the testimony of their experience in which the angel moroni. 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. 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. Each will reconnect us with the history, the claims and counterclaims, and ultimately the stalwart consistency of each witness testimony. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. 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. 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. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Doniphan on an affidavit attesting to his honesty and integrity, with plans to have it published in the local paper richmond, missouri with a statement refuting that he had denied his witness that an angel had shown him the gold plates from.

In a nutshell, the case of the three witnesses to the book of mormon is as follows. The eight witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who made statements stating that they had seen the golden plates which joseph smith jr. Johnson reflected the sentiments of the community by writing a poem attempting to reflect the fact that men may be untrue to the truth. 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 american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. The testimony of the three witnesses of the book of mormon be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of mormon.

Oct 18, 2018 however, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The final of the three witnesses is oliver cowdery, who served as scribe for 80% of the book of mormon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.

Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. 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. 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. 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. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. Cowdery was a third cousin to lucy smith, while joseph smith sr. 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. 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. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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.

Witnesses, produced by the interpreter foundation, consists of three main segments working together as a comprehensive project. Provided by lds church this monument to the three witnesses of the book of mormon was erected by the lds church in pioneer cemetery in richmond, missouri, where oliver cowdery is buried and is shown here on june 2, 2010. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Part of the vhs collection called a voice from the dust, this production of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is from 1982. With duane ryan, sherwood keith, ron frederickson, zan winn.

Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to. All of the 11 witnesses were related either by blood or by business interests. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. The three witnesses monument photo courtesy steve mortensen. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book.

The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. 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. 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. While whitmer believed the book of mormon to be true, he did not believe that the true church was to be led by one man. There were two formal groups whose witness buttressed joseph smiths account of the gold plates. Jan 26, 2017 oliver cowdery is one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. 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 same statements are often quoted elsewhere in the wiki under specific articles. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. 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. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830.

Doniphan on an affidavit attesting to his honesty and integrity, with plans to have it published in the local paper richmond, missouri with a statement refuting that he had denied his witness that an angel had shown him the gold. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. To their dying days, these witnesses defended their testimonies even in the face of cruel mobs, the ridicule of society, and betrayal by. The whitmers were former business associates of the smith family. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. 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. All three witnesses testimony of three witnesses 1829. After joseph smiths death he formed the church of christ. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the. The mormon church, of course, claims that none of the three witnesses ever denied their testimony.

Oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer were appointed to be three special witnesses of the book of mormon in june 1829. Book of mormon central evidences of 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. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Sep 26, 2014 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 following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. For the story of the three witnesses we will turn to josephs record in history of the church. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses.