Testimony of three witnesses book of mormon

To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. Some dismiss the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses as of no real consequence, since they fail to prove the book of mormon ancient. Jan 29, 2017 the prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of god. 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. In regards to my testimony to the visitation of the angel, who declared to us three witnesses that the book of mormon is true, i have this to say. 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. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine.

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. The ancient america foundation aaf is pleased to present aaf notes. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The central theme of the movie is three accounts that are legally admissible testimony. Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. 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. 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. 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 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. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. 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. Book of mormon, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. The three witnesses receive their witness gospel doctrine. Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ.

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. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Why didnt the book of mormon witnesses sign their testimony. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. The testimony of three witnesses book of mormon central. 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 smith s translation had been accomplished by the gift and power of god.

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 book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this. Introductory lesson the book of mormon the red headed. Our lesson today is the testimony of three men that the prophecy of the coming forth and translation of the book of mormon had been fulfilled. 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. 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. Even though the vision given to cowdery, whitmer, and harris fulfilled the scriptural promise in the book of mormon that the record would be shown to three witnesses by the power of god, two passages in the sacred text suggested that additional witnesses might also have a view of the plates.

Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Scores of them ignoring the personal testimonies of the gospel writerstwo of. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. But, oliver cowdery, according to the mormon publication times and seasons, did deny. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the combined testimony of three ancient witnesses. All three of them left the mormon church at one point or another. In the first, oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris affirm that theyve seen the plates from which the book of mormon was translated by.

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. In this segment, truman madsen explains the power of the testimony of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The three 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.

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 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. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. 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. Visible angelic involvement in the recovery of the book of mormon far transcends merely antiquarian interest, as does their united testimony that gods voice had declared to them that the. A common muslim testimony i bear you my testimony that i know the book of mormon is true, i know that joseph smith is a true prophet of god and i know that the church is the only true church i bear witness that there is no god but allah, and i bear witness that mohammed is the servant and messenger of allah. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. The testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses religious. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book.

Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of.

But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon, all three of these men left the church at some pointonly two. When i was a missionary, my understanding and impression from looking at the testimony of the three and eight witnesses in the book of mormon was that the statements were legally binding documents in which the names represented signatures on the original document similar to what you would see on the original us declaration of independence. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. The testimony of three witnesses meridian magazine. Readers of the book of mormon are undoubtedly familiar with the three witnesses.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, 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, his brethren, and also of the people of jared, who came from the tower of which. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. The testimony of the three witnesses to the book of mormon stands forth in great strength, president dallin h. Introductory lesson the book of mormon the red headed hostess.

I was present at the deathbed of oliver cowdery, and his last words were, brother david, be true to your testimony of the book of mormon. The witnesses repeatedly reaffirmed what they said in their book of mormon testimony, in detail. 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 three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by. The testimony of three witnesses in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon was originally included at the end of the book, as a final seal of its veracity. The title page the introduction the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses the testimony of the prophet joseph smith with this kit you andor your children will learn all about the purpose and power. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Deseret news archives this monument honers the eight witnesses of the book of mormon and was erected in liberty, missouri, on the same day the 100th anniversary of the three witnesses monument in richmond, missouri.

The witnesses were also told in a revelation that they should testify that ye have seen them even as my servant joseph smith jr. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. The three witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the latter day saint movement who wrote in a statement of 1830 that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon and that they had heard gods voice testifying that the book had been translated by the power. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. But this dismissal overlooks their enormous significance. All three men upheld their testimony of the book of mormon at their deaths. The mormon church, of course, claims that none of the three witnesses ever denied their testimony. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates.

December 30 january 5 introductory pages of the book of mormon this printable kit for all ages will help you study and teach the introductory pages to the book of mormon. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. 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. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. The prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. They consistently stated throughout their lives the truth of their testimonies as printed in the book of mormon. 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. It is contradictory to say the two fake quotes from antimormon, thirdhand sources, are the only real testimonies.

The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. For the story of the three witnesses we will turn to josephs record in history of the church. And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or. Johnson reflected the sentiments of the community by writing a poem attempting to reflect the fact that men may be untrue to the truth. The testimony of the three witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. 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. When moroni finished the record of the nephites he closed with the prophetic words which formed our last lesson. 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 12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ. Oaks, first counselor in the first presidency, has said.

Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. 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. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. 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. Lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses book of mormon. 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. 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. According to mormon belief, three witnesses were shown the golden plates of the book of mormon.

Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. They said that the same divine voice commanded us that we should bear record of it. The testimony of these three prophets interlink in order to establish the veracity and power of each others witness of christ. The first, the testimony of three witnesses, is given by oliver cowdery, 2 david whitmer, 3 and martin harris. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Oct 18, 2018 some dismiss the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses as of no real consequence, since they fail to prove the book of mormon ancient. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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 the encyclopedia of mormonism. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon.