Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. The three witnesses state that wehave seen the plates which contain this recordand we also testify tha. The original testimony of these eight men in the book of mormon reads somewhat ambiguously, not making clear whether they handled the plates or the leaves of the translated manuscript. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn.
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 author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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. 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. How did joseph smith as an eyewitness personally describe. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. During the earliest years from 1828 to 1833, john acted as a scribe for both the book of mormon and bible translations and served as one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon plates. Joseph smiths account of when the three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris where shown the golden plates by the angel moroni was recorded in history of the church, volume 1, pp. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous. Jun 24, 2019 below we share eight principles taught in these chapters that you can explore for your lesson.
Smith said he had been directed by the angel moroni to translate this work from reformed egyptian into english. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one.
Helping young people connect the dots lds living the name bradley r. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and. 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. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. That is why mormons are so enthusiastic about the book of mormonit is a crucial second witness of christ and his gospel.
Brother wilcox is widely known for his work at byu and as a speaker and an author. Principles avoiding pride president ezra taft benson embracing christian courage elder robert d. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. And that it why it is important to have joseph smiths account, and the accounts of the three and eight witnesses.
Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Hiram page, whom married catherine whitmer in 1825. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Hales experiencing conversion book of mormon video feeling the power of pure testimony president m. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Testimony of the eight witnesses book of mormon central. In the front of each copy of the book of mormon, there is printed the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses.
Jun 07, 2012 the eightwitness statement appears to be a prosaic legal affidavit, yet one that has borrowed much of its phraseology from the threewitness statement. 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 combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Harper invites us to examine the evidence left by oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris top to bottom as well as the eight witnesses. The book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none. Mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon one people. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation.
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 three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr.
Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and received the plates from his hands. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon.
Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. Gunnell goes on to quote a letter written in 1844 by phineas young to brigham young, martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was of the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon, wayne c. Here it was that those 8 witnesses recorded in the book of mormon looked upon the plates and handled them of which they bear witness in the title page of the. 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 eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. Thus there are some puzzling aspects to the testimonies of the witnesses. How can sally conrads witness of the book of mormon strengthen our faith. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Testimony of eight witnesses book of mormon youtube. 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. The eightwitness statement appears to be a prosaic legal affidavit, yet one that has borrowed much of its phraseology from the threewitness statement. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.
Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. 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. An additional eight witnesses members of the smith and whitmer families declared that joseph smith himself showed them the plates and allowed each to heft. Here it was that those 8 witnesses recorded in the book of mormon looked upon the plates and handled them of which they bear witness in the title page of the book of mormon. 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. Mar, 2008 that is why mormons are so enthusiastic about the book of mormonit is a crucial second witness of christ and his gospel. 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. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty.
Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. John was designated an elder, an apostle prior to the more formal quorum of twelve being established, and labored as one of the most trusted confidants of. 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. One of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, june. Dec 05, 2009 268 videos play all the book of mormon audio full michael dinkelman truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book of mormon duration. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates.
For example, perhaps responding to suggestions that the experience of the eight witnesses was merely spiritual and visionary, hyrum insisted during an 1838 speech on its literal reality see investigating the book of mormon witnesses. 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. There are at most only two instances of phrases that could be said to have been taken from the book of mormon text proper. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. 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. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. 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.
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. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. Did the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, just like. 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. The first set are the three witnesses the book of ether in the book of mormon states that the plates would be shown to certain individuals who shall assist to bring forth this work. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed.
Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Wilcox may have sounded familiar to many latterday saints when he was announced as a member of the new young men general presidency in general conference, and rightly so. This chart is a photocopy of the first printed testimony of the. For a comprehensive treatment of the experiences of these eight witnesses, see richard lloyd anderson, attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses, journal of book of mormon studies, 141 2005.
It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. In striking contrast to the threewitness statement, there are. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830.
The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. Oct 18, 2018 the witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Most of the eight and all of the three witnesses reiterated their book of mormon testimonies just before death.
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