Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard l. May 21, 2014 this is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story 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. The 3 witnesses to the book of mormon february 12, 2020 viewpoint on mormonism mormonism research ministry a closer look at the 3 witnesses to the book of mormon in this second week of a 6week series. 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. Primary documents concerning their testimonies appear in preston nibley, witnesses of the book of mormon salt lake city, 1953. 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 three nephites are the disciples of jesus christ when he appeared in the new world. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The book tells the story of jesus life after the resurrection. Let me give an example of martin harriss testimony. 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. All of the 11 witnesses were related either by blood or by business interests. 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. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. 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.
Why were the 8 witnesses all from families of founding members and financial beneficiaries of the churches. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. Among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the combined testimony of three ancient witnesses. They plates were translated from god and the work is true, according to them. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition.
The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. 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. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. The three witnesses oliver cowdery david whitmer martin harris. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. Mar, 2008 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.
Have there been any talks regarding these two 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. For the witnesses testimonies, and their lives outside the church, see richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses corr. With joseph smith, baptized and received priesthood authority, 1829. The three witnesses said they beheld the angel moroni, who showed them the gold plates and other nephite artifacts. Lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses book of mormon.
The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. Commenting on the three witnesses, founder of the mormon religion joseph smith said in 1838, such characters as mclellin, john whitmer, david whitmer, oliver cowdry, and martin harris are too mean to mention. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. However, this report is from william smith, one of josephs brothers who was not a book of mormon witness. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Joseph smith records the following in the history of the church. Today, i will be grateful that god sends witnesses to help us recognize the truth. As we know, two witnesses will be killed in jerusalem. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. I have never heard that any one of the three, or eight witnesses ever denied the testimony that they have borne to the book as published in the first edition of the book of.
As a preface to this answer, please see our article on mormonism and what mormons believe. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. They were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. The three witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon, as part of the introduction, are two witness statements. One of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, june 1829. But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Lets assume, for the sake of discussion, that the declarations of the official witnesses to the book of mormon are true. Will the 2 witnesses killed in jerusalem be apostles from.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by richard lloyd anderson. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube. Would you bear witness yet again that you heard the voice of. Assisted joseph smith as principal scribe in translation of book of mormon, 1829. There were two formal groups whose witness buttressed joseph smiths account of the gold plates. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible. 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. The three witnesses monument photo courtesy steve mortensen. Here is their formal statement, which is present in every copy of the book of mormon. A witness for the book of mormon witnesses deseret news. They witnessed joseph smith finding the plates that god had added words on that eventually became the book of mormon. What happened after they signed their names, confirming that the book of mormon was true.
The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration.
Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Weve all read, or at least skimmed, the testimonies of the three witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon, but what is the story behind these men and their testimonies. All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church. Those who have attempted to tackle the issue generally have relied.
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 case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Two of the three witnesses who were excommunicated from the mormon church later returned to the church after denying their testimony. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account known as the book of mormon. And testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning. The case against the three witnesses to the book of mormon. Media in category book of mormon witnesses the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. What if you were one of the three witnesses to the. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men.
All three witnesses left the church for a time, but two came back before their deaths to make peace with god, and they all continued to bear witness to the book of mormon and their vision of the plates to the end. 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 three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. A frequent claim is that a book of mormon witnesses said that he only handled the plates while they were covered in a tow frock. The solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Many have supposed these two witnesses will be apostles members of the first presidency or quorum of the twelve. 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.
This happened shortly after his crucifixion in israel, when the new world needed christ the most during the reign of tlazolteotl ixcuina, the goddess of filthy things. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. I will be grateful that many people can testify that the book of mormon is the word of god. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Apr 26, 2010 the book of mormon has 12 official witnesses. 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. Many critics have tried to ignore their testimonies, while others have simply glossed over their significance. Mormons believe the prophet mormon wrote the ancient texts on gold plates, and his son moroni buried them in what is now new york.
All three men upheld their testimony of the book of mormon at their deaths. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. Full text of recollections of fifty years in the ministry. 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. Published on oct 8, 2019 the witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible.
As christians, we always want to use the bible and its timeless truths as our primary tool in witnessing the love of god and salvation through christ. But he maintained his faith in the book of mormon for the remaining 45 years of his life partly as a result of his confidence in the three and eight witnesses, whom he knew well. 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. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. In this video, i discuss how relying on the published testimony of eight witnesses has led many to incorrectly assume the experience of the eight men was completely natural and physical. 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. Mormon religious beliefs versus jehovah witness beliefs synonym. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus. They also heard a voice from heaven, declaring the truth of the book of mormon s translation. 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 mormon should be translated. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. In fact, william insisted in the same statement that he was convinced joseph was not lying about. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses.
The book includes two blank front flyleaves and two blank back flyleaves other copies have three back flyleaves. Most of the evidence for such an argument is based on two statements made by martin harris. The earliest documented statement of the three witnesses oliver 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. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. Taken together with the additional witnesses, mentioned especially by paul and in the book of mormon, numerous people bear testimony of the reality of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ.
Though each of the three witnesses was eventually excommunicated from the church two returned, none ever denied or retracted his. Why did ever one of the surviving witnesses leave to another churuch by 1847, including some former mormons who also claimed to have unearthed separate records. Book of mormon central why were the three 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 smith s translation had been accomplished by. Mormon cries repentance unto the nephitesthey gain a great victory and glory in their own strengthmormon refuses to lead them, and his prayers for them are without faiththe book of mormon invites the twelve tribes of israel to believe the gospel. Oct 30, 2009 the testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The three witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar.
These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. Book of mormon, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. Anson in a nutshell, the case of the three witnesses to the book of mormon is as follows. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. 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.
Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. Motives the testimony of the book of mormon witnesses has been a thorn in the side of the critics for more than a century and a half. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnesses is not numbered. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. 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.
They beg joseph to ask god if maybe they arent the ones. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. Last witnessof the three witnesses the church of jesus. 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 case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration. Lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses in deseret sunday school union leaflets. Readers of the book of mormon are undoubtedly familiar with the three witnesses. Mormons follow the new king james version of the bible, and revere the book of mormon as much as the bible. Start studying book of mormon brad wilcox midterm 1byu. We know they will be raised up in the jewish state. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. These features help explain why it was included among the sacred objects shown to the three witnesses.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Joseph dictates the part of the book of mormon that mentions three special witnesses while all three are there with him. Jul 08, 2011 these close ties to joseph smith, coupled with discrepancies between the witnesses published book of mormon statement and later personal statements, as well as the question of coercion on the part of joseph smith, all raise questions of their credibility as well. The testimony of these three prophets interlink in order to establish the veracity and power of each others witness of christ. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. I will particularly remember the three witnesses, who provided contemporary testimonies corroborating joseph smiths. The work of the translation was proceeding nicely in harmony, pennsylvania for quite a while.
The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer were appointed to be three special witnesses of the book of mormon in june 1829. The first, the testimony of three witnesses, is given by oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris.
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