Eight witness of the book of mormon

And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance. 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. 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. Jun 24, 2019 below we share eight principles taught in these chapters that you can explore for your lesson. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Smith said he had been directed by the angel moroni to translate this work from reformed egyptian into english.

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 of the book of mormon department of. 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. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Helping young people connect the dots lds living the name bradley r. There are at most only two instances of phrases that could be said to have been taken from the book of mormon text proper. Oct 18, 2018 the witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2.

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. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. One of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, june. 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 eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.

The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of. 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. 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. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr.

Hiram page, whom married catherine whitmer in 1825. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. Thus there are some puzzling aspects to the testimonies of the witnesses. Oct 30, 2009 testimony of eight witnesses book of mormon. Brother wilcox is widely known for his work at byu and as a speaker and an author. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. 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. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. 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.

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. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri.

Testimony of the eight witnesses book of mormon central. Who are the few who were permitted to see the 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. 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. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration.

Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. 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. Mar, 2008 that is why mormons are so enthusiastic about the book of mormonit is a crucial second witness of christ and his gospel. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism.

All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. The eightwitness statement appears to be a prosaic legal affidavit, yet one that has borrowed much of its phraseology from the threewitness statement. The book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none. How can sally conrads witness of the book of mormon strengthen our faith.

The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. This chart is a photocopy of the first printed testimony of the. 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. 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. And that it why it is important to have joseph smiths account, and the accounts of the three and eight witnesses. 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. 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. In striking contrast to the threewitness statement, there are.

Testimony of eight witnesses book of mormon youtube. The three witnesses state that wehave seen the plates which contain this recordand we also testify tha. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon one people. 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. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ. 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. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. Most of the eight and all of the three witnesses reiterated their book of mormon testimonies just before death.

Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in 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. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. That is why mormons are so enthusiastic about the book of mormonit is a crucial second witness of christ and his gospel. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon.

When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. 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. 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. 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. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. 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.

The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. 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. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. 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. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. How did joseph smith as an eyewitness personally describe. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. 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.

Principles avoiding pride president ezra taft benson embracing christian courage elder robert d. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant.

Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. Hales experiencing conversion book of mormon video feeling the power of pure testimony president m. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and received the plates from his hands. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe.

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. 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. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. 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. 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. Did the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, just like. 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. 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.