Book of mormon, 1830, page 8 the joseph smith papers. Discussions on the book of mormon the divine purposes of the book of mormon part 1. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. 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, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book and included minor grammatical corrections. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Downloads male voice mp3 female voice mp3 entire book pdf footnotes. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. These witnesses cannot stand the test of examination and no one can we trust their testimony.
The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon. 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. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and received the plates from his hands. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. This is the name of the place where the gold plates were hidden. What are the names of the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. While joseph smith was translating 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account.
Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Every book of mormon makes these statements in the inside cover of title page. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnesses is not numbered.
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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ. The valueless testimony of the book of mormon witnesses. Additional information on the individual witnesses. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. 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 by the gift and power of god. 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. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri, at the time it was dedicated.
Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. For instance, all 11 witnesses to the book of mormon shared a common worldview of second sight, magic, and treasure digging. 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. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never. Days and hours never to be forgotten, byu studies quarterly 57, no. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of one of them.
The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Gathering the scriptural passages about the experience of. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history now playing. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book. 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. 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. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. 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. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ.
Welch, timing the translation of the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses. As with the three witnesses, the testimony of these eight men appears in each copy of the book of mormon, declaring that they saw and hefted the book of mormon. 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. A documentary history of the book of mormon byu studies. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs.
Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. All of the living book of mormon witnesses, except oliver cowdery, later. 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. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Photograph of the signatures of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The book includes two blank front flyleaves and two blank back flyleaves other copies have three back flyleaves. Joseph smith, the three witnesses, and the eight witnesses are a twelveman jury in affirming the reality of the gold plates and the book of mormon. Book of mormon, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon.
The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. Testimony of eight witnesses book of mormon youtube. 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 first set are the three witnesses the book of ether in the book of mormon states that the. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director witnesses.
The 3 and 8 witnesses witnessed supposed golden plates that were never actually used for the translation of the current book of mormon who cares who witnessed the source material that. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. 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. Where did the 8 witnesses of the book of mormon see the. 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. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Who is oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris.
527 384 662 560 486 1246 491 186 1442 1005 1350 225 1631 938 480 388 183 1018 632 557 880 1101 727 164 756 592 1140 1621 355 819 654 218 411 218 794 539 928