8 witnesses to the book of mormon

Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. That affidavit is remarkable in its paucity of detail, as you know. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Oct 18, 2018 however, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden 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. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. 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.

Get insight into the witnesses to the gold plates, the book of mormon s translation and printing, and the opposition to and reception of early saints because of it. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri, at the time it was dedicated. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Or whether the report comes from a disaffected member whos no less credible than a tbm apologist with extreme confirmation biaslike dan peterson. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. Jun 20, 2019 the book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth.

Obviously, the book of mormon witnesses consented to the witness statement and agreed with it. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history episode info. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and 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. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates.

The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnessesis not numbered. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. 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. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. The book includes two blank front flyleaves and two blank back flyleaves other copies have three back flyleaves. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon.

Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks. Most members are aware that many of the witnesses, including. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. It is one thing for a guy to claim visions, but it gains a lot more credibility when a dozen other men swear they the same thing and know it for a fact. 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 solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ. May 23, 2017 the answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. 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. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Dec 31, 2015 some, unable or unwilling to take the witnesses to the book of mormon at their word, question their claims of seeing and hefting the golden plates, insisting instead that the witnesses saw only with spiritual eyes which means, effectively, in their imaginations. Soon after josephs arrival at fayette from pennsylvania the summer of 1829, peter became a zealous friend of the prophet and an able assistant in the translation of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one. Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ.

Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. They knew that three people would be allowed to see the plates and would testify to the world that the book of mormon is true ether 5. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Jan 05, 2020 the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Where did the 8 witnesses of the book of mormon see the.

Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. The witness testimonies are some of the best secular evidences for the book of mormon s truth. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The historical narrative surrounding the book of mormon witnesses presents a. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Anderson, in his faithpromoting book titled investigating the book of mormon witnesses, insists that readers must take the testimony of the eleven witnesses at face value. 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. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and received the plates from his hands. 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.

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, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. A recently discovered circa 1871 manuscript written by william mclellin, an early mormon apostle and, later, apostate, includes a passage that narrates how, in 1833, he engaged two of the three and one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon about the nature of their experiences as witnesses. 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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. Why dont they parade it around to the world as proof of mormonisms veracity. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold.

The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Did martin harris claim that even the eight witnesses. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the.

Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. 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. 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. I find it interesting that the lord provided for two very different types of witness experiences with the three and eight witnesses. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. The answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons.

Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. Oct 22, 2014 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. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. Its all but irrelevant whether harris said it or not. 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 expressed certainty about the boundaries and constructs of their.

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. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. 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 plates. Discussions on the book of mormon 1 nephi 810 episode info. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon.

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. Downloads male voice mp3 female voice mp3 entire book pdf. The first the three had an angel appear and show them the plates, while the eight saw the plates. The testimony of the three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon is a key part to the testimonies of many members of the church. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. 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. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness.

Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. The eight witnesses also saw the plates as a group. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. These divinely appointed witnesses help the book of mormon fulfill one of its primary purposesto convince the world that jesus is the christ, the eternal god. 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. Some, unable or unwilling to take the witnesses to the book of mormon at their word, question their claims of seeing and hefting the golden plates, insisting instead that the witnesses saw only with spiritual eyes which means, effectively, in their imaginations. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never. 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. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these.

No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. 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. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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. 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. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by. 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. When i was a2a this question, i had to go look for info. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory.

The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimonies the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. 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. 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. 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. 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. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism.