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. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. The power of context in the newest book of mormon video on faith in jesus christ jannalee sandau this weeks book of mormon video includes the iconic and powerful teachings in alma 32 on faith as a seed. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Where did the 8 witnesses of the book of mormon see the. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and received the plates from his hands. 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. 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. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr.
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. Here we have depositions by eleven men of the gold plates existence and by three of an angelic visitation. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. Amy eastonflake and rachel cope, a multiplicity of witnesses. Book of mormon sealed portion brazil posts facebook. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses 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. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported.
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. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. 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. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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 first the three had an angel appear and show them the plates, while the eight saw the plates. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ.
Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never. 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. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history episode info. 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. This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks. 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.
Which is basically like using a spiderman comic book to prove that batman is wrong. 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. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Its all but irrelevant whether harris said it or not. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. 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. 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.
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. It uses biblical quotes to disprove the book of mormon and the nwt of the jws bible. 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. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Elder joseph smith, seventy bob moore and 6 other men went to brazil and have seen, handled and witnessed that the gold plates that joseph smith jr. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube.
When i was a2a this question, i had to go look for info. Book of mormon, 1830, page 589 the joseph smith papers. 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 book includes two blank front flyleaves and two blank back flyleaves other copies have three back flyleaves. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs.
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. The solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Its such a good chapter full of doctrine and visuals on its own. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. 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. 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. Women and the translation process, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. 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. The only thing this book continuously stressed is that jesus is god, the holy spirit is god, and the trinity is one being.
Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. The testimonies of the of the three to eight witnesses printed in each copy of the book of mormon are some of the most compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous revelation and translatioin. They were all members of the whitmer or smith families. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd.
Oct 18, 2018 the power of context in the newest book of mormon video on faith in jesus christ jannalee sandau this weeks book of mormon video includes the iconic and powerful teachings in alma 32 on faith as a seed. Testimony of eight witnesses church of jesus christ. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. 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. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. 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. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. 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. 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.
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. That affidavit is remarkable in its paucity of detail, as you know. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. 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. The mission of byutv is to create purposeful, engaging viewing. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. 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 eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. 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.
Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. Did martin harris claim that even the eight witnesses.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. The mission of byutv is to create purposeful, engaging viewing and listening experiences that entertain, inspire, uplift, and improve families and communities. The answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the.
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. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and book of. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. 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. Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. 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. 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. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. 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 last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnessesis not numbered. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. 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. Photograph of the signatures of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. 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. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account.
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