Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Apr 26, 2010 the book of mormon has 12 official witnesses. This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the book of mormon was written for the intent that ye may believe the bible. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses 39 themselves.
The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. The book of mormon adds a second witness to the bible as a testimony of christ. We talk at length about our assumptions that the three witnesses. I came to know christ and his church through the reading of the book of mormon. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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. 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. But, that testimony never appears with their signatures. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. 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. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to the book of mormon.
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. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses. 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. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. 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. While joseph smith was translating the book of mormon, the lord revealed that, in addition. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs.
Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard. The witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings. 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. This is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism.
As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. Oaks ensign may 1999, 35, there are witnesses of the book of mormon itself. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. 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 three witnesses, utah genealogical and historical magazine, october 1927october 1929, vol.
In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. Mar 22, 2017 by june 1829 martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer had verbalized a desire to be the special three witnesses alluded to in the book of mormon. 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. The testimony of three witnesses book of mormon central. 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. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Richard lloyd anderson, testimonies of the three witnesses, provo, ut. I was then 19 and read the book in four days and then called the missionaries and asked to be baptized.
A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. The book tells the story of jesus life after the resurrection. 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 joint statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer has been printed with a separate statement by the eight witnesses in nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830.
Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Three witnesses the three witnesses are david whitmer, oliver. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The testimony of three witnesses 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 claimed.
Mar 11, 2018 scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon, all three of these men left the church at some pointonly two. Love for the book of mormon expands ones love for the bible and vice versa. The book of mormon is a witness to the truth of the bible. More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how.
The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. However, within the pages of the book of mormon itself are the combined testimony of three ancient witnesses. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the. By june 1829 martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer had verbalized a desire to be the special three witnesses alluded to in the book of mormon. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Readers of the book of mormon are undoubtedly familiar with the three witnesses. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Replicas of the declaration of independence with signatures are available and that was. Petersen 190084 of the quorum of the twelve apostles once said, the chief reason we have the. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses 12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ. It is worthy of especial note that though these witnesses all left the church, and for a time entertained very bitter feelings towards the prophet joseph smith, yet they never denied this testimony nor faltered in their allegiance to 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. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration.
Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. Each book stands as evidence that god lives and speaks to his children by revelation to his prophets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. 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. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these.
Part of the vhs collection called a voice from the dust, this production of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is from 1982. A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. Their written testimony of three witnesses has been included in all of the almost 100.
Mormons believe the prophet mormon wrote the ancient texts on gold plates, and his son moroni buried them in what is now new york. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. Lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses book of mormon. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. The first set are the three witnesses the book of ether in the book of mormon states that the. One of the best sources of current scholarship on the book of mormon and other lds topics is the new mormon interpreter, a site managed by daniel peterson.
Scriptures of the restoration do not compete with the bible. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. In my personal experience, and as a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes mistakenly called the mormon church, i have heard it described as everything from interesting, false, uplifting, or contrary to the bible. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of one of them.
The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. Its a common misconception by people outside the church that joseph smith was the only person who ever saw the golden plates. 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. Mormon religious beliefs versus jehovah witness beliefs. Testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. I was much younger when it first came out, but i enjoyed the story of joseph and hyrum. It is worthy of especial note that though these witnesses all left the church, and for a time entertained very bitter feelings towards the prophet joseph smith, yet they never denied this testimony nor. 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. Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Dec 05, 2009 book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. These witnesses cannot stand the test of examination and no one can we trust their testimony.
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. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. 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 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. 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 testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. Witnesses of the golden plates and the book of mormon. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. The testimony of these three prophets interlink in order to establish the veracity and power of each others witness of christ. 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. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of.
1368 435 1658 920 584 553 924 808 1066 132 1553 53 34 1126 941 663 191 1148 676 983 627 824 372 468 1246 562 107 1225 118 93 284 333 1062 736