Eight witnesses of the book mormon

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. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. In this light, niggling criticisms that the testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses dont prove the plates ancient and dont rigorously demonstrate the existence of an ancient nephite. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial.

The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Martin harris went on to say that the eight witnesses never actually saw the plates either, and therefore, were hesitant to sign the statement, but were persuaded to do so. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. 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 book of mormon witnesses 1 papers of joseph smith, jesse, 296, also insiders view of mormon origins, 197. Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.

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. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. 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. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Testimony of eight witnesses manuscript collection. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. The three and eight witnesses to 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 view it, save it be a few according to the will of god, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men. In another revelation given sometime later, god was supposed to have told joseph smith that harris is a wicked man, for he has.

Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnessesis not numbered. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates.

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. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. On the three and eight witnesses, here are important resources. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. 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. Published in every edition of the book of mormon are the testimonies of eight witnesses who saw the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account and of three witnesses who not only saw the plates but who were shown them by an angel. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr.

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. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. 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. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Where did the 8 witnesses of the book of mormon see the.

According to the letter, burnett and several other men publicly renounced the book of mormon. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon the book of. 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 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. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival, manuscript, and print collections, i have. Book of mormon witnesses the eight part 2, dan vogel. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. That affidavit is remarkable in its paucity of detail, as you know. 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. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. An angel showed the book of mormon plates to the three witnesses, who heard gods voice declare the translation correct.

Unlike the earlier testimony signed by the three witnesses, which borrowed most of its language from the book of mormon, this statement reads like a legal document. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. This exquisitely produced volume presents the official lds edition of the book of mormon in an attractive, accessible, readable version that brings to latterday saints the helpful features that have been part of standard bible publishing for decades. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. When i was a2a this question, i had to go look for info. Most of the eight and all of the three witnesses reiterated their book of mormon testimonies just before death.

Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. Since the process of translating the book of mormon took place under the surveillance of people in fairly compact households, it is. Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Fallout the relationship with the witnesses were strained. 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.

But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon, all three of these men left. Likely given that three of the eight witnesses were either excommunicated or left the church and as with the three witnesses, they never recanted their testimony as published in the book of mormon to explain the testimony of the witnesses, something that joseph smith fabricated a set of 10 or led plates they used to trick them with. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and. And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance. 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. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. As a missionary, i was instructed to teach investigators about the testimonies of the witnesses to. Mclellin and the book of mormon witnesses, by mitchel k. I have never heard that any one of the three or eight witnesses ever denied the testimony that they have borne to the book as published in the first edition of the book of mormon.

The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The eight witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement reprinted in the book of mormon stating that they had seen the golden plates which joseph smith, jr. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnesses.

The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses balance the supernatural and the natural, the one stressing the angel and heavenly voice, the other the. 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. Of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon who signed that they had lifted the plates, five were from the whitmer family and three were from the smith family, including a brotherinlaw, hyrum page. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. 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 returned. 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. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated.

Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Book of mormon witnesses the three part 1, dan vogel. In fact, joseph smith gave a revelation in july of 1828 in which martin harris, one of the three witnesses, was called a wicked man, who has set at naught the counsels of god, and has broken the most sacred promises doctrine and covenants 3. The item was signed by the eight witnesses who confirmed that they saw the golden plates from which the book of mormon was taken. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube.

From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar. Oct 18, 2018 some dismiss the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses as of no real consequence, since they fail to prove the book of mormon ancient. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. Mar 15, 2016 richard lloyd anderson, book of mormon witnesses, in the encyclopedia of mormonism, 4 vols. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. But this dismissal overlooks their enormous significance. But the eight witnesses report handling the plates under natural circumstances, describing color, substantial weight, individual leaves with engraved writings, and careful craftsmanship throughout. 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. The book of mormon adds a second witness to the bible as a testimony of christ. The suggestion that the eight witnesses never actually saw or hefted the plates and that the three witnesses viewed them solely supernaturally leads some to wonder if the witnesses saw anything substantive at all, opening to question the plates existence and the book of mormon s truthfulness. 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. Dec 31, 2015 besides their formal testimonies printed in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830, two of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses are known to have left behind written accounts of their experience. 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. 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.

The testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses religious. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. The answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. Attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses. The manuscript states that joseph smith was the author of the book. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. And testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning.

Richard lloyd anderson, book of mormon witnesses, in the encyclopedia of mormonism, 4 vols. 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. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. It is unknown whether the eight witnesses signed the original statement, and it is likewise unknown who wrote the statement.

Photograph of the signatures of the eight witnesses 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 that. Photograph of a handwritten statement which is published at the beginning of the book of mormon. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon. Petersen 190084 of the quorum of the twelve apostles once said, the chief reason we have the. Institute for religious research book of mormon witnesses, joel groat. 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. These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. 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. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. 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.