The three witnesses, martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer asserted that an angel showed the plates to them and the video explains the credibility and the legitimacy of their testimonies, particularly david whitmers, even though all three stepped away from the church at some point. Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to their testimonies. 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. Martin harris, later one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, is born in easttown, new york. The prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of god.
They were all discredited by the mormon church itself. The testimony of the three witnesses is consistent, impressive, and reliable. Doniphan on an affidavit attesting to his honesty and integrity, with plans to have it published in the local paper richmond, missouri with a statement refuting that he had denied his witness that an angel had shown him the gold plates from. 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. Book of mormon 2 nephi chapter 21 by awitness4jesuschrist michael. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. Lessons from almas counsel to his sons jannalee sandau it has been interesting watching the book of mormon videos on the weeks they are released, as they run just ahead of what we are studying in come, follow me. Book of mormon testimony of the prophet joseph smith by awitness4jesuschrist michael.
It says the witnesses saw the plates, and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of god. Seven witnesses seven heavenly witnesses of the coming. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. 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. Oliver cowdery was a school teacher and an early convert to mormonism who served as scribe while smith dictated. Discovering truth in the book of mormon 18 may 2020 lds daily. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. Witness to the book of mormon 9 july 2018 lds daily. The three witnesses, utah genealogical and historical magazine, october 1927october 1929, vol. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. David whitmer said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints 45,726 views. The book of mormon is a collection of the writings of their prophets and record keepers. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. To favor past critics testimonies whom most current lds critics dont know lots about is not a solid approach. It is named after mormon, one of the last of these ancient prophets.
The prophet nephi foresaw that the gold plates of the book of mormon would be hid from the eyes of the world and that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god and none other shall view it, save it. 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. By providing the testimonies of witnesses and including them at the end of the book of mormon, joseph smith was following not only the ancient pattern called for by nephi, but also the guidance and inspiration of the lord. Lds lds witnesses to the book of mormon christian forums. N 1 8 2 3, a y o u n g m a n living in n e w y o r k s t a t e p r a y e d to l e a r n wtiloti ot t h e m a n y e x i s t i n g c h u r c h e s h e s h o. This is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The other is a report in which david whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, had stated. Witnesses of the book of mormon 1979 by vintage lds issuu. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. The book of mormon is an additional set of sacred prophetic writings adopted by the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as well as it many offshoots, collectively referred to as the mormonism as both holy scripture and another witness of the divinity of jesus christ an important element to proving the divine authenticity of this scripture is the testimony of latterday witnesses. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Cowdery moved to the newly founded latter day saints settlement in far.
More than five decades after the book of mormon was published, david whitmer recalled how. Thats put a spanner in the works about the veracity of the book of mormon. 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. 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. 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.
Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. 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. Reading the story of alma the elder alongside the curriculum while watching what happens with alma the younger in the videos. After copying these two documents by hand, president smith read them in at least two public discourses. 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. Ancient documents often needed the signatures of witnesses in order to be considered authentic or legally binding. Each will reconnect us with the history, the claims and counterclaims, and ultimately the stalwart consistency of each witness testimony. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Subsequently, joseph had them in his possession and he showed them to the eight witnesses.
This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. With duane ryan, sherwood keith, ron frederickson, zan winn. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. In other words, to discount and withhold the three witnesses stories is absurd. The three witnesses sacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon. 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. The testimony of three witnesses book of mormon central. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. This segment depicts the coming forth of the book of mormon and the testimony to its veracity by the three witnesses. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. President nelson grandfathers visit from the other side of the veil and family history work duration. Mar, 2008 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.
President smith was also privileged to handle a handwritten testimony of oliver cowdery, another of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Witnesses, produced by the interpreter foundation, consists of three main segments working together as a comprehensive project. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. 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.
Richard lloyd anderson, did oliver cowdery, one of the three special book of mormon witnesses, express doubt about his testimony. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. 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. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.
Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. The 3 book of mormon witnesses are direct witnesses. 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. 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 smith s translation had been accomplished by the gift and power of god. The following article was originally published on lds living in july 2015. Cowdery october 3, 1806 march 3, 1850 was, with joseph smith, an important participant in the formative period of the latter day saint movement between 1829 and 1836. Oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer were appointed to be three special witnesses of the book of mormon in june 1829. The book of mormon gave joseph directions on how to deal with the plates.
Jesus according to the book of mormon and the lds church. Richard lloyd anderson, testimonies of the three witnesses, provo, ut. Jesus according to the book of mormon and the lds church 10232010 by lifeafterministry as is usually the case, i came across something interesting in the book of mormon while looking for something else. The scripture says that something is established in the mouths of two or three witnesses, but now only joseph smith himself is the remaining witness to the credibility of the book, and now the current lds factions, except the fundamentalist faction, has moved. Martin harris, one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, bears testimony of the book while on his deathbed.
Three times david whitmer has been at the hill cumorah and seen the casket that contained the tablets and seerstone. We declare with words of soberness, say the three witnesses, that an angel of god came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before. 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. 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 scripture says that something is established in the mouths of two or three witnesses, but now only joseph smith himself is the remaining witness to the credibility of the book, and now the current lds factions, except the fundamentalist faction, has. It has led to the awful situation among the latterday saints today, one described two times in the book of mormon mosiah 2. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. Book of mormon central has released a new video in their series evidences. The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates with the appearance of gold which he translated by the gift and power of god. 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.
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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration. The three witnesses monument photo courtesy steve mortensen. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Dec 05, 2009 president nelson grandfathers visit from the other side of the veil and family history work duration. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. The three witnesses, martin harris, oliver cowdery, and david.
Discovering truth in the book of mormon 18 may 2020. Mauricio berger and the sealed book of mormon latterday. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection.
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. Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. 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. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them.
He was the first baptized latter day saint, one of the three witnesses of the book of mormons golden plates, one of the. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of mormon. 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 witnesses12 voices coming together. While joseph was still translating the book of mormon. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1994.
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. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. That was of necessity the lord had to reveal himself to one man alone when moroni came to him in the beginning, the prophet was alone. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses.