Title page the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Beyond the testimony of the holy ghost, the witnesses represent the only evidence for the book of mormon provided by the lord himself. 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. Lds church leaders and student manuals note that none of the witnesses ever denied his testimony as it was printed in the book of mormon nor denied that. 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.
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. 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. 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. Foremost scholar of the book of mormon witnesses passes. Oct 08, 2019 the witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. These elements are what provide such strong support for the book of mormon witnesses, the 3 and the 8. 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. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.
David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. He said, i started to read the book of mormon before i was old enough to be a deacon, and i have been reading it ever since. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimoniesthe testimony of three witnesses. The testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses religious. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production.
This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. Book of mormon title page markings book of mormon scriptures, lds books, book of. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Taken together with the additional witnesses, mentioned especially by paul and in the book of mormon, numerous people bear testimony of the reality of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. Testimony of three witnesses church of jesus christ. Holland testify of the book of mormon in a short video at lds. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Scripture postits from are pages of quotes, mostly from the lds institute book of mormon manual, that can be.
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. 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, smiths successor, lds prophet brigham young, said, there is the new testament. The following publications provide further information about this topic. 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.
The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon youtube. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Lets assume, for the sake of discussion, that the declarations of the official witnesses to the book of mormon are true. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates. Oliver cowdery was a school teacher and an early convert to mormonism who served as scribe while smith dictated. The church has an open canon which includes four scriptural texts.
Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to. Male voice mp3 female voice mp3 entire book pdf related content. We are greatly indebted to the important work anderson did to expand our knowledge of the book of mormon witnesses and his many other contributions to lds history and scripture. Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. The witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings.
The book of mormon witnesses larry morris 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. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. 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. The witnesses of the book of mormon plates the church of jesus. Aug 18, 2009 the witnesses of the book of mormon spiremusic. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons.
Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. 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. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. 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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Preston nibleys witnesses of the book of mormon is primarily a compilation of information about the witnesses to the book of mormon plates. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. This segment depicts the coming forth of the book of mormon and the testimony to its veracity by the three witnesses. 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. 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.
The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. Its such a good chapter full of doctrine and visuals on its own. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Jun 24, 2019 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. 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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr.
The aml is a nonprofit that promotes fellowship among scholars and writers of latterday saint literature. Deseret book stories that won hearts and awards this year from the association for mormon letters lds living the association for mormon letters aml awards were presented online on saturday, may 2. 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 testimonies almost always wilt under crossexamination or sustained questioning. He notes that the two signed testimonies appearing in the front of. 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. They were all discredited by the mormon church itself.
Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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. 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.
We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical. On may 11, 2020, the first presidency of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints updated the list of temples in the first phase of reopening. Furthermore, close scrutiny by lds scholars of the available historical documents and sources associated with the experiences and testimonies provided by the book of mormon witnesses shows that many of the explanations made by those critical of mormonism are incongruent with the firsthand accounts made by the witnesses themselves. From my experience, bigfoot and mary witnesses are similar. Oct 18, 2018 deseret book stories that won hearts and awards this year from the association for mormon letters lds living the association for mormon letters aml awards were presented online on saturday, may 2. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. This press release was originally published on may 7, 2020. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Number of temples opened for husbandwife sealings grows from 17 to 34.
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. Do jehovahs witnesses have a book equivalent to the book of mormon. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. By referring or linking you to these resources, we do. See the full list here the church of jesus christ of latterday saints editors note. Each of the four gospels concludes with an account of jesus resurrection. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Lucy mack smith, biographical sketches of joseph smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations liverpool, s. 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. Chart 1018 lists eighteen recorded appearances of the resurrected christ. The book of mormon is the sacred text for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. David whitmer said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon.
Mary musselman whitmer a witness of the book of mormon mary musselman whitmer was born august 27, 1778. Thats put a spanner in the works about the veracity of the book of mormon. According to richard lloyd anderson in his book, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, cowdery was nominated for and ran for state assemblyman in 1848 in elkhorn, wisconsin. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. The book contains minimal narrative, thus its value is based on the depth of resources providing biographical and other information about the witnesses. Check out these episodes from viewpoint on mormonism that originally aired february 1518, 2016 part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 in his continuing effort at defending the lds faith, byu professor daniel peterson has recently tackled the testimonies of the eleven book of mormon witnesses. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story.
Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. I have read it many, many times, he told the latterday saints. Do jehovahs witnesses have a book equivalent to the book. Mary whitmer book of mormon witness lds scripture teachings. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Some may not realize that, aside from viewing the plates, the three witnesses of the book of mormon beheld several other nephite artifacts, including the miraculous directors which were given to lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the red sea doctrine and covenants 17. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830.