The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. Jan 05, 2020 the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the. Any bigfoot claimant go through that much and stick to his story. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. Discussions on the book of mormon 2 nephi 11 16 episode info. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut. Throughout their lives, none of these eleven men ever denied their testimonies, which have been published in every edition of the book of.
Ill focus this thread on bigfoot, as this is the most common claim put forward by critics. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. The earliest documented statement of the three witnesses oliver 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. Discussions on the book of mormon 1 nephi 1112 now playing. This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks. Oliver cowdery, one of the three witnesses and the principal scribe during its dictation, baptized her into the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in seneca lake on april 18, 1830, when the church was less than two weeks old, and he married her daughter. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. 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.
By 1847, not a single one of the surviving eleven witnesses were affiliated with the mormon church. Thus, we find every living book of mormon witnesses, except oliver cowdery, accepting strang as their prophet, at least for a time. But, we are supposed to find out for ourselves that the church and book of mormon are true. Oct 18, 2018 however, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Notes history of thomas baldwin marsh, november 1857.
Apr 07, 2017 a few years ago in an online forum we were discussing the book of mormon. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. For over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The 11 witnesses were all good, honorable men and regarded as upstanding members of the community.
Reading the story of alma the elder alongside the curriculum while watching what happens with alma the younger in the videos. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation process. After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret. 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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. The standard of truth, part 9, the 11 witnesses to the book of mormon february, 2020 viewpoint on mormonism mormonism research ministry in this 9th episode, bill and eric take a look at the 11 witnesses to the book of mormon. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates.
Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Dec 31, 2015 yet, harper observes, critics of the book of mormon to the extent that they engage the witnesses at all repeatedly choose to privilege selected hearsay more than the direct statements of the witnesses, interpreting it by means of speculations and conjectures. 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. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. Throughout the spring of 1829, joseph smith translated and dictated the text of the book of mormon, pausing at times to preach to inquiring neighbors. 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. 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. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. 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. Every book of mormon begins with the signed statement of 11 witnesses.
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. Which is basically like using a spiderman comic book to prove that batman is. 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. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory. The 11 beliefs you should know about jehovahs witnesses when. Discussions on the book of mormon the structure of the book of mormon. It uses biblical quotes to disprove the book of mormon and the nwt of the jws bible. However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. They had full confidence that, as a prophet, joseph smith was in touch with god and powerfully brought those hearing him closer to christ. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. 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. Jun 20, 2019 the book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth.
Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Yes, all the points you bring up are valid and completely undermine the original narrative of the witnesses themselves. Mclellin 30 may 1847, ray county, mo cited in ensign of liberty 1 1848. 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. Yet, harper observes, critics of the book of mormon to the extent that they engage the witnesses at all repeatedly choose to privilege selected hearsay more than the direct statements of the witnesses, interpreting it by means of speculations and conjectures. 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. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial.
Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. Here we have depositions by eleven men of the gold plates existence and by three of an. All 11 witnesses suffered economically, socially, politically, and in other ways. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. 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 standard of truth, part 9, the 11 witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. The three special witnesses saw the angel moroni and the plates. The lord was not about to leave joseph smith as the sole attestant to the fact that he had translated the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Several of the 11 official witnesses were obviously confronted during their lifetimes with accusations.
The testimonies of the witnesses printed in the book of mormon offer. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. 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. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Using only the text of the book of mormon as the narration, get a. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. Martin harris, oliver cowdery, hiram page, david whitmer, john whitmer, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr.
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. To support lds positions i mentioned the 11 witnesses. 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 by the gift and power of god. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who. In this 9th episode, bill and eric take a look at the 11 witnesses to the book of mormon. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one. 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. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book 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. The book of mormon witnesses were persecuted, families kicked out of homes, wives raped, assets seized, and on and on.
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. Within the first few pages of the book of mormon, readers come across the names of 11 witnesses, each of whom has signed his name as someone who has either seen or felt the ancient plates that joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon. Discussions on the book of mormon 2 nephi 1116 episode info. Five of mary whitmers sons became official witnesses of the book of mormon. Discussions on the book of mormon ether 7 11 youtube. A few years ago in an online forum we were discussing the book of mormon. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Early on, joseph received assurance that additional witnesses would be. The witnesses of the book of mormon plates the church of jesus. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. 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. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they.
The standard of truth, part 9, the 11 witnesses to. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism. Critics of the book of mormon frequently claim that some of the book of mormon witnesses later doubted or denied their testimony 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. The only thing this book continuously stressed is that jesus is god, the holy spirit is god, and the trinity is one being.
After smiths death, james strang, claiming to be smiths chosen successor, also produced buried plates and the testimony of eleven witnesses to their authenticity. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. All eleven book of mormon witnesses publicly reaffirmed their. February, 2020 viewpoint on mormonism mormonism research ministry. They also claim that the activities of the three witnesses while out of the church cast doubt upon the reliability of their earlier written testimony. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history. 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. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty.
No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. 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. 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. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.