The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. Book of mormon brad wilcox midterm 1byu flashcards quizlet. Smith recorded that he alone supposedly translated lost plates which give an account of the history of ancient north america and was the author of subsequent works doctrine and covenants and pearl of great price. 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. A discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. Book of mormonwitnessesspiritual or literal fairmormon.
The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The book of mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Its a common misconception by people outside the church that joseph smith was the only person who ever saw the golden plates. 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. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. This is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon. Martin was in the office when i finished setting up the testimony of the three witnesses,harriscowdery and whitmer i said to him,martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes.
Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Apr 17, 2015 another criticism of the inspired fiction theory is that it would also require the eleven witnesses if the book of mormon to be liars. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight. 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. Both the fall of adam and eve and the atonement of jesus christ are essential parts of the plan of salvation that heavenly father has given us. 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. According to president ezra taft benson, learning about the book of mormon witnesses is a step toward achieving the necessary spiritual knowledge that comes through scripture reading and prayer. Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it. Start studying book of mormon brad wilcox midterm 1byu. One of the things i realized was that the witnesses never, never tired of sharing their testimony. However, if one allows for the possibility of a god that is willing to lie for the greater good or that the plates were merely used as physical catalysts for an inspired myth, then the testimonies of the.
The book of mormon claims to be the history of the inhabitants of the western hemisphere from about 2200 bc to. They claim martin harris saw only with the spiritual eye and rely on hearsay accounts that harris disclaimed he saw the book of mormon artifacts with his natural eyes. Some critics of the restoration have focused on a single statement reportedly made by john whitmer in 1839 to make it appear as though the eight witnesses of the book of mormon did not have a physical encounter with the golden plates as they so testified on the pages of the book itself, but rather a spiritual or visionary experience only. 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. Oaks, a leader in the mormon church, stated, as we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our father in heaven and more able to be guided by his spirit. Harper attempts to portray all secondhand reports as biased. 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.
I will never read the testimony of the book of mormon witnesses while i read the book of mormon with the same eyes again. The book of mormon is gods compelling witness of the divinity of jesus christ, the prophetic calling of joseph smith, and the absolute truth of this church. Jul 08, 2011 this is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day. Testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. The witnesses to the book of mormon the witnesses to the book of mormon have always been extremely impressive to me. 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. Dec 20, 2011 a discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. They could, however, witness his glory with spiritual eyes if they were changed or quickened by the spirit of god. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. Tales of spirit apparitions, buried treasure and the ability to see things with spiritual eyes that cannot be confirmed with the physical senses. Book of mormonwitnesseseye of faith and spiritual eye. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Another criticism of the inspired fiction theory is that it would also require the eleven witnesses if the book of mormon to be liars.
Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture. 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. Hyrum smith was born on february 9, 1800, in tunbridge, vermont. 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. 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.
The 11 witnesses were all good, honorable men and regarded as upstanding members of the community. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve apostles taught that scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. The possibility of the book of mormon as inspired fiction. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Some often joke derisively, oh if only joseph had thought to actually show someone else those plates instead of keeping them to himself, maybe we might believe him. 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. 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. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Though each of the three witnesses was eventually excommunicated from the church two returned, none ever denied or retracted his published testimony.
It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. In mormon belief, spirituality is an important part of life. Apr 26, 2010 the bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. The book of mormon states it is the work of one man, joseph smith. God has built in his own proof system of the book of mormon as found in moroni, chapter 10, and in the testimonies of the three and the eight.
The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Richard andersons work on the three witnesses and the eight witnesses demonstrates conclusively. May 30, 2008 according to president ezra taft benson, learning about the book of mormon witnesses is a step toward achieving the necessary spiritual knowledge that comes through scripture reading and prayer. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this. The ad in the draper paper said, over the last 3040 years many discoveries have given great support to the book of mormon you will learn of the many spiritual and temporal witnesses between the book of mormon and precolumbian history information from lds and nonlds scholars bring your friends, family, neighbors. In every copy of the book of mormon is the signed statement by the witnesses of the bom. In this way, the mormon system is expanded to other planets. The book of mormon is a witness to the truth of the bible. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. For a huge array of resources, talks, articles, videos, and so forth, go to or. Some people seem to deal with them by simply waving them aside. The three special witnesses saw the angel moroni and the plates.
Teachings of the seventies the bible is one witness of jesus christ. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. These statements are most valuable of how a variety of people have chosen to interpret and respond to the book of mormon witnesses. It also contains biographical and historical information relating to the book of mormon. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. The book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation lidar technology now lets us look underneath the canopy of the jungle. The three witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the latter day saint movement who wrote in a statement of 1829 that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon and that they had heard gods voice testifying that the book had been translated by the power of god the three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david. Dale kilbourn 1984, illustrates joseph smith allowing the eight witnesses to touch the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Oct 06, 2012 read a transcription of this lecture here. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. The witnesses were men known for truthfulness and sobriety almost two hundred years after the fact, the book of mormon witnesses still play a vital part of mormonism. 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. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Witnesses of the golden plates and the book of mormon.
They only saw the plates with their spiritual eyes, im assured, and. 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. Testimony of the book of mormon eyewitnesses come reason. Because it is only seen in the spirit is little different than multiple nonmormon reports of harris seeing with spiritual eyes.
For a huge array of resources, talks, articles, videos, and so forth, go to or mormon. Gilbert, who printed the book of mormon, reported that harris said that he saw the plates with his spiritual eye john h. 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. Their testimonies and lives give us an inside view at how the book of mormon came to be and how joseph smith took advantage of those around him, perpetuating the lies. Brother scotts book of mormon witness presentation. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to. Two other palmyra residents said that harris told them that he had seen the plates with the eye of faith or spiritual eyes. The witnesses were men known for truthfulness and sobriety.
We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Skeptics also note reasons to suspect the testimony of the eight witnesses, citing stephen burnetts 1838 claim that martin harris said that the eight witnesses never saw them. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates. In another revelation given sometime later, god was supposed to have told joseph smith that harris is a wicked man, for he has. The signatures of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Spirituality in mormonism the mormon church, mormonism. A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. The atonement of jesus christ makes it possible for us to overcome physical and spiritual death, which was a result of the fall. Whereas jesus said i am the way and the truth and the life, john 14. Some critics like to focus on a few statements mostly from martin harris, instead of taking all statements into account, in order to say that the witnesses only had a spiritual vision.
Why would real, metal plates need to be seen in a vision or with spiritual eyes as many of the witnesses later testified. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Media in category book of mormon witnesses the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the book of mormon ever. These statements are most valuable of how a variety of people have chosen to. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Martin harris, one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, bears testimony of the book while on his deathbed.
Hyrum smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of. They worship the bible instead of the savior of which it teaches. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. Witness to the book of mormon 9 july 2018 lds daily.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Scriptures of the restoration do not compete with the bible. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never. The most well known scripture of the mormon church is the book of mormon, even though most mormon theology does not derive from this book. In regards to my testimony to the visitation of the angel, who declared to us three witnesses that the book of mormon is true, i have this to say. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold. Their 2nd son, alvin was born in 1798 but died at 25. National geographic says it has turned everything we know on its head, there are over 60,000 new cement structures that they didnt know about before tons of defensive fortifications and roads everywhere.
Martin harris shows signs of being an unstable person in terms of his religious convictions. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates. Martin harris, quoted in robert aveson, three witnesses to the book of mormon, deseret news, april 2, 1927. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Henry edwards, the history of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints independence, mo. Also see the vast body of scholarship in past and current publications at the maxwell institute. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. Love for the book of mormon expands ones love for the bible and vice versa. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these.
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