Nother witnesses of the book of mormon

Title page, translated from the book of mormon plates testimony of the three witnesses and also testimony of the eight witnesses preface to the 2016 edition preface to the 1908 edition books of the book of mormon first nephi second nephi jacob enos jarom omni words of mormon mosiah alma helaman third nephi fourth nephi mormon ether moroni. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. It is the word of god given through the prophet joseph smith to us today. 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. Joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. I know that joseph smith was a prophet called of god. Explain that because of heavenly fathers great love for us, he has given us a gift to help us achieve eternal life the kind of life heavenly father has friend february 2012 the book of mormon. The book of mormon the major mission of the book of mormon, as recorded on its title page, is to the convincing of the jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, manifesting himself unto all nations. Richard van wagoner and steve walker, joseph smith.

Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. Broadside used in the early days of the church to publicize the book of mormon reproduces the characters joseph smith copied from. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. 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. David whitmer, for example, one of the three witnesses, related that his mother, mary musselman whitmer, also saw the plates, quite. Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830.

For the twelve million members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints worldwide six million in the united states, the book of mormon is literally the word of god, a companion volume to the bible that contains the everlasting gospel. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Thou art my firstborn in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. After copying these two documents by hand, president smith read them in at least two public discoursesonce in march 1939 and again in the october. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Artists depiction of moroni showing the plates to oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and joseph smith. It also contains biographical and historical information relating to the book of mormon.

It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals, enthuses the washington post. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret news. Additional book of mormon witnesses journey of faith films. Eyring teaches how the book of mormon is our guide to return home. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection.

In my personal experience, and as a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes mistakenly called the mormon church, i have heard it described as everything from interesting, false, uplifting, or contrary to the bible. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. My dear friend, the book of mormon is a gift from god to you. Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the book of mormon ever. Book of mormon witnesses facts, controversies, and contradictions. 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.

Joseph smiths history mentions that john whitmer, another of the eight witnesses, assisted much in scribing the book of mormon translation. The book of mormon tickets the book of mormon tickets. Book of mormon i am africa lyrics by rick whitehead. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star.

The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. With the faith now of one of the fastestgrowing religions in the country, doubleday is proud to publish this first official trade edition of the book. 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. The book of mormon spooky mormon hell dream lyrics by azmad202. President smith was also privileged to handle a handwritten testimony of oliver cowdery, another of the three witnesses of the book of mormon. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Are there any other witnesses to the book of mormon plates besides the three and eight witnesses. For a huge array of resources, talks, articles, videos, and so forth, go to or.

Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. They were associated with joseph smith in the establishing of this marvelous work in this dispensation. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates. This is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon.

The witnesses of the book of mormon scott woodward. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. A journal of mormon scripture, another account of mary whitmers viewing of the golden plates. The historical narrative surrounding the book of mormon witnesses presents a. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. Key witnesses, such as joseph smith, oliver cowdery, martin harris, and emma smith are called to the stand to answer questions. Over onehalf of all the verses in the book of mormon refer to our lord. 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. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ. If you read it and pray about its teachings, i promise you it will change your life.

Unlike the three witnesses, the eight testified that they both saw and handled the plates. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. The witnesses of the book of mormon paperback september 10, 2010. I can personally witness that the book of mormon is true. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold. Also see the vast body of scholarship in past and current publications at the maxwell institute. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Its yours for the price of a ticket to the book of mormon. Oaks ensign may 1999, 35, there are witnesses of the book of mormon itself. 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. Book of mormon archives teaching children the gospel.

The book of mormon read aloud one chapter at a time. Book of mormonwitnessesother book of mormon witnesses. Another episode illustrating david whitmers special status as a witness to important events of the early church, as well as his proclivity to provide fascinating testimony, is related to the provenance of the book of mormon. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren. The translation of the book of mormon, from dan vogel, ed. Significantly, mary whitmer, mother of four of the eight witnesses, had a. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. The prosecution levels a number of charges against the book of mormon these will be familiar to anyone who has discussed this book of scripture with an antimormon.

In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. 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. Joseph smiths mother later recounted josephs great relief at no longer being the sole witness of the divine experiences of the restoration see. The three men called to serve as special witnesses of the coming forth of the book of mormon by the power of god, are oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. In another revelation given sometime later, god was supposed to have told joseph smith that harris is a wicked man, for he has.

This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks. I know the mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints really is the restored church on the earth, established by divine authority. 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 book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. The book of mormon claims to be a perfect translation because joseph smith supposedly used the crystal glasses the get the perfect wordforword translation, yet there have been over 4,000 changes in the book of mormon since the first edition came out. 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 12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ. By richard packham at the front of every copy of the book of mormon you will find the testimony of three witnesses, as signed by oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Introduction nephi, jacob, and isaiahthree special witnesses the typifying of jesus christ deliverance from death isaiah in the book of mormon concerning judah and jerusalem the mountain of the lords house. While joseph smith was translating the book of mormon, the lord revealed that, in addition. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of one of them. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi palmyra, ny. Martin harris shows signs of being an unstable person in terms of his religious convictions. An evidence of the book of mormon because it is a burial place of ishmael and the name of the area was.

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. A discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. 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. When we know the book of mormon is true we know the church is true, we know that joseph smith was a prophet, we know that jesus is the christ. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Another testament of jesus christ, the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. Dahl, theories of the origin, translation process and publication of the book of mormon, unpublished 1982 paper. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. 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. By 1847, harris had broken with strang and had accepted the leadership of fellow book of mormon witness, david whitmer. They were all members of the whitmer or smith families.

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. In the first, oliver cowdery, david whitmer and martin harris affirm that theyve seen the plates from which the book of mormon was translated by. 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. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Additional book of mormon witnesses posted by ben on sep, 2012 in book of mormon witnesses 0 comments. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. His 1981 book investigating the book of mormon witnesses explores the lives and characters of the witnesses in great detail, but nothing is said about their propensities for visionary experience. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, a marvel and.