Eight witnesses of the book of mormon

Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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. Oct 22, 2014 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 testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses religious. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. 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.

Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Mar 15, 2016 richard lloyd anderson, book of mormon witnesses, in the encyclopedia of mormonism, 4 vols. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. Institute for religious research book of mormon witnesses, joel groat. In another revelation given sometime later, god was supposed to have told joseph smith that harris is a wicked man, for he has. Skeptics have misused some historical sources as they attempt to reverse the eight witnesses statements about their physical contact with the book of mormon plates. This statue of samuel smith is at the missionary training center in provo. 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.

Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Dec 31, 2015 besides their formal testimonies printed in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830, two of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses are known to have left behind written accounts of their experience. 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. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Since the process of translating the book of mormon took place under the surveillance of people in fairly compact households, it is. 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 returned. 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 eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. 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. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. 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. Photograph of a handwritten statement which is published at the beginning of the book of mormon.

The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The book of mormon witnesses 1 papers of joseph smith, jesse, 296, also insiders view of mormon origins, 197. An examination of the lives of the witnesses to the book of mormon, beyond the testimony printed with each copy of the book for nearly two. When i was a missionary, my understanding and impression from looking at the testimony of the three and eight witnesses in the book of mormon was that the statements were legally binding documents in which the names represented signatures on the original document similar to what you would see on the original us declaration of independence. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses.

The eight witnesses of the book of mormon the book of. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses balance the supernatural and the natural, the one stressing the angel and heavenly voice, the other the. Its language distances the eight witnesses from js by referring to him as the said smith. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the. Testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance. Martin harris went on to say that the eight witnesses never actually saw the plates either, and therefore, were hesitant to sign the statement, but were persuaded to do so. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous.

The eight witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement reprinted in the book of mormon stating that they had seen the golden plates which joseph smith, jr. 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. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. Eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. 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. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. Hi folks,i rarely encounter a new criticism of my church or faith that im unable to quickly source after ten minutes of internet searching. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon.

The testimony of the three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon is a key part to the testimonies of many members of the church. Samuel smith, the prophet joseph smiths younger brother, was one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon and was the first ordained missionary of this dispensation. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Book of mormon witnesses the eight part 2, dan vogel. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. Deseret news archives this monument honers the eight witnesses of the book of mormon and was erected in liberty, missouri, on the same day the 100th anniversary of the three witnesses monument in richmond, missouri. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration.

Life, character and testimony, backman and perkins additional testimonies by witnesses of the plates andor the translation of the book of mormon testimony of samuel h. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. They left 10 specific statements of handling the plates. This article provides an overview of the statements and experiences of the eight. All eleven book of mormon witnesses publicly reaffirmed their testimony as printed. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen.

Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. Of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon who signed that they had lifted the plates, five were from the whitmer family and three were from the smith family, including a brotherinlaw, hyrum page. Most of the eight and all of the three witnesses reiterated their book of mormon testimonies just before death. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. The first set are the three witnesses the book of ether in the book of mormon states that the plates would be shown to certain individuals who shall assist to bring forth this work. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. The item was signed by the eight witnesses who confirmed that they saw the golden plates from which the book of mormon was taken.

The eight witnesses speak of viewing the plates themselves with unobstructed vision. Testimony of eight witnesses manuscript collection. 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. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. In this light, niggling criticisms that the testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses dont prove the plates ancient and dont rigorously demonstrate the existence of an ancient nephite. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that.

The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. For a comprehensive treatment of the experiences of these eight witnesses, see richard lloyd anderson, attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses, journal of book of mormon studies, 141 2005. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Unlike the earlier testimony signed by the three witnesses, which borrowed most of its language from the book of mormon, this statement reads like a legal document. 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 american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. Like the three witnesses, the book of mormon prophecies that there will be others which will testify of this work, and there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of god, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men. Here it was that those 8 witnesses recorded in the book of mormon looked upon the plates and handled them of which they bear witness in the title page of the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.

Richard anderson described multiple accounts of all the. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. It is unknown whether the eight witnesses signed the original statement, and it is likewise unknown who wrote the statement. Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. 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. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube.

An additional eight witnesses members of the smith and whitmer families declared that joseph smith himself showed them the plates and allowed each to heft. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. Photograph of the signatures of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. According to the letter, burnett and several other men publicly renounced 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. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen.

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. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. I have never heard that any one of the three or eight witnesses ever denied the testimony that they have borne to the book as published in the first edition of the book of mormon. After the witnesses returned to the house the angel again made his appearance to joseph and. If you look on the churchs website at the testimony of the eight witnesses. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. Richard lloyd anderson, book of mormon witnesses, in the encyclopedia of mormonism, 4 vols. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnessesis not numbered. 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. 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. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Oct 18, 2018 the witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found.

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 witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. In the introductory pages of the book of mormon, there is a page that contains the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. He removed while quite young, with his parents, from pennsylvania to seneca county, western new york, where he married anne schott, february 22, 1825. Attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses.