By a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of mormon. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of mormon. To begin, click on one of the books and chapters in the index and youll see a list of. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Understanding the baptismal covenant book of mormon video chapter 19. The book of mormon read aloud one chapter at a time. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Elder smith read the 29th chapter of isaiah at the first meeting and delineated the circumstances of the coming forth of the book of mormon, of which he said he was a witness. An interesting case study in point is the occurrence of two clear parallels to 1 john in moroni 78, as shown in the table. 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. Those who have attempted to tackle the issue generally have relied. Chapter 6 page 52 the testimony of the especial witnesses to the book of mormon.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto. And they also sought his life that they might take it away. Testimony of three witnesses church of jesus christ. In another revelation given sometime later, god was supposed to have told joseph smith that harris is a wicked man, for he has. In 1838, joseph smith called cowdery, harris, and whitmer too mean. Oliver cowdery and martin harris came back humbly seeking membership in the church and both died in full fellowship. Book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 youtube. Mormons claim that joseph smith translated or transliterated golden plates and that the result of this work was the book of mormon.
Book of mormon witnesses pt 1 the three dan vogel youtube. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Three witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. Part of the vhs collection called a voice from the dust, this production of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is from 1982. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. When he was finished translating the book of mormon, joseph gave the translators back. The same statements are often quoted elsewhere in the wiki under specific articles. Demonic and ungodly names in the book of mormon 1 life. There are three distinct denominations that believe the book of mormon to be the word of god. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days.
And now i, moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants which were destroyed. Three witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. The book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses. Title page, introduction, and testimonies of the three and. Bom book any title page introduction testimony of three witnesses testimony of eight witnesses testimony of the prophet joseph smith a brief explanation about the book of mormon 1 nephi 2 nephi jacob enos jarom omni words of mormon mosiah alma helaman 3 nephi 4. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1994. All three special witnesses became estranged and left the church. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. The three witnesses, utah genealogical and historical magazine, october 1927october 1929, vol. According to its first introduction, joseph smith is the author and proprietor.
The three witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city, ut. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The book of mormon chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. Echoing the statement of the three witnesses in the book of mormon, david wrote. Behold i have dreamed a a dream, in the which the lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brethren shall b return to jerusalem 3 for behold, laban hath the record of the jews and also a a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are b. All three men upheld their testimony of the book of mormon at their deaths.
The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. It took roughly 65 days to translate the book of mormon. Darkness and apostasy will cover the earth in the last daysthe book of mormon will come forththree witnesses will testify of the bookthe learned man will say he cannot read the sealed bookthe lord will do a marvelous work and a wondercompare isaiah 29. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Nowhere is this more evident than in the writings attributed to moroni toward the end of the book of mormon. Invite students to turn to any chapter in the book of mormon and see if they can. 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. If you are dialoguing with a mormon friend, ask them to compare 3 nephi. Title page, introduction, and testimonies of the three and eight. It purports to be a book of ancient scripture prepared by prophets who lived anciently in the americas who were descendants of a hebrew people who came to the americas about 600 b. Richard lloyd anderson, testimonies of the three witnesses, provo, ut. This is the first half of an old byu film depicting the story of the three witnesses 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 and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished.
We talk at length about our assumptions that the three witnesses has a spiritual event, that the eight witnesses had a physical event, whether their experience was consistent, and how the institutional church may have expressed certainty about the boundaries and constructs of their. No one else would see it, the lord continued, save it be a few according to. The book of mormon infamously draws heavily on the bible, including the new testament, which its supposed ancient authors would never have seen. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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. All three witnesses testimony of three witnesses 1829. The book of mormon has become one of the most widely published and distributed books of our time. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. 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. 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. The three witnesses remained faithful to their testimonies of the book of mormon. 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.
Since its publication in 1830, the book of mormon has been accompanied by the testimony of three witnesses claiming to have seen the an angel with the plates and the testimony of eight witnesses. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. But behold, i nephi will shew unto you that the tender mercies of the lord is over all them whom he hath chosen because of their faith to make them mighty, even unto the power. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold.
From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this video as we talk through. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration. In the course of the work of translation, we ascertained that three special witnesses 1 were to be provided by the lord, to whom he would grant that they should see the plates from which this work the book of mormon should be translated. 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. The following is their testimony that can be found in the first pages of the book of mormon. Book of mormon, 1830, page 538 the joseph smith papers.
This page collects statements from the witnesses to the book of mormon plates in one convenient location. The testimony of the three witnesses is consistent, impressive, and reliable. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Activity after losing the 116 pages and not being able to translate for a while the translation of the book of mormon started again on april 7, 1829. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. A teaching topic for each chapter in this weeks come, follow me reading, mosiah 1824 lindsey williams as we dive into mosiah 1824 in this weeks come, follow me, here is a topic from each chapter that you can explore in your lesson. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.
Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published. Richard lloyd anderson, did oliver cowdery, one of the three special book of mormon witnesses, express doubt about his testimony. Joseph smith presented it to the world in 1830 as something that he translated from ancient plates that were shown. Lecture 1 introduction the book of mormonlike nothing else greatest miracle is the sudden. The original books only had occasional verse references. 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. Refer original 1830 printing of the book of mormon, in 2 nephi, at the end of chapter, on page 120, also. First john in the book of mormon moronis new testament.
Part second is an address to all believers in the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Over the past month ive received numerous requests asking when, or if, wed ever talk about our series, demonic names in the book of mormon so here it is. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The icons labeled watch and listen take you to for a video or audio.
The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. He knew his brother joseph had the plates, for the prophet had shown them to him, and he had handled them and seen the engravings thereon. 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. Another testament of jesus christ, the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of. The book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians. 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. Motives the testimony of the book of mormon witnesses has been a thorn in the side of the critics for more than a century and a half. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this. An address to all believers in christ chapter 1 by a. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs.