Nthe eight witnesses of the book of mormon

While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon. Joseph smith book of mormon eight videos books movie posters fictional characters livros livres. 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. Anderson, attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses, journal of book of mormon studies 141 2005. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. Most of these eleven witnesses were members of the large smith and whitmer familiesfamilies who had assisted in guarding and in translating the ancient record. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Photograph of the signatures of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Start studying book of mormon brad wilcox midterm 1byu. Did the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, just like.

The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Can i get a witness to the book of mormon let us reason. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. The angel explained that the plates contained an account of the former inhabitants of this con.

The answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. I felt that i got to know the witnesses myself, through the reports of others. As was true for the testimony of three witnesses, these names were included at the end of the book of mormon to place this seal of testimony upon the published record. Were familiar, of course, with oliver cowdery as one of the official three witnesses to the book of mormon.

A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. The three witnesses state that wehave seen the plates which contain this recordand we also testify tha. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard l. 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. That affidavit is remarkable in its paucity of detail, as you know. All eleven book of mormon witnesses publicly reaffirmed their testimony as printed.

Believers in the book of mormon heard the witnesses declare that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. Apr 26, 2010 the bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. This is the changing mind of the god of mormonism or of joseph smith doctrine and covenants 5. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. Richard anderson described multiple accounts of all the. For the eight witnesses, it is their statement in the printers manuscript of the. Edward stevenson, the thirteenth witness to the plates of the book of mormon, ms 55 1893. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. Testimony of the eight witnesses book of mormon central.

Taken together with the additional witnesses, mentioned especially by paul and in the book of mormon, numerous people bear testimony of the reality of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. None of the eleven book of mormon witnesses ever signed their testimonies. But his role in the early events of the restoration, and his experiences with the. 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.

Two solemn declarations the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses have been published with the book of mormon since 1830. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. In the front of each copy of the book of mormon, there is printed the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by eight witnesses, has been printed with every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. While the most perfect book states only three witnesses eight more men are able to give their testimony in the book of mormon, found directly under the testimony of three witnesses.

An ongoing series of articles on some common and recurring weak arguments that christians make against mormonism. 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. 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 eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. 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. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen.

This exquisitely produced volume presents the official lds edition of the book of mormon in an attractive, accessible, readable version that brings to latterday saints the helpful features that have been part of standard bible publishing for decades. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. The mormon bible consists of fifteen booksbeing the books of jacob, enos, jarom, omni, mosiah, zeniff, alma, helaman, ether, moroni, two books of mormon, and three of nephi. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. 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. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Based on the body of available evidence we dont really know if the eleven book of mormon witnesses ever signed. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. 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.

We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the. 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. It is unknown whether the eight witnesses signed the original statement, and it is likewise unknown who wrote the statement. Book of mormon central archive attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. Some of the most important evidence for the reality and divine nature of the book of mormon comes from detailed scholarship about the witnesses to the book of mormon.

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. They left 10 specific statements of handling the plates. The work of the translation was proceeding nicely in harmony, pennsylvania for quite a while. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Some may not realize that, aside from viewing the plates, the three witnesses of the book of mormon beheld several other nephite artifacts, including the miraculous directors which were given to lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the red sea doctrine and covenants 17. 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. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages.

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. They testified that they saw and carefully examined the plates and their engraved characters. In the first book of nephi is a plagiarism of the old testament, which gives an account of the exodus from jerusalem of the children of lehi. And every one of these witnesses of the book of mormon whether the three or eight are consistent. Dec 05, 2009 268 videos play all the book of mormon audio full michael dinkelman truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book of mormon duration. What matters is that they never retracted their testimony recorded in the book of mormon. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, was the second son of peter whitmer, sen. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial.

Theyre distinctly different both in their tone and in what they describe. The witnesses to the book of mormon the witnesses to the book of mormon have always been extremely impressive to me. 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. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Richard andersons work on the three witnesses and the eight witnesses demonstrates conclusively. John whitmer was excommunicated in 1838, and his brother jacob whitmer and brotherinlaw hiram page then became inactive. I was transported back to the times of the early church history. Like most mormons i never considered the witnesses and anything more than a nice supporting page for the truthfulness of the book of mormon, not really all that necessary. 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. Perhaps one should not expect that a book about the witnesses to the book of mormon published by deseret book company would be anything other than an attempt to strengthen the readers faith in the book of mormon.

Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. 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. 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 testimonies of both groups of witnesses are recorded at the beginning of the book of mormon. May 18, 2016 the eight witnesses of the book of mormon may 18, 2016 the eight witnesses of the book of mormon saved from.

Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Historical details about the time it took to translate the book are remarkably well preserved, and they are corroborated by the independently consistent statements of numerous witnesses. Its language distances the eight witnesses from js by referring to him as the said smith. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. I will never read the testimony of the book of mormon witnesses while i read the book of mormon with the same eyes again. 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 witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley.

Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the plates and the angels, the eight witnesses who saw and handled the plates. Questions about the witnesses to the reality of the. Answers to questions about the witnesses to the book of mormon. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. 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. 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. The hearsay accounts show that ones faith in the book of mormon witnesses or lack thereof is based not simply on hearing the witnesses testimonies but on how one chooses to receive and understand their testimonies. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. An angel showed the book of mormon plates to the three witnesses, who heard gods voice declare the translation correct.

The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. 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.

And they supported their statement throughout their lives. He removed with his parents to new york state when a boy, and married elizabeth schott, september 29, 1825. However, the eight knew that their testimonies were in the book of mormon. The testimony of eight witnesses, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. The known historical record includes direct statements by two of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses that affirm their original testimonies. This book will be convincing to those already certain that the gold plates actually existed and that the eleven witnesses saw them. When i was a2a this question, i had to go look for info. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon the book of.

He removed while quite young, with his parents, from pennsylvania to seneca county, western new. Witnesses are important at first, i was confused why ces letter devoted so much space to the book of mormon witnesses. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri.

The eight witnesses speak of viewing the plates themselves with unobstructed vision. So, it really doesnt matter if we have the original copy or olivers copy. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. 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. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Because something was a vision doesnt mean that it is less than reality.

Chart 1018 lists eighteen recorded appearances of the resurrected christ. And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance. Book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimoniesthe testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses. Attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses. 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.

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. Where did the 8 witnesses of the book of mormon see the. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. The other prominent group of book of mormon witnesses who said they saw the plates are called the three witnesses.

Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Each of the four gospels concludes with an account of jesus resurrection. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnesses. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. For the eight witnesses, it is their statement in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon, also in the handwriting of oliver cowdery. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. As we have already shown, joseph smith claimed that on the night of september 21, 1823, when he was seventeen years old, an angel appeared to him and stated that gold plates were buried in the hill cumorah. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by richard lloyd anderson. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account known as the book of mormon. First, he specifically mention 3 witnesses, then a few, and also as many witnesses as seemeth the lord good. 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. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. The record which the book of mormon was translated from included a group of three and eight witnesses respectively.

But the eight witnesses report handling the plates under natural circumstances, describing color, substantial weight, individual leaves with engraved writings. Soon after this event, joseph smith showed the plates to eight additional witnesses, who handled them in a secluded setting near the smith family home in manchester, new york. 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. Testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. The lord miraculously called another eight witnesses to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the book of mormon to the world.

Of course, thats the trap because something is like something else doesnt mean that it should be reduced to something else. Some people seem to deal with them by simply waving them aside. Five of these eight witnesses remained solidly with the church. This article provides an overview of the statements and experiences of the eight. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. 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. 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. Nephi prophesied that there would be multiple groups of people who would see the plates upon which the book of mormon was written. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by.