Who were the eight witnesses of the book of mormon

Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. The testimonies of the witnesses printed in the book of mormon offer. 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. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Watch the video how we got the book of mormon created from the book of mormon scripture reader. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Listen to witnesses see the gold plates, to hear a discussion about the three witnesses and the eight witnesses who were shown the gold plates by an angel so they could testify the plates were real. There were also eight witnesses, but their testimony is a subject for another time. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they.

The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. As with the three witnesses, the testimony of these eight men appears in each copy of the book of mormon, declaring that they saw and hefted the book of mormon plates. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. In his presentation of documents relating to the eight witnesses, morris argues that the historical value of the eights testimony can hardly be overstated 416, pushing back against much scholarly opinion 417. Johnson reflected the sentiments of the community by writing a poem attempting to reflect the fact that men may be untrue to the truth. Two of the three witnesses who were excommunicated from the mormon church later returned to the church after denying their testimony. By 1847, not a single one of the surviving eleven witnesses were affiliated with the mormon church. An important episode associated with the translation and coming forth of the book of mormon was the experience of two sets of witnesseseleven totalwho, among other things, claimed to have actually seen the gold plates, which were delivered by the angel moroni to joseph smith. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. 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. Joseph fielding smith 20, 12738 chapter 9, teachings.

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. The historical narrative surrounding the book of mormon witnesses presents a labyrinth of conflicting statements, many provided decades after the fact by those not present during the events. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Who were the three and eight witnesses whose testimonies have appeared in the book of mormon since 1830. 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. Eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials.

They were all members of the whitmer or smith families. 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. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. Witnesses of the book of mormon, teachings of presidents of the church. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. An additional eight witnesses members of the smith and whitmer families.

All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. 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. Introductory pages of the book of mormon part 2 come. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. 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. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of. But, oliver cowdery, according to the mormon publication times and seasons, did deny. Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers. He rationalized his choice to disbelieve the translation of the book of mormon despite knowing that the plates were literal.

How did joseph smiths witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. By many in this church, our brothers were personally known. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Lead image of the eight witnesses to gold plates from the deseret news archives.

But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon, all three of these men left. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. 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. The other prominent group of book of mormon witnesses who said they saw the plates are called the three witnesses. When i was a2a this question, i had to go look for info. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. 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.

When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. 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. Witnesses of the book of mormon it seems to me that any member of this church would never be satisfied until he or she had read the book of mormon time and time again and thoroughly considered. 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. That affidavit is remarkable in its paucity of detail, as you know. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates. However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates.

Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. Their names are oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. The answer is problematic since so very little about the incident, other than the statement found in every bom, is known. The three witnesses spoke with an actual angel who attested that the plates constituted ancient scripture inspired by god. Critics began by labeling the book bungling and stupid, joe smith a perfect ignoramus, and they claimed any blunderhead, with the bible at his side, might have written it. 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. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Soon afterward, at the smith farm in new york, eight others were allowed to view and handle the plates. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The mormon church, of course, claims that none of the three witnesses ever denied their testimony. 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.

The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Were going to look at the section called, the testimony of the three witnesses. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri, at the time it was dedicated. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Imagine if any one of the apostles denied their witness that jesus rose from the dead, were kicked out of the early church, then returned. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. The angel did not make any metallurgical or linguistic claims.

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. The eight witnesses only testified that they saw and handled. Fallout the relationship with the witnesses were strained. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. The forgotten witness of the book of mormon who refused to. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one. 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. 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.

The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. 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 mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Three men who were close associates to joseph smith were chosen to be witnesses to the book of mormon. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. After they were done speaking, martin harris got up and said he was.