Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. A comparison of the first edition of the book of mormon with current editions reveals to many mormons a surprising fact that the book said to be translated. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates which he translated by the gift and power of god. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. This segment depicts the coming forth of the book of mormon and the testimony to its.
These divinely appointed witnesses help the book of mormon fulfill one of its primary purposesto convince the world that jesus is the christ, the eternal god. 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. The printer, john gilbert, asked him if he had seen the plates with his naked eye. Articles of faith book of mormon videos images children and youth christmas church leaders come, follow. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon.
Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. Witnesses film an interpreter foundation production. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. A marvelous work and a wonder 2 nephi 2630 transcript in 2 nephi 27, nephi describes the witnesses who will testify of the book of mormon. The church video compelling witness depicts a mock trial that witnesses of the truthfulness of the book of mormon. The overall secular case for the book of mormon is a cumulative one. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. This latest book that i mentioned that is doing a subjective job of reducing the book of mormon to joseph smiths personal experience, and so hes translating the book of mormon, that book says well, the eight witnesses, while this is hearsay, nevertheless martin harris knew the eight witnesses, knew them well. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to their testimonies. We should and do worship god the father and pray to him in the name of jesus christ. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon.
Text adapted from the testimony of the three witnesses. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism. 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. Faith unto salvation light or dark, freedom or bondage. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. May 06, 2019 we should and do worship god the father and pray to him in the name of jesus christ. Restoration of the priesthood and witnesses of the book of mormon. 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 first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon duration. 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. The application of the law of witnesses in 2 nephi 27 and 28. Which is basically like using a spiderman comic book to prove that batman is.
Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f. Candidly examining all substantial arguments, pro and con, this project will argue powerfully for their credibility. The video a day for the eternities depicts david whitmers account of joseph and oliver. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. Alma 36 mosiah 1118 mosiah 15 enos 1 jacob 7 jacob 23 2 nephi 33 2 nephi 32 2 nephi 610 2 nephi 5 2 nephi 14. 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 case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. An important element to proving the divine authenticity of this scripture is the testimony of latterday witnesses. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days.
Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Enhancing book of mormon themes through contrasts the book of mormon. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. 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. This is in many respects parallel to something he has done earlier in which. During the printing of the first edition of the book of mormon, harris was in the print shop while the type was being set for the testimony of the three witnesses. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to. Hedges, john hilton iii, and kerry hull salt lake city and provo, ut.
Katharine smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of. To view images from the book of mormon videos series, click here. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. 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. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. The testimony of the three witnesses is consistent, impressive, and reliable. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. 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. 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. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, join me in this. Published on oct 8, 2019 the witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. No single piece of evidence demonstrates everything, by itself, that believers in the book of mormon affirm. 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.
When i was a member of the church i honestly never thought about checking up on the witnesses of the book of mormon. Dec 05, 2009 book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses awitness4jesuschrist michael corbett. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to the book of mormon. That being said we can and do worship jesus christ. Read the story from gold plates to the book of mormon having your child help trace the path. My witness is that its the most literally beautiful doctrinally truthful and everlasting applicable book ever produced in the world. For instance, there is apparent confusion over the identity of the. Jehovahs witnesses follow the new world translation of the bible. 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.
Eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. What is the difference between jehovahs witnesses and. Mormons follow the teachings of joseph smith, brigham young and the book of mormon in addition to the king james bible. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. With a single draft completed in 65 days, joseph smith, an unschooled man of 23, produced a book of over 500 pages with hundreds of unique names and complex story lines. A great answer to the great question january 612 1 nephi 17 i will go and do lehi and nephi. Apr 26, 2010 the book of mormon has 12 official witnesses. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation.
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. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away. A recently discovered circa 1871 manuscript written by william mclellin, an early mormon apostle and, later, apostate, includes a passage that narrates how, in 1833, he engaged two of the three and one of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon about the nature of their experiences as witnesses. Watch the video how we got the book of mormon created from the book of mormon scripture reader. 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 only thing this book continuously stressed is that jesus is god, the holy spirit is god, and the trinity is one being. Beyond the testimony of the holy ghost, the witnesses represent the only evidence for the book of mormon provided by the lord himself. Book of mormon the testimony of three witnesses youtube. It uses biblical quotes to disprove the book of mormon and the nwt of the jws bible. 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. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. Oaks shares the significance of more than one witness to the book of mormon.
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. Richard anderson investigating the book of mormon witnesses, 1981 admits the third handnature of this account, but still uses it as evidence, attributing its most accurate telling to george q. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. A video supplement for come, follow me book of mormon lesson 9. Basic beliefs bible videos book of mormon videos broadcasts and live. To read more from larry, visit lds365 the church video compelling witness depicts a mock trial that witnesses of the truthfulness of the book of mormon. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Because the groups have always been separate, they have many differences.
Here is some great training to prepare you to witness to mormons using the book of mormon. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. 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. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon.
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. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Holland testify of the book of mormon in a short video at go43e. Katharine smith sometimes spelled katherine was born july 28, 1812 in lebanon, new hampshire. 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. A primer for priesthood leadership types and shadows of deliverance in the book of. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. I grew up believing that i belonged to the only true church on the face of the earth and even though there were teachings about the church i didnt agree with, it never occurred to me they didnt have physical proof for the book of mormon. Jun 20, 2019 the book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth.
Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 2 mormons in. She was 15yearsold when joseph received the golden plates. Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses.
Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Jun 24, 2019 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. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. However, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men.
Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings. Oct 18, 2018 however, we would be misguided if we were to conclude that the witnesses testimonies establish nothing of pivotal importance. Which is basically like using a spiderman comic book to prove that batman is wrong. I have drawn closer to jesus because ive tried to taught the book of mormon, ive read a lot of other great books that have great things that made my life better and beautiful, but the book of mormon. Gilbert, the printer who set up the type for the book of mormon. 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. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by. This latest book that i mentioned that is doing a subjective job of reducing the book of mormon to joseph smiths personal experience, and so hes translating the book of mormon, that book says well, the eight witnesses, while this is hearsay, nevertheless. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. While this was a late recollection on cannons part, anderson justifies using it by stating that cannon had a remarkable intellect and a.
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