Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. By following its precepts, men and women can return to gods presence where they are endowed with light and truth and can receive intelligence and understanding. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and book of. The witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book.
The three witnesses state that wehave seen the plates which contain this recordand we also testify tha. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. John whitmer at his residence at far west, caldwell co. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. Current mormon doctrine on the nature of god, the priesthood, use of temples, baptism for the dead, and men becoming gods, is nowhere contained in the book of mormon. It is unknown whether the eight witnesses signed the original statement, and it is likewise unknown who wrote the statement.
Did the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, just like. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. 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. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. 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. 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. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. The eight witnesses were shown the plates by joseph smith. If you believe my testimony to the book of mormon, wrote whitmer, if you believe that god spake to us three witnesses by his own voice, then i tell you that in june, 1838, god spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens and told me to separate myself from among the latter day saints, for as they sought to do unto me, so it should be. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. Book of mormon audiobook podcast of the book of mormon. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added.
The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. The solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr. Male voice mp3 female voice mp3 entire book pdf related content. Attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses byu. Did jacob whitmer, one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, ever deny having seen the plates. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning.
Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers. Oct 18, 2018 the witness statements enhance the plausibility of joseph smith and the book he dictated. Testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. 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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of. A common muslim testimony i bear you my testimony that i know the book of mormon is true, i know that joseph smith is a true prophet of god and i know that the church is the only true church i bear witness that there is no god but allah, and i bear witness that mohammed is the servant and messenger of allah. Testimony of three witnesses church of jesus christ. 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. He also bore his testimony to me concerning the truth, and declared that his testimony, as found in the testimony of eight witnesses, in the book of mormon, is strictly true. 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.
After departing mormonism, he later declared, if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. Photograph of a handwritten statement which is published at the beginning of the book of mormon. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. The book of mormon is a sacred, ancient record that was translated by the gift and power of god into english in 1830 through joseph smith jr. Finally, several witnesses remarked upon the beauty and seeming antiquity of the engravings on the plates, which the book of mormon calls reformed egyptian mormon 9. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. I was present at the deathbed of oliver cowdery, and his last words were, brother david, be true to your testimony of the book of mormon.
Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. The testimony of three witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Fallout the relationship with the witnesses were strained. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. The last printed leafbearing the signed statements of witnessesis not numbered.
This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold plates. Testimony of eight witnesses manuscript collection. To say that the book of mormon is a revelation from god, i have no hesitance. 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. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold. The testimonies of those witnesses of the book of mormon in this book can burn in our hearts, strengthen our faith and fortify our minds and we can know for ourselves that their words are true. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has generally contained two sets of testimonies the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses.
The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Chapter 10 moroni 10 page 585 the testimony of three witnesses page 589 the testimony of eight witnesses page 590. 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. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. It was intended to be studied and followed as the means to reassert a covenant between god and man. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. So, it really doesnt matter if we have the original copy or olivers copy. And eyewitness testimony to the existence of angels and of god himself is scarcely of trivial importance.
My father, jacob whitmer, was always faithful and true to his testimony to the book of mormon, and confirmed it on his death bed. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. 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. 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. The item was signed by the eight witnesses who confirmed that they saw the golden plates from which the book of mormon was taken. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous. Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. Oliver cowdery, describing a testimony given by john whitmer, one of the eight witnesses, june 1835. Even if the majority of the witnesses to the book of mormon did not deny their testimony of the book itself, this does little to support mormonism today. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. The objective of this restoration edition has been to recover the text of the book of mormon back to what joseph smith intended it to be before his death. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. Jacob whitmer confirmed his testimony on his death bed.
Testimony of the eight witnesses book of mormon central. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. What matters is that they never retracted their testimony recorded in the book of mormon. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co.
Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. However, the eight knew that their testimonies were in the book of mormon. Some have tried to argue that the eight witnesses only. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. 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. They knew that three people would be allowed to see the plates and would testify to the world that the book of mormon is true ether 5. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection.
Despite hardships and difficulties, the book of mormon witnesses remained true to their testimonies of this book throughout their lives. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri, at the time it was dedicated. And they supported their statement throughout their lives. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. 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. The book of mormon is the preeminent volume of scripture for this day. 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. 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 testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed.
The manuscript states that joseph smith was the author of the book. Like the three witnesses, the book of mormon prophecies that there will be others which will testify of. Eight witnesses monument mormon historic sites foundation. Direct external evidences testimony of the eight witnesses book. Book of mormon 1830eight witnesses wikisource, the free. All the mormon witnesses are as worthless as they are unreliable who recanted their testimony. Jan 30, 2018 finally, several witnesses remarked upon the beauty and seeming antiquity of the engravings on the plates, which the book of mormon calls reformed egyptian mormon 9. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.
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