Last month, psychologist john dehlin, after reading my book combating cult mind control, applied the bite model to the mormon church. Faith unto salvation light or dark, freedom or bondage. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates. 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. May 24, 2019 today, i will be grateful that god sends witnesses to help us recognize the truth. A primer for priesthood leadership types and shadows of deliverance in the book of mormon khirbet beit lei and the book of mormon january 19 1 nephi 810 come and. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to. The book of mormon speaks of freedom the american citadel.
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. Today, i will be grateful that god sends witnesses to help us recognize the truth. Journal of discourses, vol 7, page 164, 1859, brigham young. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s.
Yet, they clung to their witness and continued to affirm it three witnesses oliver cowdery. A faith promoting presentation of many correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican history. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. Why were afraid of mormons bu today boston university. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Witnesses are important at first, i was confused why ces letter devoted so much space to the book of mormon witnesses. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one.
Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret news. She went on to explain that those eight witnesses recorded in the book of mormon looked upon the plates and handled them. 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. 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.
Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. 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. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Special witnesses the book of mormon is the promised land of. David whitmer, a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of. This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks.
Enhancing book of mormon themes through contrasts the book of mormon. 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. Todd christofferson, america reads and the book of mormon, religious educator 18, no. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to the book of mormon. 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.
Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. A great answer to the great question january 612 1 nephi 17 i will go and do lehi and nephi. The witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Bryce sherwood, a young senatorial aide whose star is rising, is a key player in an attempt to. All three special witnesses became estranged and left the church. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. 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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of.
Antimormon mobs burned homes, harassed families, and robbed the latterday saints of. 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. 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. Apr 26, 2010 the book of mormon has 12 official witnesses. Its answer could change religious freedom law forever cache. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. From changing their stories to denying their faith to getting excommunicated and much more, j. The book of mormon witnesses richard lloyd anderson lds scholar maxwell institute article for over forty years, i have been a student of joseph smiths life and teachings. Dec 20, 2011 a discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. His 1981 book investigating the book of mormon witnesses explores the lives and characters of the witnesses in great detail, but nothing is said about their propensities for visionary experience. By the words of three i will establish my word, 2 ne. Jan 05, 2020 the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.
The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. All of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses left the church in 1838 and were hostile, at least for a time, against joseph smith. I have a testimony of what those close to joseph reported. Another testament of jesus christ, which you can read about in my previous article, is a volume of inspired scripture that speaks first and. When i was a member of the church i honestly never thought about checking up on the witnesses of the book of mormon. See the testimonies of these witnesses in the introduction at the front of the book of mormon. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. I will particularly remember the three witnesses, who provided contemporary testimonies corroborating joseph smiths. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. The 11 witnesses were all good, honorable men and regarded as upstanding members of the community. Welcome to new america, where patriots are traitors and religion is a crime.
After government agent daniel lansbury fakes the executions of three believers on national television, he and the fugitives alisa kent, ian roshek, and ians sister, jill, face the perilous task of outwitting president amanda ryce and her powerhungry council long enough to escape to freedom. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by it than by any other. The lord told us through the prophet joseph smith that if ye have desires to serve god ye are called to the work. This month, i have asked kimmy odonnell, a support staff member for freedom of mind and a former jehovahs witness, to do the same for the watchtower. Enhancing book of mormon themes through contrasts may 1824 mosiah 2528 they were called the people of god lessons from the zarahemla churches. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne. I will be grateful that many people can testify that the book of mormon is the word of god. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard.
Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Ashworths bookstore in provo friday, january 9, 2009. 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. The book of mormon witnesses maxwell institute article. See the testimonies of these witnesses in the introduction at the front of the book of mormon by the words of three i will establish my word, 2 ne. The book of mormon is not for the latterday saints only, it is for everyone, and is especially relevant to those living on the american continent. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. So long as we all have the freedom of religion and freedom from it. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. 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.
Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f. Whatever one may think of the book of mormon origins, the three witnesses along with the other eight witnesses and the prophet joseph smith himself could. 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. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Why didnt the book of mormon witnesses sign their testimony. 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. Freedom is a topic that we all have a pressing need to study and m aster.
Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Mary musselman whitmer, who is one of the witnesses to the plates, the 12th or th witness, shes been called. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. 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. All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church.
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. After they were shown the plates and later that evening, they held a meeting, in which all the witnesses bore testimony to the facts. 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. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book of mormon. An important secondary mission of the book of mormon, however, is to teach us the correct principles of liberty, expose satans freedomdestroying schemes, and show what is required for a people to maintain their godgiven rights under a free government. 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. The human spirit innately craves liberty and personal accountability, yet few times in history have people been able to attain and then maintain their rights. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. It is one thing for a guy to claim visions, but it gains a lot more credibility when a dozen other men swear they the same thing and know it for a fact. Who were the three witnesses of the book of mormon. Todd christofferson was a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles when this address was given.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. In every copy of the book of mormon is the signed statement by the witnesses of the bom. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. 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 book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection.
Special witnesses the book of mormon is the promised land. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Did the witnesses who left the church continue to maintain their witness of the book of mormon. 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.
A discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. Witnesses to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men, 2 ne. Describes the experiences of young blacks who were involved in significant events in the civil rights movement. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. Obviously, the book of mormon witnesses consented to the witness statement and agreed with it. Witnessesthose who assist to bring forth this work. America reads and the book of mormon religious studies center. 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 smith s translation had been accomplished by the gift and power of god. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. A primer for priesthood leadership types and shadows of deliverance in the book of mormon. What would america be like today without the constitution. That decree is recorded in the sacred book of mormon, a new witness for christ. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates.
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 book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Brigham young said, some of the witnesses of the book of mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of god, were afterwards left to doubt and to disbelieve that they had ever seen an angel. Dec 18, 2008 i would encourage all of you who love freedom to include the book of mormon as one of the tools you use in spreading the message of freedom to others, lds and nonlds alike.
Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. The three special witnesses saw the angel moroni and the plates. We have at least two chains of accounts telling about her experience of having seen the plates, which she didnt. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses 12 voices coming together to testify that the book of mormon is the word of god and another testament of jesus christ.
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