The eight witnesses of the book of mormon

This testament is written as part of the forward to the book of mormon. Mar 31, 2021 among the eight witnesses, only two were younger than joseph smithhis brother samuel h. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. See also joseph smith, history, 18381856, volume a1 23 december 1805 30 august 1834, 2426.

The eight witnesses witnesses of the book of mormon. This contains the complete text of the 1981 edition, but with more modern text formatting. Book of mormonwitnesseseight witnessescriticalsources. Why did hiram page remain faithful to the book of mormon.

The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. The eight witnesses to the plates from which the record of lehis family was translated were christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jun. For a comprehensive treatment of the experiences of these eight witnesses, see richard lloyd anderson, attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses, journal of book of mormon studies, 141 2005. Together, these testimonies offer impressive support for the claims of joseph smith regarding the book of mormon and, thus, the restoration. There is as much if not more evidence for the golden plates. Christian whitmer one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. And not one of the witnesses ever retracted or denied their testimony, including the men who later left mormonism. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. 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 by the gift and power of god. Eight witnesses memorialized by new monument church news. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and.

Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Testimony of eight witnesses, late june 1829, page 590. The interpreter foundation is a nonprofit educational organization focused on the scriptures of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints the book of mormon, the pearl of great price, the bible, and the doctrine and covenants, early latterday saint history, and related subjects. Deseret book and byu studies, 2017, 125 suggests the eight witnesses. Unlike the three witnesses, the eight testified that they both saw and handled the plates. Book of mormon the testimony of eight witnesses youtube. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co.

What led to such a young man being selected for the important and sacred responsibility of being a witness. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. 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. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon. Martin harris publicly denied that the eight witnesses ever saw the plates. This paper examines the testimonies of the witnesses of the book of mormon not only the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, but many others who experienced and testified of the reality of the book of mormon plates. 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 why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. They were the first to embrace the new covenant, on hearing it, and during a constant scene of persecution and perplexity, to their last moments, maintained its truth, and though they have departed, it is with great satisfaction that we reflect, that they proclaimed to their last.

Three witnesses the testimonies of the witnesses printed in the book of mormon offer compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous origin. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. The olive leaf foundation 2017 a new approach to studying the book of mormon. Among those who have gone home to rest, we mention the names of our two brothersinlaw, christian and peter whitmer, jr. Understandably, after nearly three decades, johnson likely remembered seeing those witnesses who were present which was most of them stand and affirm their testimony, but had forgotten the exact number and did not recall that some were not in attendance. Together, these testimonies offer impressive support for the claims of joseph smith regarding the book of mormon. 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.

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. An examination of the lives of the witnesses to the book of mormon, beyond the testimony printed with each copy of the book for nearly two. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. One of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, june 1829.

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. 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. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Mar 30, 2021 like others in the whitmer family, peter may have assisted joseph as he finished the translation of the book of mormon in the whitmer home. Joseph smiths dictated text with hundreds of corrections from royal skousens study of the original and printers manuscripts. Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers.

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. Baptized into church of jesus christ of latterday saints by oliver. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses balance the supernatural and the natural, the one stressing the angel and heavenly voice, the other the. Hiram page biography witnesses of the book of mormon. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the book of mormon ever denied their testimonies. Mar 30, 2021 presumably, the eight possibly nine of the eleven witnesses who were in attendance affirmed the book of mormon as johnson described. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri.

In the lds church, much emphasis is placed on the witness of three men who said that they saw the gold plates which were translated by joseph smith into the book of mormon, as well as eight additional witnesses who testified of their belief 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. 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 in 1876, john whitmer, one of the eight witnesses, wrote a. Their straightforward and unambiguous claims cannot be easily dismissed or ignored. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foundations of the restoration teacher manual rel 225, testimony of eight witnesses, doctrine and covenants 17. Book of mormonwitnesseseight witnesses fair fairmormon. Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. 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 in 1876, john whitmer, one of the eight witnesses, wrote a lengthy letter to mark forscutt, which included the following. Hiram page, whom married catherine whitmer in 1825. Mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon one people.

The testimony of eight witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. The eight paused before in their testimony, he said, and signed only after much persuasion. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. 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. Three witnesses of the book of mormon the church of jesus. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. See also joseph smith, history, 18381856, volume a1 23 december 180530 august 1834, 2426.

Mar 15, 2016 richard lloyd anderson, book of mormon witnesses, in the encyclopedia of mormonism, 4 vols. Fallout the relationship with the witnesses were strained. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. Apr 22, 2012 general criticism of the book of mormon witnesses criticisms of book of mormon witnesses martin harris, the mormon, rochester daily democrat new york 23 june 1841. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. Selected testimonies of the book of mormon mormonism.

The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. 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. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Welch, the miraculous timing of the translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. Witnesses of the book of mormon gold plates now you know. Presumably, the eight possibly nine of the eleven witnesses who were in attendance affirmed the book of mormon as johnson described. Jun 20, 2019 the combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration. Accounts of divine manifestations, 2nd edition, ed.

Mar 16, 2021 the know at the beginning of the book of mormon, a statement approved by eight named witnesses declares that joseph smith has shown unto us the plates which have the appearance of gold. Located on campbell drive, a few miles southwest of downtown liberty, clay county, missouri, the monument stands majestically near the graves of two of the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, christian and peter whitmer. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. In it page defended his belief that the book of mormon was a work of the lord. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foundations of the restoration teacher manual rel 225, testimony of eight witnesses.

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. Situated on what was once the farm of missourian michael arthur, is an impressive granite monument. 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. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ.

The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The gold plates contained the teachings of prophets in ancient america. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. 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. Book of mormonwitnesseseight witnessescriticalsources fair. Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. 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 accurately be described as being stumbling blocks to the skeptic, critic, and unbeliever. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. Variety and complexity in the witnesses to the book of mormon. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. They were all members of the whitmer or smith families.

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. Book of mormon central archive variety and complexity in the witnesses to the book of mormon. 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 com. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. The eight witnesses were all members of the whitmer or smith families.