The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven. Sep 10, 2010 the witnesses of the book of mormon nibley, preston on. 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 men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Richard andersons work on the three witnesses and the eight witnesses demonstrates conclusively. Jehovahs witnesses believe the second coming of jesus is very near but mormons do not. Each book stands as evidence that god lives and speaks to his children by revelation to his prophets. Book of mormon witnesses pt 1 the three dan vogel duration. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard l. The mormon religion mormonism, whose followers are known as mormons and latterday saints lds, was founded less than two hundred years ago by a man named joseph smith. 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. 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. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.
These people were delivered, just as the lord had covenanted with them. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. The book of mormon states a number of times that god is a personage of spirit. 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 statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Questions about the witnesses to the reality of the. 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. 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. Why did some of the witnesses of the book of mormon leave. Some of the most important evidence for the reality and divine nature of the book of mormon comes from detailed scholarship about the witnesses to the book of mormon. I just want to say something about the witnesses of the book of mormon in terms of evidence. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr.
Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The witnesses of the book of mormon nibley, preston on. Apr 26, 2010 the bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. Mar 11, 2018 scriptural witnesses authenticate each other. He claimed to have received a personal visit from god the father and jesus christ articles of faith, p. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. If the golden plates were not real, mormonism is a lie and mormons are. The book of mormon is a witness to the truth of the bible. I understand emma, martin harris, oliver cowdery all say the prophet did not. Mormonism, also known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, claims to be the.
The witnesses of the resurrection compared to the witnesses of. Answers to questions about the witnesses to the book of mormon. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. This was originally written as a letter to a friend, a mormon, who wanted to know why i left mormonism. 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. We have read the previous version of this book and consider this to be the single most important book on the origin of the book of mormon, which is the foundation of the mormon religion. Apr 10, 2019 the book of mormon takes place in the ancient americas and is a compilation of spiritual and historical records written by prophets, just as the bible is. Howe writing his mormonism unvailed, so thats the easiest place to get them. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. The best source for the book of mormon tickets and the book of mormon information, photos and videos. Richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to the book of mormon. Brief background of my life as a mormon leaving mormonism and some experiences as a mormon history of joseph smith book of mormon book of abraham the temple church members. Through their actions we are left with the sure knowledge that the plates from which the book of mormon was translated do in reality exist, and that the book translated from those plates, is indeed the word of god. 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.
This segment depicts the coming forth of the book of mormon and the testimony to its veracity by the three witnesses. It is recorded in the american cyclopedia and the encyclopedia britannica, that i, david whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the divinity of the book of mormon. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account.
Through their actions we are left with the sure knowledge that the plates from which the book of mormon was translated do in reality exist, and that the book translated from those plates, is. Audio and video copyright 2004 the foundation for apologetic. 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. He removed with his parents to new york state when a boy, and married elizabeth schott, september 29, 1825. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.
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. 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. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. 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. Jul 04, 2010 yet not one recanted their claims as witnesses to the coming forth of 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. As a result, millions are abandoning the mormon church and returning to biblical truth. A basic belief in these truths is the foundation of a testimony of the mormon church. Feb 19, 2019 former the book of mormon costars cody jamison strand and jacob ben widmar stop by to chat about broadways high school throwback concert at green room 42 and more with paul wontorek. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. 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. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found.
This concept was explained long ago when a prophet wrote that the book of mormon was written for the intent that ye may believe the bible. Moss, who observed the advent of mormonism at kirtland, ohio, provided his. Book of mormon making things up lyrics by rick whitehead. The book of mormon takes place in the ancient americas and is a compilation of spiritual and historical records written by prophets, just as the bible is.
For a fuller but still brief explanation of each point, you can click on the opening sentence to jump to the page where the. And the book of mormon witnesses have got their testimonies out there. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. I have a list of 38 of the major teachings of the lds church that are not found in the book of mormon listed in my book approaching mormons in lovehow to witness effectively without arguing on pages 23.
The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. 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. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. Why did some of the witnesses of the book of mormon leave the. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. The three witnesses of the book of mormon, part 1 duration. 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. Former the book of mormon costars cody jamison strand and jacob ben widmar stop by to chat about broadways high school throwback concert at. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. I have a lot more info on mormonism here on my channel and the link to the. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon, was the second son of peter whitmer, sen. Since the book of abraham is a fraud, how can they trust the book of mormon or joseph smith.
The official youtube channel of the book of mormon musical. The witnesses to the book of mormon are blatantly not credible. What is the difference between jehovahs witnesses and. The famous 1967 bigfoot video referred to as the patterson video was believed by. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Mormons believe the father, son and holy spirit are separate but equal gods that form a godhead, but jehovahs witnesses believe that jesus is inferior to god the father and that the holy spirit is the manifestation of god the fathers power. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. 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.
Believers in the book of mormon heard the witnesses declare that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. The case against the 3 witnesses of the book of mormon youtube. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. The witnesses to the book of mormon the witnesses to the book of mormon have always been extremely impressive to me. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. A discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. This video also depicts how the three men remained true to. 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. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god.
Christians, and even some unorthodox big tent mormonsargue that the testimonies of the witnesses cannot be taken at face value. Mar, 2008 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. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them to no one. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley.
Book of mormon witnesses facts, controversies, and contradictions. Aug 18, 2009 this segment depicts the coming forth of the book of mormon and the testimony to its veracity by the three witnesses. Strang told me that all the witnesses to the book of mormon yet alive were with him, except oliver the ensign of liberty, kirtland, ohio, april, 1847. Yet not one recanted their claims as witnesses to the coming forth of the book of mormon. This article provides an overview of twelve major reasons why biblebased christianity is true but the mormon religion should not be accepted as true christianity. At the core of a mormons testimony is faith in god, jesus christ, the holy ghost, and joseph smiths restoration of the true church on earth. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. Some people seem to deal with them by simply waving them aside. 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. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. In a letter to david whitmer, dated december 2, 1846, william e. It presents twelve simple statements that identify as succinctly as possible each of the twelve reasons. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation.
According to the book of mormon, after jesus resurrection he visited america. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. 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. Christians, and even some unorthodox big tent mormons argue that the testimonies of the witnesses cannot be taken at face value. Aside from the lost 116 pages, was the book of mormon translated with the urim and thummim or strictly from peering into a hat and the words appearing from a seer stone. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses. 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. 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.
The hearsay accounts show that ones faith in the book of mormon witnesses or lack thereof is based not simply on hearing the witnesses testimonies but on how one chooses to receive and understand their testimonies. Mormons believe and strive to follow the ten commandments and the articles of faith. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. The book of mormon spooky mormon hell dream lyrics by azmad202. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. The truthfulness of the book of mormon hinges on the validity of the. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. If the book of mormon is a fiction novel, then the mormon religion is based upon fiction. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection.