Who were the eight witnesses of the book of mormon

Hiram page biography witnesses of the book of mormon. They were all members of the whitmer or smith families. Harper, the eleven witnesses, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. Joseph was permitted to show this ancient record to several people who then testified to the world that they were actually real. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york.

At that point, just two years before his own death, john responded to an inquirer about the witnesses. Smith, hiram page, christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. On june 9, he was ordained a teacher in the church, one of the first twelve officers. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. Imagine if any one of the apostles denied their witness that jesus rose from the dead, were kicked out of the early church, then returned. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer, jr. 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. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Four women can be added as additional witnesses of the book of mormon. 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. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that joseph smith, jr. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. See also joseph smith, history, 18381856, volume a1 23 december 180530 august 1834, 2426. 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.

Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon. Variety and complexity in the witnesses to the book of mormon. Did the 8 witnesses actually see and handle the gold. The three witnesses, unlike the eight witnesses, were shown the plates by a heavenly messenger, not joseph smith. The combined testimonies of the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon provide powerful evidence of the restoration.

There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. 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. While the three witnesses were not related to each other, the eight witnesses were very much interrelated. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon central. Biographies in preston nibley witnesses of the book of mormon deseret book co. Thus there are some puzzling aspects to the testimonies of the witnesses.

Half of the witnesses are related to david whitmer. 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. Mar 30, 2021 among the eight witnesses, only two were younger than joseph smithhis brother samuel h. All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church. Page became one of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon during june of 1829. The eight witnesses also saw the plates as a group.

Mary whitmer, lucy mack smith, lucy harris, and emma smith aided in the translation of the book of mormon and offered their own witnesses of the plates reality. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. 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. Dec 31, 2015 besides their formal testimonies printed in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830, two of the three witnesses and three of the eight witnesses are known to have left behind written accounts of their experience.

Watch the feature film witnesses, and then the documentary, undaunted. Their testimonies are found in the pages preceding each book of mormon. Together, these testimonies offer impressive support for the claims of joseph smith regarding the book of mormon and, thus, the restoration. Yet, they clung to their witness and continued to affirm it three witnesses oliver cowdery. May 27, 2011 most of the eight and all of the three witnesses reiterated their book of mormon testimonies just before death. We have the testimony of the three witnesses and the testimony of the eight witnesses. There were eight other witnesses who also beheld the plates, handled them, examined carefully the engravings upon them as they were shown them by joseph. 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.

Many fantastic stories that have had numerous witnesses have been proved to be hoaxes yet many people still hold steadfast to their unbelievable claims. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. The net result then of the anti mormon speculations in relation to the testimony of the three witnesses and the eight is the theory of hallucination to account for the testimony of the three witnesses, and pure fabrication, with the possibility of deception by joseph smith as to the existence of some kind of plates lurking in the. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Fallout the relationship with the witnesses were strained. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university, 2015, 1172. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. Nephi did, however, specify that three witnesses shall behold it, by the. Among the eight witnesses, only two were younger than joseph smithhis brother samuel h. 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 three smiths who formally gave their names as seeing and handling the plates were the prophets father, joseph smith, sr the prophets older brother. Unlike the three witnesses, the eight testified that they both saw and handled the plates. This testament is written as part of the forward to the book of mormon.

The eight witnesses were christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. 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. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Together with joseph smith they fulfill nephis prophecy. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the eldest son of peter whitmer, sen. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri. This eliminates any mortal and therefore fallible middleman. The most obvious statements are the testimonies of three and. The book of mormon witnesses may have been deceived as well and were not lying as far as they were concerned. 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. Like the lives of the three witnesses, the lives of the eight witnesses are rather tortuous. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. The other prominent group of book of mormon witnesses who said they saw the plates are called the three witnesses.

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. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Some may not realize that, aside from viewing the plates, the three witnesses of the book of mormon beheld several other nephite artifacts, including the miraculous directors which were given to lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the red sea doctrine and covenants 17. The original testimony of these eight men in the book of mormon reads somewhat ambiguously, not making clear whether they handled the plates or the leaves of the translated manuscript. Mary whitmerwitness of the book of mormon one people. The eight witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement reprinted in the book of mormon stating that they had seen the golden plates which joseph smith, jr. The historical narrative surrounding the book of mormon witnesses presents a. Three are related to joseph smith including his father and two brothers. The three witnesses had recorded that the voice of the lord commanded us that we should bear record of the book of mormon.

David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we. Eight witnesses the book of mormon also includes a joint statement from eight men who claim to have seen the gold plates. Hiram page, whom married catherine whitmer in 1825. According to the letter, burnett and several other men publicly renounced the book of mormon. The testimony of the eight witnesses gospel doctrine. 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. They shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein 2 ne. What did the unofficial witnesses of the book of mormon. 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. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Did the witnesses who left the church continue to maintain their witness of the book of mormon.

But though their testimonies are still printed at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon, all three of these men left the church at some pointonly two returned. By many in this church, our brothers were personally known. Most members are aware that many of the witnesses, including all. Testimony of eight witnesses book of mormon central. Two of the three witnesses who were excommunicated from the mormon church later returned to the church after denying their testimony.

Explore the history of the three witnesses as well as other witnesses of the book of mormon here, and then leave your own witness of the book of mormon. The reliability of eyewitness testimony and the book of mormon. Book of mormonwitnesseseight witnesses fair fairmormon. Painting of the angel moroni showing the gold plates to joseph smith, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer. Believers in the book of mormon heard the witnesses declare that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw.

They added that they also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormon s golden plates. Matthew roper, comments on the book of mormon witnesses. The eight witnesses were the second of the two groups of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. He and catherine were baptized on april 11, 1830, by oliver cowdery. Witnesses of the book of mormon the church of jesus christ of. The eight witnesses were all members of the whitmer or smith families. The testimonies of the witnesses printed in the book of mormon offer. The eight witnesses witnesses of the book of mormon. What led to such a young man being selected for the important and sacred responsibility of being a witness. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. 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 said was his source material for the book of mormon. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.

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. The witnesses of the book of mormon plates the three witnesses date of birth place of birth age when shown plates. All i can suggest is that a person read the book on their own and pray about it. 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. A response to jerald and sandra tanner, journal of book of mormon studies 22 1993. Monument to the eight witnesses of the book of mormon, liberty, missouri, at the time it was dedicated. 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. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. 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.

Mar 15, 2016 it was probably later that same week in june 1829, that the eight further book of mormon witnesses were shown the plates and, unlike the three, they were allowed to handle them. Christian whitmer, jacob whitmer, peter whitmer jr. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and. Another difference is that the eight testified that they were shown the plates by joseph smith rather than by an angel as had the three witnesses. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. 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.