Facts on the book of mormon witnesses used

The methodological errors in thinking book of mormon locations ought to be identified today are thoroughly and insightfully addressed in a 1993 article by william hamblin, entitled basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon journal of book of mormon studies 21 spring. Strangely enough we find inserted in the middle of the book of mormon, pages 141143 bom p. Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon. The book of mormon relies not only on the record of an ancient people, but also on the separate testimonies of three and eight witnesses published in the back of the books original 1830 edition and in the front of its more recent editions. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. Nevertheless, the power of this book is not based only in its magnificent history but on its powerful, unparalleled message that has changed countless lives including mine. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. The 11 witnesses were all good, honorable men and regarded as upstanding members of the community.

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. The witnesses experiences may have only been visionary in nature. 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. Witnesses to the book of mormon david whitmer general. They have no secondary witnesses, nor do they leave obvious historical artifacts that require explanation. A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. Also, the bible forbids another gospel of christ, yet the mormons claim the book of mormon is an additional gospel of jesus christ galations 1. Did i miss the chapters about global warming, polygamy in this life and the next oh yeahit was forbidden, gay people trying their hardest to be active latterday saints, heavenly mother, the president packercondemned movement of feminism, or coping with the church building a 1. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among. Joseph seems to have used several different methods to translate the book of mormon, but by the end of the process, he had discarded the spectacles buried with the plates in favor of using his own personal treasure finding peepstone most witnesses agree that the spectacles were only used to translate the first 116 pages. Mormons believe that the book of mormon confirms information found in the holy bible. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant.

Mormonism was founded by joseph smith in the mid19th century northeast united states. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the. 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. The book order for the book of mormon was 5 to 25 times greater than other books of its day. In every copy of the book of mormon is the signed statement by the witnesses of the bom. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a religious and secular history of the inhabitants of the western hemisphere from about 2200 bc to about 421 ad.

The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon 03222020 by lifeafterministry that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. The lds church has distinct beliefs, an interesting history, and its influence is increasing in america and elsewhere in the world. The historical narrative surrounding the book of mormon witnesses presents a labyrinth of conflicting statements, many provided decades after the fact by those not present during the events. But, oliver cowdery, according to the mormon publication times and seasons, did deny. There are many statements given by the witnesses that indicate they only saw the angel and the plates in a visionary experience. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. The testimonies of the three and eight witnesses were published in the first edition of the book of mormon and every edition since. Jehovahs witnesses have used many different translations in their study of the bible. 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. Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the book of mormon.

Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon life. Johnson reflected the sentiments of the community by writing a poem attempting to reflect the fact that men may be untrue to the truth. Youve suggested at times that he suffered for his testimony which is a charge i believe to be false. Here is the source and quote directly from the church essay. When joseph smith, oliver cowdery, and martin harris entered an agreement with e. For instance, all 11 witnesses to the book of mormon shared a common worldview of second sight, magic, and treasure digging. Martin harris shows signs of being an unstable person in terms of his religious convictions.

Here are a few key points from the essays listed above. The vision only came to oliver and david after a prolonged time in prayer and the departure of martin harris. In languages where it is available, though, we especially appreciate the new world translation of the holy scriptures for its use of gods name, for its accuracy, and for its clarity use of gods name. The mormon church, of course, claims that none of the three witnesses ever denied their testimony. 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.

Richard anderson investigating the book of mormon witnesses, 1981 admits the third handnature of this account, but still uses it as evidence, attributing its most accurate telling to george q. 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. 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. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates. While this was a late recollection on cannons part, anderson justifies using it by stating that cannon had a remarkable intellect and a. You say that the book of mormon was written for our day. The facts on the mormon church the facts on series. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 2 mormons. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that.

We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. From his 1979 conference talk entitled a witness and a warning, here are a few verses from the book of mormon that bear out his teachings. It also contains biographical and historical information relating to the book of mormon. These modern scholars claim that joseph smith used a brown seer stone he found in a well to translate the book of mormon. These are the same chapters and verses used in the current editions of the book of mormon. This is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon. Much confusion surrounds the issue of who actually saw or signed what, where and when. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Four women can be added as additional witnesses of the book of mormon. The eight other witnesses just saw and handled the golden plates. All the following mormon experiences could as easily have been written by jehovahs witnesses.

Nevertheless, the power of this book is not based only in its magnificent history but on its powerful, unparalleled message that. Readers find wellresearched and easytounderstand answers to many of the common and notsocommon questions surrounding this highprofile church, all in a handy, quickreference format. 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. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. The following comments are some of many that appear on exmormon internet sites, showing the similar thought process of mormons on leaving their religion to that of jehovahs witnesses. Irr facts on the book of mormon witnesses jole groat. But the 1830 book of mormon contained 590 pages of text, the most important kind of evidence historians. The facts on the mormon church presents the truth about the church of jesus christ of latterday saintsmormon history, doctrines, practices, and theology. The question before us is how david whitmers testimony of the book of mormon affected his life, and in particular after he was excommunicated from the lds church. 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. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the.

Smith is a false prophet, therefore his book of mormon, based on what the bible says, must be false. All of the living book of mormon witnesses, except oliver cowdery, later accepted james strangs prophetic claim of being josephs true successor and joined his church. Not from the book of mormon, which is, as yet, a sealed book to him. The three special witnesses saw the angel moroni and the plates. The historical facts and the special witnesses of the book of mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director witnesses. As a result, if the book of mormon can be proved to be manmade, then the church is manmade. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. The book of mormon witnesses historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. As the director of the church history library, where we hold the churchs official archival.

Dear mormons, you dont know the book of mormon is true. Bushman, joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism. It tells the reader that three groups of immigrants settled the uninhabited americas. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the americas. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. In 1879, orson pratt divided the book of mormon into smaller chapters and verses. 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 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. The translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon, now revered by mormons as scripture, along with the bible. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The book of mormon presents a very different problem for josephs detractors than does the first vision.