Original witnesses to the book of mormon golden plates

It also contains biographical and historical information relating to the book of mormon. Golden plates to book of mormon church of jesus christ. First of all, nobody ever got excommunicated for being so bad, so your question borders on the absurd. However, i have heard that these witnesses may not have actually ever seen the gold plates that contained the original manuscripts for the book of mormon, but were witnesses in a different sort of way. That photo is consistent with the report of the original witnesses in 1829 that at the time of joseph smith the sealed portion comprised about two thirds of the plates. Today chris and clay join me again for a roundtable discussion about the eleven witnesses to the book of mormon. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. After this original manuscript was completed, a second copy was made for the printers use. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Where are the original gold plates stored that the book of.

There are many who argue that because the original manuscript of the book of mormon, or in other words, the golden plates themselves that contained the ancient record were allegedly taken by an angel, that the book cannot be authenticated and mu. Some often joke derisively, oh if only joseph had thought to actually show someone else those plates instead of keeping them to himself, maybe we mig. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness.

The plates were returned to the lord shortly after the work of translating them was complete. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Compilation on the three witnesses of the golden plates. I never saw the golden plates, only in a visionary or entranced state. Aug 07, 2006 a couple of days ago, stacey pokorney asked why we believe in the book of mormon without having the original plates in our possession.

Jun 17, 2014 the story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. Much of the book of mormon was produced in the home of his father, peter, as he hosted the smiths. In the book of mormon, joseph smith is supposed to have. Some often joke derisively, oh if only joseph had thought to actually show someone else those plates instead of keeping them to himself, maybe we might believe him. Mauricio berger in brazil testifies that the an angel directed him to meet with moroni. Mauricio, the three witnesses and eight additional witnesses from the united states were all present when the seals were removed from the book of mormon. 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. Whether joseph was an ignoramus, madman, or an evil religious genius, critics maintain that the book of mormon cannot be a historical record taken from golden plates. 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. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book of.

They all followed other religious leaders after being. A journal of mormon scripture, another account of mary whitmers viewing of the golden plates comparison of the strangite witnesses to the book of mormon witnesses. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. But, oliver cowdery, according to the mormon publication times and seasons, did deny. Hyrum smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Joseph smith excommunicated all of the witnesses to the. You try spraying, scrubbing, and still were left with so many persons whose testimonies of the physicality of the golden plates, angels, and other artifactsnever wavered. 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.

We know from the first few pages into the book of mormon that there were at least 11 witnesses to the golden plates, besides joseph smith. The mormon church, of course, claims that none of the three witnesses ever denied their testimony. Testimony of 8 witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of. Thus there are some puzzling aspects to the testimonies of the witnesses. Its a common misconception by people outside the church that joseph smith was the only person who ever saw the golden plates. The three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisall participated in the translation of the book. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. He claimed that an angel named moroni had directed him to a buried stone box, containing a set of gold plates, covered with strange symbols. I lived right in the country where the plates were found from which the book of mormon was translated, and i know a great many things pertaining to that country. All three witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the mormon church. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never claimed to have literally seen or hefted the plates. There were certain people besides joseph smith who were allowed to see them, and their testimonies are recorded in the beginning of the book of mormon, before 1 nephi.

The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates also called the gold plates or in some 19thcentury literature, the golden bible are the source from which joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. When joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through divine inspiration, he dictated to scribes, who recorded the words on common paper of the time period, making this the closest record to the golden plates buried in hill cumorah. Hinckley cited the words of book of mormon witness oliver cowdery, who said, i beheld with my eyes and handled with my hands, the gold plates from which it was translated. Janis hutchinson the three witnesses to the gold plates. This process of translation of scripture is the only time known to man, when god inspired the translator. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the. 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.

Martin harris shows signs of being an unstable person in terms of his religious convictions. Mary whitmer although the women, directly below, were only permitted to see the plates through a veil, they did see enough to testify of their presence. Moroni showed the three witnesses, oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris, the plates and told them that the translation of the book of mormon was correct. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates. As said in the title page of the 1908 rlds book of mormon, the text contained in this android app is faithful copy from the original translation by joseph smith jr. Here is a comparison of the original revelation as found in the book of commandments with the altered version as it now appears in the doctrine and covenants. Martin harris may 18, 1783july 10, 1875 underwrote the first printing of the book of mormon and also served as one of three witnesses who testified that they had seen the golden plates from which joseph smith said the book of mormon had been translated. Part 1 of documented article that examines the life and testimony of the witnesses to the book of mormon. None of strangs witnesses claimed to have seen an angel who showed them the plates. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship as how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. Book of mormonwitnessessignatures on their testimonies. Finally, the mormon church leaders became so embarrassed about the grammar that they decided to abandon the idea that god gave joseph smith the english that is found in the book.

It comes very frequently on lds writings that the three witnesses never denied their testimony of the golden plates and remained faithful to the end. 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. But the original texts of the bible are all missing, too. Beginning with the first edition of 1830, the book of mormon has. The scriptures suggest two reasons the book of mormon gold plates were not made available to the public. It also said that three would be shown the plates by the power of god. Today, ive been thinking about the people who saw the golden plates containing the original text of the book of mormon. Jan 05, 2020 today, ive been thinking about the people who saw the golden plates containing the original text of the book of mormon. Marys testimony is that she was shown the plates from an angelic being who carried the plates in a napsack of sorts. The original manuscript which was mostly destroyed by water damage and the printers manuscript, which was a copy of the original manuscript that oliver cowdery made to give to the printer. I understand the book of mormon has a list of witnesses.

There were two manuscript copies of the book of mormon text. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of. They are called the testimony of the 3 witnesses and the testimony of the 8 witnesses. 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. Bill mckeever is asked about the issue of the book of mormon witnesses seeing the gold plates upon which the book of mormon was supposedly written. It was the upper plates of the plates of mormon which were translated both into the book of lehi 116 pages and also the book of mormon. Jul 20, 2012 bill mckeever is asked about the issue of the book of mormon witnesses seeing the gold plates upon which the book of mormon was supposedly written. In this episode, dave talks about one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, martin harris. Wow, theres some pretty heavyduty binary thinking going on behindthescenes with this question. What about the book of mormon witnesses and the gold plates. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. David whitmer was one of six original members of the church of christ that joseph smith organized in 1830.

Exactly how was the book of mormon supposed to have been translated from the golden plates. We talk at length about our assumptions that the three witnesses has a spiritual event, that the eight witnesses had a physical event, whether their experience was consistent, and how the institutional church may have expressed certainty about the boundaries and constructs of their. If it was the last leaf, then why didnt he translate 1 nephi words of mormon in harmony. Smith eventually obtained testimonies from 11 men who said that they had seen the plates, known as the book of mormon witnesses.

Harper, the witnesses to the book of mormon provide some of the most compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous revelation and translation. The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. Dec 09, 2006 the plates were returned to the lord shortly after the work of translating them was complete. If the golden plates were not real, mormonism is a lie and mormons. The eight witnesses were the second of two sets of special witnesses to the book of mormons golden plates. The witnesses of the resurrection compared to the witnesses of. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a museum. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates also called the gold plates or in some 19thcentury literature, the golden bible are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. 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. None of the book of mormon witnesses ever claimed to have assisted joseph in creating a set of plates. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported.

Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director witnesses. Joseph smith in the process of translating the golden nephi plates the angel moroni gave him. Joseph translated the title page before he left harmony. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. But the eight witnesses report handling the plates under natural circumstances, describing color, substantial weight, individual leaves with engraved writings, and careful craftsmanship throughout. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a. Joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. 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.

Hyrum smith was born on february 9, 1800, in tunbridge, vermont. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. Three other witnesses were also allowed to meet with moroni.

Johnson reflected the sentiments of the community by writing a poem attempting to reflect the fact that men may be untrue to the truth. 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. Like the other witnesses, martin harris claimed to have seen with his own eyes the ancient. Witnesses of the golden plates and the book of mormon. There are only two of the witnesses to that book now living, to wit. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. Joseph said the title page was from the original book of mormon. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. At the beginning of the book of mormon, you find the testimony of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses.

The very earliest extant copies of any biblical text are derived from earlier works that have disappeared. Describing how this was accomplished, david whitmer, one of the socalled three witnesses to a testimony appearing at the front of the book of mormon, said. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. An angel showed the book of mormon plates to the three witnesses, who heard gods voice declare the translation correct. Eight witnesses mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Book of mormon witnesses continued to assert that they had seen the angel and the plates even after they had disagreed with joseph and left the church. Nyman, professor of ancient scripture, brigham young university. This is the book of mormon, an account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of. Yet the original 1839 book of mormon was full of all kinds of. Book of mormon witnesses the encyclopedia of mormonism. The testimonies of these lists of witnesses is included in the introduction to the book of mormon, in which they explain what they saw and experienced from the testimony of the three witnesses.

The last known location of the golden plates is given to us from brigham young in the journal of discourses. Journal of discourses, vol 7, page 164, 1859, brigham young. 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. I wanted to compile all of the details in one place for easy reference and rebuttal. Are there any other witnesses to the book of mormon plates besides the three and eight witnesses. When joseph smith first obtained the gold plates, he was told to show them. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors. The statements in the printers manuscript are all in oliver cowderys handwriting, because. Non mormon writers have criticized the grammar of the book of mormon stating that god could not make the many grammatical mistakes that are found in the book of mormon. Nov 03, 2017 joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. 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. A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a.

Joseph smith is not the only one to see and handle the plates. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Brigham young, on june 17, 1877, related the following. Their 2nd son, alvin was born in 1798 but died at 25. Mar 02, 2018 whether joseph was an ignoramus, madman, or an evil religious genius, critics maintain that the book of mormon cannot be a historical record taken from golden plates. There are many people outside of the lds church who wonder if joseph smith was the only person who saw the golden plates, considering his frequent concealing of the plates. Jul 08, 2011 this is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. Their experiences differed from one another dramatically, and i think we can learn a lot from those differences. A document noting the bankruptcy of a portion of a farm belonging to martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the golden plates and who also financially helped print the first edition of the.