It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Teachings of the seventies the bible is one witness of jesus christ. Here are schedules to read it in 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year the red headed hostess lesson packet is full of more great. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon.
An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Soon after josephs arrival at fayette from pennsylvania the summer of 1829, peter became a zealous friend of the prophet and an able assistant in the translation of. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. 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. Martin harris shows signs of being an unstable person in terms of his religious convictions. The church video compelling witness depicts a mock trial that witnesses of the truthfulness of the book of mormon. This animated childrens video illustrates how the book of mormon is a second witness of jesus christ and how it works together with the bible to establish a more complete record. 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. This law the lord has always followed in granting new revelation to the people. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. Richard lloyd anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.
Love for the book of mormon expands ones love for the bible and vice versa. Smith lorenzo snow lucy mack smith mary whitmer oscar mcconkie william smith richard lloyd anderson analyzes the witnesses to. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Formal witneses the three witnesses the eleven witnesses informal witnesses david b. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. A discussion of the witnesses of the golden plates of the book of mormon and the implications of their testimony. Additional information on the individual witnesses and their statements are available in the maxwell institutes digital collection. 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 jr. 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. And the book of mormon witnesses have got their testimonies out there. It is inconclusive if the witnesses actually saw plates or if they only claimed to see them. 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. Joseph fielding smith 20, 12738 chapter 9, teachings.
Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Isaiah passages listed by book of mormon reference, from charting the book of mormon. Andor have everyone draw their favorite book of mormon. While the most perfect book states only three witnesses eight more men are able to give their testimony in the book of mormon, found directly under the testimony of three witnesses. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Invite the children to share stories they know from the book of mormon, using pictures 6786 in the gospel art book or other pictures you have. The solemn testimony of these three additional witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon from the beginning. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. For example, the prophet joseph smith said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book t. Introductory pages of the book of mormon come, follow mefor primary. All three special witnesses became estranged and left the church. For a huge array of resources, talks, articles, videos, and so forth, go to or. Prophets in the book of mormon, including the lord himself, repeatedly declared the importance of reading isaiahs prophecies. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses book of mormon.
The depth of the concepts in the book of mormon are a constant source of inspiration, if we will but contemplate them. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Witnesses of the book of mormon, teachings of presidents of the church. The testimony of three witnesses, oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Mormon witnesses the destruction of the nephites the overall purpose is to strengthen everyones desire to remain true to the teachings of jesus christ in spite of evil around us the red headed hostess has a great lesson packet that covers mormon chapters 18. 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 the book of mormon time and time again and thoroughly considered. Why we need the bible and the book of mormon family home. The witnesses of the book of mormon by preston nibley.
The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. Three times david whitmer has been at the hill cumorah and seen the casket that contained the tablets and seerstone. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. Scriptures of the restoration do not compete with the bible. Haight emma smith harrison burgess john henry smith joseph f.
Media in category book of mormon witnesses the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. The book of mormon has a persuasive enough history on its own, but you cant prove its truth with facts alone. 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. Book of mormon archives teaching children the gospel. Would you believe something so fantastic if someone y.
We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses, three men who were allowed to see an angel and the physical gold. Challenge your class to read the book of mormon on their time table. I consider your presence in this cyberspace sunday school at ldsliving to be a serious stewardship. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. This is a photomechanical reprint of the first edition 1830 of the book of mormon. Witnesses of the book of mormon the law of witnesses there is a law definitely stated in the scriptures governing testimony and the appointment of witnesses. They emphasized this point by quoting extensively from isaiah in their own sermons and writings. The witnesses of the book of mormon nibley, preston on.
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 application of the law of witnesses in 2 nephi 27 and 28, hales swift. Our lesson today is the testimony of three men that the prophecy of the coming forth and translation of the book of mormon had been fulfilled. One of the best sources of current scholarship on the book of mormon and other lds topics is the new mormon interpreter, a site managed by daniel peterson. See more ideas about book of mormon, book of mormon stories and scripture study. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Lesson 41 the testimony of three witnesses book of. This page links to subpages which discuss various attacks. Come, follow me book of mormon lesson 9 2 nephi 2630 labor diligently to write. 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 witnesses of the book of mormon lds scripture teachings. Book of mormon lesson 3344 archives teaching children. I understand emma, martin harris, oliver cowdery all say the prophet did not. As the church has said, the manual has been prepared as the primary source of lesson material. Also see the vast body of scholarship in past and current publications at the maxwell institute. Some 58 are paraphrased and 11 others are variants andor paraphrases. When moroni finished the record of the nephites he closed with the prophetic words which formed our last lesson. 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. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Of the 478 verses in the book of mormon quoted from the book of isaiah, 201 agree with the king james reading while 207 show variations. The second video is now available oct 2014 that focuses on the eight witnesses.
The book of mormon is published is to increase our gratitude about the availability to read and study the book of mormon today teaching thoughts. In a revelation that served as a preface for the book of commandments, which would later become the doctrine and covenants, the lord again taught that though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. It also contains biographical and historical information relating to the book of mormon. I am teaching valiant 9 in our wards primary this year 2016 and we are studying primary manual 4. Much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. Read this primary lesson that details the many ways the plates were hidden. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris.
See more ideas about book of mormon, scripture study and lds scriptures. Get the full lesson witnesses of the book of mormon from the teachings of joseph fielding smith at. Photograph of the book of mormon by jasmin gimenez rappleye. 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. This is the changing mind of the god of mormonism or of joseph smith doctrine and covenants 5. Each week i make a handout for my kids to add to their ring to help them remember the lesson. The book of mormon is a witness to the truth of the bible. 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 author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.
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