Persons experienced in evaluating testimony commonly consider a witness’s opportunity to observe an event and the possibility of his bias on the subject. Indeed, we know that upon the testimony of one witness great miracles have been claimed and accepted by many religious people, and in the secular world the testimony of one witness has been deemed sufficient for weighty penalties and judgments. The solemn written testimony of three witnesses to what they saw and heard-two of them simultaneously and the third almost immediately thereafter-is entitled to great weight.
People who deny the possibility of supernatural beings may reject this remarkable testimony, but people who are open to believe in miraculous experiences should find it compelling. These witnesses solemnly testify that they “have seen the plates which contain this record” and “the engravings which are upon the plates.” They witness that these writings “have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us.” They testify, “We declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true.”įurther, “the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things” (“The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” Book of Mormon). 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 three men chosen as witnesses of the Book of Mormon were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. There were also eight witnesses, but their testimony is a subject for another time. “They shall know of a surety that these things are true,” the Lord declared, “for from heaven will I declare it unto them” ( D&C 5:12). While Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, the Lord revealed that, in addition to the Prophet’s testimony, the world would have “the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things” ( D&C 5:11 see also Ether 5:2–4 2 Ne. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of one of them.
There are witnesses of the Book of Mormon itself.
Appropriately, it is now titled “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Book of Mormon Witnesses The Book of Mormon has the same content: witnesses preceding, during, and following the ministry of the Messiah. The Bible witnesses of Jesus Christ by prophecies of His coming, by accounts of His ministry, and by the testimonies of those who carried His message to the world. The most important ordinances of salvation-baptism, marriage, and other ordinances of the temple-are required to have witnesses (see D&C 127:6 D&C 128:3). The scriptures state that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” ( 2 Cor. 43:10 Mosiah 18:9 D&C 84:62), and all of the prophets have borne witness of Jesus Christ (see Acts 10:43 Rev. The Lord has commanded His servants to testify of Him (see Isa. 17:5 John 5:31–39), and the Son has borne witness of the Father (see John 17). The Father has borne witness of the Son (see Matt. In the Godhead, the function of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 2 Ne. Witnesses and witnessing are vital in God’s plan for the salvation of His children.
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