Who saw the book of mormon

Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies. 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. Mar 02, 2018 attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the holy ghost will manifest its truth to you. The book of mormon refers to jesus christ and his ministry more often than does the bible, despite its shorter length.

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. Mormons believe that the book of mormon contains the fulness of jesus christs gospel see joseph smithhistory 1. Which persons may have seen or handled the gold plates. In a vision, he was brought to remember his sins and seek forgiveness. Smith eventually obtained testimonies from 11 men who said that they had seen the plates, known as the book of mormon witnesses. If it is trueand i solemnly testify that it is then joseph smith was a prophet who saw god the father and his son, jesus christ. Book of mormon extras lesson 1 the prophet who has seen our. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon salt lake city and provo, ut. Im not a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, but i have close friends who are. He often found himself tired of all the focus on the history of the book of mormon, the shape and weight of the plates, the admittedly miraculous method of its translation, the myriad details of its publication, and also, unfortunately, the efforts to impugn the character of its translator. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they.

They added that they also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and. In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the book of mormon. Unique commentary on the book of mormon, by an lds mormon member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Evaluating the book of mormon witnesses religious studies center. Howe suggested, basing himself on witnesses collected by doctor hurlbut, that the book of mormon was a revised form of a fictional work written by solomon spalding.

Witnesses 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. Nonetheless, harris said he believed the book of mormon to be true. Why is the book of mormon named after mormon, who is he. Eight witnesses view the book of mormon plates by dale kilbourn. The father of the jaredites see title page of the book of mormon, the testimony of the three witnesses, ether 1. A small group of believers supported joseph smith through the book of mormon translation process, but none of them had experience in publishing. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. Consider what the book of mormon provides us today an explanation for how groups seek to destroy societal foundations by attacking the culture, the government, and the civil society. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Its the book of mormon, the ninetime tony award and fourtime olivier awardwinning best musical. 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. 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.

The greatest event recorded in the book is the account of jesus christs visit to the americas after his death and resurrection. This entry introduces the book of mormon, with the overview describing its basic nature, contents, and purposes. This vision was first seen by a prophet from jerusalem and was later seen by his son while they were traveling. Because of their pride, they oppressed the poor and committed all kinds of other sins see helaman 4. First, he specifically mention 3 witnesses, then a few, and also as many witnesses as seemeth the lord good. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. The book of mormon describes a number of individuals unique to its narrative as prophets. Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2.

Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. 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. Toward the end of june 1829, at the peter whitmer sr. The book of mormon, a cuttingedge musical, now suffers. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to latter day saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. If you are not reading the book of mormon each day, please do so. But behold, jesus christ hath shown you unto me, and i know your doing mormon 8. These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the plates and the angels, the eight witnesses who saw and handled the plates. Jul 24, 2020 i thought i knew what i was getting into the first time i saw the book of mormon musical in 2017. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. The new york times calls it the best musical of this century.

Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. Why did hiram page remain faithful to the book of mormon. Mormons generally believe that these eleven men actually saw the plates in question. There are recorded in church history several accounts of others who saw the gold. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon provo, ut. As the prophet lehi prayed on behalf of his people, a pillar of fire appeared before him, and he saw and heard much. A wide variety of nonbelievers in the book of mormon including newspaper writers, protestant missionaries, and latterday saints who had lost their faith claim they heard the witnesses declare something other than that the plates were real and that the book of mormon was true. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. The ancient prophets, having descended from israelite stock, knew of god and of the coming of the savior and had brought with them the religious records of the jews that were available up to 600 bc. Lehi saw the united states being formed and the coming forth of the book of mormon, the record lehi would begin.

Is the book of mormon like other ancient metal documents. Gunnell goes on to quote a letter written in 1844 by phineas young to brigham young, martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was of the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon, wayne c. Apr 08, 2021 which brings us back to hugh nibley, to whom the book of mormon was also a treasure of infinite worth. Near the end of translation process, a prophecy was translated from the second book of nephi that three, and a few others, might see the golden plates. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director witnesses. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates. Because the book of mormon is true, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is the lords church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of god has been restored for the benefit and blessing of his children. What does the book of mormon teach us about the resurrection. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. It would continue to be handed down through the generations, with various religious and government leaders recording the history of the people and their religious teachings and experiences. Most members are aware that many of the witnesses, including all. The washington post says, it is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.

When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. The book of mormon musical needs to adapt, josh gad says. And so, when someone asks me about it and what it means, i quietly say, mormon means more good. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by. I knew the musical is critical of believers and the church itself, and i was expecting to see a lot of stereotypical jabs. Well, i finally went and saw the book of mormon, and i am not ashamed to say how much i loved it. The book of mormon premiered on broadway at the eugene oneill theatre on march 24, 2011, following. How many witnesses are there who physically saw andor touched. The eight witnesses also saw the plates as a group. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon.

Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. How many people, named in the book of mormon, saw the savior. The book of mormon, the first broadway musical by matt stone and trey parker the creators of south park. Critics often declare that the witnesses to the book of mormon never claimed to have literally seen or hefted the plates. Mar 15, 2016 nephi prophesied that there would be multiple groups of people who would see the plates upon which the book of mormon was written. May 27, 2011 see this page in the original 1992 publication. The book of mormon tickets kings theatre, glasgow in.

Returning to his home, while lying on his bed, the vision continued. The book of mormon is consistent with human evolution. The book of mormon also records the lords solution to these problems. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. Every insight god gives us in the book of mormon is the perfect preparation for the future only he can see. 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. Nov 30, 2015 within the first few pages of the book of mormon, readers come across the names of 11 witnesses, each of whom has signed his name as someone who has either seen or felt the ancient plates that joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon. 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. Handled, saw, and hefted the leaves from the plates. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Several others had direct experiences with the plates or otherwise witnessed joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon. Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates.

Jun 20, 2019 see harper, the eleven witnesses, 124. This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is an adaptation of an obscure historical novel written by revolutionary war veteran solomon spalding during the war of 1812. Byu studies quarterly volume 20 issue 3 article 2 711980 who wrote the book of mormon. Explain to students that the book of mormon records prophecies that there will be wickedness and apostasy on the earth in the latter days see 2 nephi 27. If there is any name that is totally honorable in its derivation, it is the name mormon. Here, the prophets included are those who, according to the narrative, inherited the plates of nephi and who otherwise are called prophets within the text. Published in every edition of the book of mormon are the testimonies of eight witnesses who saw the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith. For believers, that approaches proof of joseph smiths miraculous claims. Jared lived in the days of the early patriarchs at the time the lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth ether 1. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. He saw god sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels.

While the book of mormon was in the process of being translated in june of. Why was martin harris needed to pay for the printing of. The book of mormon does not say that this commandment came by dream but only that the lord spake unto him lehi again 1 nephi 7. Apr 06, 2021 the book of mormon opens with a vision. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Matt doyle remembers mishaps from spring awakening and the. These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the. Learning as they went, joseph smith and his associates worked to secure a printers services, finance the printing process, and respond to local opposition to publish the sacred record. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret.

He also probably saw the same visions of jerusalem, the promised land, and the nations and kingdoms of the gentiles which nephi later saw 1 nephi 1114. Visit lobomb to discuss the cultural edge of mormonism w respect, affection, and compassion. All of the living book of mormon witnesses, except oliver cowdery, later accepted james. First staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the beliefs and practices of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Jun 17, 2014 in 1989, thirteenth president gordon b. Life outside the book of mormon belt home facebook. Mar 31, 2021 the book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. 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.

The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics, and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone. Apr 20, 2019 the book of mormon reaffirms the biblical truth that christ was the first person to be resurrected, but gives more information. I have seen the gold plates from which the book of mormon is written. Mormon saw the end of a great civilization whereas joseph smith s ministry was at the beginning of a new civilization, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, which shall stand in the promised land through the millennium. Within the first few pages of the book of mormon, readers come across the names of 11 witnesses, each of whom has signed his name as someone who has either seen or felt the ancient plates that joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon. Behold, i speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. The book of mormon was conceived by trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez. Now, some critics also claim that smith gained most of his theories from a manuscript of a novel written by solomon spaulding. If it is trueand i solemnly testify that it isthen joseph smith was a prophet who saw god the father and his son, jesus christ.

The book of mormon serves as a second witness of jesus christ. The musical ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. A religious text used by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, whose members are sometimes called mormons, the book of mormon is a companion to the bible. Apr 09, 2021 according to anderson, whitmer affirmed his witness of the book of mormon many times, including to a mob in 1833 in independence, missouri, who threatened his life. I believe that there are profound insights in this discussion for the 21st century world. How many people, named in the book of mormon, saw the. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. As he read, he was filled with the spirit of the lord.