And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, a marvel and a wonder, as much so as to any one else. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the fourthlargest. In 1861, a missionary visiting him heard his testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon, of joseph smith s role as a prophet, and even a commitment to brigham youngs work as a prophet. While joseph smith was translating the book of mormon, the lord revealed that, in addition. He simply couldnt bring himself to ask forgiveness, even though he was sorry he had ever left. Hyrum smith february 9, 1800 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader in the. The primary source of smiths latterday revelation is the book of mormon, and to fully understand his role as the founder of the mormon faith, one must also understand the book of mormon and how it came to be. Sep 11, 20 joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. His grandson, joseph fielding smith also served as president of the church from 1970 to 1972. Since joseph smith was younger than most of you and not nearly so experienced or welleducated as any of you at the time he ed the book of mormon, it should not be too much to ask you to hand in by the end of the semester which will give you more time than he had a paper of, say, five to six hundred pages in length. Several investigations and studies which set out to prove that joseph wrote the book of mormon have actua. The salt lake tribune, october 3, 1998 octavo editions give readers a firsthand experience of a milestone text.
Smith, journal, september 7, 1878, quoted in joseph. He didnt have the time, education or wherewithal to do this. In a letter dated december 16, 1838, joseph smith said that john whitmer, david whitmer, oliver cowdery, and martin harris are too mean to mention history of the church, vol. Peter manseaus new book suggests that joseph smith and the book of mormon may have been influenced by a seneca religious prophet who died 200.
Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3 chapter 12. One of the eight witnesses to the book of mormon was the fifth son of peter whitmer, sen. More recently, critics have lauded joseph smith as a religious. They signed a joint statement affixed to the book of mormon that an. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. Apr 22, 2016 the language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. Three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of god, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered. Mar, 2008 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. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of joseph s account. An earlier group of witnesses who said they had seen the plates were called the three witnesses. 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.
The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Read and study the words and teachings of lds prophet joseph fielding smith. A published compilation of some of president smiths discourses was published by the deseret news in 1971, namely, j. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its. Soon after joseph s 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 book of mormon is set in north america in the first century. Joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. 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. Critics have long tried to dismiss or destroy the witnesses witness. Joseph fielding smith, the divine law of witnesses excerpt from address to the byu studentbody by president joseph fielding smith tuesday, dec 8, 1953 home book of mormon challenge. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as. The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book and included minor grammatical corrections.
As the church has said, the manual has been prepared as the primary source of lesson material. In his book studies of the book of mormon, roberts concluded that joseph smith had sufficient imagination and was capable of producing the book of mormon even though he had little formal education. Printers manuscript of the book of mormon the joseph smith papers. Witnesses of the book of mormon, teachings of presidents of the church. This statement implies that the book of mormon is not only doctrinally but also historically correct. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of. 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. The primary source of smith s latterday revelation is the book of mormon, and to fully understand his role as the founder of the mormon faith, one must also understand the book of mormon and how it came to be. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. When rumors about this strange account of the first vision began circulating, someone reinserted the pages back. One of these documents was a handwritten testimony signed by david whitmer, one of the three special witnesses of the book. Mormon church admitting the internet is hurting retention of. Smith, who was the sixth president of the lds church. While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon.
The language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. Pratt, oliver cowdery, joseph smith and the witnesses who claimed they saw the plates have told me, and in all of my intimacy with joseph smith he never told. Unfortunately, the literature about joseph smith and the book of mormon is permeated with contradiction and controversy. These are not all the witnesses who can speak of the divine mission of joseph smith, or of the truth of the book of mormon. 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. Athalia robinson, were present when that book was handed to me in mentor, ohio, and all i ever knew about the origin of the book of mormon was what parley p. Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. Doctrines of salvation joseph fielding smith a voice from cumorah witnesses of book of mormon chapter 12 why plates were returned to moroni.
His grandfather was hyrum smith, brother of lds church founder joseph smith, jr. Lucy mack smith, biographical sketches of joseph smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations liverpool, s. Joseph fielding smith noted once that cowderys successor, john. The divine law of witnesses joseph fielding smith 8 dec 1953. He also turns to the joseph smith story, including the first vision and the book of mormon, where there is overwhelming evidence that these primary witnesses never denied their witness of the book of mormon, even when some had left the church over other issues, and even when they had nothing to gain and everything to lose for their stand. The book of mormon is a sacred record that contains the everlasting gospel and bears witness of jesus christ. 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. The book of mormon is a divine record joseph fielding smith.
The eight witnesses of the book of mormon lds blogs. That book contained great references on the curse of cain and lots of other goodies modern mormons are not supposed to talk about. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 2nd edition. Holding an 1830 first edition of the book of mormon can stir the souls of bibliophiles and believers alike. There is strong evidence that joseph fielding smith tried to whitewash js 1832 handwritten account of the first vision by tearing it out of the book in which it was written and hiding it in his office safe in the 1930s. One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. Anybody could write a book and claim it fulfills these verses.
The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday. In one of the most famous declarations ever made about the book of mormon, the prophet joseph smith declares this sacred record to be the keystone of the restored gospel of jesus christ and the best guide available for drawing nearer to god. From the time he was very young, joseph fielding smith knew that his family. Joseph fielding smith, president of the mormon church. Get the full lesson witnesses of the book of mormon from the teachings of joseph fielding smith at. This remarkable statement was in fulfillment of prophecy in the book of mormon itself, given by nephi, the son of lehi. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. He was, however, prone to make silly mistakes, such as. Joseph smith attacks original book of mormon witnesses wwcb. Joseph fielding smith author of doctrines of salvation. Smith was very upset with david whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon. Jan 01, 2014 the book of mormon is a divine record joseph fielding smith 29 sept 1961 twin mormons.
Joseph fielding smith was the tenth prophet and president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation.
Joseph fielding smith was the tenth prophet and president of the church. Oaks ensign may 1999, 35, there are witnesses of the book of mormon itself. Jul 08, 2011 while joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon. Mar 22, 2017 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.
Joseph fielding smith was the tenth prophet and president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the mormon church. He was one of the eight witnesses who swore to the reality of a set of golden. He examined egyptian characters copied from book of mormon and said they were. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. Apr 26, 2010 the book of mormon has 12 official witnesses. He was known as an able writer and wrote numerous books. Joseph fielding smith had a book out by that very title which as it turns out is great fodder for antimormons. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of 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 book of mormon.
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. In this position, he was instrumental in procuring original documents of historical significance to the church. The book of mormon is the sacred history of the ancient inhab itants of the american continent, and contains the predictions of their prophets, the commandments of the lord to them, and the. I have chosen to speak about the significance of their testimonies and about the life of one of them. Joseph fielding smith mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. 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. The book of mormon is a divine record joseph fielding smith 29 sept 1961 twin mormons. Testimony of lds mormon prophet joseph fielding smith. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. While joseph smith was translating the book of mormon, the lord revealed that, in addition to the prophets 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. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star. The question has been asked many times of our elders.
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. The divine law of witnesses joseph fielding smith 8 dec 1953 duration. Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. The world was not left with joseph smith s testimony alone. Titles include doctrines of salvation, answers to gospel questions and more found at deseret book. Smith, and his grandfather was hyrum smith, the brother of the prophet joseph smith. 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. We also talk about the testimony of the three witnesses. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, a marvel and a wonder, as much so as to. During 2014, lds members will be studying the latest manual published by their church, teachings of presidents of the church.