Aug, 2018 his book investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book, 1981 remains the foremost study of the witnesses today. Richard lloyd anderson in investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. 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. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. He went on to become a successful lawyer and respected citizen among nonmormon peers. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Why were three key witnesses chosen to testify of the book. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. His book investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book, 1981. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. This video discusses the life of david whitmer before.
Lds historian and scholar richard lloyd anderson 19262018. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come. Many critics have tried to ignore their testimonies, while others have simply glossed over their significance. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses brigham young. Why is david whitmers witness of the book of mormon so. 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. Motives the testimony of the book of mormon witnesses has been a thorn in the side of the critics for more than a century and a half.
The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. His book investigating the book of mormon witnesses is widely considered the definitive work on this subject. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses ive formed some opinions about the book of mormon witnesses, but i dont like reaching uninformed conclusions so i decided to read up on them. His book investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book, 1981 remains the foremost study of the witnesses today. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. According to his brother david whitmer, christian served as one of several book of mormon scribes. Martin harris later said that he lost confidence in joseph smith and his mind became darkened quoted in anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, 110. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. This presentation was assembled over several months while teaching a class on exploring the book of mormon. No witnesses is more compelling than david whitmer. That book, in my opinion, is an authentic historical record that was given to us as another testament of jesus christ.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard lloyd. Aug 25, 2019 this video defends the book of mormon witnesses and shows how the lord set up multiple crosschecks and backup evidences to make it very challenging for critics to dismiss the weight of their. A carefully researched, thought provoking book, by dr. Membership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 18301848. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses blogger. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses. Richard lloyd anderson said in his book investigating the book of mormon witnesses. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Oct 18, 2014 this presentation was assembled over several months while teaching a class on exploring the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson 9 may 1926 12 august 2018 was an american lawyer and theologist of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who was a professor of church history and doctrine at brigham young university byu.
Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. According to richard lloyd anderson in his book, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, cowdery. These divinely appointed witnesses help the book of mormon fulfill one of its primary purposesto convince the world that jesus is the christ, the eternal god. In his work investigating the book of mormon witnesses, anderson holds that despite the fact that the witnesses left the church at one point or another, they never denied their testimonies of the events that solidified their belief in the book of mormon.
Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, deseret book, 1981. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses quotes by. Anderson, in his faithpromoting book titled investigating the book of mormon witnesses, insists that readers must take the testimony of the eleven witnesses at face value. The book of mormon prophesies that god would call special witnesses to testify to its truth. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr. 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. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence. Attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses.
Martin harris may 18, 1783 july 10, 1875 was an early convert to the latter day saint movement who financially guaranteed 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. Skeptics hate when we say i know the book of mormon is true, but i dont know how else to say it. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. Modern mormon spin doctors write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the mormon church but they never the book of mormon. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. 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. Hart, about the book of mormon, deseret news, 9 apr. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. Interviewer interview date name of publication publication date godfrey cook vogel welch anderson eber d. Their credibility as witnesses is affirmed by evidence.
Anderson based on the recommendation of no less that daniel c. The book of mormon will speak for itself faith matters. Welch, the miraculous timing of the translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. 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. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses 0877478465 by. The book of mormon relies not only on the record of an ancient people, but also on the separate testimonies of three and eight witnesses published in the back of the books original 1830 edition and in the front of its more recent editions.
Foremost scholar of the book of mormon witnesses passes. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of. Russell, a member of the community of christ and professor of history of the lds movement at graceland university, strongly disagrees. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by anderson, richard lloyd. I just finished reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard l. He was released from the high council in september 1837 and three months later was excommunicated. Amy eastonflake and rachel cope, a multiplicity of witnesses. Former owners private library stamps on endpapers and title page. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city, ut. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. His 1981 book investigating the book of mormon witnesses explores the lives and characters of the witnesses in great detail, but nothing is said about their propensities for visionary experience.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Religious studies center, department of church history and doctrine, brigham young university, 1989. Accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, 2nd edition, ed. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. Anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. The book of mormon in the 21st century as well as volume 1 of mark a scherers the journey of a people. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses 1981, hardcover. Foremost scholar of the book of mormon witnesses passes away. Those who have attempted to tackle the issue generally have relied.
This video defends the book of mormon witnesses and shows how the lord set up multiple crosschecks and backup evidences to make it very. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses richard l. Investigating the book of mormon linkedin slideshare. Another owners gift inscription on the front free endpaper. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard. Anderson also wrote a number of additional articles on the witnesses as a group.
Personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in. Assistants and eyewitnesses informal witnesses of the plates oliver cowdery. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon bookstore. Anderson has spent his life investigating the witnesses of the book of mormon and knows more about them than anybody that i know of.
The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses. Luffman the book of mormon s witness to its first readers and alan d. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven. The most unusual tribute to this book of mormon witness came in an obituary written thirtyfour years before his death. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they claimed. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses book, 1981. Luffman the book of mormons witness to its first readers and alan d. Dec 16, 2018 richard lloyd anderson said in his book investigating the book of mormon witnesses. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account known as the book of mormon. Did the book of mormon witnesses really see what they. A hardcover book in very good condition, lacking the dustjacket. 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 translated the ancient scriptural account and of three witnesses who not only saw the plates but w.