![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SpencerMarsh (talk | contribs) (→Response to Criticism) |
SpencerMarsh (talk | contribs) (→Question: Does Doctrine and Covenants 5 stipulate that there be only three witnesses to the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated?) |
||
Line 74: | Line 74: | ||
One can quickly see that the original revelation omits the phrases "for from heaven will I declare it unto them" and "to receive this same testimony." Thus, fitting the experiences of the other witnesses into the origins of the Book of Mormon may become trickier. | One can quickly see that the original revelation omits the phrases "for from heaven will I declare it unto them" and "to receive this same testimony." Thus, fitting the experiences of the other witnesses into the origins of the Book of Mormon may become trickier. | ||
− | The revelation is dated March 1829. The translation of the Book of Mormon took place between late April 1829 to June 1829.<ref>John W. Welch, “[https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/archive-files/pdf/welch/2020-01-13/john_w._welch_byus_57.4._timing_the_translation_of_the_book_of_mormon_2018.pdf Timing the Translation of the Book of Mormon: ‘Days (and Hours) Never to Be Forgotten’],” ''BYU Studies'' 57, no. 4 (2018): 16–30.</ref> The translation actually commenced with Mosiah being translated first, getting all the way to Moroni, then going back to 1 Nephi, and finishing with Words of Mormon.<ref>Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter, ''How We Got the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 19–20.</ref> There are two passages in the Book of Mormon that refer to the witnesses of the Book of Mormon: Ether 5 and 2 Nephi 27. | + | The revelation is dated March 1829. The translation of the Book of Mormon took place between late April 1829 to June 1829.<ref>John W. Welch, “[https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/archive-files/pdf/welch/2020-01-13/john_w._welch_byus_57.4._timing_the_translation_of_the_book_of_mormon_2018.pdf Timing the Translation of the Book of Mormon: ‘Days (and Hours) Never to Be Forgotten’],” ''BYU Studies'' 57, no. 4 (2018): 16–30.</ref> The translation actually commenced with Mosiah being translated first, getting all the way to Moroni, then going back to 1 Nephi, and finishing with Words of Mormon.<ref>Richard E. Turley Jr. and William W. Slaughter, ''How We Got the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 19–20.</ref> There are two passages in the Book of Mormon that refer to the witnesses of the Book of Mormon: Ether 5:2–4 and 2 Nephi 27:12–14. |
Ether 5:2–4 reads: | Ether 5:2–4 reads: |
Readers of the Doctrine and Covenants have become puzzled by a verse that, at first blush, stipulates that there be only three witnesses to the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. The text reads as follows:
This may cause some stress for readers since there were at least 22 (and perhaps more) formal and informal witnesses to the gold plates--each with different experiences to recount.
This article will examine this criticism and another, closely-related criticism. Upon a closer reading of the text of the revelation, the concern should be eliminated.
First, we should reacquaint ourselves with what each of the formal and informal witnesses to the gold plates actually said (as far as such can be documented) about their experience.
There are the Three Witnesses -- including David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris; and there are the Eight Witnesses--including Joseph Smith Sr., Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer Jr., John Whitmer, and Hiram Page. Additionally, there are several informal witnesses--people who either saw, felt, and/or hefted the plates but were not required to give their names in a formal statement testifying to the plates’ reality. These witnesses include people such as Emma Smith, Lucy Mack Smith, Katharine Smith, Mary Mussellman Whitmer, Josiah Stowell, Alvah Beaman, Joseph Knight Sr., Luke Johnson, Harrison Burgess, Lucy Harris, etc.
The testimony of the Three Witnesses, as printed in every edition of the Book of Mormon since its publication, reads as follows:
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: 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 the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And 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. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, 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. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
So the Three Witnesses:
The testimony of the Eight Witnesses, as printed in every edition of the Book of Mormon since its publication, reads as follows:
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
So the Eight Witnesses:
The informal witnesses’ experiences are as follows:
Now, response becomes quite simple. Reviewing the experiences of each of the various witnesses, it can be seen that none of them received "the same witness" as that of the Three Witnesses. Let's quote the most relevant part of the passage in question and bold the most important parts of that passage:
The Three Witnesses heard the voice of God declare unto them that the translation of the Book of Mormon was done by his gift and power. None of the other witnesses received "this same testimony." That is how one may reconcile the passage with the presence of other types of witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates.
There is a related criticism to this one. It is claimed that the original revelation that was later edited and incorporated into the Doctrine and Covenants is much less open to the existence of other witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates.
The original revelation reads as follows:
One can quickly see that the original revelation omits the phrases "for from heaven will I declare it unto them" and "to receive this same testimony." Thus, fitting the experiences of the other witnesses into the origins of the Book of Mormon may become trickier.
The revelation is dated March 1829. The translation of the Book of Mormon took place between late April 1829 to June 1829.[18] The translation actually commenced with Mosiah being translated first, getting all the way to Moroni, then going back to 1 Nephi, and finishing with Words of Mormon.[19] There are two passages in the Book of Mormon that refer to the witnesses of the Book of Mormon: Ether 5:2–4 and 2 Nephi 27:12–14.
Ether 5:2–4 reads:
2 Nephi 27:12–14 reads:
Given the timeline for translation, Joseph would have received D&C 5 in March 1829, then translated Ether, and then translated 2 Nephi. Reading the passages in that order and looking at the explicit flow of ideas, one might surmise that Joseph Smith at first believed that only three people were going to see the Book of Mormon plates and then, over time, revised his plan to include more witnesses to the Book of Mormon plates.
To respond to this criticism, one can easily fit the uniqueness of the experience of the three witnesses in particular into the phrase "Behold & [view] these things as they are." To view these things "as they are," according to the three witnesses, is to hear the voice of God declare to them that the translation of the Book of Mormon was done by his gift and power and to be commanded by God to tell the world of it. This declaration and subsequent injunction may be "[the Lord's] word unto this Generation" promised in the original draft of the revelation.
Notes
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now