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From these scriptural texts it is evident that: | From these scriptural texts it is evident that: | ||
− | * The Three Witnesses were required by God to exercise faith like “the prophets of old” in order to view the angel and the plates (cf. {{s||Moroni|7|37}}; {{s|| | + | * The Three Witnesses were required by God to exercise faith like “the prophets of old” in order to view the angel and the plates (cf. {{s||Moroni|7|37}}; {{s||D&C|20|6}}). |
* God would exercise His power to enable the Three Witnesses to see things that were not usually visible to mortal eyes. | * God would exercise His power to enable the Three Witnesses to see things that were not usually visible to mortal eyes. | ||
* Nevertheless, the Three Witnesses would see the angel and the plates “with [their] eyes” and “as they are” in objective reality. | * Nevertheless, the Three Witnesses would see the angel and the plates “with [their] eyes” and “as they are” in objective reality. | ||
===Contemporary witnesses=== | ===Contemporary witnesses=== | ||
− | Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; '''mine eyes have beheld'''". <ref>{{TS1|author=NeedAuthor|vol=3|num=21|date=1 September 1842|start=898}}</ref> Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates. <ref>''Autobiography of Alma L. Jensen'', 1932.</ref> | + | Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; '''mine eyes have beheld'''".<ref>{{TS1|author=NeedAuthor|vol=3|num=21|date=1 September 1842|start=898}}</ref> Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates.<ref>''Autobiography of Alma L. Jensen'', 1932.</ref> |
Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work: | Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work: | ||
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+ | ==References== | ||
+ | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:An Insider's View of Mormon Origins]] | [[Category:An Insider's View of Mormon Origins]] | ||
[[Category:Becoming Gods]] | [[Category:Becoming Gods]] |
Some wish to make it appear as though the statements made by Martin Harris about the Three Witnesses’ manifestation discount its reality. Doing so pulls Harris’ statements out of their proper context. This vital viewpoint can be regained by simply taking a look at several passages from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—which all predate Martin’s public statements about the nature of his experience.
From these scriptural texts it is evident that:
Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; mine eyes have beheld".[1] Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates.[2]
Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work:
Notes
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