An analysis of the Wikipedia article "Three Witnesses"

A FAIR Analysis of: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Three Witnesses, a work by author: Various

Testimony of the Three Witnesses

An analysis of claims made in the Wikipedia article "Three Witnesses"

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• Response to claim: "The Three Witnesses...signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon"
• Response to claim: "Harris and Cowdery eventually rejoined the church, and to varying degrees, all three continued to testify to the divine origin of the Book of Mormon"

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 Updated 9/28/2011

Introduction

Response to claim: "The Three Witnesses...signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon"

The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Three Witnesses" make(s) the following claim:

The Three Witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the Latter Day Saint movement who signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon and that they had heard God's voice testifying that the book had been translated by the power of God. The Three are among the eleven Book of Mormon witnesses, of whom the remainder were the Eight Witnesses who affirmed that they "saw and handled" the plates.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: This claim is based upon correct information - The author is providing knowledge concerning some particular fact, subject, or event

Response to claim: "Harris and Cowdery eventually rejoined the church, and to varying degrees, all three continued to testify to the divine origin of the Book of Mormon"

The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Three Witnesses" make(s) the following claim:

The Three Witnesses were Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by Eight Witnesses, has been printed with nearly every edition of the Book of Mormon since its first publication in 1830. All three witnesses eventually broke with Smith and were excommunicated from the church he had founded. Harris and Cowdery eventually rejoined the church, and to varying degrees, all three continued to testify to the divine origin of the Book of Mormon.

Author's sources:

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: This claim contains propaganda - The author, or the author's source, is providing information or ideas in a slanted way in order to instill a particular attitude or response in the reader

 Violates Wikipedia: Neutral Point-of-View off-site— All Wikipedia articles and other encyclopedic content must be written from a neutral point of view, representing fairly, and as far as possible without bias, all significant views that have been published by reliable sources.

This is simply an introduction to the article. The footnote about Joseph Smith calling the witnesses "too mean to mention" is pejorative and unnecessary.

 Violates Wikipedia: No Original Research off-site— Do not use unpublished facts, arguments, speculation, and ideas; and any unpublished analysis or synthesis of published material that serves to advance a position.

"...but to varying degrees." This is a subjective evaluation on the part of the wiki editor, without citation.

• For a detailed response, see: Did any of the Book of Mormon witnesses ever recant?
• For a detailed response, see: Did Oliver Cowdery admit that the Book of Mormon was a hoax?