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Difference between revisions of "Mormonism and Wikipedia/Three Witnesses/The Three Witnesses"
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==The Three Witnesses== | ==The Three Witnesses== | ||
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=== Oliver Cowdery === | === Oliver Cowdery === | ||
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=== Martin Harris === | === Martin Harris === | ||
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− | [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]] was a respected farmer in the Palmyra area who had changed his religion at least five times before he became a Mormon. | + | [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]] was a respected farmer in the Palmyra area who had changed his religion at least five times before he became a Mormon.Harris had been a Quaker, a Universalist, a Restorationist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, and perhaps a Methodist. [[Ronald W. Walker]], "Martin Harris: Mormonism's Early Convert," ''[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]'' 19 (Winter 1986):30-33). |
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*A biographer wrote that his "imagination was excitable and fecund." One letter says that Harris thought that a candle sputtering was the work of the devil | *A biographer wrote that his "imagination was excitable and fecund." One letter says that Harris thought that a candle sputtering was the work of the devil | ||
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− | * | + | *Walker, 34: "Once while reading scripture, he reportedly mistook a candle's sputtering as a sign that the devil desired to stop him." |
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*and that he had met Jesus in the shape of a deer and walked and talked with him for two or three miles. | *and that he had met Jesus in the shape of a deer and walked and talked with him for two or three miles. | ||
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− | * | + | *John A. Clark letter, August 31, 1840 in ''EMD'', 2: 271. |
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*The local Presbyterian minister called him "a visionary fanatic." | *The local Presbyterian minister called him "a visionary fanatic." | ||
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− | * | + | *Walker, 34-35. |
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*A friend, who praised Harris as "universally esteemed as an honest man" but disagreed with his religious affiliation, declared that Harris's mind "was overbalanced by 'marvellousness'" and that his belief in earthly visitations of angels and ghosts gave him the local reputation of being crazy. | *A friend, who praised Harris as "universally esteemed as an honest man" but disagreed with his religious affiliation, declared that Harris's mind "was overbalanced by 'marvellousness'" and that his belief in earthly visitations of angels and ghosts gave him the local reputation of being crazy. | ||
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− | * | + | *Pomroy Tucker Reminiscence, 1858 in ''Early Mormon Documents'' 3: 71. Another friend said, "Martin was a man that would do just as he agreed with you. But, he was a great man for seeing spooks." |
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− | * | + | *Lorenzo Saunders Interview, November 12, 1884, ''Early Mormon Documents'' 2: 149. |
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− | *During the early years, Harris "seems to have repeatedly admitted the internal, subjective nature of his visionary experience." | + | *During the early years, Harris "seems to have repeatedly admitted the internal, subjective nature of his visionary experience."Vogel, ''EMD'', 2: 255. |
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*The foreman in the Palmyra printing office that produced the first Book of Mormon said that Harris "used to practice a good deal of his characteristic jargon and 'seeing with the spiritual eye,' and the like." | *The foreman in the Palmyra printing office that produced the first Book of Mormon said that Harris "used to practice a good deal of his characteristic jargon and 'seeing with the spiritual eye,' and the like." | ||
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− | * | + | *[[Pomeroy Tucker]], ''Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism'' (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1867), 71 in ''EMD'', 3: 122. |
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*John H. Gilbert, the typesetter for most of the book, said that he had asked Harris, "Martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes?" According to Gilbert, Harris "looked down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, 'No, I saw them with a spiritual eye." | *John H. Gilbert, the typesetter for most of the book, said that he had asked Harris, "Martin, did you see those plates with your naked eyes?" According to Gilbert, Harris "looked down for an instant, raised his eyes up, and said, 'No, I saw them with a spiritual eye." | ||
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− | * | + | *John H. Gilbert, "Memorandum," 8 September 1892, in ''EMD'', 2: 548. |
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*Two other Palmyra residents said that Harris told them that he had seen the plates with "the eye of faith" or "spiritual eyes." | *Two other Palmyra residents said that Harris told them that he had seen the plates with "the eye of faith" or "spiritual eyes." | ||
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− | * | + | *Martin Harris interviews with John A. Clark, 1827 & 1828 in ''EMD'', 2: 270; Jesse Townsend to Phineas Stiles, 24 December 1833, in ''EMD'', 3: 22. |
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− | *In 1838, Harris is said to have told an Ohio congregation that "he never saw the plates with his natural eyes, only in vision or imagination." | + | *In 1838, Harris is said to have told an Ohio congregation that "he never saw the plates with his natural eyes, only in vision or imagination."Stephen Burnett to Lyman E. Johnson, 15 April 1838 in ''EMD'', 2: 291. |
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− | *A neighbor of Harris in Kirtland, Ohio, said that Harris "never claimed to have seen [the plates] with his natural eyes, only spiritual vision." | + | *A neighbor of Harris in Kirtland, Ohio, said that Harris "never claimed to have seen [the plates] with his natural eyes, only spiritual vision." |
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− | One account states that in March 1838, Martin Harris publicly denied that either he or the other Witnesses to the Book of Mormon had literally seen the golden plates—although, of course, he had not been present when Whitmer and Cowdery first claimed to have viewed them. This account says that Harris's recantation, made during a period of crisis in early Mormonism, induced five influential members, including three Apostles, to leave the Church. | + | *Reuben P. Harmon statement, c. 1885, in ''EMD'', 2: 385. |
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+ | *One account states that in March 1838, Martin Harris publicly denied that either he or the other Witnesses to the Book of Mormon had literally seen the golden plates—although, of course, he had not been present when Whitmer and Cowdery first claimed to have viewed them. This account says that Harris's recantation, made during a period of crisis in early Mormonism, induced five influential members, including three Apostles, to leave the Church. | ||
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− | * | + | *Stephen Burnett to Luke S. Johnson, 15 April 1838, in Joseph Smith's Letterbook, ''Early Mormon Documents'' 2: 290-92. |
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− | *Later in life, Harris strongly denied that he ever made this statement. | + | *Later in life, Harris strongly denied that he ever made this statement.Letter of Martin Harris, Sr., to Hanna B. Emerson, January 1871, Smithfield, Utah Territory, in ''EMD'', 2: 338. See also Richard Lloyd Anderson, ''Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses,'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 118. Nevertheless, some years later, even [[Brigham Young]] referred to "witnesses of the Book of Mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of God, [but who] were afterward left to doubt and to disbelieve that they had ever seen an angel." ''Journal of Discourses'' (1860), 7:164 |
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*In 1837, Harris joined dissenters, led by [[Warren Parrish]], in an attempt to reform the Mormon church. But Parrish rejected the Book of Mormon, and Harris continued to believe in it. By 1840, Harris had returned to Smith's church. Following Smith's assassination, Harris accepted [[James J. Strang]] as a new prophet, and Strang also claimed to have been divinely led to an ancient record engraved upon [[Voree Plates|metal plates]]. By 1847, Harris had broken with Strang and had accepted the leadership of fellow Book of Mormon witness, [[David Whitmer]]. Harris then left Whitmer for another Mormon factional leader, [[Gladden Bishop]]. In 1855, Harris joined with the last surviving brother of Joseph Smith Jr., [[William Smith (Mormonism)|William Smith]], and declared that William was Joseph's true successor. | *In 1837, Harris joined dissenters, led by [[Warren Parrish]], in an attempt to reform the Mormon church. But Parrish rejected the Book of Mormon, and Harris continued to believe in it. By 1840, Harris had returned to Smith's church. Following Smith's assassination, Harris accepted [[James J. Strang]] as a new prophet, and Strang also claimed to have been divinely led to an ancient record engraved upon [[Voree Plates|metal plates]]. By 1847, Harris had broken with Strang and had accepted the leadership of fellow Book of Mormon witness, [[David Whitmer]]. Harris then left Whitmer for another Mormon factional leader, [[Gladden Bishop]]. In 1855, Harris joined with the last surviving brother of Joseph Smith Jr., [[William Smith (Mormonism)|William Smith]], and declared that William was Joseph's true successor. | ||
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− | *<ref name="EMD, 2: 258">''EMD'', 2: 258. | + | *<ref name="EMD, 2: 258">''EMD'', 2: 258. |
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*Despite his earlier statements regarding the spiritual nature of his experience, in 1853, Harris told one David Dille that he had held the forty- to sixty-pound plates on his knee for "an hour-and-a-half" and handled them "plate after plate." | *Despite his earlier statements regarding the spiritual nature of his experience, in 1853, Harris told one David Dille that he had held the forty- to sixty-pound plates on his knee for "an hour-and-a-half" and handled them "plate after plate." | ||
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− | * | + | *Martin Harris interview with David B. Dille, 15 September 1853 in ''EMD'' 2: 296-97. |
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*Even later, Harris affirmed that he had seen the plates and the angel with his natural eyes: "Gentlemen," holding out his hand, "do you see that hand? Are you sure you see it? Or are your eyes playing you a trick or something? No. Well, as sure as you see my hand so sure did I see the Angel and the plates." | *Even later, Harris affirmed that he had seen the plates and the angel with his natural eyes: "Gentlemen," holding out his hand, "do you see that hand? Are you sure you see it? Or are your eyes playing you a trick or something? No. Well, as sure as you see my hand so sure did I see the Angel and the plates." | ||
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− | * | + | *Martin Harris interview with Robert Barter, c. 1870 in ''EMD'', 2: 390. |
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*In 1870, at the age of 87, Harris accepted an invitation to live in Utah, where he was rebaptized and spent his remaining years with relatives in [[Cache County, Utah|Cache County]]. As an old man, Harris bore fervent testimony to the authenticity of the plates, although a contemporary critic of the Church speculated that his sympathy for the Utah church may have been tenuous. | *In 1870, at the age of 87, Harris accepted an invitation to live in Utah, where he was rebaptized and spent his remaining years with relatives in [[Cache County, Utah|Cache County]]. As an old man, Harris bore fervent testimony to the authenticity of the plates, although a contemporary critic of the Church speculated that his sympathy for the Utah church may have been tenuous. | ||
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− | * | + | *In an interview with ex-Mormon Anthony Metcalf, Metcalf asked him why, if he did not believe that polygamy, baptism for the dead, or temple endowments were part of Mormonism, he had taken the endowment when he arrived in Salt Lake City. Harris replied "to see what was going on in there." Martin Harris interview with Anthony Metcalf, c. 1873-74 in ''EMD'', 2: 348. |
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*In a letter of 1870, Harris swore, "[N]o man ever heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon, the administration of the angel that showed me the plates, nor the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under the administration of Joseph Smith, Jun., the prophet whom the Lord raised up for that purpose in these the latter days, that he may show forth his power and glory." | *In a letter of 1870, Harris swore, "[N]o man ever heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon, the administration of the angel that showed me the plates, nor the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under the administration of Joseph Smith, Jun., the prophet whom the Lord raised up for that purpose in these the latter days, that he may show forth his power and glory." | ||
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− | * | + | *Letter of Martin Harris, Sr., to Hanna B. Emerson, January 1871, Smithfield, Utah Territory, in ''EMD'', 2: 338. See also [[Richard Lloyd Anderson]], ''Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses,'' (Salt Lake City: [[Deseret Book Company]], 1981), 118. |
{{EndTable}} | {{EndTable}} | ||
=== David Whitmer === | === David Whitmer === | ||
− | {{BeginWikipediaTable|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | + | {{BeginWikipediaTable|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Witnesses|section=|article=Three Witnesses}} |
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− | [[David Whitmer]] first became involved with Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates through his friend Oliver Cowdery; and because of his longevity, Whitmer became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses. Whitmer gave various versions of his experience in viewing the Golden Plates. Although less credulous than Harris, Whitmer had his own visionary predilections and owned a seer stone. | + | [[David Whitmer]] first became involved with Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates through his friend Oliver Cowdery; and because of his longevity, Whitmer became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses. Whitmer gave various versions of his experience in viewing the Golden Plates. Although less credulous than Harris, Whitmer had his own visionary predilections and owned a seer stone.Palmer, 180-81. |
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*In 1829, before testifying to the truth of the Golden Plates, Whitmer reported that when traveling with Smith to his father's farm in Fayette, New York, they had seen a [[Nephite]] on the road who suddenly disappeared. Then when they arrived at his father's house, they were "impressed" that the same Nephite was under the shed. | *In 1829, before testifying to the truth of the Golden Plates, Whitmer reported that when traveling with Smith to his father's farm in Fayette, New York, they had seen a [[Nephite]] on the road who suddenly disappeared. Then when they arrived at his father's house, they were "impressed" that the same Nephite was under the shed. | ||
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− | * | + | *''EMD'', 5: 10-11, Whitmer interview with Edward Stevenson, December 1877, ''EMD'' 5: 30-31. |
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*Recounting the vision to [[Orson Pratt]] in 1878, Whitmer claimed to have seen not only the Golden Plates but the "Brass Plates, the plates containing the record of the wickedness of the people of the world....the sword of Laban, the Directors (i.e. the ball which [[Lehi]] had) and the Interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed...." | *Recounting the vision to [[Orson Pratt]] in 1878, Whitmer claimed to have seen not only the Golden Plates but the "Brass Plates, the plates containing the record of the wickedness of the people of the world....the sword of Laban, the Directors (i.e. the ball which [[Lehi]] had) and the Interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed...." | ||
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− | * | + | *David Whitmer interview with Orson Pratt, September 1878, in ''EMD'', 5: 43. |
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*On other occasions, Whitmer's vision of the plates seemed far less corporeal. When asked in 1880 for a description of the angel who showed him the plates, Whitmer replied that the angel "had no appearance or shape." Asked by the interviewer how he then could bear testimony that he had seen and heard an angel, Whitmer replied, "Have you never had impressions?" To which the interviewer responded, "Then you had impressions as the Quaker when the spirit moves, or as a good Methodist in giving a happy experience, a feeling?" "Just so," replied Whitmer. | *On other occasions, Whitmer's vision of the plates seemed far less corporeal. When asked in 1880 for a description of the angel who showed him the plates, Whitmer replied that the angel "had no appearance or shape." Asked by the interviewer how he then could bear testimony that he had seen and heard an angel, Whitmer replied, "Have you never had impressions?" To which the interviewer responded, "Then you had impressions as the Quaker when the spirit moves, or as a good Methodist in giving a happy experience, a feeling?" "Just so," replied Whitmer. | ||
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− | * | + | *Whitmer interview with John Murphy, June 1880, in ''EMD'' 5: 63. |
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− | *A young Mormon lawyer, James Henry Moyle, who interviewed Whitmer in 1885, asked if there was any possibility that Whitmer had been deceived. "His answer was unequivocal....that he saw the plates and heard the angel with unmistakable clearness." But Moyle went away "not fully satisfied....It was more spiritual than I anticipated." | + | *A young Mormon lawyer, James Henry Moyle, who interviewed Whitmer in 1885, asked if there was any possibility that Whitmer had been deceived. "His answer was unequivocal....that he saw the plates and heard the angel with unmistakable clearness." But Moyle went away "not fully satisfied....It was more spiritual than I anticipated."Moyle diary, June 28, 1885 in ''EMD'' 5: 141. |
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*In 1831, Whitmer moved with early Mormon believers to Kirtland, Ohio where he briefly supported a woman named Hubble, who professed to be prophetess and used a seer stone. In 1832 he followed the church to Jackson County, Missouri, and was named Smith's successor even though he had criticized Smith's more recent innovations. By December 1837, a movement led by [[Warren Parrish]] plotted to overthrow Smith and replace him with Whitmer. After the Kirtland Bank fiasco, confrontation grew between the dissenters and those loyal to Joseph Smith. Whitmer, his brother John, Oliver Cowdery, and others were harassed by the [[Danites]], a secret group of Mormon vigilantes, and were warned to leave the county. Whitmer was formally excommunicated on April 13, 1838 and never rejoined the church. | *In 1831, Whitmer moved with early Mormon believers to Kirtland, Ohio where he briefly supported a woman named Hubble, who professed to be prophetess and used a seer stone. In 1832 he followed the church to Jackson County, Missouri, and was named Smith's successor even though he had criticized Smith's more recent innovations. By December 1837, a movement led by [[Warren Parrish]] plotted to overthrow Smith and replace him with Whitmer. After the Kirtland Bank fiasco, confrontation grew between the dissenters and those loyal to Joseph Smith. Whitmer, his brother John, Oliver Cowdery, and others were harassed by the [[Danites]], a secret group of Mormon vigilantes, and were warned to leave the county. Whitmer was formally excommunicated on April 13, 1838 and never rejoined the church. | ||
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− | * | + | *Michael J. Latzer, "Whitmer, David" [http://www.anb.org/articles/08/08-01645.html ''American National Biography Online'' Feb. 2000]. |
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*Whitmer then moved to Richmond, Missouri, where he ran a livery stable and became a civic leader. After Smith's assassination, Whitmer, like Martin Harris, briefly followed [[James Strang]], who had his own set of supernatural metal plates. Later Whitmer organized his own splinter group based on his authority as one of the Three Witnesses and even later supported another group headed by his brother John. In his pamphlet, "An Address to All Believers in Christ" (1887), Whitmer reaffirmed his witness to the Golden Plates, | *Whitmer then moved to Richmond, Missouri, where he ran a livery stable and became a civic leader. After Smith's assassination, Whitmer, like Martin Harris, briefly followed [[James Strang]], who had his own set of supernatural metal plates. Later Whitmer organized his own splinter group based on his authority as one of the Three Witnesses and even later supported another group headed by his brother John. In his pamphlet, "An Address to All Believers in Christ" (1887), Whitmer reaffirmed his witness to the Golden Plates, | ||
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− | * | + | * "I wish now, standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of God, once for all to make this public statement: 'That I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that Book, as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best, will know that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again affirm the truth of all of my statements, as then made and published." [http://www.thethreewitnesses.org/wst_page3.html ThreeWitness.org website]. |
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*but he also criticized what he viewed as the errors of Joseph Smith, including his introduction of plural marriage. "If you believe my testimony to the Book of Mormon, if you believe that God spake to us three witnesses by his own voice," wrote Whitmer,"then I tell you that in June, 1838, God spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens, and told me to 'separate myself from among the Latter Day Saints....'" | *but he also criticized what he viewed as the errors of Joseph Smith, including his introduction of plural marriage. "If you believe my testimony to the Book of Mormon, if you believe that God spake to us three witnesses by his own voice," wrote Whitmer,"then I tell you that in June, 1838, God spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens, and told me to 'separate myself from among the Latter Day Saints....'" | ||
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− | * | + | *"An Address," 27, in ''EMD'', 5: 194. |
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− | *Nevertheless, Whitmer is regarded by Mormons as an "enduring witness to the genuineness of the prophet Joseph Smith and his message." | + | *Nevertheless, Whitmer is regarded by Mormons as an "enduring witness to the genuineness of the prophet Joseph Smith and his message."Michael J. Latzer, "Whitmer, David" [http://www.anb.org/articles/08/08-01645.html ''American National Biography Online'' Feb. 2000]. |
{{EndTable}} | {{EndTable}} |
Revision as of 20:31, 30 December 2009
Testimony of the Three Witnesses | A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Three Witnesses A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here)
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The name Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. Wikipedia content is copied and made available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
The Three Witnesses
- | Wikipedia Main Article: Three Witnesses– | Wikipedia Footnotes: Three Witnesses–Notes | A FAIR Opinion |
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Oliver Cowdery
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Oliver Cowdery was a school teacher and an early convert to Mormonism who served as scribe while Joseph Smith dictated what he said was a translation of the Book of Mormon. Like Smith, who was a distant relative, Cowdery was also a treasure hunter who had used a divining rod in his youth. Cowdery asked questions of the rod; if it moved, the answer was yes, if not, no. |
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Martin Harris
- | Wikipedia Main Article: Three Witnesses– | Wikipedia Footnotes: Three Witnesses–Notes | A FAIR Opinion | |
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Martin Harris was a respected farmer in the Palmyra area who had changed his religion at least five times before he became a Mormon.Harris had been a Quaker, a Universalist, a Restorationist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, and perhaps a Methodist. Ronald W. Walker, "Martin Harris: Mormonism's Early Convert," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 19 (Winter 1986):30-33). |
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David Whitmer
- | Wikipedia Main Article: Three Witnesses– | Wikipedia Footnotes: Three Witnesses–Notes | A FAIR Opinion |
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David Whitmer first became involved with Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates through his friend Oliver Cowdery; and because of his longevity, Whitmer became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses. Whitmer gave various versions of his experience in viewing the Golden Plates. Although less credulous than Harris, Whitmer had his own visionary predilections and owned a seer stone.Palmer, 180-81. |
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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