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Los ocho testigos y su experiencia al ver las planchas "doradas"

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• Richard Anderson: Los once testigos del Libro de Mormón reafirmaron públicamente su testimonio tal como estaba impreso
• Pregunta: ¿Cómo intentan los críticos de la Iglesia descartar la experiencia de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón?
• Turley afirmó que John Whitmer dijo: "Ahora digo que manejé esos platos. Había buenos grabados en ambos lados. Los manejé ... y me los mostró un poder sobrenatural"
• Myron H. Bond (1878): John Whitmer "sabía tan bien como sabía que tenía una existencia que José tradujo la antigua escritura que estaba en las planchas, que vio y manejó"
• P. Wilhelm Poulson (1878): John Whitmer dijo: "Nos entregó los destapados en nuestras manos y giramos las hojas lo suficiente como para satisfacernos"
• John Whitmer reafirmó su testimonio tal como está impreso en el Libro de Mormón, incluso después de dejar la Iglesia
• John Whitmer (1876): "Nunca he oído hablar de que cualquiera de los tres u ocho testigos nunca negó el testimonio que han dado al Libro publicado en la primera edición del Libro de Mormón"
• Pregunta: ¿Hiram Page, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, alguna vez negó haber visto las planchas?
• Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez negó Hyrum Smith, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, haber visto las planchas?
• Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez Samuel Smith, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, negó haber visto las planchas?
• Pregunta: ¿Christian y Peter Whitmer, dos de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, han negado haber visto las planchas?
• Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez Jacob Whitmer, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, negó haber visto las planchas?
• Pregunta: ¿Por qué Oliver Cowdery y David Whitmer aceptaron las revelaciones de piedra de seer de Hiram Page como autorizadas?
• Lucy Mack Smith: "Aquí fue donde esos 8 testigos registrados en el Libro de Mormón miraron las planchas y las manejaron de las cuales son testigos"
• William Owen (relato escéptico): "Diez personas dicen que los vieron y los levantaron, tres declaran que se les apareció un ángel de Dios y se los mostró"

Richard Anderson: Los once testigos del Libro de Mormón reafirmaron públicamente su testimonio tal como estaba impreso

Richard Anderson described multiple accounts of all the Witnesses bearing testimony and reaffirming their published testimony:^[1]

The three Smiths who formally gave their names as seeing and handling the plates were the Prophet's father, Joseph Smith, Sr.; the Prophet's older brother, Hyrum; and his immediately younger brother, Samuel Harrison. They sometimes joined the other Book of Mormon witnesses to reaffirm their testimony printed in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon regarding lifting and turning the leaves of the plates. After quoting the published statements of the Three and Eight Witnesses, and describing the experience of the latter group, Lucy Smith relates, "The ensuing evening, we held a meeting, in which all the witnesses bore testimony to the facts as stated above."^[2] Two years later, in the period of dynamic preaching of the early elders, a conference was held near Cleveland, Ohio, remembered by Luke Johnson as follows: "At this conference the eleven witnesses to the Book of Mormon, with uplifted hands, bore their solemn testimony to the truth of that book, as did also the Prophet Joseph."^[3]

Pregunta: ¿Cómo intentan los críticos de la Iglesia descartar la experiencia de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón?

Plantilla:Epigraph

Some have tried to argue that the Eight witnesses only claimed a 'spiritual' or 'visionary' view of the plates, not a literal, physical one

Critics of the Church attempt to dismiss the experience of the Eight Witnesses by claiming that their view of the plates was not literal. The critics attempt to argue that the witnesses only 'saw' the plates in a spiritual state, and then were allowed to heft a covered box. This flatly contradicts their own reports, and those of others.^[4] Richard Anderson has collected eight accounts of John Whitmer's that confirm the reality of his handling of the plates.^[5] The critics ignore much documentary evidence in John Whitmer's case alone, simply because his witness is inconvenient for their speculations.

William Smith summarized the matter well when he said of all the Eight witnesses

that they not only Saw with their eyes but handled with their hands the said record . . . nor has either or any one of these witnesses ever to my knowledge Counteracted the testimony as given above Concerning the real existence of these Mormon tablets.^[6]

The Eight witnesses consistently affirmed the accuracy of their published testimony, and the physical reality of their experience. The critics will have to seek elsewhere to support their speculations.

Turley afirmó que John Whitmer dijo: "Ahora digo que manejé esos platos. Había buenos grabados en ambos lados. Los manejé ... y me los mostró un poder sobrenatural"

The critics' attempt to argue that the witnesses only 'saw' the plates in a spiritual state, and then were allowed to heft a covered box. This flatly contradicts their own reports, and those of others.^[7] Theodore Turley claimed that John Whitmer said:

[Theodore] Turley said, ‘Gentlemen, I presume there are men here who have heard [John] Corrill say, that Mormonism was true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and inspired of God. I now call upon you, John Whitmer: you say Corrill is a moral and a good man; do you believe him when he says the Book of Mormon is true, or when he says it is not true? There are many things published that they say are true, and again turn around and say they are false.’ Whitmer asked, ‘Do you hint at me?’ Turley replied, ‘If the cap fits you, wear it; all I know is that you have published to the world that an angel did present those plates to Joseph Smith.’ Whitmer replied: ‘I now say, I handled those plates; there were fine engravings on both sides. I handled them;’ and he described how they were hung [on rings], and [said] ‘they were shown to me by a supernatural power;’ he acknowledged all.^[8]

So, the apostate Whitmer insists that he physically handled the plates, and attests to having seen fine engraving "on both sides." The critics grasp at straws, and ignore the very clear implication that Whitmer (at this time a bitter enemy of Joseph Smith) claims to have actually seen and handled the plates. The "supernatural power" citation seems to be the imposition of the interviewers' bias (it appears in none of Whitmer's first person accounts or in the Testimony of the Eight Witnesses—see further discussion in main article above).

It is also possible that Whitmer was insisting that Joseph Smith could not have showed him the plates without divine aid; this perspective is not present in any of his other statements, however. The Three witnesses likewise insisted on the physical reality of their experience with the angel, despite the supernatural trappings of their witness experience.

Why, then, did John Whitmer apostatize? He rationalized his choice to disbelieve the translation of the Book of Mormon (despite knowing that the plates were literal and physical) thusly:

I cannot read it, and I do not know whether it is true or not.^[9]

Myron H. Bond (1878): John Whitmer "sabía tan bien como sabía que tenía una existencia que José tradujo la antigua escritura que estaba en las planchas, que vio y manejó"

John Whitmer stated that he had handled the plates and that Joseph's translation occurred by a "supernatural or almighty power"

Myron H. Bond:

[O]ld Father Whitmer told me last winter, with tears in his eyes, that he knew as well as he knew he had an existence that Joseph translated the ancient writing which was upon the plates, which he 'saw and handled,' and which, as one of the scribes, he helped to copy, as the words fell from Joseph's lips, by supernatural or almighty power"^[10]

P. Wilhelm Poulson (1878): John Whitmer dijo: "Nos entregó los destapados en nuestras manos y giramos las hojas lo suficiente como para satisfacernos"

John Whitmer's final interview is impressive:

I said: I am aware that your name is affixed to the testimony in the Book of Mormon, that you saw the plates? He–It is so, and that testimony is true. I–Did you handle the plates with your hands?

He–I did so!

I–Then they were a material substance?

He–Yes, as material as anything can be.

I–They were heavy to lift?

He–Yes, and you know gold is a heavy metal, they were very heavy.

I–How big were the leaves?

He–So far as I recollect, 8 by 6 or 7 inches.

I–Were the leaves thick? He–Yes, just so thick, that characters could be engraven on both sides.

I–How were the leaves joined together?

He–In three rings, each one in the shape of a D with the straight line towards the centre. I-In what place did you see the plates.

He-In Joseph Smith's house; he had them there.

I–Did you see them covered with a cloth?

He–No. He handed them uncovered into our hands, and we turned the leaves sufficient to satisfy us.

I-Were you all eight witnesses present at the same time?

He-No. At that time Joseph showed the plates to us, we were four persons, present in the room, and at another time he showed them to four persons more....

when Joseph Smith [III]...sent word to John Whitmer to reaffirm his testimony, his answer was: 'I have never recalled it, and I have nothing to reaffirm.'^[11]

John Whitmer reafirmó su testimonio tal como está impreso en el Libro de Mormón, incluso después de dejar la Iglesia

John Whitmer published his witness to the plates, and reaffirmed the written testimony of the Eight Witnesses published in the Book of Mormon:

It may not be amiss in this place, to give a statement to the world concerning the work of the Lord, as I have been a member of this church of Latter Day Saints from its beginning; to say that the book of Mormon is a revelation from God, I have no hesitancy; but with all confidence have signed my named to it as such; and I hope, that my patrons will indulge me in speaking freely on this subject, as I am about leaving the editorial department. Therefore I desire to testify to all that will come to the knowledge of this address; that I have most assuredly seen the plates from whence the book of Mormon is translated, and that I have handled these plates, and know of a surety that Joseph Smith, jr. has translated the book of Mormon by the gift and power of God, and in this thing the wisdom of the wise most assuredly has perished: therefore, know ye, O ye inhabitants of the earth, wherever this address may come, that I have in this thing freed my garments of your blood, whether you believe or disbelieve the statements of your unworthy friend and well-wisher.^[12]

John Whitmer (1876): "Nunca he oído hablar de que cualquiera de los tres u ocho testigos nunca negó el testimonio que han dado al Libro publicado en la primera edición del Libro de Mormón"

En 1876, John Whitmer, uno de los ocho testigos, escribió una larga carta a Marcos Forscutt, que incluye lo siguiente:

Oliver Cowdery vivió en Richmond, Missouri, unas 40 millas de aquí, en el momento de su muerte. Fui a verlo y estaba con él durante algunos días previos a su fallecimiento. Nunca he oído hablar de él niega la verdad de su testimonio del Libro de Mormón, en ningún caso lo que sea. . . . Tampoco creo que hubiera negado, a riesgo de su vida; tan firme era que no podía hacerse a negar lo que ha afirmado ser una revelación divina de Dios. . . .

Nunca he oído hablar de que cualquiera de los tres u ocho testigos nunca negó el testimonio que han dado al Libro publicado en la primera edición del Libro de Mormón. Hay sólo dos de los testigos son a ese libro que ahora vive, a saber., David Whitmer, uno de los tres, y John Wh[itmer], uno de los ocho. Nuestros nombres han salido a todas las naciones, lenguas y pueblos como una revelación divina de Dios. Y va a llevar a cabo los designios de Dios de acuerdo a la declaración contenida en el mismo.^[13]

El carácter de John Whitmer

"Sr. [John] Whitmer se considera un ciudadano permanente veraz, honesta y de derecho por esta comunidad y, en consecuencia, su nombramiento [predicar] sacó una gran audiencia. Sr. Whitmer dijo que a menudo había manejado los idénticos planchas de oro que el Sr. Smith recibió del ángel ...."^[14]

Pregunta: ¿Hiram Page, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, alguna vez negó haber visto las planchas?

Hiram Page remained "true and faithful to his testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon until the very last"

Hyrum Page said:

As to the Book of Mormon, it would be doing injustice to myself, and to the work of God of the last days, to say that I could know a thing to be true in 1830, and know the same thing to be false in 1847.^[15]

Page's son recalled after his death:

I knew my father to be true and faithful to his testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon until the very last. Whenever he had an opportunity to bear his testimony to this effect, he would always do so, and seemed to rejoice exceedingly in having been privileged to see the plates.^[16]

Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez negó Hyrum Smith, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, haber visto las planchas?

Hyrum Smith "felt a determination to die, rather than deny the things which my eyes had seen"

Multiple writers recalled Hyrum's testimony:

• [W]ee wass talking about the Book of Mormon which he is one of the witnesses he said he had but too hands and too eyes he said he had seen the plates with his eyes and handled them with his hands.^[17]
• "[Mary Fielding Smith] bears testimony that her husband [Hyrum] has seen and handled the plates, &c."^[18]
• Another writer heard Hyrum "declare, in this city in public, that what is recorded about the plates, &c. &c. is God's solemn truth."^[19]
• "When I was but ten years of age, I heard the testimony of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, one of the eight witnesses, to the divinity of the Book of Mormon and teh appearance of the plates from which it was translated."^[20]

After being in Liberty Jail, Hyrum wrote:

I felt a determination to die, rather than deny the things which my eyes had seen, which my hands had handled, and which I had borne testimony to, wherever my lot had been cast (énfasis añadido).^[21]

Source: Hyrum Smith's character

Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez Samuel Smith, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, negó haber visto las planchas?

Samuel Smith "knew his brother Joseph had the plates...and he had handled them and seen the engravings thereon"

In the spring of 1832:

Elder [Samuel] Smith read the 29th chapter of Isaiah at the first meeting and delineated the circumstances of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, of which he said he was a witness. He knew his brother Joseph had the plates, for the prophet had shown them to him, and he had handled them and seen the engravings theron. His speech was more like a narrative than a sermon.^[22]

Phineas Young (brother to Brigham Young) met Samuel on his first mission, and was given a Book of Mormon:

"Ah," said I, "You are one of the witnesses."

"Yes," said he, "I know the book to be a revelation from God, translated by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, and that my brother Joseph Smith, Jr., is a Prophet, Seer and Revelator."^[23]

Pregunta: ¿Christian y Peter Whitmer, dos de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, han negado haber visto las planchas?

Christian and Peter Whitmer "proclaimed to their last moments, the certainty of their former testimony"

Oliver Cowdery said of these men (his brothers-in-law):

Among those who have gone home to rest, we mention the names of our two brothers-in-law, Christian and Peter Whitmer, jr. the former died on the 27th of November 1835, and the other the 22nd of September last, in Clay county, Missouri. By many in this church, our brothers were personally known: they were the first to embrace the new covenant, on hearing it, and during a constant scene of persecution and perplexity, to their last moments, maintained its truth -- they were both included in the list of the eight witnesses in the book of Mormon, and though they have departed, it is with great satisfaction that we reflect, that they proclaimed to their last moments, the certainty of their former testimony: The testament is in force after the death of the testator. May all who read remember the fact, that the Lord has given men a witness of himself in the last days, and that they, have faithfully declared it till called away.^[24]

Pregunta: ¿Alguna vez Jacob Whitmer, uno de los Ocho Testigos del Libro de Mormón, negó haber visto las planchas?

Jacob Whitmer confirmed his testimony on his death bed

In 1888, Whitmer's son said:

My father, Jacob Whitmer, was always faithful and true to his testimony to the Book of Mormon, and confirmed it on his death bed."^[25]

Pregunta: ¿Por qué Oliver Cowdery y David Whitmer aceptaron las revelaciones de piedra de seer de Hiram Page como autorizadas?

The Lord used this incident as a way to teach Oliver the proper order of revelation in the Church

This event is discussed in the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual (2013):

In 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith encountered a challenge because Church members did not understand the order of revelation in the Church. Hiram Page claimed to receive revelations for the Church through the medium of a special stone, and some Church members, including Oliver Cowdery, believed him. Shortly before a Church conference that was held on September 26, 1830, the Lord revealed truths that helped Oliver Cowdery and others understand the order of revelation in the Church.^[26]

Oliver was actually directed by the Lord to correct Hiram Page in this matter. It was a "teaching moment" for Oliver:

11 And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him;

12 For, behold, these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants.

13 For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith.

14 And thou shalt assist to settle all these things, according to the covenants of the church, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites. (D&C 28:11-14).

Lucy Mack Smith: "Aquí fue donde esos 8 testigos registrados en el Libro de Mormón miraron las planchas y las manejaron de las cuales son testigos"

Lucy Mack Smith wrote:

In a few days we were follow by Joseph and Oliver and the Whitmers who came to make us a visit and also to make some arrangements about getting the book printed soon after they came They all that is the male part of the company repaired to a little grove where it was customary for the family to offer up their secret prayers. as Joseph had been instructed that the plates would be carried there by one of the ancient Nephites. Here it was that those 8 witnesses recorded in the Book of Mormon looked upon the plates and handled them of which they bear witness in the [title page of the Book of Mormon]. . . . After the witnesses returned to the house the Angel again made his appearance to Joseph and received the plates from his hands.^[27]

William Owen (relato escéptico): "Diez personas dicen que los vieron y los levantaron, tres declaran que se les apareció un ángel de Dios y se los mostró"

A skeptical account from a reader in 1831 demonstrates that the witnesses' contemporaries understood the experience to be a literal one:

The plates from which Smith, the author translates his book are said to be in his possession. Ten persons say they have seen them and hefted them, three declare that an angel of God appeared to them and showed them to them, and told them that God had given Smith power to be able to read them, understand them, and translate them. The names of those persons are signed to the certificates in the book.^[28]

Notas

1. ↑ Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 137-138. ISBN 0877478465.
2. ↑ Lucy Mack Smith, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations (Liverpool, S.W. Richards, 1853), 141.
3. ↑ Deseret News (26 May 1858).
4. ↑ Many of the quotes collected here are found in Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the Eight Witnesses," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005): 18–31. off-site (Inglés) wiki (fuente principal)
5. ↑ Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the Eight Witnesses," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005): 18–31. off-site (Inglés) wiki. See especially Anderson's discussion of Dan Vogel's tendency to ignore contrary witnesses from Whitmer that do not fit his thesis here.
6. ↑ William Smith, "Notes Written on 'Chambers' Life of Joseph Smith,'" 15; transcribed by Richard L. Anderson.
7. ↑ Many of the quotes collected here are found in Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the Eight Witnesses," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005): 18–31. off-site (Inglés) wiki (fuente principal)
8. ↑ "Theodore Turley's Memorandums," Church Archives, handwriting of Thomas Bullock, who began clerking in late 1843; cited in Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 5:241.; see also with minor editing in Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 3:307–308. BYU Studies link
9. ↑ "Theodore Turley's Memorandums," Church Archives, handwriting of Thomas Bullock, who began clerking in late 1843; cited in Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 5:241.; see also with minor editing in Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 3:307–308. BYU Studies link
10. ↑ Myron H. Bond to Editors, 2 August 1878 in Saints' Herald 25 (15 August 1878): 253; in Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 5:251.
11. ↑ Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 5:247–249., original in Deseret Evening News, 6 August 1878; citing a letter from P. Wilhelm Poulson to Editors (31 July 1878) from Ovid City, Idaho.
12. ↑ John Whitmer, "Address To the patrons of the Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate," (March 1836) Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 2:286-287. (cursivas añadidas)
13. ↑ Daniel C. Peterson, "Not Joseph's, and Not Modern," in Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, edited by Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, and John W. Welch, (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2002), Chapter 2, referencias eliminadas en silencio & mdash; consultar original para citas.
14. ↑ "I.C. Funn," [John Whitmer Testimony], Kingston (MO) Sentinel, ca. January 1878, reprinted in Saints' Herald 25 (15 February 1878): 57; cited in Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 5:245.
15. ↑ Letter of Hiram Page to William E. McLellin (30 May 1847), Ray County, Mo.; cited in Ensign of Liberty 1 (1848): 63.
16. ↑ Andrew Jenson, Historical Record (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson, 1888), 7:614.
17. ↑ Letter to John Kempton, 26 August 1838, Family History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, microfilm no. 840025.
18. ↑ Joseph Fielding, "Letter to Parley P. Pratt," Millennial Star 4 (August 1841), 52.
19. ↑ "Mr. J. B. Newhall's Lecture," signed by "A Hearer," Salem Advertiser and Argus, 12 April 1843, some also in Times and Seasons 4 (15 June 1843): 234–235;
20. ↑ Salt Lake Stake Historical Record, 25 January 1888; cited in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 146. ISBN 0877478465.
21. ↑ Hyrum Smith, "To the Saints scattered abroad," Times and Seasons 1 (November 1839), 20, 23. off-site (Inglés)
22. ↑ Daniel Tyler, "Incidents of Experience," Scraps of Biography, Faith Promoting Series (Salt Lake City, UT: 1883), 10:23; cited in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 140. ISBN 0877478465.
23. ↑ Autobiography of Phineas Young, also cit Deseret News (3 February 1858); reproduced in Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 139. ISBN 0877478465.
24. ↑ Oliver Cowdery, "The Closing Year," Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 3 no. 3 (December 1836), 426.
25. ↑ Cited in Letter of Andrew Jenson to Deseret News (13 September 1888) from Richmond, Mo.,; cited in Deseret News (17 September 1888).
26. ↑ "Lesson 34: Doctrine and Covenants 28," Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Seminary Teacher Manual, 2013.
27. ↑ Lucy Mack Smith's history, preliminary manuscript, Family and Church History Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
28. ↑ W.O. [William Owen], “Mormon Bible,” Free Enquirer (New York) (3 September 1831): 364.