The world was not left with Joseph Smith’s testimony alone
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Snapshot 15: The Faith of the Whitmers
“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...
Snapshot 14: They Never Denied Their Testimonies
“Mr Whitmer felt very indignant while speaking of certain statements published recently to the effect that he and Oliver Cowdery had denied their statement as published in the Book of Mormon. This he denounced as false in every particular. He said: “Oliver never...
Snapshot 13: Oliver Cowdery Was Sincere
“Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it is at any time. Martin Harris, you say, called it 'being in vision.'...
Snapshot 12: In the Spirit
“Of course we were in the spirit when we had the view, for no man can behold the face of an angel, except in a spiritual view, but we were in the body also, and everything was as natural to us, as it is at any time. Martin Harris, you say, called it 'being in vision.'...
Snapshot 11: Judging the Credibility of the Witnesses
David Whitmer in 1887: “I will say once more to all mankind, that I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof. I also testify to the world, that neither Oliver Cowdery or Martin Harris ever at any time denied their testimony. They both died...
Snapshot 10: Eyewitness Testimony Regarding Book of Mormon Translation
“[W]e, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, .... 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...
Snapshot 9: Joseph Smith’s Supporters: The Smiths & Whitmers
“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...
Snapshot 8: Joseph Smith’s Supporters: His Family
“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.” Samuel H. Smith. Autobiography of Phineas Young, also cit Deseret News (3 February 1858);...
Snapshot 7: The Book of Mormon Came from Somewhere!
“No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.” Andrew Jenson, ed., The Historical Record, 6:175 For more information, see the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights series...
Snapshot 6: Cumulative evidence of the plates
For more information, see the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights series compiled from the many interviews conducted during the course of the Witnesses film project. These episodes are hosted by Camrey Bagley Fox, who played Emma Smith in Witnesses, as she...
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WITNESSES OF THE BOOK OF MORMON — INSIGHTS
Providing even greater depth into the many insightful interviews during the course of the Witnesses film project, the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights series of mini-films are hosted by Camrey Bagley Fox, who played Emma Smith in Witnesses, as she introduces and visits with a variety of experts. These individuals answer questions or address accusations against the witnesses, also helping viewers understand the context of the times in which the witnesses lived.
Video posts, with audio recordings and transcripts are available here.
A playlist is available on the The Interpreter Foundation YouTube channel here.
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Explore the history of the Three Witnesses as well as other witnesses of the Book of Mormon here, and then leave your own witness of the Book of Mormon!
The Three Witnesses
“The testimonies of the three witnesses is the closest we come to rational evidence for Latter-day Saint belief. Three men attest to a sensory encounter with the gold plates and a divine being. In an age of skepticism, when all religious belief is under attack, their statement becomes more relevant every day.”
— Richard L. Bushman, Ph.D., Gouverneur Morris Professor of History Emeritus at Columbia University; former Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University; former president of the Mormon History Association, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
(January 7, 1805 – January 25, 1888) Farmer, livery keeper, city councilman, and mayor. Arranged for the completion of the translation of the Book of Mormon in his father’s home. Among six original members of the Church. Appointed president of the Church in Missouri. For a short time, he was the designated successor to Joseph Smith. Helped to select the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.
Martin Harris
(May 18, 1783 – July 10, 1875) Farmer, weaver, sheep raiser, and veteran of the War of 1812. Scribe for the lost portion of the Book of Mormon. Paid the printing costs for the publication of the Book of Mormon through the sale of 151 acres of his farm. A member of the first Church High Council. Helped to select the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in this dispensation.
The Eight Witnesses
“Why are there two sets of official Book of Mormon witnesses? The Three Witnesses had an experience with the divine while the Eight Witnesses had an experience that was more secular in nature. To those who claim the Three Witnesses were caught up in a hallucination brought on by the suggestion of a supernatural encounter, we can turn to the experience of the Eight Witnesses, which contains no hint of a supernatural element. To those who say that Joseph Smith somehow created a fake set of plates that was used to fool the Eight Witnesses, we can consider the angelic visitation reported by the Three Witnesses. The contrast between these two kinds of experiences strengthens the case that Joseph Smith was not just making it all up.”
— Daniel C. Peterson, Ph.D., president of The Interpreter Foundation; professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University; author of numerous articles on the witnesses of the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith Sr.
(July 12, 1771 – September 14, 1840) Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant, and father of Joseph Smith Jr. Attended the first meeting of the School of the Prophets. Member of the Kirtland high council. Ordained patriarch of the Church and assistant president of the Church. Sustained as an assistant counselor in the First Presidency.
Hyrum Smith
(February 9, 1800 – June 27, 1844) Farmer, cooper, city council member, vice mayor, and older brother of Joseph Smith Jr. Among the six original members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Presided over the Colesville, New York branch. Attended the organizational meeting of the School of the Prophets. Member of the committee to supervise the construction of the Kirtland temple.
Samuel H. Smith
(13 March 1808 – 30 July 1844) Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator, bishop, alderman, city councilman and younger brother of Joseph Smith Jr. Among the six original members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attended the organizational meeting of the School of the Prophets. President of the Kirtland high council. Regent of the University of Nauvoo.
Jacob Whitmer
(February 2, 1800 — April 21, 1856) Shoemaker, farmer, son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman and older brother of David Whitmer. Member of the High Council in Missouri. Member of the building committee for the temple at Far West.
John Whitmer
(August 27, 1802 – July 11, 1878) Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor, Church historian, and older brother of David Whitmer. One of the scribes for the translation of the Book of Mormon. An assistant to his brother David Whitmer in the Missouri Church presidency.
Christian Whitmer
(January 18, 1798 – November 27, 1835) Shoemaker. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman and oldest brother of David Whitmer. Ensign in the New York militia and constable of Fayette, New York. Served as one of the Book of Mormon scribes. Served as a high counselor of the Church in Clay County, Missouri.
Peter Whitmer Jr.
(September 27, 1809 – September 22, 1836) Tailor. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman and youngest brother of David Whitmer. Served as one of the Book of Mormon scribes. Among the six original members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Served as a high counselor of the Church in Clay County, Missouri.
Hiram Page
(c. 1800–August 12, 1852) Physician, and farmer. Married Catherine Whitmer, the younger sister of David Whitmer. Claimed to receive revelations for the Church through his personal seer stone but later denounced them in response to a revelation to Joseph Smith (see D&C 28). Helped found Far West, Missouri.
Other Witnesses of the Plates
The Three Witnesses and The Eight Witnesses were not the only ones who saw and/or physically handled the plates.
