Were the Book of Mormon witnesses lying, tricked, or telling the truth? Ep. 101

At this point in Faith and Beliefs, Dave has done episodes on the 3 Witnesses, the 8 Witnesses, the unofficial witnesses, and he’s addressed the theory that Joseph Smith used hypnotism to dupe the witnesses of the Book of Mormon plates. In this episode, Dave presents the 6 most popular theories that attempt to explain the experiences of the witnesses. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to weigh the evidence (both temporal and spiritual) and make a decision for themselves about what they believe.

Transcript and potentially additional notes: https://bit.ly/2LSX1LD
Read the Book of Mormon here: https://bit.ly/2zygfQE
Episode on David Whitmer here: https://bit.ly/3h0IirB
Episode on Martin Harris here: https://bit.ly/3iTPbNh
Episode on Oliver Cowdery here: https://bit.ly/3lQHUzw
Episode on the 8 Witnesses here: https://bit.ly/3lsfQ4c
Episode on the informal witnesses here: [pending]
Episode on the “hypnotism” theory here: https://bit.ly/2Wul9WI
As kind of an umbrella source on all things having to do with the witnesses, I highly recommend reading Richard Lloyd Anderson’s excellent book, “Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses.”

Notes:

-The 8 witnesses were not shown the plates via supernatural power. Thus, critics like to showcase a quote attributed to John Whitmer via Theodore Turley. Speaking of an experience with Whitmer, Turley wrote: “...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.” -Memoranda of Theodore Turley, April 4, 1839, also cit. HC 3:307-8. Read here: https://bit.ly/3hrvDix

There are a couple of important things to remember about this citation. First, it was recorded by Turley about 6 years after the events in question occurred. Thus, there’s always room for error there. Second (and in my mind, more importantly), remember that John Whitmer acted as Joseph Smith’s scribe for a time during the translation of the Book of Mormon. What he meant by “supernatural power” could be explained by similar language attributed to John via Byron Bond in 1877/78 (recorded only 7 months after the fact):

“John Whitmer told me last winter … [that he] ‘saw and handled’ [the plates and] … helped to copy [the Book of Mormon manuscript] as the words fell from Joseph’s lips by supernatural or [A]lmighty power.” More info and citations here: https://bit.ly/3gxt5hE

-Fawn Brodie rather unsurprisingly employs a quote from Thomas Ford’s “History of Illinois” to shrug off the experience of the witnesses. According to Ford, Joseph Smith had the witnesses pray for hours before gathering them in a room and showing them an empty box. When those present said they didn’t see any plates, Joseph apparently responded that they needed to pray harder for faith and forgiveness. Then “they were now persuaded that they saw the plates.”

The list of things wrong with Ford’s retelling is very long, but it sufficeth to say that his only sources for this information are anonymous “men who were once in the confidence of the prophet…”. The stories from the actual people involved tell a different story. As a funny side-note, on the previous page, Ford doesn’t even get the names of the 3 witnesses right. He writes,

“Oliver Cowdney, Martin Harris, and Daniel Whiteman, solemnly certify ‘that we have seen the plates which contain the records….’” Ford had obviously read the Testimony of the Three Witnesses because he attempted to quote it. Why he couldn’t read the names attributed to the testimony is a mystery to me. In my opinion, Ford’s obviously hostile retelling of Church history cannot be taken seriously. You can read Ford’s work for yourself here: https://bit.ly/3loel8c

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