Theldslife living life as a latterday saint 18,097 views. The book of mormon for sharing this talk and info on that blog. The book of mormon claims that jewish ancestry formed the majority of precolumbian inhabitants of america. Mar 22, 2017 8 thoughts on the witnesses of the book of mormon john swenson harvey on march 22, 2017 at 6. Martin harris, later one of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, is born in easttown, new york. Downloads male voice mp3 female voice mp3 entire book pdf footnotes. According to the book of mormon, captain moroni was an important nephite military commander and patriot who lived during the first century bc. Mary whitmer, 12th witness to the book of mormon deseret news. He is perhaps best known for raising a title of liberty as a call to arms for his people to defend their country, family, freedom, peace, and religion. An important secondary mission of the book of mormon, however, is to teach us the correct principles of liberty, expose satans freedomdestroying schemes, and show what is required for a people to maintain their godgiven rights under a free government. The lord told us through the prophet joseph smith that if ye have desires to serve god ye are called to the work. A modernday prophet testifies of the book of mormon ezra taft benson on. The following topics and references provide insight into the peoples, places, doctrines, and events of the book of mormon.
As a preface to this answer, please see our article on mormonism and what mormons believe. I find it interesting that the lord provided for two very different types of witness experiences with the three and eight witnesses. We will discuss these methods in more detail, but first lets consider a. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day saint movement who stated that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which joseph smith, jr. Martin harris as a book of mormon witness parent page. It is one thing for a guy to claim visions, but it gains a lot more credibility when a dozen other men swear they the same thing and know it for a fact. They all consistently reaffirmed the testimony and. The complete story, parts 1 and 2 of martin harriss witness to the book of mormon to watch originals from the channel theldslife, lds life originals, click the link below.
This book examines lds beliefs compared to biblical christianity, as well as detailing several historical problems of mormonism. Yet, joseph smith contradicted the book of mormon when he taught. In many ways, it is easy to see martin positively, but at the same time there are unfavorable aspects of martins character that are not to be concealed. That decree is recorded in the sacred book of mormon, a new witness for christ. It should be noted that moronis phrase trial of your faith in ether 12. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. Dec 18, 2008 i would encourage all of you who love freedom to include the book of mormon as one of the tools you use in spreading the message of freedom to others, lds and nonlds alike.
We have imagined and supposed that god was god from all eternity. I have found truth to be elusive in the mormon church. Nov 27, 2012 the complete story, parts 1 and 2 of martin harriss witness to the book of mormon to watch originals from the channel theldslife, lds life originals, click the link below. Jun 29, 2012 those who frequently witness to mormons seem to gravitate to one of three different approaches. According to the introduction to the book of mormon, what will those who gain a divine witness of the book of mormon also come to know is true. Apr 26, 2010 david whitmer, hereupon, lifted up his hands and bore witness that the book of mormon was the word of god. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. The first edition of the book of mormon featured two testimonials. David whitmer, a witness to the divine authenticity of the book of. Smith said he had been directed by the angel moroni to translate this work from reformed egyptian into english. Aug 05, 2019 the book of mormon is a book of scripture similar to the bible. The human spirit innately craves liberty and personal accountability, yet few times in history have people been able to attain and then maintain their rights. In fact, the testimony of this book, as confirmed by the spirit, is the single more powerful and compelling witness we have of the divinity of jesus christ, the prophetic calling of joseph smith, and the absolute truth of the church.
Stand up for freedom kindle edition by benson, ezra, mecham. The witness testimonies are some of the best secular evidences for the book of mormons truth. This book is an honest attempt to fully portray martins character and to tell his whole lifes story. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon.
Greene, facts relative to the expulsion of the mormons, cincinnati 1839 the testimony i gave to that mob made them fear and tremble, and i escaped from them. Sharing my religion and opinions by blogging about the lds mormon religion and the world around us. The book of mormon, like the holy bible, is a record containing the writings of many prophets. In light of a recent conversation with several critics, i decided to type out a significant portion of that witness and post it here.
The book of mormon, is the key stone of our church, the church of jesus christ of latter day. They shall know of a surety that these things are true, the lord declared, for. Because so many bible passages are distorted by the teachings of mormonism, we will only be able to look at a few of the more common distortions. Freedom is a topic that we all have a pressing need to study and m aster. I grew up believing that i belonged to the only true church on the face of the earth and even though there were teachings about the church i didnt agree with, it never occurred to me they didnt have physical proof for the book of mormon. When i was a member of the church i honestly never thought about checking up on the witnesses of the book of mormon. Together with the bible, the book of mormon bears witness of jesus christ and confirms his true doctrines. It does not replace or do away with the bible and it certainly doesnt contradict the bible when the bible is properly interpreted and understood. Perhaps harried, multitasking housewives and mothers will relate especially well to her. Some argue that if members accept whitmers witness of the book of mormon, then they must also accept that god wanted david to repudiate the church as false. The witnesses of the book of mormon the millennial star.
Grants funeral is held in the tabernacle in salt lake city. The result, the book of mormon, begins as the record of a jewish family in. Why didnt the book of mormon witnesses sign their testimony. Whimsies of past and present mormon presidents have described truth as one thing, and then it seems to become something else later. Keep in mind that if you take the context of a verse into account, you will see that it does not teach mormon doctrine. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to.
So, i believe this teaching in the book of mormon is true. Mormon religious beliefs versus jehovah witness beliefs. The book of mormon speaks of freedom the american citadel. Nephis freedom thesis 18 and the sons of helaman religious. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. This verse from the book of mormon also agrees with the bibles teachings about gods eternal, unchangeable nature at malachi 3. I read some additional information related to ezra taft bensons speech that i wrote about a few days ago that i want to share. Deseret news archives this monument honers the eight witnesses of the book of mormon and was erected in liberty, missouri, on the same day the 100th anniversary of the three witnesses monument in richmond, missouri. Jul 18, 20 relatively few latterday saints know the story of the book of mormon s unofficial 12th witness. Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come.
Martin harriswitness to the book of mormon fairmormon. Joseph smith oliver cowdery sidney rigdon book of mormon witnesses. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. Appearance and ministry to the inhabitants of the americas. As christians, we always want to use the bible and its timeless truths as our primary tool in witnessing the love of god and salvation through christ. That we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of. The book of mormon states that these worldly philosophies are false. Modern mormon spin doctors write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the mormon church but they never the book of mormon.
With both memorial day and flag day having come and gone in the past couple months, the season of celebrating freedom in the. Many critics of the book of mormon witnesses say that the witnesses of the book of mormon denied their written testimonies in statements to different people over the years. How joseph smith and the early mormons challenged american. This theme is introduced in the earliest scenes of the book of mormon as lehi was commissioned to call the inhabitants of jerusalem to repentance see 1nephi 1. The book tells the story of jesus life after the resurrection.
Mormons believe the prophet mormon wrote the ancient texts on gold plates, and his son moroni buried them in what is now new york. When all is said and done, the book of mormon is gods crowning witness of jesus christ. A third major theme in the book of mormon is the importance of standing as a witness of god to preach the gospel of jesus christ. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon. May 18, 2009 the entire book is a classic, but particularly in the final chapter, elder holland bears powerful witness of the book of mormon.
Brian mecham has written that the book of mormon contains an 11th commandment on his website that contains information about the ezra taft benson. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements. The lord made it very clear to the nephite prophets that their history and prophecies would be preserved to come forth in. Martin harris i tell you of these things that you may tell others that what i have said is true, and i dare not deny it.
I would encourage all of you who love freedom to include the book of mormon as one of the tools you use in spreading the message of freedom to others, lds and nonlds alike. Another testament of jesus christ, which you can read about in my previous article, is a volume of inspired scripture that speaks first and. It changes, becoming something different from one generation to the next. Witness to the book of mormon 18 may 2018 lds daily. Ever since leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints better known as mormons banned the earthly practice of polygamy in 1890, their religion has come to resemble classic. I heard the voice of god commanding me to testify to the same. Obviously, the book of mormon witnesses consented to the witness statement and agreed with it. Aug 23, 2017 for ritual combat in an ancient mesoamerican context, see allen j. When ye shall receive these things, i would exhort you that ye would ask god, the eternal father, in the name of christ, if these things are not true. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon s three witnesses, said if you believe my testimony to the book of mormon.
Aug 18, 2009 a faithful witness to the book of mormon duration. Some distort the historical record to make it appear that david whitmer left the church because he was told to, when it fact he was excommunicated prior to claiming any revelation to do so. It bears witness that there is a god, that god has given his children inherent rights, and that the consequences of mortal acts are based upon eternal, godgiven laws. The book of mormon, above all else, bears witness to the divinity of jesus christ and contains the doctrines of the gospel of jesus christ. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. My kindness shall not depart from thee rob gardner duration. Moroni later appeared to joseph smith as an angel in 1823, and revealed their location. Book of mormon spiritual and temporal witnesses presentation. Scott dimmick, a witness and a warning ezra taft benson excerpt from.