"When we were first told to publish our statement, we felt sure the people would not believe it, for the Book told of a people who were refined and dwelt in large cities; but the Lord told us that He would make it known to the people, and people should discover the ruins of the lost cities and abundant evidence of the truth of what is written in the Book." – DAVID WHITMER (1883)¹

There are 11 formal witnesses of the Book of Mormon plates besides Joseph Smith. 8 of these witnesses had a physical experience with the plates. They handled the plates, “hefted” them, thumbed through their leaves, and saw the engravings of the pages. The 3 witnesses, Martin Harris, David Whitmer, and Oliver Cowdery, had a very different experience. They had a supernatural visitation of an angel. The angel first appeared to David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery and later to Martin Harris.²

How do the critics explain away the testimony of the 11 witnesses? How do they explain the non-supernatural physical experience of the 8 witnesses? Then, how do they explain the supernatural experience of the 3 witnesses? If they can theorize one type away, aren’t they still stuck with the other type?

For example, some critics guess (without evidence) that Joseph Smith fabricated metal plates with convincing, ancient-looking engravings to trick the 8 witnesses.

If that is true, then how do they explain the three witnesses' angelic visitation?

Other critics say (without evidence) that Joseph Smith was a master hypnotist.³ That’s how he got David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery to see an angel and Martin Harris later on to see the same angel. This theory would make Joseph among the greatest (if not the greatest) hypnotist the world has ever known, long before the practice was in use.

If I accept the hypnotist theory, aren't I still stuck with the physical, non-supernatural experience of the 8 witnesses?

How realistic is it that Joseph Smith had such powerful hypnotic persuasion that he could make people see, hear, and feel visions, even without him present? Have the world’s greatest hypnotists ever achieved a feat remotely close to that? How could he produce the same angelic visitation in two instances for the 3 witnesses?

If Joseph is such a potent hypnotist, why does he use that power to create Book of Mormon witnesses? If Joseph is a fraud and a liar, why not use those nearly mystical powers to enrich himself? He could have done almost anything with unnatural powers like that.

Some critics try to brush aside the witnesses because they were friends and associates of Joseph Smith. Critics do so to explain why the witnesses “went along” with the scheme initially. Well, which theory is it? Did he hypnotize them, or were they lying? Are they co-conspirators, or were they duped? It can’t be both theories.

How do critics explain the “co-conspirators theory” when many witnesses later became disillusioned with Joseph Smith and left the Church? Why would the witnesses continue to lie when they were no longer a part of the Church? Keep lying when, in some cases, they had every incentive to expose Joseph?

The Book of Mormon witnesses were well-regarded in the communities they lived in.⁴ How likely are 100% of the witnesses to lie for Joseph Smith? Some witnesses, like David Whitmer, left the Church and never returned.

Why did David Whitmer maintain his testimony of the Book of Mormon for the rest of his life?⁵ Didn’t he have his testimony etched on his gravestone?

Photo provided to findagrave.com by Tom DeNardo on 07 Jul 2001.

Several of the Book of Mormon witnesses left the Church but never denied their testimony. Doesn't that only strengthen the case for the truth of their testimonies regarding the authenticity of the Book of Mormon?

I was inspired when I learned how much the witnesses sacrificed to maintain their testimony of the Book of Mormon. William McLellan relayed an experience in 1833 when one of the 8 witnesses, Hyrum Page, was tracked down by the Jackson County mob. Under threat of death, Hyrum maintained his testimony.

“[The mob] commenced beating and pounding him with whips and clubs. He begged, but there was no mercy. They said he was <a> damned Mormon, and they meant to beat him to death! But finally one then said to him, if you will deny that damned book, we will let you go. Said he, how can I deny what I know to be true? Then they pounded him again. When they thought he was about to breathe his last, they said to him, Now what do you think of your God, when he dont save you? Well said he, I believe in God—Well, said one of the most intelligent among them, I believe the damned fool will stick to it though we kill him. Let us let him go. But his life was nearly run out. He was confined to his bed for a length of time. So much for a man who knows for himself. Knowledge is beyond faith or doubt. It is positive certainty.”⁶

The witnesses conducted formal interviews for the rest of their lives. Critics looked for any sign of falsehood in their story of the Book of Mormon. This is the reason why doubters requested repeated interviews. If any witness had admitted that his testimony was a lie, any anti-Mormon-friendly media would have celebrated him. It may have even become front-page news around the country. Likely, he could have made some money from denying his testimony. Yet, in dozens of formal interviews and hundreds of informal secondary interactions, none of the witnesses ever denied their witness and testimony of the Book of Mormon.⁷ None. Not one time.

The 11 formal Book of Mormon witnesses provided over 200 accounts affirming their testimony. At best, there are 8 to 10 second-hand and third-hand accounts that attempt to reframe their testimonies as non-literal events of a spiritual nature.⁸

Critics try to use the small handful of dubious accounts to discount the other 200. One such account is from a former pastor, John A. Clark, who considered Joseph Smith a fraud. He said a “gentleman in Palmyra” told him that Martin Harris saw the plates with the “eye of faith.”⁹ John Clark did not interview Martin Harris himself; he quoted someone he knew (unnamed). Critics jump on this instance of hearsay to say that the angelic experience did not happen.

If I were to believe John Clark's account, how would I explain these statements from Martin Harris? (Some in direct response to John Clark’s claims)

“Gentlemen, do you see that hand? Are you sure you see it? Are your eyes playing a trick or something? No. Well, as sure as you see my hand so sure did I see the angel and the plates.” —Martin Harris, quoted in "Statement of William M. Glenn to O. E. Fischbacher," May 30, 1943, Cardston, Alberta, Canada, cited in Deseret News, October 2, 1943. Emphasis added.

“It is not a mere belief, but is a matter of knowledge. I saw the plates and the inscriptions thereon. I saw the angel, and he showed them unto me.” —Martin Harris, quoted in Robert Aveson, "Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon," Deseret News, April 2, 1927. Emphasis added.

“Well, just as plain as you see that chopping block, I saw the plates; and sooner than I would deny it I would lay my head upon that chopping block and let you chop it off.” —Martin Harris, quoted in "Statement of Comfort Elizabeth Godfrey Flinders to N. B. Lundwall," September 2, 1943, Ogden, Utah, cited in Assorted Gems of Priceless Value. Emphasis added.

“No man ever heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon, [and] the administration of the angel that showed me the plates.” – Martin Harris, quoted in “Harris to Emerson,” January 1871.¹⁰ Emphasis added.

In an interview with Anthony Metcalf, David Whitmer left no doubt about whether he saw with his “spiritual” or “natural” eyes.

“I was not under any hallucination . . . . I saw with these eyes." (Palmyra Reflector, 19 March 1831; cited in The Saints' Herald, 28 January 1936. Emphasis added.)

In an 1849 interview with Jacob Gates, Mr. Gates asked Oliver Cowdery, “I want you to tell me the whole truth about your testimony concerning the Book of Mormon—the testimony sent forth to the world over your signature and found in the front of that book. Was your testimony based on a dream, was it the imagination of your mind, was it an illusion, a myth—tell me truthfully?” Here was Oliver’s response:

“[The] Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. My eyes saw, my ears heard, and my understanding was touched, and I know that whereof I testified is true. It was no dream, no vain imagination of the mind—it was real.”¹¹ (emphasis added)

Didn’t all three formal witnesses (and many of the eight) bear testimony of the Book of Mormon on their deathbeds?¹²

Imagine how frustrating it was to be a witness of the Book of Mormon. Let's say I have a sacred experience; I bear testimony to it and include my name in the printing of the Book of Mormon. Then, detractors scrutinize my account for the rest of my life and interview me dozens of times. A couple of second-hand hear-say accounts claim that some unidentified person told them something different than what I actually said. So now I have to do more interviews. Then, 180 years later, critics only refer to a couple of inaccurate accounts, despite my every effort to bear a faithful testimony.

Critics, I’m genuinely curious: how many interviews would have been enough?

Are hundreds of interviews sufficient? Is the testimony of the witnesses on their deathbeds and gravestones enough? What more could the witnesses have done to bear record of their testimony? Is there anything that the witnesses could have said that would convince the skeptics that they saw an angel and handled the plates? Would anything satisfy the critics?

Why do these critics use a small handful of problematic second and third accounts at the expense of the hundreds of primary accounts and the overall narrative? Is that what light and truth seekers do?

In the end, if the Book of Mormon is a fraud, then one of two things has to be true: 1) The 11 witnesses lied for Joseph Smith, or 2) Joseph swindled the witnesses very convincingly.

Why did the 11 formal witnesses never deny their experience with the plates and the angel if it was a fraud? Why did they reaffirm their testimonies over and over?¹³ Why did they continue to lie for Joseph even when some were estranged from the Church?

If Joseph Smith had swindled the witnesses, how did he fabricate convincing enough plates? How did he get David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery to see an angel? Then, how did he get Martin Harris to see the same angel later that day?

The CES Letter attempts to discredit the witnesses. Jeremy insinuates that the Book of Mormon witnesses are a bunch of slack-jawed idiots. A band of superstitious buffoons incapable of knowing the difference between handling the plates and imagining handling the plates. Backwater country yokels who were unaware of whether they saw an angel or not.

Weren't Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris well-regarded in their social circles? Wasn’t David Whitmer a city councilman and mayor for a time in Richmond, Missouri? Wasn’t Martin Harris a successful, industrious farmer? Wasn’t Oliver Cowdery, a clerk, teacher, lawyer, and newspaper editor?

Beyond hundreds of individual affirmations, didn’t all 11 witnesses reaffirm their testimony as a group on two other occasions?¹⁴

Some witnesses left the Church during the Kirtland era and began criticizing Joseph Smith. Critics often reference this quote from Joseph to discredit the witnesses.

“Such characters as McLellin, John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, are too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them.”¹⁵

Two important points here. First, calling these men “mean” is a rather mild rebuke. Second, by making this rebuke, Joseph shows absolutely no fear of his witnesses revealing his “scheme” or recanting their testimony. How can he be so confident? If they are in on a fraud, doesn’t he have every reason to keep them in the fold and speak kindly of them? Instead of impeaching the witnesses, as critics suggest, this quote from Joseph does the exact opposite.

After learning more about these men, I am moved by their sacrifice to build up the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early days. Likewise, I am inspired by the witnesses who left the Church yet never faltered in their testimony despite every incentive to do so.

Informal witnesses

Beyond the 11 formal witnesses, there are several unofficial witnesses to the Book of Mormon. A summary of some of them is listed below from Mormonr.org.¹⁶

Name (Age)	Testimony
Emma Smith (24-25)	"The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table cloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book." (emphasis added).
Luck Mack Smith (52)	"I asked her (Emma Smith) if she saw the plates. She said no, it was not for her to see them, but she hefted and handled them."
Lucy Harris (35-36)	"Martin's wife had hefted [the plates] and felt them under [a] cover."
William Smith (17-18)	"In the winter of 1829 and thirty, the Book of Mormon, which is the translation of part of the plates he obtained, was published. He then showed the plates to my father and my brothers Hyrum and Samuel, who were witnesses to the truth of the book which was translated from them. I was permitted to lift them as they laid in a pillow-case; but not to see them, as it was contrary to the commands he had received. They weighed about sixty pounds according to the best of my judgment."
Catherine Smith Salisbury (14-17)	"When Joseph was bringing the plates home from their hiding place to work on the translation he was followed to his father's very door at one time by some men who were determined to get "Joe Smith's Gold Plates" as they were called. Ever watchful for her brother's safety and hearing an unusual commotion outside Catherine flew to the door and threw it open just as Joseph came rushing up, panting for breath. He thrust a bundle into her arms, and in a gasping voice whispered hoarsely, "Take these quickly and hide them," then he disappeared into darkness. Closing the door Catherine ran hurriedly to the bedroom where she and Sophronia slept. Sophronia threw back the bedding and Catherine put the bundle on the bed, quickly replacing the bedding. Both of them lay down on the bed and pretended sleep. The mob, failing to find Joseph outside, returned to the house to search, but they did not disturb the girls since they appeared to be sleeping." (emphasis added) "Catherine Smith Salisbury then told me that while dusting up the room where the Prophet had his study she saw a package on the table containing the gold plates on which was engraved the story of the Book of Mormon. She said she hefted those plates and found them very heavy like gold and also rippled her fingers up the edge of the plates and felt that they were separate metal plates and heard the tinkle of sound that they made." (emphasis added)
Josiah Stowell (57)	"...witness saw a corner of it; it resembled a stone of a greenish caste; should judge it to have been about one foot square and six inches thick; he would not let it be seen by any one; the Lord had commanded him not; it was unknown to Smith, that witness saw a corner of the Bible, so called by Smith; told the witness the leaves were of gold; there were written characters on the leaves." (emphasis added)
Alvah Beaman (52)	"Joseph then took them [the plates] out, and hid them under the old cooper's shop, by taking up a board and digging in the ground and burying them. When they were taken from there, they were put into an old Ontario glass box. Old Mr. Beman [Alvah Moses Beaman] sawed off the ends, making the box the right length to put them in, and when they went in he said he heard them jink, but he was not permitted to see them. He told me so." (emphasis added) | | Harrison Burgess (19) | "The next day while laboring in the field something seemed to whisper to me, 'Do you know the Book of Mormon is true?' My mind became perplexed and darkened, and I was so tormented in spirit that I left my work and retired into the woods. The misery and distress that I there experienced cannot be described. The tempter all the while seemed to say, 'Do you know the Book of Mormon is true?' I remained in this situation about two hours. Finally I resolved to know, by exercising faith similar to that which the brother of Jared possessed, whether I had proclaimed the truth or not, and commenced praying to the God of heaven for a testimony of these things. Suddenly a glorious personage clothed in white stood before me and exhibited to my view the plates from which the Book of Mormon was taken." (emphasis added).
Mary Musselman Whitmer (51)	John C. Whitmer, a grandson of Mary Musselman Whitmer, testified in the following language: “I have heard my grandmother say on several occasions that she was shown the plates of the Book of Mormon by a holy angel, whom she always called Brother Nephi. (She undoubtedly refers to Moroni, the angel who had the plates in charge.) . . . One evening, when (after having done her usual day's work in the house) she went to the barn to milk cows, she met a stranger carrying something on his back that looked like a knapsack. At first she was a little afraid of him, but when he spoke to her in a kind, friendly tone and began to explain to her the nature of the work which was going on in her house, she was filled with unexpressible joy and satisfaction. He then untied his knapsack and showed her a bundle of plates, which in size and appearance corresponded with the description subsequently given by the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This strange person turned the leaves of the book of plates over, leaf after leaf, and also showed her the engravings upon them; after which he told her to be patient and faithful in bearing her burden a little longer, promising that if she would do so, she should be blessed; and her reward would be sure, if she proved faithful to the end. The personage then suddenly vanished with the plates, and where he went, she could not tell.” (emphasis added).
Alvah Beaman (52)	"Joseph then took them [the plates] out, and hid them under the old cooper's shop, by taking up a board and digging in the ground and burying them. When they were taken from there, they were put into an old Ontario glass box. Old Mr. Beman [Alvah Moses Beaman] sawed off the ends, making the box the right length to put them in, and when they went in he said he heard them jink, but he was not permitted to see them. He told me so." (emphasis added)

Mary Whitmer’s account is fascinating. Several secondhand witnesses describe an experience Mary relayed to them.¹⁷ With a house full of people busy translating the Book of Mormon, she was left to pick up the extra work of cooking, cleaning, and laundry on her own. With the extra houseguests, it was especially burdensome. Amid her frustration, she received a visitation from a stranger who showed her the plates. After showing her the plates, the stranger vanished. The experience helped her endure a little longer.

How did Joseph Smith get Mary Whitmer to have an angelic visitation without his intervention or knowledge?

Footnotes

1. David Whitmer, interview with James H. Hart on 21 August 1883, Journal-Notebook, 21 August 1883, Special Collections and Manuscripts, Harold B. Lee Library, BYU ↩

2. Joseph Smith, History Drafts, 1838–ca. 1841, draft 1, in Karen Lynn Davidson, et al., “Joseph Smith Papers—Histories, vol. 1: Joseph Smith Histories.” 1832–1844 (Salt Lake City, UT: Church Historian’s Press, 2012), 320. ↩

3. “Question: Could Joseph Smith have hypnotized the witnesses to the Book of Mormon?.” FAIR Latter-day Saints, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:\_Could_Joseph_Smith_have_hypnotized_the_witnesses_to_the_Book_of_Mormon%3F#cite_note-4 ↩

4. Harper, Steven. "Evaluating the Book of Mormon Witnesses,"Religious Educator 11, no. 2 (2010): 37–49. ↩

5. See Book of Mormon Central, “Why is David Whitmer’s Witness of the Book of Mormon So Compelling? (Alma 27:27),” KnoWhy 395 (January 2, 2018), https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-is-david-whitmers-witness-of-the-book-of-mormon-so-compelling ↩

6. Schaefer, Mitchell (2011). “’The Testimony of Men’: William E. McLellin and the Book of Mormon Witnesses.” BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol 50, Iss 1, Article 9, available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4310&context=byusq ↩

7. “Did any of the Book of Mormon witnesses ever recant their testimony?” Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/questions/recanted/#content-faq-sub-0 ↩

8. Anderson, Richard. “Explaining Away the Book of Mormon Witnesses.” FAIR Latter-day Saints. 2004, https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/august-2004/explaining-away-the-book-of-mormon-witnesses ↩

9. ”Martin Harris’ “Eye of Faith” and “Spiritual Eye” statements.” FAIR Latter-day Saints, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Book_of_Mormon/Witnesses/%22Eye_of_Faith%22_and\_%22Spiritual_Eye%22_statements_by_Martin_Harris ↩

10. Vogel, Dan, ed.,. “Early Mormon Documents.” (Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1996–2003), 2:338 ↩

11. Gates, Jacob. “Testimony of Jacob Gates.” Improvement Era, vol 15, issue 5, 1912, pg 418-419, https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/testimony-jacob-gates ↩

12. ”Book of Mormon Witnesses.” Mormonr.org, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://mormonr.org/qnas/0Eiiyt/book_of_mormon_witnesses ↩

13. “Did any of the Book of Mormon witnesses ever recant their testimony?” Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/questions/recanted/#content-faq-sub-0 ↩

14. “Did any of the Book of Mormon witnesses ever recant their testimony?” Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, accessed on May 5, 2024 https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/questions/recanted/#content-faq-sub-0 ↩

15. Smith, Joseph "The Prophet's Letter to the Church" 16 December 1838 in History of the Church Vol 3: Ch 15: P 226 (ed.) Brigham H. Roberts ↩

16. Same table is provided on Mormonr.org under the section of the Book of Mormon Witnesses with sources. ”Book of Mormon Witnesses.” Mormonr.org, accessed on May 4, 2024 from https://mormonr.org/qnas/0Eiiyt/book_of_mormon_witnesses ↩

17. Peterson, Daniel. “Mary Whitmer, 12th witness to the Book of Mormon.” Deseret News, July 18, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/2013/7/18/20522674/mary-whitmer-12th-witness-to-the-book-of-mormon/ ↩