Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

The Testimonies of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses

“We … Have Seen the Plates”

For a time, Joseph Smith was not allowed to show the gold plates to anyone. In fulfillment of prophecy, the Lord eventually revealed to Joseph that additional witnesses would be allowed to see the plates and testify of their reality (see 2 Nephi 27:12–14). This lesson can help you understand the importance of the multiple witnesses of the Book of Mormon and reflect upon your own witness.

Witnesses of the plates

Imagine what it would have been like for Joseph Smith to be the only one who could see the gold plates. Think about how hard it would be for you to be disbelieved, mocked, and called a deceiver because you won’t show people the plates. Imagine having to tell those who have supported you that they cannot see the plates.

While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph dictated the words of promises the Lord made concerning the plates. Read 2 Nephi 27:12–14 to see promises the Lord made about the plates (see also Ether 5:2–4).

What stood out to you about this prophecy? Why?
How might Joseph have felt as he read this prophecy? Why?
What did you learn from this passage about the Lord and the Book of Mormon?

One truth we can learn from these prophecies is that the Lord provided multiple witnesses of the plates of the Book of Mormon.

Why is it easier to believe something is true when there is more than one witness of it?

As you continue to study, seek Heavenly Father’s help through the Holy Ghost to understand the importance of the witnesses of the gold plates, and consider how their testimonies can help you gain or strengthen your own.

The Lord provided for a group of three and then eight men to see the plates. Many of these witnesses helped in some way with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. For example, David Whitmer invited Joseph and Emma to live with them while Joseph translated, Martin Harris mortgaged his farm to pay the printing costs of the Book of Mormon, and Oliver Cowdery served as scribe for much of the translation. Joseph’s father and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel were also witnesses of the plates and helped Joseph in important ways. Although some of these men later left the Church, none of them ever denied their testimonies of the Book of Mormon. (See Church History Topics, “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon,” history.topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

Read “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” looking for what they saw, felt, and came to know.

You might also want to watch “A Day for the Eternities” from time code 15:00 to 18:37 to see a depiction of what these experiences may have been like.

Complete the following in your study journal:

The Testimony of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses

Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—”The Testimonies of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses”

	Three Witnesses:	Eight Witnesses:
What the witnesses saw and felt.
What the witnesses came to know.
What the witnesses did.

What similarities and differences did you see in the experiences of the two groups?
Why might the differences be significant?

While we may sometimes wish to have experiences like these witnesses, the Lord testified that even seeing these things will not convince people of the truth (see Doctrine and Covenants 5:7). President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency explained:

In our day and time we must come to know the truthfulness of what was on the golden plates without seeing them. They are not available for us to see and handle as they were for the Three Witnesses and for the Eight Witnesses. Some of those who actually saw and handled the golden plates did not remain faithful to the Church. Seeing an angel would be a great experience, but it is far greater to come to a knowledge of the divinity of the Savior through faith and the witness of the Spirit [see John 20:29]. (James E. Faust, “It Can’t Happen to Me,” Ensign, May 2002, 48)

Why is what is taught in this statement important to you?

Your witness of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon

One major purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince people that Jesus is the Christ (see the title page of the Book of Mormon). Think about whether your personal witness of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon is as strong as you want it to be. Ponder how gaining or strengthening that witness could be a blessing to you and others.

Complete the following:

Write down your testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. If you do not feel that you have a testimony yet, write down what you could do to receive one. Include how others’ testimonies might influence your own. Consider adding to this as you continue to study the Book of Mormon.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

Why are the testimonies of the Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses so significant?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency testified:

The Three Witnesses never denied their testimony of the Book of Mormon. They could not because they knew it was true. They made sacrifices and faced difficulties beyond what most people ever know. Oliver Cowdery gave the same testimony about the divine origin of the Book of Mormon as he lay dying. But in the times of trial, they wavered in their faith that Joseph was still God’s prophet and that the only way to come unto the Savior was through His restored Church. That they continued to affirm what they saw and heard in that marvelous experience, during long periods of estrangement from the Church and from Joseph, makes their testimony more powerful. (Henry B. Eyring, “An Enduring Testimony of the Mission of the Prophet Joseph,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 90)

Watch “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Gold Plates” (4:16) and “The Testimony of the Three Witnesses” (3:00) and look for additional insights on why these testimonies are so important and powerful.

4:16

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Gold Plates | Now You Know

2:3

The Testimony of the Three Witnesses

Why might the Lord have provided these two different kinds of experiences for the witnesses of the Book of Mormon?

If critics of the Church accused the Three Witnesses of imagining their vision, that would not explain the experience the Eight Witnesses had with the plates. On the other hand, if critics accused Joseph Smith of simply forging the gold plates to deceive the Eight Witnesses, that would not explain the divine manifestations, including the appearance of an angel, that the Three Witnesses experienced.

How did Joseph feel after others had seen the plates?

His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, recorded that following this divine witness, Joseph told her:

You do not know how happy I am. The Lord has caused the plates to be shown to three more besides me, who have also seen an angel and will have to testify to the truth of what I have said, for they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I do feel as though I was relieved of a dreadful burden which was almost too much for me to endure, but they will now have to bear a part, and it does rejoice my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world. (Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, book 8, page 11, josephsmithpapers.org; spelling and punctuation modernized)

What additional accounts can help me better understand the experiences of the witnesses of the gold plates?

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the account of the witnesses. Watch “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon” from time code 7:58 to 10:30 to see his retelling.

17:12

The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

The experiences of the Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses are also detailed in Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 73–75).

Mary Whitmer was also shown the plates. The story of her experience is found on pages 70–71 of Saints, vol. 1, and in the article “A Bit of Old String: Mary Whitmer’s Unheralded Contributions” (history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).