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The Answers: The Three Witnesses Oliver Cowdery David Whitmer Martin Harris The Eight Witnesses Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jun., John Whitmer Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith On the next slides you can download the PDF file to your lap top or notepad and show them slide by slide

Oliver Cowdery

David Whitmer

Martin Harris

Jacob Whitmer

Peter Whitmer

John Whitmer

Hyrum Page

Joseph Smith Sen.

Hyrum Smith Joseph Smith

Samuel Smith

The Few Who Were Permitted to See the Plates

Witnesses: While Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, the Lord revealed that, in addition to the Prophet’s testimony, the world would have “the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things” (D&C 5:11; see also Ether 5:2–4; 2 Ne. 27:12–13). “They shall know of a surety that these things are true,” the Lord declared, “for from heaven will I declare it unto them” (D&C 5:12).The three men chosen as witnesses of the Book of Mormon were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. Their written “Testimony of Three Witnesses” has been included in all of the almost 100 million copies of the Book of Mormon the Church has published since 1830. These witnesses solemnly testify that they “have seen the plates which contain this record” and “the engravings which are upon the plates.” They witness that these writings “have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us.” They testify, “We declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks The Witness: Martin Harris 1999 April Conf. Hiram Page was born in 1800, in the State of Vermont. All that I could find about his early days is that he was a medical student. He later became a physician and practiced in New York and Canada. At age 25, while living in Seneca, New York, he met the Whitmer Family. He married Catherine Whitmer on November 10, 1825. They would have nine children. While living with his wife at the Whitmer farm he met Joseph Smith, and would eventually become one of the eight witnesses of the gold plates. He was baptized when the church was officially organized. Along with being one of the witnesses, his other claim to fame was the story about him and a peep-stone. His claim to be receiving revelations for the church prompted the lord to reveal who does and doesn't receive revelations for the whole church. This is recorded as section 28 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Hiram repented and went on to be called on special preaching missions, held various church positions, and tried to use legal action to stop the persecution of the Mormons in Missouri. In 1838, the church was experiencing some of it's most turbulent times in Missouri. At the height of the mob violence, Hiram was severely beaten by a group of non-Mormon vigilantes on October 31, 1833. Not long after, Hiram Page took his family and voluntarily left the church. Partly because he reached his breaking point on persecution, and partly because two of his brothers-in-law were excommunicated. He relocated his family to Ray County, Missouri, where he lived out the rest of his life on a farm. He died on August 12, 1852. Even though he left the church, he didn't leave his testimony of the divinity and authenticity of the Book of Mormon. In 1888, Philander Page, Hiram's Son, was interviewed and had this to say about his father: "I knew my father to be true and faithful to his testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon until the very last. Whenever he had an opportunity to bear his testimony to this effect, he would always do so, and seemed to rejoice exceedingly in having been privileged to see the plates and thus become one of the Eight Witnesses." This was over 30 years after his father's death. Philander was not affiliated with the church, and would have no reason to lie about his father's testimony. He could have easily said that he never rejoined the church because his father admitted it was all made up. Instead he reaffirms his father's knowledge that the Book of Mormon is divine and authentic, and that Hiram Page did in fact see, touch, and lift the plates. Sources: LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p.277 Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.40 B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, Vol.2, p.324 Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, "Report," MS 40 (1878):773

Samuel H. Smith: Faithful Brother of Joseph and Hyrum Other Sources: Samuel H. Smith: Faithful Brother of Joseph and Hyrum By LaRene Porter Gaunt Church Magazines and Robert A. Smith President of the Samuel H. Smith Foundation 2008 August Ensign Hyrum Smith: The Mildness of a Lamb, the Integrity of Job By Ronald K. Esplin 2000 February Ensign The Whitmers: A Family That Nourished the Church By Richard Lloyd Anderson 1979 August Ensign The Witness: Martin Harris by Dallin H. Oaks 1999 May Ensign What Did the Golden Plates Look Like? By Kirk B. Henrichsen 2007 July New Era "This is the Spirit of Revelation“ Video (D&C 6,8-9) The early experiences of Oliver Cowdery serve as a case study to help students understand principles of personal revelation. (9:41)