Witnesses of the Book of Mormon

In matters legal, historical, scientific, and religious, we recognize the significance and the importance of first-hand accounts, also known as testimonies or witnesses.  The scriptures frequently tell us that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established" (see 2 Corinthians 13:1 for example), and the Lord's Church and His Gospel are full of instances in which this pattern is followed.  Among these are the testimonies of the witnesses of the truthfulness and divine origin of the Book of Mormon.

The Question:
Were there witnesses who saw the Gold Plates that the Book of Mormon was translated from, and are their testimonies dependable?



The Short Answer:
In addition to Joseph Smith himself, there are eleven others who saw the plates whose written testimonies are found in the front pages of the Book of Mormon.  Three of these saw an angel who brought the plates to them.  While all three were estranged from the Church at some point in their lives, they never denied their testimonies.

The Long Answer:
The Introduction of the Book of Mormon contains the testimonies of certain witnesses who actually saw and held the gold plates upon which the book was written.  An angel of the Lord appeared to the "Three Witnesses" to show them the plates and declare unto them that they had been translated by the gift and power of God.  These witnesses all testified not only that they saw the gold plates but also that the translation thereof—The Book of Mormon—is true.  Although all three left the Church at some point in their life, they did not ever deny their solemn testimony that the Book of Mormon is true.  What follows are brief descriptions of each of the witnesses, their relationship with the Church, and evidence of the solemnity of his testimony.

Oliver Cowdery
Oliver served as Joseph's scribe through the majority of the translation process and later as Second Elder of the Church.  In 1838 he was excommunicated from the Church after a number of political, financial, and doctrinal disagreements with the Prophet.  There is no direct evidence however that he ever denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon.  In fact, ten years later he asked to be re-baptized, without asking to be reinstated into any position of leadership in the Church.  In 1850 he died in full fellowship of the Church.  Shortly before dying he told Jacob Gates, who was a Church leader at the time,

Jacob, I want you to remember what I say to you. I am a dying man, and what would it profit me to tell you a lie? I know that this 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.

David Whitmer
David was one of the six founding members of the Church and held a number of positions of authority in the Church.  He, however, was also excommunicated from the Church for similar reasons as Oliver Cowdery, but unlike Oliver, he never rejoined.  However, despite leaving the Church, he never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon, and in fact was very vocal about reaffirming his testimony time and time again.  Near the end of his life, in response to claims that he had been tricked or deluded, he said,

I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with [the Book of Mormon], as one of the three witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again affirm the truth of all of my statements, as then made and published. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; it was no delusion!

Martin Harris
Martin aided Joseph Smith in the early efforts of the translation of the Book of Mormon.  He acted as scribe during the translation of the first 116 pages, but lost them after Joseph reluctantly allowed him to take them home to show them to his family.  Though Martin lost the privilege to act as scribe after that, he continued to support the translation.  Although Martin also left the Church for a time following the 1837 failure of the Kirtland Safety Society bank, near the end of his life Martin traveled to Utah territory and rejoined the Church.  There is some evidence that earlier in his life Martin may have believed that he had seen the angel and the gold plates in vision rather than in person.  But in 1853 while discussing the plates, he held out his hand and said, "Gentlemen, do you see that hand? Are you sure you see it? Or are your eyes playing you a trick or something? No. Well, as sure as you see my hand so sure did I see the Angel and the plates."  A year later he declared, "No man heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon [or] the administration of the angel that showed me the plates."