The text featured here begins on the third manuscript page second leaf of what in the published book of mormon was titled the first book of nephi. The prophet joseph smiths own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon are. Did joseph smiths mother believe he could have written. For many believers, that some 11 men would testify to witnessing the golden plates constitutes sufficient evidence for believing the book of mormon is of divine origin. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. The book of mormon is the most important religious text to be revealed from god to man since the writings of the new testament were compiled nearly two millennia ago. What do we know about mormon leader joseph smiths wives.
From the historical prophets who wrote the book, to the testimony of joseph. The lds church teaches members from childhood to rely upon feeling the spirit to confirm truth, promoting a personal connection to god which stems from its uniquely powerful priesthoodconferred gift of the spirit. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The situation is even worse for the book of abraham, which joseph smith claimed to have translated from some papyrus scrolls. Dean garrett, the three most abominable sins, in the book of mormon. Aug, 2018 other prophets have testified simply of the divinity of the book of mormon. Shortly thereafter, pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. For the reliability of the contents of the lds keystone scripture we are entirely dependent on joseph smiths testimony. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus christ, which was established in 1830 after the prophet had translated the book of mormon and published it to the world.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. While i was thus in the act of calling upon god, i discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase. The book of mormon is true, just what it purports to be, and for this testimony i expect to give an account in the day of judgment. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. Even after martin harris had left the church and was openly criticizing church leadership, he still held to his testimony of the book of mormon.
He was a stake high councilman with a strong testimony that he shared often. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. Book of mormon central, how can we know what to believe about joseph smiths personal character. Why joseph made the changes mentioned above should cause all believers to think and ponder. Bushman concurs that smith raised his arms in the masonic sign of distress. Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in. How president nelson strengthened my struggling testimony. My life by gogo goff testimony of the book of mormon facebook. Nov 01, 2016 as a result, if the book of mormon can be proved to be manmade, then the church is manmade.
Sep 11, 20 the last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone 1 of our religion. This moroni says he did, and from all the evidence in the book of mormon, augmented by the testimony of the prophet joseph smith, these final battles took place in the territory known as the united states and in the neighborhood of the great. Joseph smith and for the first time she used his name direct, having usually used the words, your father or my husband could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter, let alone dictate a book like the book of mormon. His call for help went unheeded, and smith was shot at the jail window, unable to complete the words, is there no help for the widows son. Emma smiths witness of the book of mormon lds scripture. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. David osborn heard joseph smith bear this testimony in far west, missouri, 1837. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. This is the simple, direct testimony of joseph smith, giving some of the events that led to the restoration of the gospel and the founding of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. I was called of my heavenly father to lay the foundation of this great work and kingdom in this dispensation, and testify of his revealed will to scattered israel.
If burnetts statement is given credence it would appear that joseph smith extorted a deceptive testimony from the eight witnesses. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Church leaders and missionaries often instruct members and investigators of the religion that once they confirm through prayer that the book of mormon is true, they can then. These testimonies, referred to as the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses, are included at the beginning of the book of mormon. In regards to the geography of the book of mormon, he has left us his testimony. With this declaration, alma identified for corianton the three most abominable sins in the sight of god. The three most abominable sins religious studies center. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1 nephi 2. Joseph fielding smith true book of mormon geography. Just thirteen years later, in 1843, the prophet joseph smith sent the first missionaries to the islands of the pacific. Hagoth and the polynesians religious studies center. Adams wrote in the book of mormon he received, the above is the autograph of the chief of the mormons who gave me this book at nauvoo on the 15th of may 1844.
Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Joseph smiths life is a testimony to the reality of that calling. I bear testimony that joseph smith was raised up by almighty god as a prophet in the last dispensation and fullness of times. Joseph smith knew book of mormon geography book of. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. My patriarchal blessing promises that i will gain a sure testimony that joseph smith was the prophet called of god to usher in this last dispensation, but even after studying, researching, and praying for a more sure witness of the prophet, my testimony remained unsure.
Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of. Joseph smiths testimony on the lands of the nephites. The testimony of the eight witnesses was first published at the end of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon and has been printed in nearly every edition since, although most subsequent editions moved the statement to the front of the book and included minor grammatical corrections. Dec 22, 2018 recently, while studying teachings of russell m. I have chosen as a text statement these words, prepared and published by the first presidency of the church in 1935 on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the first quorum of twelve apostles in our dispensation. Testimony of the book of mormon latterday saints channel. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3 chapter. Adultery was third to murder and the sin against the holy ghost as abominable sins. Oct 08, 2009 hyrum smith marked a page in the book on the day he and brother joseph smith left for carthage jail in 1844. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to. Lest anyone conclude that i merely lack the powerful spiritual experiences and personal confirmation they received, allow me to share how i obtained my testimony. Thus there are some puzzling aspects to the testimonies of the witnesses. The author of these truth claims essays provided to mormon stories, michael brown, shared his testimony as follows.
Book of mormon central, how can we be strengthened by lucy mack smiths testimony of the book of. Nelson, i came across a few insights that have helped deepen my belief that joseph smith was called of god. Henry edwards, the history of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints independence, mo. These are some of the prophet joseph smith s own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon on the evening of the 20 first of september 1820 three, i took myself to prayer and supplication to almighty god. The lord jesus christ called joseph smith as a prophet to prepare the way for his coming in glory.
It wasnt until after the book had been printed that the additional heretical doctrines of mormonism started to develop. While i was thus in the act of calling upon god, i discovered a light appearing in my room. But why should john whitmer and hiram page adhere to mormonism and the book of mormon so long if they only gave their testimony reluctantly. Check out the viewpoint on mormonism podcast series 15 witnesses to the book of mormon part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 february 1518, 2016 joseph smith claimed that in 1823 he was visited by an angel named moroni and that this angel told him that there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. The last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a.
Once we have a foundational testimony of the book of mormon, then. Later when actually incarcerated in the jail, joseph the prophet bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the book of mormon. Joseph smith and book of mormon geographyexactly what joseph smith believed at different times in his life concerning book of mormon geography in general is also indeterminable. How president nelson strengthened my struggling testimony of. The focus is primarily on joseph smith, his many false prophesies and evolving concepts of the godhead. Book of mormon central, how can we be strengthened by lucy mack smiths testimony of the book of mormon. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. The interest in the people of the pacific comes from a brief account in the book of mormon of one hagoth, a nephite shipbuilder who left the americas and sailed away and was never heard of more alma 63.
The photos also revealed that joseph smith had personally signed the book and adams had documented the receipt on the same page underneath joseph smiths name. This is not a book conducive to an indepth study of mormon history. Today, it added the printers manuscript of the book of mormon and pictures of the seer stone joseph. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. The revelations he received about the holy book of mormon while under the anointing of that book were inspired. In order to believe in the book of abraham, you must again take josephs word for it. It does however outline the major faults and inconsistencies in the origination of early church doctrine.
Did martin harris ever deny his book of mormon witness because he thought that joseph smith was a fallen prophet. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3. Nov 26, 2014 the churchs public affairs department directed huffpost to todd compton, a mormon researcher whose 1997 book in sacred loneliness compiles a list of 33 welldocumented wives of joseph smith although the total number is likely as high as 40. As a result, if the book of mormon can be proved to be manmade, then the church is manmade. Elder holland shares his testimony of the book of mormon and the ministry of joseph and hyrum smith. Joseph smiths most important contribution as a revealer and the prophet of the restoration is his testimony of the lord jesus christ. Tom smart, deseret news the book normally sits in a box, in a dark room with a controlled temperature and humidity level. Last week, the joseph smith papers published the records of joseph smiths legal trials. The testimony of joseph smith about the book of mormon. My life by gogo goff testimony of the book of mormon. The following preface should cause all readers to consider what president no he wasnt president at the time of its writing but he did not change one word of it after becoming president joseph fielding smith said about cumorah, and not toss them aside as if they were from just another ar. The churchs public affairs department directed huffpost to todd compton, a mormon researcher whose 1997 book in sacred loneliness compiles a list of 33 welldocumented wives of joseph smith although the total number is likely as high as 40. The interest in the people of the pacific comes from a brief account in the book of mormon of one hagoth, a nephite shipbuilder who left the americas and.
Final moments at carthage jail and the death of joseph smith. In 1823 moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the book of mormon to joseph smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 the guide to the scriptures, moroni, son of mormon, 16768. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. Other prophets have testified simply of the divinity of the book of mormon. On the other hand, if its origin is godgiven, then joseph smith was a prophet, and if he was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is true. The book of mormon is nothing more than a fictional account made up by joseph smith. Sep 06, 2018 this moroni says he did, and from all the evidence in the book of mormon, augmented by the testimony of the prophet joseph smith, these final battles took place in the territory known as the united states and in the neighborhood of the great. Aug 25, 2019 the photos also revealed that joseph smith had personally signed the book and adams had documented the receipt on the same page underneath joseph smiths name.
Now the world knows that joseph smith was an unbaptized sinner. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down still visible. A common muslim testimony i bear you my testimony that i know the book of mormon is true, i know that joseph smith is a true prophet of god and i know that the church is the only true church i bear witness that there is no god but allah, and i bear witness that mohammed is the servant and messenger of allah. Joseph smith has done many things to enlighten the understanding of men throughout the restoration of the gospel. Smith wrote on the page that this was the book of mormon his father, hyrum smith, took to carthage jail where hyrum was killed. Most scholars of the book of mormon believe that js and cowdery translated the portion from mosiah to moroni first, and the portion from the first book of nephi to words of mormon second. Did joseph smiths mother believe he could have written the. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if joseph s story about golden plates is true. See, for example, welch, opening the heavens, 100101, 115117.
Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph smith. In honor of joseph smith s birthday on december 23, i would like to share president nelsons words with you, in the hopes they will help strengthen your testimony as they have mine. On the evening of the twentyfirst of september 1823 i betook myself to prayer and supplication to almighty god. These are some of the prophet joseph smiths own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon on the evening of the 20 first of september 1820 three, i took myself to prayer and supplication to almighty god. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates.
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