Near the end of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni makes a promise that if we will pray, we can learn that the Book of Mormon is true by the witness of the Holy Ghost (Mor. 10:3-5). This spiritual form of evidence is a powerful and convincing means by which many come to believe that the Book of Mormon is an authentic record that was written on golden plates and translated by Joseph Smith.
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, among its introductory pages, is a form of secular evidence for the Book of Mormon that carries with it the same weight as evidence that is used to prove a case in a modern court of law. That is the testimony of human witnesses.
There are two groups of witnesses: The Three Witnesses saw the plates, but also saw an angel of God. The Eight Witnesses had a very naturalistic experience in that they held the plates, felt the metal pages, and saw the engravings on them. That these two groups had very different experiences adds credibility to their testimony. Some may say the Three Witnesses were caught up in a spiritual frenzy and deceived by a hallucination. But the Eight Witnesses did not report any kind of supernatural event.
So as the Eight Witnesses saw no angel, critics may say that Joseph Smith somehow faked a set of golden plates and passed them off as authentic to the Eight Witnesses. But even if Joseph were some kind of expert forger of metal plates, that does not explain the appearance of an angel to the Three Witnesses. The fact that the two sets of witnesses had a very different experience adds credibility to the evidence they provide.
Witness credibility may also be measured by bias. Some may say that since the witnesses were all close associates or family members of Joseph Smith, and that they were all members of the Church, that their testimony cannot be trusted. While these associations cannot be denied, it is significant to note that each of the Three Witnesses and all of the Eight Witnesses, except for the two members of the Smith family, eventually left the Church.
One might think that if their testimony were false, and based on bias, that they would recant their testimony once their motivations changed. However, while many of the witnesses lost their confidence in Joseph Smith as a leader, not one of these witnesses ever denied their testimony of the Book of Mormon. And of the Three Witnesses of both the plates and the angel, two of them later returned to full fellowship in the Church.
You can learn more about the story of the Three Witnesses in a new feature film that has been produced by The Interpreter Foundation called Witnesses. While many films have focussed on Joseph Smith, this one tells the story of the restoration from the perspective of the Three Witnesses. Telling the story in this way can help people understand better how these three men could see the plates and even see an angel, but then decide to leave the Church and still never deny what they saw.
As of this time, the film is scheduled to be shown in 57 theaters in 8 different states beginning on June 4. If enough people see the movie during the first weekend, its showing will expand and it will be available in additional locations during the subsequent weeks. You can watch a trailer for the film and order tickets now at the website for the Witnesses movie. You can also request that the movie be shown where you are if it is not already scheduled there.
Once people see the film, they may have questions and want to learn more about the witnesses of the plates. The Interpreter Foundation, in cooperation with FAIR and Book of Mormon Central, has created a website where people can learn more about not only the Three Witnesses, but also about the Eight Witnesses and about a number of other unofficial witnesses of the plates.
For example, not many people know that perhaps the first eyewitness of the plates, aside from Joseph Smith, was Josiah Stowell, who reports having seen the plates when Joseph first brought them home as Joseph passed them through the window into his home. A number of women are also witnesses of the physicality of the plates such as Emma Smith, Lucy Mack Smith, and Mary Whitmer. You can read about their stories, as well as others, at https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/
This new website also provides biographical information, timelines, various statements from the witnesses and a list of questions and answers that address a wide variety of issues related to the witnesses. You are also invited to add your own witness of the Book of Mormon along with many other modern witnesses whose testimonies you can read on the site.
Once the dramatic film has been shown in theaters, The Interpreter Foundation will release a documentary film that provides additional information and includes interviews with historians who are both members and non-members of the Church. More information about the documentary film can be found at https://witnessesundaunted.com/
The work of collecting information about these various witnesses will continue long after the feature film is shown in theaters this summer. This information, along with film clips from both movies, will be shared on various websites and other venues. Through these efforts, The Interpreter Foundation hopes to spark renewed interest in the story of the Three Witnesses as well as the stories of all those who are witnesses of the Book of Mormon.
