History of the book of mormon and joseph smith testimony

I was young, and they deceived me, by saying the salvation of our whole family depended on it. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Judy madison is the 3rd great granddaughter of joseph smith through alexander. Martha jane knowlton coray, who acted as her amanuensis. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smithhistory. The ancient record thus brought forth from the earth as the voice of a people speaking from the dust, and translated into modern speech by the gift and power of god as attested by divine affirmation, was first published to the world in the year 1830 as the book of mormon.

He simply couldnt bring himself to ask forgiveness, even though he was sorry he had ever left. Through revelation, he translated and published the book of mormon, organized the church of jesus christ of latterday saints on april 6, 1830, and received revelations to guide the church. The testimony of joseph smith about the book of mormon youtube. The ancient record thus brought forth from the earth as the voice of a people speaking from the dust, and translated into modern speech by the gift and power of god as attested by divine affirmation, was first published to the world in the year 1830 as the book. This script is taken from portions of joseph smiths own testimony, found at the beginning of the book of mormon. How president nelson strengthened my struggling testimony of. Testimony of joseph smith, a mormon prophet youtube. Joseph smith and the foundations of the restoration. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement.

Did joseph smiths mother believe he could have written the. 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. Descendent of joseph smith testifies of the book of mormon and joseph smith judy madison is the 3rd great granddaughter of joseph smith through alexander. Apr 05, 2020 those who earnestly seek to know if the book of mormon is true can be blessed with an experience as glorious and sacred as joseph smiths experience. The three witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early latter day saint movement who stated that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which joseph smith, jr. Joseph smith and the historicity of the book of mormon religious. Joseph smith, central american ruins, and the book of mormon. I dont have a testimony of the history of the church fairmormon. He claimed at an angel recovered plates and they no longer exist on earth. If joseph smith did not rely extensively perhaps even exclusively on ethan smiths view of the hebrews in writing the book of mormon, then the two unrelated smiths are parties to the greatest literary coincidence in history. When joseph smith was 14 years old, he wanted to know which church he should join, so he asked god in sincere prayer. 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 testimony of joseph smith about the book of mormon. Aug, 2018 i bear testimony that joseph smith was raised up by almighty god as a prophet in the last dispensation and fullness of times.

The prophet joseph smiths own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon are. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. If joseph smith did not rely extensively perhaps even exclusively on ethan smith s view of the hebrews in writing the book of mormon, then the two unrelated smiths are parties to the greatest literary coincidence in history. For example, when dictating his own history, he wrote. Beginning in 1820 at palmyra, new york, joseph smith saw god the father and jesus christ in vision. On the evening of the twentyfirst of september 1823 i betook.

David osborn heard joseph smith bear this testimony in far west, missouri, 1837. Critics began by labeling the book bungling and stupid, joe smith a perfect ignoramus, and they claimed any blunderhead, with the bible at his side, might have written it. The history of mormonism begins with joseph smith jr. Harper, the witnesses to the book of mormon provide some of the most compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous revelation and translation. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. She recently lost her battle to cancer but died having a testimony of joseph smith. The book of mormon has drawn criticism from many christians because it is accepted in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as legitimate scripture, despite other denominations insistence that the bible is the only valid of word of god that will. The book of mormon church history the church of jesus christ. A testimony of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to. 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 know that joseph smith was a true prophet of god, which naturally means the lds church is christs one true church. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates which he translated by the gift and power of god. Towards the end of her life, and not long after the deaths of her sons joseph, hyrum, and samuel in 1844, lucy, perhaps in part as a salve to her grief, and at the behest of the quorum of the twelve, began recording her familys story. Dec 31, 2019 this script is taken from portions of joseph smith s own testimony, found at the beginning of the book of mormon.

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. Learn the story of the coming forth of the book of mormon, including its setting and history, as well as the visits of the angel moroni to joseph smith. One of the things mormons ask potential converts to do is to read the book of mormon and then pray to god and ask him if the book of mormon is true. All three men upheld their testimony of the book of mormon at their deaths. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon. 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. History joseph smith jr and emma hale smith historical society. Book of mormongeographystatementsnineteenth centuryjoseph. At the home of john quincy adams, they found an 1841 copy of the book of mormon that originally belonged to someone very special in church history emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith. A modernday apostle describes the unwavering faith churchs founders showed, even in the face of death, to remain true to their testimonies. Feb 27, 2014 confirmed testimony of the book of mormon. And it came to pass that as ammon and lamoni was a journeying thither alma 20. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone1 of our religion.

Joseph smith and the foundations of the restoration represents a season collection of individual stories of the restoration presented for television by the history of. 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. Book of mormon, 1830, page 590 the joseph smith papers. Martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was for the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor of the book of mormon, 1955, p. The situation is even worse for the book of abraham, which joseph smith claimed to have translated from some papyrus scrolls. As a testimony comes as a gift from god through the holy ghost a careful and humble study of the history of this work will strengthen and give that testimony eloquence and power. Ever since the book of mormon was translated by the prophet joseph smith in a matter of months in 1829 and published in march 1830, presidents of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints have testified of and extolled the divinity of this volume of scripture. Lucy mack smith 17751856, mother of the prophet joseph smith, was a committed believer in her sons divine calling. Nov 07, 2017 one of the most powerful witnesses of the book of mormon in the early days of this dispensation came from lucy mack smith, the mother of joseph smith. Mar 02, 2018 attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. An earlier, incomplete draft of this account is found in history, ca. For a more complete account, see joseph smithhistory in the pearl of great price. Joseph smiths own interest and endorsement of the books had a significant impact on latterday saint interpretations.

Lynn and tanya bascom, an lds couple from bountiful, utah, touring some of the nations historical sites in the boston, massachusetts, area. Testimony of the witnesses and general church history byutv. The following list identifies accounts found on the joseph smith papers website. Phineas young wrote to his older brother brigham young on december 31, 1841, from kirtland, ohio. 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. The book of mormon was dictated by joseph smith to several scribes over a period of months, resulting in three manuscripts. Discussions on the book of mormon joseph smith history.

It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the. Aug 05, 2015 last week, the joseph smith papers published the records of joseph smiths legal trials. Today, it added the printers manuscript of the book of mormon and pictures of the seer stone joseph. 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. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. Fittingly, joseph smiths testimony is included in the introduction of the. Emma smiths copy of the book of mormon found joseph. Joseph smith would also make later remarks that included central america and its inhabitants as also being relevant to book of mormon geography and peoples see bernhisel letter and july 1842 times and seasons wilford woodruff, who wrote one of the zelph accounts, also regarded a book on central american ruins to be evidence for the book of. Joseph smith and other early latterday saints also greeted these central american discoveries with enthusiasm, in large part because of their potential relevance to the book of mormon. Quoted by david osborn, in recollections of the prophet joseph smith, juvenile instructor, mar. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1 nephi 2. Following the first vision, the publication of the book of mormon is the second fundamental milestone of the unfolding restoration of the gospel of jesus christ in the.

The history of the prophet joseph smith, originally entitled, the history of mother smith, by herself, was written at the dictation of lucy smith, mother of the prophet, by mrs. The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. Although harris continued to testify to the truth of the book of mormon even when he was. Four years later smith claimed to have removed the plates from hill cumorah, and after three years of translating through a curtain, smith published the book of mormon in 1830. Mormon history secrets and the conflicts of mormons christians. In order to believe in the book of abraham, you must again take josephs word for it. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. Discussions on the book of mormon testimony of the witnesses and general church history now playing. It is said that you will then receive a testimony from the holy ghost that the book of mormon is true, that joseph smith is a prophet of god, and that the church of jesus christ of latterday.

On the other hand, in their view, stand the ignorant mormons. The book presents itself so completely as an actual historical record written in ancient times. Js and harris stopped translating on 14 june, the day before emma smith gave birth to a son who either was stillborn or died shortly after birth. 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. Lucy had the rare privilege of handling the golden plates as well as the urim and thummim and the breastplate while they. A documentary history of the book of mormon byu studies. While some of the documents included in morriss documentary history of the book of mormon are found in the joseph smith paperseither in print or online at many are not.

The most significant witnesses are the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, all of whom allowed their names to be used on two separate statements included with the book of mormon. The 116 lost pages contained the first portion of the book of lehi. Since joseph smith was the publisher of the book of mormon, we can rightly assign some. Joseph smith iii, last testimony of sister emma, saints herald, 1 oct. In 1861, a missionary visiting him heard his testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon, of joseph smiths role as a prophet, and even a commitment to brigham youngs work as a prophet. This testimony given at the joseph smith jr family reunion in nauvoo 2007. See more ideas about joseph smith, church history and lds church. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Dec 22, 2018 and yet, theres always been this gap in my testimony, this weak point when it came to joseph smith.