Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
Eleven men who saw and handled the golden plates — and never recanted
The Book of Mormon contains the written testimonies of eleven men — divided into the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses — who each claimed direct, personal experience with the golden plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. Their testimonies are printed in every copy of the Book of Mormon.
What makes these testimonies remarkable is not merely that they were given, but that they were never recanted. Several of the witnesses later left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under difficult circumstances — some bitterly so — yet not one of the eleven ever denied his testimony of the plates. This is a historical fact of the first order.
The Three Witnesses
The Three Witnesses — Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris — were shown the plates by an angel and heard the voice of God declaring the translation correct. Their testimony is the most extraordinary of the eleven, as it involved direct angelic ministry.
Oliver Cowdery
1806 – 1850
Oliver Cowdery served as the primary scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon, writing the majority of the manuscript as Joseph Smith dictated. He was present for the restoration of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, and was one of the six original members of the Church on April 6, 1830. He later left the Church in 1838 following a dispute with Joseph Smith, but was rebaptized in 1848 and died a faithful member in 1850, never recanting his testimony of the Book of Mormon.
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record... And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true."
Later Years
After leaving the Church, Oliver practiced law in Ohio and Michigan. He never denied his witness. On his deathbed he said: 'I am going to my Savior... I wrote with my own pen the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith... I beheld with my eyes and handled with my hands the gold plates from which it was transcribed.'
David Whitmer
1805 – 1888
David Whitmer hosted the final weeks of the Book of Mormon translation at his family's farm in Fayette, New York. He was one of the most prominent early members of the Church and served in various leadership capacities. He left the Church in 1838 and never returned, but he never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He lived until 1888 — 44 years after Joseph Smith's death — and repeatedly affirmed his witness to journalists, investigators, and visitors.
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record... And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man."
Later Years
David Whitmer gave dozens of interviews in his later years, consistently affirming his witness. In 1887, one year before his death, he published 'An Address to All Believers in Christ,' in which he wrote: 'I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that Book, as one of the three witnesses.'
Martin Harris
1783 – 1875
Martin Harris was a prosperous farmer in Palmyra, New York, who became one of the earliest and most important supporters of Joseph Smith. He mortgaged his farm to finance the printing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon in 1830. He served as scribe during an early portion of the translation and famously took a copy of characters from the plates to Professor Charles Anthon in New York City, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of the 'learned man.' He left the Church in 1837 but was rebaptized in 1870 at age 87 and emigrated to Utah, where he died in 1875.
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record... And 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."
Later Years
Martin Harris was rebaptized in 1870 and traveled to Utah to be with the Saints. He bore his testimony publicly many times in his final years. His last recorded testimony was given just weeks before his death: 'I tell you of these things that you may tell others that what I have said is true, and I dare not deny it; I heard the voice of God commanding me to testify of it.'
The Eight Witnesses
The Eight Witnesses — members of the Whitmer and Smith families — were shown the plates by Joseph Smith himself. They handled them physically, turned the leaves, and examined the engravings. Their testimony is one of physical, tangible handling — not angelic vision.
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it."
Christian Whitmer
1798 – 1835Son of Peter Whitmer Sr.
Died faithful, age 37Jacob Whitmer
1800 – 1856Son of Peter Whitmer Sr.
Left Church but never denied testimonyPeter Whitmer Jr.
1809 – 1836Son of Peter Whitmer Sr.
Died faithful, age 27John Whitmer
1802 – 1878Son of Peter Whitmer Sr., Church Historian
Left Church but never denied testimonyHiram Page
1800 – 1852Son-in-law of Peter Whitmer Sr.
Left Church but never denied testimonyJoseph Smith Sr.
1771 – 1840Father of the Prophet Joseph Smith
First Patriarch of the Church. Died faithful.Hyrum Smith
1800 – 1844Brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Martyred alongside Joseph at Carthage Jail, June 27, 1844Samuel H. Smith
1808 – 1844Brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith
First missionary of the Church. Died faithful.The Significance of Their Testimony
Legal scholars and historians have noted that the testimony of eleven witnesses — many of whom later had strong reasons to recant — is among the most compelling evidentiary records in religious history. In a court of law, the consistent testimony of eleven independent witnesses who maintained their account under duress, financial loss, and social ostracism would be considered extraordinarily strong evidence.
Of the eleven witnesses: three (Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, David Whitmer) left the Church at various points and had every motive to deny their testimony if it were false. None did. The eight physical witnesses included members of two families (Whitmer and Smith) who experienced significant internal conflicts with Church leadership. None denied the physical reality of the plates.
As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has written: "I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies... be recorded by these witnesses of whom I speak, that I stand with the Prophet Joseph Smith and with Moroni in declaring that it is true, that it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ."