Unto Three Shall They Be Shown by the Power of God
Book of Mormon Notes - Sunday, May 12, 2024, Ether 5
The very beginning of Ether 5 changes my perspective on everything that I have written about the Book of Ether up to this point. Moroni addresses the future Prophet Joseph Smith directly:
And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God. (Ether 5:1)
Besides commanding the Prophet Joseph Smith not to touch the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon in order to translate it, Moroni informs us that he wrote the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon “according to his memory.” This is fascinating and significant. In fact, it may be that Moroni did the same thing that the brother of Jared did. In other words, like the brother of Jared who was given a glorious revelation and expansive vision of all things after receiving the visitation and the ministry of Jehovah, the pre-mortal Messiah, Moroni received the visitation and the ministry of the Resurrected Christ, followed by the revelations of the brother of Jared. Furthermore, like the brother of Jared, Moroni wrote some things immediately (and with the help of other plates), whereas other things he wrote from memory.
If I am not mistaken, therefore, just as the brother of Jared treasured up the personal visitation and ministry of Jehovah to him - along with whatever ordinances and covenants he was given, Moroni treasured up the vision and full record of the brother of Jared until it was time for him to write from memory. The way I read this first verse in chapter five of the Book of Ether is that Moroni read and studied the full record of the brother of Jared - perhaps along with the translation of Coriantumr’s writings from the large stone and a translation of the twenty-four gold plates of Ether - before beginning to write. Moroni didn’t merely copy or translate the full record of the brother of Jared word for word. He studied it, and then wrote it out according to his own inspired memory. If such is the case, then when the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon is finally revealed and translated, it will contain the full account of the brother of Jared’s record according to Moroni’s memory. If the full record of the brother of Jared is also revealed and translated, then it will be interesting to compare what the brother of Jared wrote to Moroni’s account of what the brother of Jared wrote.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was probably curious to know what was written in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Did the Prophet Joseph Smith know what was written in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon? I don’t know. But notice that Moroni forbids the future prophet from touching Moroni’s sealed words in order to translate. Was the Prophet Joseph Smith forbidden from touching Moroni’s sealed words in order to read? I don’t know. Joseph Smith had a special relationship with his tutoring angel, Moroni. The angel Moroni taught Joseph Smith many things. Perhaps Moroni permitted Joseph Smith to read the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon without translating it. I don’t know. Perhaps the angel Moroni taught Joseph Smith what was in the sealed portion. I don’t know. Of all the transitions of handing down records from one prophet to another, one of the most miraculous and fascinating is the transfer of the records from two great but conquered civilizations to the beginning of the present civilization, that is, from Moroni to Joseph Smith.
Notice also that Joseph Smith was forbidden from translating the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, but only for a time, or “except by and by it shall be wisdom in God.” Does this mean that when we finally receive the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith will be the translator thereof? Or is it possible that the Lord later commanded Joseph Smith to translate the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon in secret? I don’t know. Considering the mystery behind the teaching and practice of polygamy, and considering Joseph Smith’s capacity to keep a secret until doomsday, it seems possible that, with the Lord’s help and by His command, Joseph Smith could have already translated the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and sealed it up or given it to the angel Moroni.
Even though Moroni forbade the future prophet, Joseph Smith, from touching the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon in order to translate, Moroni eased Joseph Smith’s burden by granting him the privilege to show the plates to at least three others:
And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work;
And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true.
And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day. (Ether 5:2-4)
Volumes could be written, and volumes (see also here), and movies (see also here), have been written about the three Book of Mormon witnesses. Church leaders have spoken frequently on the topic of Book of Mormon witnesses. LDS scholar Daniel Peterson has also written extensively on the topic of Book of Mormon witnesses.
The first thing that stands out to me about Moroni’s statement about the future witnesses is that they “shall assist to bring forth this work.” We recall Nephi’s prophecy:
Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.
And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.
Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God! (2 Nephi 27:12-14)
We also recall that Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah were three witnesses of Jesus Christ in ancient times:
And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words. (2 Nephi 11:3)
The Lord didn’t just grant Joseph Smith and the three witnesses the privilege of seeing the plates because of their curiosity. There is a law of witnesses, and the Lord’s purpose for choosing witnesses was, among other things, to establish the truth of His word through their testimony. Joseph Smith had the privilege of showing the plates, by the power of God, to three witnesses. These three were shown, and knew of a surety that the plates were real, and that the prophesies were true. All of this stands as a testimony against the world at the last day, or in the time in which we now live.
The three witnesses were granted another blessing and promise from the Lord as well:
And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God.
And now, if I have no authority for these things, judge ye; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall stand before God at the last day. Amen. (Ether 5:5-6)
As great as the three witnesses’ privilege of seeing the plates was, they were not exempt from the Lord’s commandment to each one of us, namely, to repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
Who were the three witnesses (see also here) and what is their testimony?
The first edition of the Book of Mormon featured two testimonials: one written by a group of three witnesses and another by a group of eight. Three witnesses (Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris) declared an angel of God appeared to them and showed them the Book of Mormon plates and they heard the voice of the Lord pronounce that Joseph Smith’s translation had been accomplished “by the gift and power of God.” This experience took place in June 1829 near the home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, New York. An additional eight witnesses (members of the Smith and Whitmer families)1 declared that Joseph Smith himself showed them the plates and allowed each to “heft” the ancient artifact and examine its engravings. Several others had direct experiences with the plates or otherwise witnessed Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon.2
How did Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris become the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon? We learn in D&C 17 that they were inspired of the Lord during the process of the translation of the Book of Mormon:
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, at Fayette, New York, June 1829, prior to their viewing the engraved plates that contained the Book of Mormon record. Joseph and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, had learned from the translation of the Book of Mormon plates that three special witnesses would be designated (see Ether 5:2–4; 2 Nephi 11:3; 27:12). Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris were moved upon by an inspired desire to be the three special witnesses. The Prophet inquired of the Lord, and this revelation was given in answer through the Urim and Thummim.
Thus the Lord revealed through the Urim and Thummim that Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris would, by faith in Christ, view the plates and other sacred objects:
Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea.
And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old.
And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them, by the power of God;
And this you shall do that my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., may not be destroyed, that I may bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men in this work.
And ye shall testify that you have seen them, even as my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., has seen them; for it is by my power that he has seen them, and it is because he had faith.
And he has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.
Wherefore, you have received the same power, and the same faith, and the same gift like unto him;
And if you do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you shall be lifted up at the last day.
And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it unto you, that I might bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men. Amen. (D&C 17)
As miraculous as it was for the three witnesses to behold the plates, it is even more miraculous to consider what else they saw. In the first place, it is miraculous that they were moved upon by the Spirit of God with the inspired to desire to be the three witnesses. Then it is miraculous that they saw an angel, followed by a vision of the plates, the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim which the Lord gave to the brother of Jared upon Mount Shelem, and the miraculous directors that the Lord gave to Lehi in the wilderness, the Liahona.
The Lord revealed these things to the three witnesses for His Holy purposes, namely, to protect His servant Joseph Smith, Jr. and to bring about His righteous purposes unto the children of men in this work. The Lord revealed these things in order for the three witnesses to testify of the truth of what they saw:
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES
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, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. 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. 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. 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, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
The Book of Mormon is true. The testimony of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon is true.
Who wrote the testimony of the three witnesses? Daniel Peterson explains the fascinating answer to this question. For more information about the three witnesses, I recommend this research by FAIR LDS.
We traditionally assume that the angel that appeared to the three witnesses was the angel Moroni, and this assumption makes sense. But to my knowledge the three witnesses did not know the name of the angel. (See also here)