Three Witnesses
As Nephi introduced the many chapters of Isaiah that he
quoted in 2 Nephi 12-24, he said, “And now I, Nephi, write more of
the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and
I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer,
even as I have seen him.” He then
continued by testifying that his brother Jacob had seen the Savior as well, and
then he mentioned this principle: “Wherefore, by the words of three, God
hath said, I will establish my word” (2 Nephi 11:2-3). This law of witnesses seems to be a fundamental
principle by which God operates and wants His people to function. I think we find evidence of this in all books
of scripture.
The law was first explicitly
described in the Old Testament as part of the Law of Moses. The people were told, “At the mouth of two
witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death;
but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death” (Deuteronomy
17:6). This was reiterated a couple
chapters later in these words: “One witness shall not rise up against a man for
any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two
witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established”
(Deuteronomy 19:15). Christ seemed to
teach the same principle to His disciples as He talked about what to do when
there were brothers who trespassed: “But if he will not hear thee, then take
with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may be established” (Matt. 18:16).
Paul then reiterated this same principle as he told Timothy: “Against an
elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses” (1 Timothy
5:19). To the Corinthians he likewise
quoted the Savior’s words: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every
word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
The principle of witnesses is
likewise an important part of the Restoration and in the Doctrine and Covenants
and Book of Mormon. Before the Church
was even organized, the Lord said, “And the testimony of three witnesses will
I send forth of my word” and then reiterated again shortly thereafter, “In the
mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established”
(D&C 5:15, 6:28). Those were spoken
in the context of the Book of Mormon, and the Three Witnesses of the reality of
the Book of Mormon were a foundation of the Restoration itself. The Book of Mormon even prophesied of this
event: “None shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall
behold it, by the power of God” (2 Nephi 27:12). Joseph reiterated the principle many years later
as he wrote to the Saints about the importance of having witnesses to record
the baptisms for the dead: “Naming also some three individuals that are
present, if there be any present, who can at any time when called upon certify
to the same, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established” (D&C 128:3).
The
Savior spoke one other time about the concept of “three witnesses” and the
principle is profoundly taught in the Pearl of Great Price. He said, “And there are three that
bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and
these three agree in one” (1 John 5:8).
We learn more about what He meant in His words to Adam recorded in the
book of Moses: “Ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit,
which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye
must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of
the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten;
that ye might be sanctified from all sin….
For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified,
and by the blood ye are sanctified” (Moses 6:59-60). So of the different contexts in which we
think of the principle of three witnesses, perhaps this is the most important
for us personally. We seek to be born
again and we seek three signs to give witness of that: the water of our baptism,
the Spirit and Gift of the Holy Ghost that guides us and justifies us before
God, and the blood of Christ which will purify and sanctify those who come unto
Him.
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