Two Sets of Three Witnesses

In Ether 5 the prophet Moroni directly addressed Joseph Smith in these words: “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” (Ether 5:2-4).  So Joseph knew from that time during the translation at least that there would be three specific witnesses to the plates and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  The Savior referred to this in a revelation to Martin Harris in March 1829, saying “And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of my word” (Doctrine and Covenants 5:15).   The Lord again alluded to the same in a revelation the next month during the time Joseph and Oliver were translating the plates in earnest, telling the two of them: “I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:28).  These two, Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery, along with David Whitmer, would become eye witnesses of the plates and the angel Moroni after the translation was finished.  They then fulfilled what Moroni had written about in the book of Ether, declaring their testimony to the world: “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.” 

             I was struck by the fact that Moroni’s promise of witnesses in Ether 5 also referenced a second set of three witnesses to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  He declared, “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 5:4).  So the three mortal witnesses and the book itself testify of the truthfulness of the record, but in addition to that “the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost” also bear record that the book is true.  Millions have indeed confirmed that the Holy Ghost has born witness to their hearts that the book is true, fulfilling Moroni’s promise that “[God] will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4).  The Savior Himself has also declared His witness of the truthfulness of the book, declaring that Joseph Smith “has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (Doctrine and Covenants 17:6).  He also gave His stamp of approval on the book when he commanded the Saints to “repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:57).  What about the Father?  Has He born witness of its truthfulness as Moroni said?  Moroni 10:4 suggests that is “God, the Eternal Father” who does “manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost,” so certainly in that sense it is He who sends the Holy Ghost to bear testimony.  We also have the testimony of the three witnesses who declared, “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.”  They recorded that they heard the voice of God say, “These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them, which you have seen, is correct, and I command you to bear record of wat you now see and hear.”  Whether that was the voice of God the Father or the Son they did not clarify, but even if it was the Son we do have the Father’s voice opening this dispensation declaring, “This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (JSH 1:17)  What the Son says is indeed what the Father would say and His stamp of approval is on the words of the Savior.  We truly do have the witnesses of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, and we are under condemnation from the Savior if we do not remember it.