KnoWhy #521 - Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses Really See What They Claimed? (3 Nephi 28:15)

Throughout their lives, none of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon ever denied their testimonies. Yet some people have questioned the reality of their experiences, especially the encounter with the plates reported by the Three Witnesses. This is because these witnesses claimed to have beheld the gold plates in a vision, despite the fact that it seemed as real to them as everyday visual experiences. A comprehensive analysis of the statements made by the Three Witnesses demonstrates that they truly believed that what they had seen was real. Moreover, a key to correctly interpreting their statements can be found in the scriptures themselves, which demonstrate that it is difficult for people to tell whether or not they are in or out of their own natural bodies when beholding a vision.