Lesson 41 - The Testimony of Three Witnesses

Our lesson today is the testimony of three men that the prophecy of the coming forth and translation of the Book of Mormon had been fulfilled. When Moroni finished the record of the Nephites he closed with the prophetic words which formed our last lesson; we here have a solemn statement of the manner of their accomplishment. It appears, from this testimony, that these three witnesses saw the sacred plates and the engravings thereon, that an angel of God, who is generally understood to be Moroni himself, came down from heaven and showed them to the witnesses; also, that the voice of the Lord declared unto them that the engravings had been translated by the gift and power of God, and that He commanded them to bear record of these things. (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 17.) And to be obedient to that commandment they send this testimony forth to all the world, that all men may know what great things God had done and was now doing for His children on this earth.

It is worthy of especial note that though these witnesses all left the Church, and for a time entertained very bitter feelings towards the Prophet Joseph Smith, yet they never denied this testimony nor faltered in their allegiance to the Book of Mormon; though often strongly urged by apostates and unbelievers to do so. But their unvarying reply was that they had seen and heard the angel and that their testimony, as printed,, was true in every particular.