“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 5:41
The Book of Mormon promised that three witnesses would see the gold plates and stand as a testimony of them.2 In a revelation, the Lord told Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer that they would be the three promised to see the record.3 The three men gathered with Joseph Smith near the Whitmer Farm. There, the Angel Moroni appeared, first to Joseph, Oliver, and David and then separately to Joseph and Martin. He showed them the gold plates and allowed the men to hold and handle the record.4 Each one then heard the voice of God, who said, "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 what you now see and hear."5
This experience was documented and the "Testimony of Three Witnesses" is now included in the beginning of the Book of Mormon.6 Although all three men were excommunicated at different points, each of the Three Witnesses maintained their testimonies about the gold plates and the Book of Mormon's divine origin throughout their lives and never recanted.7
