“As Many Witnesses As Seemeth Him Good”

“In the Mouth of As Many Witnesses As Seemeth Him Good”

In the course of the work of translation, Joseph Smith wrote, we ascertained that three special witnesses were to be provided by the Lord, to whom He would grant that they should see the plates from which this work (the Book of Mormon) should be translated; and that these witnesses should bear witness of the same.... Almost immediately after we had made this discovery, it occurred to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and the aforementioned Martin Harris (who had come to inquire after our progress in the work) that they [should] have me inquire of the Lord to know if they might not obtain of him the privilege to be these three special witnesses; and finally they became so very solicitous, and urged me so much to inquire that at length I complied; and through the Urim and Thummim, I obtained of the Lord for them the following.

“ (HC 1:52-53.) Section 17 of the Doctrine and Covenants follows, a revelation given to the three men whose testimony would accompany every copy of the Book of Mormon. In that revelation the Savior said: ”Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim ... and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea. And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old. And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them, by the power of God.“ (D&C 17:1-3.)”