Lies are eventually exposed to be lies. Mark Hofmann was so clever in his document forgeries that he deceived both LDS and RLDS historians, and also document experts. Yet his forgeries are now known to be forgeries, while he rots in prison for killing people who were on the brink of exposing his deceptions.
If the witnesses lied, or conspired to lie, such deception would have long ago been revealed. The fact that most of the witnesses became estranged from the church that published the Book of Mormon containing their testimonies would surely have caused one or more of them to tell about any deception that they had engaged in. The fact that all eleven of them remained true to their printed testimonies, despite frustrations and disappointments regarding the publishing organization, is overwhelming evidence that they had not engaged in deception.
As they lived their lives, some of them were approached by persons who knew of their estrangement and wanted to get them to admit to deception. The most interviewed witness was the last surviving of them: David Whitmer. If any of the ten who had died before him had confessed to deception, the game would have been over, and there would be little need to interview him. But none of the previous ten had ever confessed to deception. Therefore, David Whitmer was badgered and hounded by persons eager to not allow the last remaining witness to die firm in his testimony. Yet he did die firm in his testimony.
This leaves enemies of the Book of Mormon in a pitiful condition regarding the witnesses. It means that they have to invent a new standard to judge by: refusing to believe the printed testimonies unless they are backed up by other statements by the individual witnesses. This is a false standard, because it tries to diminish testimonies made "with words of soberness" while inflating more casual comments.
An 1828 revelation through Joseph Smith has this warning: "Verily, verily I say unto you, Woe be unto him that lieth to deceive, because he supposes that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God."
What I take that to mean is that even though you may think that people have lied to deceive, that is no excuse for you to lie or quote lies about them. Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses by Richard Lloyd Anderson should be required reading for anyone wishing to criticize the witnesses without quoting lies about them in the process.
That is exactly what happened with D&C 10 John - smith got caught in a lie and had to change the 'revelation' of D&C 10 to cover for it.
Mark Hofmann was so clever in his document forgeries that he deceived both LDS and RLDS historians, and also document experts.
I thought that mormons had prophets that could figure these things out from God.
The fact that all eleven of them remained true to their printed testimonies, despite frustrations and disappointments regarding the publishing organization, is overwhelming evidence that they had not engaged in deception.
From what I've posted earlier, this statement is blatantly false John. IF they had actually SEEN these 'plates' common sense would say that they would NEVER have been fooled by other peep stone users (One of the eight), nor would they have been excommunicated to begin with. The simple fact that they went to embrace other beliefs further undercuts this so called 'overwhelming' evidence.
Therefore, David Whitmer was badgered and hounded by persons eager to not allow the last remaining witness to die firm in his testimony. Yet he did die firm in his testimony.
Whitmer never rejoined the LDS Church - a statement against the plates in itself. Was likened unto a “dumb ass” by Joseph Smith (History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 228). Hardly a resounding endorsement by the prophet. Cowdery left the church a final time before he died. Harris state "I never saw the golden plates, only in a visionary or entranced state."
What I take that to mean is that even though you may think that people have lied to deceive, that is no excuse for you to lie or quote lies about them. Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses by Richard Lloyd Anderson should be required reading for anyone wishing to criticize the witnesses without quoting lies about them in the process.
You have their history John, and by all practical standards, they are unreliable witnesses - going their own ways IN SPITE OF THIS 'WITNESS' after other 'witnesses'. "The History of the Church" records that the first two attempts of the three witnesses ended in failure. As Martin Harris felt that he was to blame for not being sufficiently sanctified, he withdrew from the group. After he'd gone Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer each managed to have a vision of the gold plates. Then a few days later Martin Harris was finally able to conjure up a vision as well. But it should be noted that in spite of the testimonies they had signed, in published interviews and notarized affidavits the witnesses freely admitted to only having seen the plates by faith with "second sight," or with their spiritual eyes, and then only after much struggling.
In the History of the Church, Volume 3:232, smith wrote: "Such characters as McLellin, John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, are too mean to mention; and we had liked to have forgotten them." Apparently the witnesses were in constant trouble with the church, and were at various times accused of lying, stealing, counterfeiting, apostasy and fraudulent business activities. Yet Smith had chosen this type of person to testify to the existence of the gold plates. Hmm. Guess Mr. Anderson missed something.