After using the Gold Plates to record Jacob’s, Isaiah’s, and his own testimony of Christ’s gospel, Nephi states the following:
“…By the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.” (2 Nephi 11:3)
Questions:
-Is this principle of three witnesses found in other places in the scriptures?
-Thinking of the Godhead as an example, are the testimonies given by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost from a single source? Or, are these testimonies from three separate Persons who are one in purpose?
-Does each member of the Godhead share His testimony in a unique way? Where in the scriptures do we have the testimony of the Father? Where in the scriptures do we have the testimony of the Son? How does the Holy Ghost share His testimony?
-Did God establish three witnesses to the divine origins of the Book of Mormon? Where can the testimony of those three witnesses by found? (see Testimony of the Three Witnesses)
Latter-day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators
The prophet Joseph Smith expressed his feelings as follows, speaking to his parents, after the Lord revealed the divine origins of the Book of Mormon to three other men: “Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am no longer to be entirely alone in the world” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, 152).
—
“…The testimony of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon stands forth in great strength. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate. As is well known, because of disagreements or jealousies involving other leaders of the Church, each one of these three witnesses was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by about eight years after the publication of their testimony. All three went their separate ways, with no common interest to support a collusive effort. Yet to the end of their lives—periods ranging from 12 to 50 years after their excommunications—not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness.” (Dallen H. Oaks, “The Witness: Martin Harris”, 37)
Messages of the Book of Mormon 