{"id":20808,"date":"2012-06-07T00:36:56","date_gmt":"2012-06-07T05:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=20808"},"modified":"2012-06-07T00:36:56","modified_gmt":"2012-06-07T05:36:56","slug":"who-authored-the-eight-witness-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2012\/06\/who-authored-the-eight-witness-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Who authored the eight-witness statement?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> The eight-witness statement appears to be a prosaic legal affidavit, yet one that has borrowed much of its phraseology from the three-witness statement. There are at most only two instances of phrases that could be said to have been taken from the Book of Mormon text proper: \u201cof curious workmanship\u201d and \u201cwe lie not\u201d. In striking contrast to the three-witness statement, there are numerous phrases and word uses that are not at all found in the Book of Mormon text itself. I mark each of these below with an asterisk. Some of these are contemporary with the English language spoken in the United States in the 1820s and 1830s. A few may be traceable to King James usage. These findings suggest that the eight-witness statement was not a revealed text but was constructed more as a legal document by Joseph Smith (or maybe even Oliver Cowdery). Along with the three-witness statement, I treat the eight-witness statement as extracanonical. But there is a difference: the eight-witness statement is of human origin. Thus the 1837 change that Joseph Smith introduced into it (namely, the replacement of author and proprietor with translator) is perfectly acceptable since it more accurately reflects Joseph\u2019s role in receiving the Book of Mormon as a revealed text.<\/p>\n

\u201cand also the testimony of eight witnesses\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the testimony<\/strong> of three witnesses<\/p>\n

\u201cbe it known unto all nations kindreds tongues and people\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 be it known unto all nations kindreds tongues and people<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cunto whom this work shall come\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 unto whom this work shall come<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u201cthat Joseph Smith Junior\u201d<\/p>\n

There are no examples of Joseph Smith\u2019s name in the Book of Mormon text or in the three-witness statement. The use of Junior<\/em> is clearly contemporary usage.<\/p>\n

* \u201cthe translator of this work\u201d (originally, \u201cthe author and proprietor of this work\u201d)<\/p>\n

Both the three-witness and the eight-witness statements use the phrase this work<\/em> to refer to the Book of Mormon. It is also found in the Book of Mormon itself.<\/p>\n

There are no examples of the noun translator<\/em> in the Book of Mormon text or in the three-witness statement. More problematic, to be sure, is the original phrase, \u201cauthor and proprietor\u201d, which was borrowed from the statutory copyright language. This phrase was famously used on the original title page of the Book of Mormon, in the 1830 edition: \u201cby Joseph Smith, Junior, author and proprietor\u201d. The legal language was originally in the plural, in order to protect the copyright of \u201cauthors and proprietors\u201d of literary works. In the eight-witness statement (as on the 1830 title page), the phrase was merely revised to the singular, \u201cauthor and proprietor\u201d. For the 1837 edition, Joseph Smith emended the language to state that he was the translator. See the discussion regarding \u201cauthor and proprietor\u201d in part 1 of volume 4 of the Book of Mormon critical text, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon<\/em>, pages 35-36.<\/p>\n

\u201chas shewn unto us the plates\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates<\/strong> and they have<\/strong> been shewn unto us<\/strong> by the power of God and not of man<\/p>\n

\u201cof which hath been spoken\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the people of Jared which came from the tower of which hath been spoken<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u201cwhich have the appearance of gold\u201d<\/p>\n

There are two examples of the phrase \u201cto have the appearance of X\u201d in the eight-witness statement; both mean \u2018to look like X\u2019. No such usage occurs in the actual Book of Mormon text. Although appearance<\/em> occurs there four times, it always refers to becoming visible, as in 2 Nephi 4:31 (\u201cwilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin\u201d) or as in three references to the appearance of an army (Mosiah 23:26 and 3 Nephi 4:7-8).<\/p>\n

* \u201cand as many of the leaves\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the only reference to the leaves of the plates or to a book in the codex form. There is one occurrence of leaves<\/em> in the Book of Mormon text proper, but this is in an Isaiah quotation and refers to the leaves of trees: \u201cas a teil tree and as an oak whose substance is in them when they cast their leaves<\/strong>\u201d (2 Nephi 16:13 \/ Isaiah 6:13). The singular form leaf<\/em> never occurs.<\/p>\n

* \u201cas the said Smith has translated\u201d<\/p>\n

mh2811\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and after having translated<\/strong> and caused to be written the records
\nmh2813\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and now he translated<\/strong> them by the means of those two stones<\/p>\n

The reference to \u201cthe said Smith\u201d (which occurs three times in the eight-witness statement) is legalistic language and is noticeably different from the language of both the Book of Mormon text and the three-witness statement.<\/p>\n

* \u201cwe did handle with our hands\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the only instance of the word handle<\/em>. The Book of Mormon text has examples of verbs that take the prepositional phrase \u201cwith one\u2019s hands\u201d, such as labor<\/em>, make<\/em>, and build<\/em>. In actuality, the phrase \u201cto handle with one\u2019s hands\u201d is etymologically redundant since handle<\/em> is lexically derived from hand<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cand we also saw the engravings thereon\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness \u00a0 \u00a0 and we<\/strong> beheld and saw<\/strong> the plates and the engravings thereon<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u201call of which has the appearance of ancient work\u201d<\/p>\n

As noted above, appearance<\/em> with this meaning is unique to the eight-witness statement.<\/p>\n

The adjective ancient<\/em>, with the meaning \u2018having existed for a long time\u2019, occurs in the Book of Mormon text, but never in reference to physical objects. However, this gap many simply be the result of limitations on subject matter. There are examples of ancient<\/em> in \u201cancient days\u201d (2 Nephi 8:9 \/ Isaiah 51:9), \u201cof ancient date\u201d (Mosiah 8:13, 3 Nephi 3:19), \u201cancient priests\u201d (Alma 30:23), \u201cancient prophecies\u201d (Alma 30:24), and \u201cancient inhabitants\u201d (Ether 1:1) as well as in reference to the Lord\u2019s \u201cancient covenant people\u201d (2 Nephi 29:4-5 and Mormon 8:15).<\/p>\n

The word work<\/em>, referring to a physical object, is never used this way in the Book of Mormon text except in two biblical quotes where the word work<\/em> means \u2018something made\u2019 in Hebrew: \u201cfor shall the work say of him that made it : he made me not\u201d (2 Nephi 27:27 \/ Isaiah 29:16) and \u201cand that bringeth forth an instrument for his work\u201d (3 Nephi 22:16 \/ Isaiah 54:16).<\/p>\n

\u201cand of curious workmanship\u201d<\/p>\n

1n1610\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship<\/strong>
\n1n1801\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and we did work timbers of curious workmanship<\/strong>
\naa3739\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 there cannot any man work after the manner of<\/strong> so curious<\/strong> a workmanship<\/strong>
\ner1027\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and they did work all manner of work of<\/strong> exceeding curious<\/strong> workmanship<\/strong><\/p>\n

The reference to curious workmanship<\/em> is a particular expression found fairly often in the Book of Mormon text and may have been borrowed from the text as a result of its familiarity to Joseph Smith (or to his primary scribe, Oliver Cowdery). In this phrase, the adjective curious<\/em> takes the archaic meaning \u2018careful or skilled\u2019. The King James Bible has one example of the related curious works<\/em> (in Exodus 35:32). And the Book of Mormon has an instance of curious man<\/em> (in Alma 63:5) and one of curious workmen<\/em> (in Helaman 6:11).<\/p>\n

\u201cand this we bear record with words of soberness\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness \u00a0 \u00a0 the voice of the Lord commanded us that we<\/strong> should bear record<\/strong> of it
\n3-witness \u00a0 \u00a0 and we declare with words of soberness<\/strong> that an angel of God came down from heaven<\/p>\n

\u201cthat the said Smith has shewn unto us\u201d<\/p>\n

8-witness Joseph Smith<\/strong> Junior … has shewn unto us<\/strong> the plates<\/p>\n

As noted earlier, the phrase \u201cthe said Smith\u201d is unique to the eight-witness statement.<\/p>\n

* \u201cfor we have seen and hefted\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness and we also testify that we have seen<\/strong> the engravings<\/p>\n

The verb heft<\/em> occurs only here. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the verb derives from the archaic noun heft<\/em>, which derives from the verb heave<\/em>. The OED notes that the verb heft<\/em> is colloquial in American English.<\/p>\n

\u201cand know of a surety\u201d<\/p>\n

3-witness wherefore we know of a surety<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u201cthat the said Smith has got the plates\u201d<\/p>\n

2n2903 \u00a0 \u00a0 a Bible \/ a Bible \/ we have got<\/strong> a Bible
\n2n2906\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a Bible \/ we have got<\/strong> a Bible and we need no more Bible<\/p>\n

Once more the legalistic sounding \u201cthe said Smith\u201d intrudes.<\/p>\n

The verb phrase \u201cto have got\u201d, meaning \u2018to possess\u2019, is colloquial in American English, but is found (as cited above) in the Book of Mormon text proper but \u2013 it should be noted \u2013 only when quoting people\u2019s reaction to the Book of Mormon. Even then, the two instances in 2 Nephi 29 could be interpreted as equivalent to \u201cwe have gotten a Bible\u201d \u2013 that is, \u2018we have obtained a Bible\u2019. This interpretation seems unlikely for \u201cthe said Smith has got the plates\u201d in the eight-witness statement. The meaning there seems to be that Joseph Smith has possession of the plates.<\/p>\n

\u201cof which we have spoken\u201d<\/p>\n

8-witness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joseph Smith Junior … has shewn unto us the plates of which hath<\/strong> been spoken<\/strong>
\naa1227\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and after death they must come to judgment \/ even that same judgment of which we have spoken<\/strong><\/p>\n

* \u201cand we give our names unto the world to witness unto the world\u201d<\/p>\n

mn0316\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and I did stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world<\/strong> the things which I saw and heard
\nmi0602\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and witnessed unto<\/strong> the church<\/p>\n

Nowhere else does the text use the phrase \u201cto give one\u2019s name\u201d with the meaning \u2018to publicly provide one\u2019s name\u2019. In the Book of Mormon text, for instance, a father can \u201cgive names\u201d to his children (Helaman 5:6), or the Nephite monetary units are \u201cgiven names\u201d (Alma 11:4).<\/p>\n

\u201cthat which we have seen\u201d<\/p>\n

8-witness\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for we have seen<\/strong> and hefted and know of a surety that …
\n3n2721\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for that which<\/strong> ye have seen<\/strong> me do \/ even that shall ye do<\/p>\n

\u201cand we lie not\u201d<\/p>\n

mi1026\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and I speak it according to the words of Christ and<\/strong> I lie not<\/strong>
\nmi1027\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Apostle Paul, in the language of the King James Bible, uses the phrase \u201cI lie not\u201d five times, as in two instances that parallel the usage in Moroni 10:26: \u201cI say the truth in Christ \/ I lie not\u201d (Romans 9:1) and \u201cI speak the truth in Christ and<\/em> lie not\u201d (1 Timothy 2:7). It is possible that the biblical usage may have influenced the language here in the eight-witness statement.<\/p>\n

* \u201cGod bearing witness of it\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the only place where the phrase \u201cto bear witness\u201d occurs in the Book of Mormon. There are two instances of \u201cto bear false witness\u201d, once when the Ten Commandments is quoted in Mosiah 13:23 (\u201cthou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor\u201d) and once paraphrastically in Helaman 7:21 (\u201cfor the which ye do murder and plunder and steal and bear false witness against your neighbor\u201d). The King James Bible has quite a few instances of \u201cto bear witness of X\u201d, with 11 instances in the Gospel of John, as in \u201cand the Father that sent me beareth witness of me\u201d (John 8:18).<\/p>\n

A CONCLUDING CONTRAST<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has often been observed that the three-witness experience was completely different than the eight-witness one. The three witnesses saw the angel Moroni, who showed them the plates and other artifacts but did not allow them to handle anything. They heard the voice of the Lord declaring that the translation was correct and then commanding them to bear record of what they had seen. In some sense the experience was visionary, with Martin Harris claiming that he saw the plates with his spiritual eye. In fact, the statement itself says that they were shown the plates \u201cby the power of God and not of man\u201d. Joseph Smith was there with the three witnesses, but he himself did not participate. It was a completely spiritual experience. And the language of the three-witness statement is a spiritual one, ending with the liturgical phraseology \u201cand the honor be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost which is one God\u201d and the word Amen.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the eight-witness experience was completely physical and secular. The eight witnesses went out into the woods, and Joseph Smith met them there, with the plates. Each of these witnesses held the plates and examined the individual leaves. There was no angel, no voice of God, no artifacts except for the plates, and everything was done in broad daylight. There was nothing visionary about the experience. The emphasis in their statement is on what they saw. For instance, the plates had \u201cthe appearance of gold\u201d, and the engravings had \u201cthe appearance of ancient work and of curious workmanship\u201d. They did not claim the plates were<\/strong> made of gold; they did not claim that the work was<\/strong> ancient or skillfully done \u2013 but from what they could see, it was so! The plates were<\/strong> heavy \u2013 they hefted them. Their testimony would hold up in a court of law. The only reference to God is at the end, where they state that he will witness they are telling the truth. There is no liturgical language, no final Amen.<\/p>\n

The origin of the two statements correlates with this fundamental experiential and linguistic difference. We can now see from the source analysis of the statements that the three-witness statement was a revealed text given word for word to Joseph Smith, just like the Book of Mormon text itself. The three-witness statement is a spiritual document, one that was spiritually derived. On the other hand, the eight-witness statement was written by a human participant \u2013 probably Joseph Smith, in my opinion \u2013 who drew upon the language of the three-witness statement (especially the opening words) but used his own language to describe the experience of the eight witnesses: what the plates looked liked (their \u201cappearance\u201d), plus how these witnesses \u201chefted\u201d the plates and \u201cdid handle with our hands\u201d the leaves. They conclude with their summary declaration that Joseph Smith really \u201chas got the plates\u201d. Included in the statement is legal language (multiple uses of \u201cthe said Smith\u201d as well as the original designation of Joseph Smith as \u201cauthor and proprietor of this work\u201d). There may be a little biblical phraseology (\u201cand we lie not\u201d) and even a noted Book of Mormon phrase (\u201cof curious workmanship\u201d), but overall the eight-witness statement is a secular document. And like the experience of the eight witnesses, the statement itself was created without any spiritual intervention. It was not revealed from the Lord, but was constructed as a matter-of-fact human statement of a physical event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The eight-witness statement appears to be a prosaic legal affidavit, yet one that has borrowed much of its phraseology from the three-witness statement. There are at most only two instances of phrases that could be said to have been taken from the Book of Mormon text proper: \u201cof curious workmanship\u201d and \u201cwe lie not\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-corn"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20808"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20813,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20808\/revisions\/20813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}