This past week (Feb 15 - Feb 21, 2021), in our Come Follow Me study, we read and talked about Doctrine and Covenants 17. This is the section that talks about the three witnesses. We watched a video titled "A Day for the Eternities" that depicted the time in church history when Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery lived with the Peter Whitmer family while Joseph translated the Book of Mormon.
The video also depicts the time period when David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris were selected as the Three Witnesses to see the Gold Plates. As we watched this video, I was reminded of a significant experience from my days in high school when I studied church history in Seminary.
A Day for Eternities
When we studied the three witnesses in Seminary, we watched a video titled "The Three Witnesses" that depicted David Whitmer in the later years of his life when his testimony of seeing the angel and the gold plates was questioned. As part of the video, David tells the story of each of the three witnesses and how they did not deny their testimony even though each of the three left the church at one point in their lives. While Oliver and Martin later came back to the church, David never did.
As a teenager, watching this video had a significant impact on me. While I had heard about the three witnesses, I did not know about them leaving the church. Watching the video was the first time in my life when I began to wonder about the Book of Mormon.
While I did not doubt the church or my membership in it as a teenager, I did not have my own testimony. I went to church and attended Seminary because my parents expected it of me. If they supported the church, that was good enough for me. My experience watching this video prompted me to start considering how some people might not believe what Joseph said and that they might not believe in the church. This was a new thought for me.
I have always remembered this video and its message that the three witnesses stayed true to their testimony of seeing the gold plates even though they left the church. As I look back now, I can see that my experience and feelings while watching this video were the beginning of me recognizing that I had could have a testimony of the church separate from my parents.
The Three Witnesses (1968)
When I was in the Missionary Training Center as a new missionary, I read the entire Book of Mormon for the first time in my life. I finished reading the book on February 5, 1987. That night after I finished, I gained my own witness of the Book of Mormon. The Holy Ghost bore witness to my soul that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith did see what he said he saw and did what he said he did.
I want all who read this to know my testimony in this regard.
I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church on the earth today.
I know Russell M. Nelson is God's chosen prophet on the earth today.
I know Jesus Christ is my Savior.
I know these things. I know that God knows that I know these things. I cannot and will not deny them.
.jpeg)