TheStory of the Witnesses WRITTEN BY ERIC B. MURDOCK, ILLUSTRATED BY ELLIE OSBORNE Martin Harris David Whitmer Oliver Cowdery The Lord has told me that if you will rely on the Lord, humble yourselves, and testify Joseph Smith of the truth, you may see the plates. Please ask the Lord if we can be the special witnesses mentioned in the Book of Mormon. LATER THAT DAY. EACH MAN TOOK A TURN PRAYING TO BE SHOWN THE PLATES. NOTHING HAPPENED. I’m the reason the heavens are closed. 24 For the Strength of Youth ME OW LL O F , E M O C SOON THE ANGEL MORONI APPEARED. THEN THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD. These plates are from God. The translation is correct, and I command you to share what you now see and hear. LATER, JOSEPH FINDS MARTIN PRAYING. I haven’t received a witness from the Lord, but I still want to see the plates. Will you pray with me? A FEW DAYS LATER AND WITH DIRECTION FROM GOD, JOSEPH INVITED EIGHT OTHERS, INCLUDING HIS FATHER AND TWO OF HIS BROTHERS, TO SEE THE PLATES. THEY DID NOT SEE AN ANGEL, BUT THEY All eleven witnesses attached GOT TO HOLD THE PLATES IN THEIR HANDS. their names to statements in the Book of Mormon, known as Testimony of Three Witnesses and Testimony of Eight Witnesses. Though some left the Church for a time, they all bore testimony throughout their lives that they had seen the gold plates. None of the witnesses ever denied what they saw. February 2021 25.