Criticism of Mormonism/Books/An Insider's View of Mormon Origins/Chapter 6


Claims made in "Chapter 5: Moroni and 'The Golden Pot'"
A FAIR Analysis of:
Criticism of Mormonism/Books
A work by author: Grant Palmer
 Claims made in "Chapter 7: Priesthood Restoration"

Claims made in "Chapter 6: Witnesses to the Golden Plates"

Page Claim Response Author's sources

175
  • The witnesses had a "magical mindset" and believed in "second sight"
  • None

175-176, n2-4
  • The witnesses believed in the ability to see spirits and their dwelling places within the local hills.

178, n7-8
  • Martin Harris participated in his own "treasure adventures" after meeting Joseph Smith.
  • Ole A. Jensen, "Testimony Given to Ole A. Jensen by Martin Harris," July 1875,3, archives, Historical Department, Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City (hereafter LDS archives); quoted in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents 2:376.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 19:37..
  • Brigham Young, Office Journal, 21 Nov. 1861, LDS archives.

178, n9-10
  • Martin Harris said that he "informed Joseph Smith about the gold plates" and that he could see the gold plates through a cloth.
  • Martin Harris, interview by Joel Tiffany, Jan. 1859, in "Mormonism," Tiffany's Monthly (New York City) 5 (Aug. 1859): 166; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:306.
  • Martin Harris, interview by John A. Clark, 1828, in "Modern Superstition-The Mormonites," The Visitor, or Monthly Instructor, for 1841, 239; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:270.

179
  • The Whitmers all believed that they could see things with stones and dowsing sticks.
  • No source provided.

179, n11-12
  • The author claims that Oliver Cowdery was a treasure hunter and "rodsman" before he met Joseph Smith, and that William Cowdery (Oliver's father) was associated with a treasure seeking group in Vermont.
  • Vogel, "Barnes Frisbie Account," Early Mormon Documents, 1:599-621.
  • Book of Commandments 7:3 (1833), in Wilford C. Wood, ed., Joseph Smith Begins His Work: The Book of Commandments, 2 vols. (Salt Lake City: by the Author, 1962), vol. 2; d. D&C 8:6-8.

179, n13
  • Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris saw the plates in a vision before meeting Joseph Smith.
  • Martin Harris, interview by Joel Tiffany, Jan. 1859, in "Mormonism," Tiffany's Monthly (New York City) 5 (Aug. 1859): 166; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:306.
  • Dean C. Jessee, ed., The Papers of Joseph Smith: Autobiographical and Historical Writings (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1989), 1: 10.

181
  • David and possibly John Whitmer owned seer stones.

186
  • The Smith's often told neighbors stories about treasures Joseph found in the earth.
  • Jesse Smith to Hyrum Smith, 17 June 1829, Joseph Smith Letterbook, 2:59-61, LDS archives; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:552.

188
  • Joseph claimed to know the location of Captain Kidd's treasure.
  • Statement of W. R. Hine in Deming, Naked Truths 1 Jan. 1888): 2.

191
  • A number of witnesses saw a cave in the Hill Cumorah when the plates were returned to the angel.
  • Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 19:38..
  • Wilford Woodruff's journal, 1833-98, typescript, ed. Scott G. Kenny, 9 vols. (Midvale, UT: Signature Books, 1984), 11 Dec. 1869, 6:508-9.

194
  • Martin Harris said that marvelous things appeared to Hyrum, Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr. while they were treasure hunting.
  • Martin Harris, Tiffany's Monthly 5 (Aug. 1859): 165; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:305.

194-195
  • The gold plates that the "witnesses" saw are said to have disappeared when placed on the ground at the hill Cumorah.

195
  • The witnesses believed that there was a toad the turned into something else hiding in the box that held the plates.
 The Hurlbut affidavits—Willard Chase

197, n57
  • The author claims that the testimony of the Three Witnesses was of a vision rather than an actual visit by an angel.
  • Jessee, Papers of Joseph Smith 1:296.

197-198, n58-61
  • It is claimed that David Whitmer indicated that the visit of the angel was spiritual rather than real.
  • James Henry Moyle, Journal, 28 June 1885,James Henry Moyle Papers, F508:1, LDS archives.
  • Nibley, Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, 92-95.
  • David Whitmer, interview by Zenas H. Gurley Jr., 14 Jan. 1885, typescript, 04681, LDS archives.
  • David Whitmer, interview by Edmund C. Briggs, in "Letter from Edmund C. Briggs to Joseph Smith III," 4 June 1884, Saints' Herald, 21 June 1884, 396
  • David Whitmer, interview by Edward Stevenson, Journal, 22 Dec. 1877,4806:2, LDS archives.
  • David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ,32
  • Francis Kirkham, A New Witness for Christ in America, 2:349-50.

198, n62-64
  • Martin Harris claimed to see the plates with "the eye of faith."
  • Martin Harris, interview by Anthony Metcalf, ca. 1873, in Ten Years before the Mast 70; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:346-47.
  • Martin Harris, quoted in The Visitor, or Monthly Instructor, for 1841, 239; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:270.
  • Marvin S. Hill, "Secular or Sectarian History? A Critique of No Man Knows My History, Church History 43 (Mar. 1974): 92-93; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:385, 526.

198, n65
  • Some of the three witnesses claimed that they handled the plates during the angel's visit.
  • 65. Lucy Smith, "Preliminary Manuscript," in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:395.

200, n72-73
  • David Whitmer is said to have claimed that he handled the plates in vision, but not physically.
  • Moyle, Journal, 28 June 1885.
  • Nibley, Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, 94-95.

204, n83
  • The author claims that the testimony of the Eight Witnesses does not actually describe a physical incident.
  • Stephen Burnett to Lyman E. Johnson, 15 Apr. 1838, Joseph Smith Letterbook, 2:64-66, d155/2:2, LDS archives; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:288-93.

204-205, n84
  • Martin Harris is said to have claimed that none of the witnesses saw or handled the plates.
  • Warren Parrish to E. Holmes, 11 Aug. 1838, The Evangelist, 1 Oct. 1838,226.

206
  • The Eight Witnesses are claimed to have "hesitated to sign" their testimony because their experience was not physical.
  • Reference for phrase "hesitated to sign" is related to earlier note 83, page 204. Stephen Burnett to Lyman E. Johnson, 15 Apr. 1838, Joseph Smith Letterbook, 2:64-66, d155/2:2, LDS archives; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:288-93.

206
  • The author claims that the gold plates belong to another world rather than this one.
  • Author's opinion.

206, n89
  • The author claims that the plates were able to sink and glide through the ground and made noise as they were "rumbling" through the hill.
  • Martin Harris, quoted in John A. Clark, "Modern Superstition-The Mormonites," 63; quoted in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:265.
  • Affidavit of Willard Chase, 11 Dec. 1833, in Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, OH, 1834), 242. (Affidavits examined).
  • Lucy Smith, History of Joseph Smith, 83-84.

206-207, n90
  • Viewing the gold plates "too soon" would cause physical death.
  • Joseph Smith-History 1:42.
  • Affidavit of Sophia Lewis, 20 Mar. 1834, Susquehanna Register, 1 May 1834, 1.
  • Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, OH, 1834), 272. (Affidavits examined).

207, n91
  • According to the author, declarations of the witnesses "sounded more physical than was intended."
  • Moses 6:36.
  • D&C 67:10; 131:7.
  • Lucy Smith, History of Joseph Smith, 92.

207
  •  Author's quote: These ideas may have been Joseph's inspiration for making a plate-like object to persuade belief.
  • Author's speculation.

211, n94
  • Joseph is claimed to have appointed James Strang as his successor.
  • James J. Strang, "Letter from Joseph Smith to James J. Strang," 18 June 1844, in Voree [WI] Herald 1 (Jan. 1846).

208, n95
  • James Strang also produced witnesses to metal plates.
  • James J. Strang, "Revelation Given to James J. Strang," 1 Sept. 1845, Voree Herald 1 Gan. 1846): [3-4]; Van Noord, King of Beaver Island, 33-35.

212, n105
  • All the living witnesses except Oliver Cowdery accepted James Strang's leadership.
  • "Kirtland," in Voree Herald 1 (Sept. 1846): [4]

Further reading

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