The Other Witness to the Gold Plates...

[_cinepro]

Bushman's reference is "Deseret Evening News, Nov. 16, 1878; Doctrine and Covenants 14, 15, 16; Joseph Smith History of the Church, 1:51."

[_rcrocket]

Anderson's book documents all the extra sightings and viewings.

I particularly like the disavowal by one of the eight witnesses (I can't remember which today) who disavowed his sighting on the ground that after examining the plates, he found he couldn't read the writing on the plates and thus couldn't vouch for it.

That, as the law of evidence would have it, would constitute testimony of the highest order -- one from a hostile witness attempting to recant something.


David Whitmer's testimony later in years is not of that quality. Although "hostile" he wasn't trying to recant.

[_The Nehor]

Recently I looked up the names of the witnesses to the Golden Plates and learned that besides the 3 and 8 it also says that Mary Whitmer also claimed to have seen the plates....anyone know why she isn't included with any of the other groups?

What also just struck me as unique was that she was the only woman to have seen the Plates (as the 3 and 8 were all men).

I think she's left out cause she never signed the form.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I'm picturing Joseph Smith in an old-man costume.

Or Sidney Rigdon?