Faith and Witnessing

As the translation of the Book of Mormon neared completion, three of Joseph Smith’s associates—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris—became particularly interested in the repeated promise that three people would see the gold plates and would testify that the book is true. (See Ether 5:2-4, 2 Nephi 27:12.) They asked Joseph Smith if they could be those witnesses, and he received a revelation giving them the following conditional promise:

You must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates …

And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old.

And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them, by the power of God;

Doctrine and Covenants 17:1-3

That sequence of faith ➞ sight ➞ testimony might have sounded familiar to them if they remembered with the following passage:

Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Ether 12:6

In that chapter, Moroni reviews many of the miraculous experiences in the Book of Mormon, emphasizing that in each case, the miracle only came after the recipient had faith.

The Lord emphasized to Oliver, David, and Martin that even Joseph Smith had received the plates not only because he was called, but also “because he had faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 17:5).

The witnessing sequence is clear: first you have faith, then you see, then to testify of what you have seen, which inspires others to have faith.

Their actual experience in viewing the plates further illustrates the role of their agency. The three men, together with Joseph Smith, went into the woods to pray, just as Joseph had done when he received his first vision (Joseph Smith—History 1:14), and just as Joseph and Oliver had done when they received the priesthood (Joseph Smith—History 1:68). They knelt and took turns praying aloud. After each of them had prayed twice with no response, Martin stood, telling the group it was his fault nothing had happened. Then, he walked away. Immediately after he left, an angel appeared and showed Oliver and David all that they had been promised. After that experience,

Joseph walked deeper into the woods and found Martin on his knees. Martin told him he had not yet received a witness from the Lord, but he still wanted to see the plates. He asked Joseph to pray with him. Joseph knelt beside him, and before their words were half-uttered, they saw the same angel displaying the plates and the other ancient objects.

“’Tis enough! ’Tis enough!” Martin cried. “Mine eyes have beheld! Mine eyes have beheld!”

Saints, Chapter 7: Fellow Servants

I see a few lessons here:

1. Even though faith is a gift of God, it can take effort on our part to obtain it.
2. A group of people who exercise faith in unity can receive a blessing together.
3. Don’t give up if you don’t yet have sufficient faith. You may need to go “deeper into the woods.” You may need the help of a friend who has more faith than you.

Today, I will follow the examples of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. I will strive to obtain faith, so that I can experience miracles. I will remember that the miracles come after the faith, and that I must exercise my agency to obtain it.