There is a significant difference between what the three witnesses experienced and what the eight witnesses saw. The scripture says that the three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God. This means that rather than Joseph Smith just showing them the plates, they were given the privilege of seeing Moroni, of hearing a voice from heaven proclaim the truth of the record, of
beholding the Liahona, sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. The eight witnesses, in contrast, saw the plates, but the witness was not given by the power of God. Rather it was given according to the will of God
The eight witnesses, as described above were allowed to handle the plates and view the characters. This is in contrast to the three witnesses who did not handle the plates but had the pages turned for them by the angel Moroni (see commentary on
how the 3 witnesses received their witness.
(Brad Constantine, ldsGospel Doctrine.net, Book of Mormon Lesson 10)
After the three witnesses had been visited by the angel Moroni, after they had been shown the Book of Mormon plates and had heard the voice of God bearing witness of the sacred record and commanding them thereafter to bear a like witness, the burden of Joseph the Prophet was immeasurably lighter. His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote: “When they returned to the house [after their experience with the angel and the plates] it was between three and four o’clock p.m. Mrs. Whitmer,
Mr. Smith [Joseph Smith, Sr.] and myself, were sitting in a bedroom at the time. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, ‘Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to
be entirely alone in the world.” Upon this, Martin Harris came in: he seemed almost overcome with joy, and testified boldly to what he had both seen and heard. And so did David and Oliver, adding that no tongue could express the joy of their hearts, and the greatness of the things which they had both seen and heard.
(History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, p. 152-53.)
beholding the Liahona, sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. The eight witnesses, in contrast, saw the plates, but the witness was not given by the power of God. Rather it was given according to the will of God
The eight witnesses, as described above were allowed to handle the plates and view the characters. This is in contrast to the three witnesses who did not handle the plates but had the pages turned for them by the angel Moroni (see commentary on
how the 3 witnesses received their witness.
(Brad Constantine, ldsGospel Doctrine.net, Book of Mormon Lesson 10)
After the three witnesses had been visited by the angel Moroni, after they had been shown the Book of Mormon plates and had heard the voice of God bearing witness of the sacred record and commanding them thereafter to bear a like witness, the burden of Joseph the Prophet was immeasurably lighter. His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote: “When they returned to the house [after their experience with the angel and the plates] it was between three and four o’clock p.m. Mrs. Whitmer,
Mr. Smith [Joseph Smith, Sr.] and myself, were sitting in a bedroom at the time. On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, ‘Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to
be entirely alone in the world.” Upon this, Martin Harris came in: he seemed almost overcome with joy, and testified boldly to what he had both seen and heard. And so did David and Oliver, adding that no tongue could express the joy of their hearts, and the greatness of the things which they had both seen and heard.
(History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, p. 152-53.)
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