Testimony of Three Witnesses, late June 1829

Be it known unto every <all> nations kindreds tongues & people unto whom this work  shall come that we through the grace of God the Father & our Lord Jesus Christ have seen  the plates

A record engraved on gold plates, which JS translated and published as the Book of Mormon. The text explained that the plates were an abridgement of other ancient records and were written by an American prophet named Mormon and his son Moroni. The plates ...

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which contain this record which is a record of the people of Nephi & also of the  Lamanites

A name used in the Book of Mormon to refer to the descendants or followers of Laman, one of the sons of Lehi. The Book of Mormon explained that Lehi and his Israelite family migrated from Jerusalem to America around 600 BC. After Lehi’s death, his family ...

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his brethren & also of the people of Jared which came from the tower of which  hath been spoken & we also know that they have been translated by the gift

A right or privilege bestowed through the confirmation ordinance. Individuals were confirmed members of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands. The Book of Mormon explained that remission of sins requires not only...

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& power of God  for his veociice hath declared it unto us wherefore we know of a surety that the work is  true & we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates & they  have been shewn unto us by the power of God & not of man & we declare with words  of soberness that an angel of God came down from Heaven & he brought & laid before  our eyes that we beheld & saw the plates & the engravings thereon & we know that it is by  the grace of God the Father & our Lord Jesus Christ that we beheld & bear record that  these things are true & it is marvellous in our eyes nevertheless the voice of the Lord com manded us that we should bear record of it Wherefore to be obediant unto the com mandments

Generally, a divine mandate that church members were expected to obey; more specifically, a text dictated by JS in the first-person voice of deity that served to communicate knowledge and instruction to JS and his followers. Occasionally, other inspired texts...

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of God we bear testimony of these things & we know that if we are fa ithful in Christ we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men & be found  spotless before the Judgement seat of Christ & shall dwell with him Eternally  in the Heavens & the honor be to the Father & to the Son & to the Holy Ghost [p. 463]