Among the meanings of "tangible" is "touchable". Although a piece of paper with "caractors" that may have been copied from Book of Mormon plates is "touchable", it is unsatisfactory as evidence, because we do not know for sure that there is a direct connection between the "caractors" and the engravings on the Book of Mormon plates. Even if there is, we do not know whether they copy a continuous sequence of engravings, of if they were copied at random.
The most tangible evidence that the plates are real and that people saw them and their engravings and handled and hefted the plates is the testimony of the eight witnesses, printed in every copy of the Book of Mormon, because it is the sworn statement of eight real people, who never denied their testimonies. As thoroughly documented in Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses by Richard Lloyd Anderson, none of the witnesses, even those who became estranged from the church or from Joseph Smith, ever denied their printed testimonies.
Sorry Elsie, but those well-known printed testimonies that millions have read and understood have greater weight than your futile attempts to undermine them. Don't waste your living energy trying to undo what cannot be undone. The last living Book of Mormon witness, David Whitmer, who was an honorable resident of Richmond, Missouri, died affirming his testimony. Had any of the other 10 witnesses emphatically denied what they had testified to, David Whitmer would have had to deal with that in his Address to All Belivers in Christ. Instead, he sealed the truth of those testimonies in his final years. Go to Richmond, Missouri and read his gravestone and then try to deny what you see written thereon.
I pray that Christ will direct you find more satisfying occupations than badmouthing Christians who are now dwelling in His holy presence.
“The most tangible evidence that the plates are real and that people saw them and their engravings and handled and hefted the plates is the testimony of the eight witnesses, printed in every copy of the Book of Mormon, because it is the sworn statement of eight real people, who never denied their testimonies. “
This “swearing” that they saw and hefted them is so much silliness.
Was it sworn in a court of law?
If so, where? Who was the presiding Judge or officer of the court?
If not a judge, who did they swear to? Joseph Smith, charlatan?
Was there a consequence if they falsely swore?
Did Smith pay them for their testimony?
How much were they compensated?
How do you know?
Did Smith threaten to harm them if they recanted?
How do you know?
Did David Whitmer write his own headstone, or was
it placed there by mormons?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>>
As to the “swearing” of mormons, the following
testimony in a court of law, under a judge, puts
mormon swearing into perspective:
“Josiah Stowell, a Mormonite, being sworn, testified that he positively knew that said Smith never had lied to, or deceived him, and did not believe he ever tried to deceive any body else. The following questions were then asked him, to which he made the replies annexed.
“Did Smith ever tell you there was money hid in a certain glass which he mentioned?
“Yes.
“Did he tell you, you could find it by digging?
“Yes.
“Did you dig?
“Yes.
“Did you find any money?
“No.
“Did he not lie to you then, and deceive you?
“No! the money was there, but we did not get quite to it!
“How do you know it was there?
“Smith said it was!
“Addison Austin was next called upon, who testified, that at the very same time that Stowell was digging for money, he, Austin, was in company with said Smith alone, and asked him to tell him honestly whether he could see this money or not.
“Smith hesitated some time, but finally replied, “to be candid, between you and me, I cannot, any more than you or any body else; but any way to get a living.”
“Here, then, we have his own confession, that he was a vile, dishonest impostor.
“As regards the testimony of Josiah Stowell, it needs no comment. He swears positively that Smith did not lie to him. So much for a Mormon witness.”
Evangelical Magazine & Gospel Advocate Utica, N. Y., April 9, 1831.
http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1877Purp.htm
Joseph Smith claims that after he translated the plates, he returned them to the angel Moroni. Therefore, there is no way to verify the veracity of the plates or Smith's translation. Smith's only defense of his account is the eleven men who signed statements claiming to have seen the golden plates. Therefore, the credibility of Smith's account rests on the testimony of these eleven witnesses. There are three key witnesses who claim to have seen the angel show the golden plates to them. The remaining eight allege to have seen the plates but not the angel. The LDS church asserts these men never denied their testimony. However, when we examine the lives of the witnesses, we find they were untrustworthy, wavering, and gullible witnesses.
Six of the eleven witnesses, including the three key witnesses were eventually excommunicated from the church. Former Mormon President Ezra Taft Benson summed up the legacy of the eleven witnesses this way. "Six of the original Twelve Apostles selected by Joseph Smith were excommunicated. The three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon left the church. Three of Joseph Smith's counselors fell--one even helped plot his death. . . . The wolves among our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made a similar statement [in 1949]."{6}
Let us first examine the character of the three key witnesses since their testimony is the most important. In a letter dated December 16, 1838, Joseph Smith stated this about the three key witnesses and John Whitmer, one of the eight. "John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris are too mean to mention."{7}
Martin Harris' testimony shows him to be a gullible and unstable man. He changed his religious conviction approximately thirteen times. He had joined several Christian denominations and other cult groups that include the Universalists, Strangites, and the Shakers. {8}(Ankerberg, 196) In Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith gave revelations in which he denounces Martin Harris and calls him a "wicked man."{9} The Mormon leaders published an article in the Elder's Journal, a Mormon publication edited by Joseph Smith, in which they accused Harris guilty of "swearing, lying, cheating, swindling, drinking, with every species of debauchery. . ." (Elders Journal, August, 1838, 59).{10} Here the leaders of the Mormon Church strongly criticize the character of Harris.
Oliver Cowdery was also shown to be a very gullible man. He was led astray by Hiram Page, one of the eight witnesses who himself claimed to have divine revelations from his own seer stone. Although Joseph Smith denounced Hiram as a false teacher, Smith stated "to our grief, however, we soon found that Satan had been lying in wait to deceive. . . . Brother Hiram Page had in his possession a certain stone, by which he obtained certain 'revelations' . . . all of which were entirely at variance with the order of God's House, . . ."{11} Despite Smith's condemnation, Oliver Cowdery joined Page's movement. Not only was he a gullible man, he was also indicted on several accounts of fraudulent business practices. The Mormon Church in a letter wrote, "During the career of Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer's bogus money business, it got abroad into the world that they were engaged in it. . . . We have evidence of a very strong character that you are at this very time engaged with a gang of counterfeiters, coiners, and blacklegs . . ."{12} Cowdery was eventually excommunicated and he later joined the Methodist Church.
David Whitmer wrote, "God spake to me again by his own voice from the heavens, and told me to 'separate myself from among the Latter- day Saints, for as they sought to do unto me, so should it be done unto them." In the spring of 1838, the heads of the church and many of the members had gone deep into error and blindness. . . . About the same time that I came out, the Spirit of God moved upon quite a number of the brethren who came out, with their families, all of the eight witnesses who were then living (except the three Smiths) came out; . . ."{13} Here David Whitmer denounced the Mormon Church and encouraged people to follow his example and the example of the other witnesses and leave the church.
Joseph Smith in response attacked the character of David Whitmer. Smith stated, "God suffered such kind of beings to afflict Job . . . this poor man who professes to be much of a prophet, has no other dumb ass to ride but David Whitmer, to forbid his madness when he goes up to curse Israel: and this ass not being of the same kind as Balaam's . . . he brays out cursing instead of blessings. Poor ass!"{14}
The character and life of the eleven witnesses to the Book of Mormon are very different from the Apostles of Christ. None of the Apostles wavered in their defense of Christ, even though all suffered and most died for their faith. The Apostles remained consistent in their teaching and never fell into any type of apostasy. Their lives were marked by honesty and integrity. They were never indicted for any criminal activity except for preaching Christ. The character of the Book of Mormon's eleven witnesses does not strengthen Smith's defense but cast further doubt on its authenticity.
Probe Ministry website quote
What?
JS took THIS to anton, and SAID he copied them from the plates.
You do NOT believe the PROPHET?