Editing Three Witnesses (section)

==Testimony of the Three Witnesses==
On June 28, 1829,<ref name=Anderson2012>{{citation |first= Gale Yancey |last= Anderson |date=Spring 2012 |title= Eleven Witnesses Behold the Plates |journal= [[Journal of Mormon History]] |volume= 38 |issue= 2 |pages= 146–52|doi= 10.2307/23292761 |jstor= 23292761 |s2cid= 254492716 }}</ref><ref>Vogel, Dan, ed., ''Early Mormon Documents'', Signature Books, 2003, Vol. V, p. 421.</ref> Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris went into the woods near the home of [[Peter Whitmer Sr.]]<ref>Vogel, p. 9.</ref><ref>Bushman, Richard Lyman, ''Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling,'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005, p. 78.</ref><ref>Manuscript History, A-2:26, in ''Selected Collections'', Vol. 1, DVD #1, MH8_29.</ref><ref>[[History of the Church (Joseph Smith)|History of the Church]], 1:54.</ref> and prayed to receive a vision of the [[golden plates]].  After some time, Harris left the other three men, believing his presence had prevented the vision from occurring. The remaining three again knelt and said they soon saw a light in the air overhead and an angel holding the golden plates. Smith then went after Harris, and after praying at some length with him, Harris too said he saw the vision.<ref>Bushman, 78.</ref>

The three men provided a single written statement titled "'''Testimony of Three Witnesses'''", published at the end of the first edition of the Book of Mormon:
[[File:ThreeWitnesses.jpg|thumb|165px|''Three Witnesses [[Temple Square|Monument]]'', by [[Avard Fairbanks]]]]

<blockquote>Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shewn unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it is marvellous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.</blockquote>

The testimony was moved to the beginning of the Book of Mormon in later editions, with [[English-language spelling reform#19th century|standardized spelling]].