The Three Witnesses were the first of two sets of "special witnesses" to the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates. The second set are the Eight Witnesses.

The Three Witnesses were Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. Their joint testimony has been printed with nearly every edition of the Book of Mormon, since its initial publication in 1830.

Testimony of the Three Witnesses

The original 1830 statement, found at the end of the first edition of the Book of Mormon reads:

"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 [sic] brethren, and also of the people of Jared, which 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 seeen [sic] the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shewn [sic] 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 [sic] 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."

Subsequent editions moved the testimony to the beginning of the book and have included minor grammatical corrections.

Subsequent History of the Three Witnesses

Further statements from the Martin Harris and David Whitmer explained the nature of their experiences. According to their accounts, in June 1829, Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris retired to the woods to pray to recieve a vision of the plates. After some time, it was determined that Harris' presence had prevented the appearance of the angel and so Harris went off a ways from the others. Smith, Cowdery and Whitmer then beheld a vision of the plates. Later that day, Smith and Harris prayed together and Harris claimed to receive a similar vision of the plates. Harris later stated that he and the others saw the plates with their spiritual eyes (in a vision) and not with their physical eyes.

Although all three witnesses later broke with Smith and were excommunicated from the church, Harris and Whitmer continued to testify of their belief in the Book of Mormon. For a time in the early 1840s, Cowdery joined a Methodist congregation and became a lawyer in Ohio. A partner in his law practice later claimed that Cowdery denied his testimony. Whether or not this is the case, by 1849, Cowdery renewed his interest in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was re-baptised into the church at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and he subsequently joined with fellow witness David Whitmer in Richmond, Missouri, where he died soon after.

Since the publication of the Book of Mormon, many of its readers have found the statement of the Three Witnesses to be a compelling proof of the work's truthfulness. Bearing one's testimony has subsequently become an important Latter Day Saint practice.