Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses See Gold Plates? - John Turner Pt. 5 | Ep. 2033

Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses Actually See Gold Plates? Examining the Historical Record

The eleven men who signed their names to the Book of Mormon testimony statements have served as unimpeachable evidence for generations of believers. Yet a careful reading of their own later statements suggests these witnesses may not have seen the gold plates with their physical eyes at all. According to historian John Turner, whose recent Yale University Press volume examines the origins of Mormonism, the distinction between visionary experience and physical encounter lies at the heart of understanding what actually occurred in the summer of 1829 near Fayette, New York.

![Image 1: Historical marker at the Three Witnesses monument in Fayette, New York