Witnesses to the Book of Mormon
PROOF #1 - Witnesses
Just as the Bible says that everything shall be established by witnesses (2 Cor 13:1), the Book of Mormon has witnesses that testify to its veracity. At the beginning of each Book of Mormon are two testimonies. One is from three witnesses and one is from eight witnesses. The three witnesses had an angel show them the plates, whereas the eight witnesses handled the plates without such a heavenly visitor. The two different types of testimonies would seem to discount suggestions of hypnotism or power that might be attributed to Joseph Smith.
Another proof of their testimony that would discount collusion was the fact that many of the witnesses became dissatisfied with Joseph and left the church. Even while they were outside the church they never denied their testimonies even tho it caused them some embarrassment.
The Three Witnesses - Michael Ash