In the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses

In 2 Corinthians 13, 1 we read,"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." The idea that there should be more than one witness to establish the truth of something is a principle that was in practice ever since Old Testament times. We believe that the Book of Mormon stands as a second witness, with the Bible, that Jesus is the Christ. My thanks goes to Ross for sharing these references with me that he used in a talk in church recently.

From the Bible we read:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" John 11:25

From the Book of Mormon we read:
"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." Mosiah 3:17

"7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary." Mosiah 3:7-8

"10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7:10-12

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Love for the Book of Mormon expands one's love for the Bible, and vice versa... We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing, the temple, the Sabbath day, and the priesthood."

Nephi, one of the prophets in the Book of Mormon recorded:
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. 2 Nephi 29:7-9

In Ezekiel 37:19 we read, "Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand." In this verse, the word, "stick" refers to scriptures. The scriptures or "stick" of Joseph would be the scriptures brought forth by the tribe of Joseph. The scriptures or "stick" of Judah would be the scriptures brought forth by the tribe of Judah. The people of the Book of Mormon were descended from the tribe of Joseph. The Book of Mormon is the set of scriptures brought forth by them. The Jews, of course were of the tribe of Judah, and the Holy Bible was the set of scriptures brought forth by them. These two sets of scriptures work together to testify of Jesus Christ. Today they are truly, "one" in our hands to testify of the gospel. They stand as co-witnesses that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I invite you to study them together, and pray for guidance as you do so.