Welcome to part two of this week's podcast.

This gives us a great chance, Casey, to move to Doctrine Covenants 17, which I think

it's a, from my studies, it's a moment that Joseph Smith has been looking forward to

for a long time, where the Lord allows a view of the plates to others.

Can you tell us what led up to this event and tell us about the section, section 17?

Yeah, so Joseph Smith is following instructions directly in the Book of Mormon.

How strange it must have been for him to be translating the Book of Mormon, and then

all of a sudden he gets to Ether 5, and it's speaking to the translator of the book.

Maroni writes directly, it's like you're reading a story that all of a sudden one of the

participants turns and looks at you.

Imagine watching a movie and a guy up on the screen looks at you and says, and now I need

you to do this.

And the text reads, behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who

shall assist and bring forth the work.

And unto three shall they be shown by the power of God, wherefore they shall know of a

surety these things are true, and in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things

be established.

So this is in the Book of Ether.

Maroni is writing this directly to the translator, and Joseph takes this very seriously.

So he selects three witnesses.

Obviously Oliver Cowdery, he's been his scribe through most of the translation process.

This is one indication that Joseph was closer with David Whitmer than any of the other

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