Witnesses of The Book of Mormon

For a while Joseph Smith was the only living person in modern times to see the gold plates which he translated into The Book of Mormon.  Even when Oliver Cowdery and Emma Smith acted as his scribes, the gold plates were hidden by a drape. But then to Joseph's joy, the Lord told him that three witnesses would see the plates. An angel showed the plates to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. Their testimony is found in the introduction section of The Book of Mormon as The Testimony of Three Witnesses. Later Joseph Smith was allowed to show the plates to eight more witnesses.

Unlike Joseph Smith and the eleven other witnesses, I have never seen the gold plates. But I know they are real because I have read The Book of Mormon, and I have prayed sincerely to know if this book is from God and if it is true. I have received not a visual witness but a witness in my heart. Think about the love you have for a child. Can you see it?  Or the trust you have for your spouse. Can you touch trust? Or the peace you feel when you pray to God. Is it tangible? Love, trust, and peace are real even if we can't see them. And so is a testimony of The Book of Mormon. I remember deeper than a visual memory, the times when I've shared my witness of The Book of Mormon. I remember the anxiety I felt as I gave the book to a friend of mine, my fear that she would reject it. I told her that I was giving it to her because I wanted to give her something that was precious to me. She told me she knew how special it was to me and that is why she was honored to receive it. I remember the look of love in her eyes. I don't know if she'll read it, but I do know that in that moment, she knew that I treasure The Book of Mormon.