Mostrar código-fonte de Pergunta: O que o Livro de Mórmon testemunhas querem dizer quando usou a palavra "sobrenatural" para descrever suas experiências?

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==Pergunta: O que o Livro de Mórmon testemunhas querem dizer quando usou a palavra "sobrenatural" para descrever suas experiências?==
===O termo "sobrenatural" é usado como sinônimo de "milagrosa"===

Um conto hostil no início do depoimento das três testemunhas 'de fevereiro 1830 é instrutivo:

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No Investigator, n º 12, 11 de dezembro, eu publiquei, a título de precaução, uma carta de Oliver HP Cowdery, em resposta à minha carta a Joseph Smith, junto Martin Harris e David Whitmore - os crentes na dita bíblia de placas-ouro --, que eles afirmam que eles têm milagrosamente, ou sobrenaturalmente contemplado. Busquei evidências, e como não poderia ser contestado, da existência desta bíblia de placas de ouro. Mas a resposta foi - o mundo deve tomar as suas palavras para a sua existência; e que o livro iria aparecer neste mês. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Blatchley:Caution Against the Golden Bible|pages=150}}</ref>
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Claramente, o autor aqui usa "sobrenatural" como sinônimo de "milagrosa", não como uma tentativa de argumentar que as placas não existe literalmente, já que "suas palavras", se destinam a "evidências ... para sua existência." 

===Martin Harris foi alegou ter "sobrenatural" viram as placas e anjo, mas ele também insistiu que a experiência era tangível e literal===

Além disso, o depoimento de Martin Harris é relatado em um artigo de jornal de zombaria, que ainda deixa claro que a experiência de Harris era tangível e literal: 

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Martin Harris, um outro chefe de impostores mórmons, chegaram aqui no Sábado passado da pedreira em Nova York. Ele imediatamente se plantou na sala de bar - do hotel, onde logo começou a ler e explicar a farsa Mórmon, e todas as passagens escuras de Gênesis a Apocalipse. Ele contou tudo sobre as placas de ouro, anjos, espíritos, e Jo Smith.- Visto e manipulados todos eles, pelo poder de Deus!<ref>{{Periodical:Painesville Telegraph:15.mar.1831}}</ref>
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John Whitmer, one of the eight witnesses, did not see an angel, but he did say that he "handled those plates." Yet, Whitmer was also said by Theodore Turley to have described the plates as being shown to him by a "supernatural power".
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...all I know, you have published to the world that an angel did present those plates to Joseph Smith." Whitmer replied "I now say I handled those plates. there was fine engravings on both sides. I handled them." and he described how they were hung "and they were shown to me by a supernatural power." he acknowledged all. Turley asked him why the translation is not now true, & he said "I cannot read it, and I do not know whether it is true or not.<ref>"Theodore Turley's Memorandums," Church Archives, handwriting of Thomas Bullock, who began clerking in late 1843; cited in {{EarlyMormonDocs1|vol=5|start=241}}; see also with minor editing in {{HoC|vol=3|start=307|end=308}}</ref>
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In a letter written by Myron Bond in 1878, Whitmer is said to have "saw and handled" the plates:
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John Whitmer told me last winter....[that he] 'saw and handled' [the plates and]....helped to copy [the Book of Mormon manuscript] as the words fell from Joseph’s lips by supernatural or almighty power<ref>''Saints’ Herald'' 25/16 (15 August 1878): 253; letter written by Myron Bond in Cadillac, Michigan on 2 August 1878.</ref>
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===Some who repeated John Whitmer's words may have conflated his "non-supernatural" experience in handling the plates with his "supernatural" experience of listening to Joseph dictate the Book of Mormon===

Note that Bond describes how Whitmer helped to copy the manuscript as Joseph dictated the words "by supernatural or almighty power." It is possible that Theodore Turley's recollection conflated Whitmer's non-supernatural handling of the plates with the description of the translation process by a "supernatural" power.

Like Martin Harris, John Whitmer, when speaking in his own words, was very clear that he had ''physically'' handled the plates:
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It may not be amiss in this place, to give a statement to the world concerning the work of the Lord, as I have been a member of this church of Latter Day Saints from its beginning; to say that the book of Mormon is a revelation from God, I have no hesitancy; but ''with all confidence have signed my named to it as such''; and I hope, that my patrons will indulge me in speaking freely on this subject, as I am about leaving the editorial department. Therefore I desire to testify to all that will come to the knowledge of this address; that I have most assuredly ''seen the plates from whence the book of Mormon is translated, and that I have handled these plates, and know of a surety that Joseph Smith, jr. has translated the book of Mormon by the gift and power of God'', and in this thing the wisdom of the wise most assuredly has perished: therefore, know ye, O ye inhabitants of the earth, wherever this address may come, that I have in this thing freed my garments of your blood, whether you believe or disbelieve the statements of your unworthy friend and well-wisher.<ref>{{MAfairwiki|author=John Whitmer|article=[http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=1205&REC=3 Address To the patrons of the Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate]|vol=2|date=March 1836|num=6|start=286|end=287}} {{ia}}</ref>
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[[en:Question: What did the Book of Mormon witnesses mean when they used the word "supernatural" to describe their experiences?]]
[[es:Pregunta: ¿Qué hizo el Libro de Mormón testigos significa cuando usaron la palabra "sobrenatural" para describir sus experiencias?]]