“The Law of Witnesses”

Whenever the Lord has established a dispensation by revealing his gospel and by conferring priesthood and keys upon men, he has acted in accordance with the law of witnesses which he himself ordained. This law is: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor. 13:1; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:15–16; John 8:12–29.)

Never does one man stand alone in establishing a new dispensation of revealed truth, or in carrying the burden of such a message and warning to the world. In every dispensation from Adam to the present, two or more witnesses have always joined their testimonies, thus leaving their hearers without excuse in the day of judgment should the testimony be rejected.

Joseph Smith, for instance, conformed perfectly to the law of witnesses in that someone else was always with him when priesthood or keys were being conferred by heavenly messengers. Both he and Oliver Cowdery had the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon them by John the Baptist (D&C 13); both were present when Peter, James, and John brought back the Melchizedek Priesthood (D&C 20:2–3; 27:12–13); both were present when Elias, Moses, and Elijah came with the keys of their dispensations (D&C 110:11–16); and so it was with reference to every key, power, and authority that the Lord restored anew in this final dispensation—someone was always with the Prophet so that two witnesses could leave a binding testimony to the world. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 436.)

The Holy Ghost “witnesses of the Father and the Son” (2 Nephi 31:18); he “beareth record of the Father and the Son” (Moses 1:24); he, and he only, makes known those holy beings whom it is life eternal to know. Jesus said: “He shall testify of me” (John 15:26); and, he “beareth record of the Father and me” (3 Nephi 11:32). And Paul said: “No man can say [meaning know] that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3.) Thus the Holy Ghost is the source of saving knowledge; his mission, assigned by the Father, is to bear witness to the truth of those things which enable men to gain eternal life. His witness is sure; it cannot be controverted; it will stand forever. (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985], 267)