In all, there are literally hundreds of known original historical statements of the reality of the existence of the plates from the Book of Mormon was translated. They range from powerful declarations uttered even under threat of death to very simple ollections included in second- or third-party accounts. Ironically, some who did not even believe in the existence of the plates among those who made "the most strenuous exertions them" from the Prophet. The Book of Mormon tells of their vation: "Because of the glory of the world and they [do] this" (2 Ne. 27:16). The most obvious statements are the testimonies of Three and Eight Witnesses recorded in the Book of Mormon itself. This article adds import to those testimonies by defining the precise day each set of witnesses beheld the plates.