Book of Mormon scribe and witness Oliver Cowdery

cowdery met joseph smith on april 5, 1829—a year , day before official founding of church—and heard him how had received golden plates containing ancient native american writings. cowdery told smith had seen golden plates in vision before 2 ever met.

from april 7 june 1829, cowdery acted smith s primary scribe translation of plates later become book of mormon. cowdery unsuccessfully attempted translate part of book of mormon himself. before meeting cowdery, smith had virtually stopped translating after first 116 pages had been lost martin harris. working cowdery, smith completed manuscript in remarkably short period (april–june 1829), during richard bushman called burst of rapid-fire translation.

cowdery , smith said on may 15, 1829, received aaronic priesthood resurrected john baptist, after baptized each other in susquehanna river. cowdery said , smith later went forest , prayed until glorious light encircled us, , arose on account of light, 3 persons stood before dressed in white, faces beaming glory. 1 of 3 announced apostle peter , said others apostles james , john.

later year, cowdery reported sharing vision, along smith , david whitmer, in angel showed him golden plates. martin harris said saw similar vision later day. cowdery, whitmer , harris signed statement effect , became known 3 witnesses. testimony has been published in every edition of book of mormon.