The Eight Witnesses were the second of two sets of "special witnesses" to the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates. The first set are the Three Witnesses. The Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon states that the plates would be shown to certain individuals "who shall assist to bring forth this work." It also said that three would be "shown [the plates] by the power of God." Smith later said he was told, "that you should not show them except to those persons to whom I commanded you" (Doctrine and Covenants 5:3).