Chapter XIII: Martin Harris

It is probable that many of our readers have seen Martin Harris.[F] It is but a few years since he died in our midst. Though his name is signed last to the testimony of the three witnesses he was considerable older than the other two.

[Footnote F: Brother M. Harris, accompanied by Elder E. Stevenson reached Ogden on the 29th of August, 1870; he afterwards resided until his death at the home of his son in Smithfield, Cache county.]

Martin Harris was the instrument used by the Lord to enable Joseph to print the Book of Mormon. He supplied the funds necessary to pay the printer. All of this was repaid to him, by Joseph, and as he said, "more too." We mention this because it has been falsely asserted that Joseph made Martin Harris his dupe and never paid back the money he borrowed of him.

Brother Harris was a well-to-do farmer at the time he became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph. He was respected and esteemed by his neighbors, but like all the others who had anything to do with the publication of the Book of Mormon, he was assailed with savage bitterness, and accused of numerous sins as soon as it was known that he was a believer in that holy book. He was charged with being visionary, cruel and untruthful, and with having beaten his wife and turned her out of doors.

We will now refer to the testimony of the Kelley brothers, which we quoted when we considered the character of Joseph the Prophet. We found they asked the old residents of Manchester some questions with regard to the reputation of Martin Harris. Those who knew him, invariably spoke well of him. One said, "He was an honorable farmer; he was not very religious before the Book of Mormon was published." Another stated "Harris was an industrious, honest man." A third affirmed "He was an honorable man. He was one of the first men of the town." And so on, one after another denied the calumnies that had been heaped upon the head of this inoffensive, though somewhat peculiar gentleman, whose worst act in the eyes of these neighbors was that he helped Joseph Smith to give the Book of Mormon to the world.

It will be remembered that the testimony of the three witnesses, with regard to the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, is to the effect that "We also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and He brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates and the engravings thereon." But it must be remembered that this was not the only time that Martin Harris saw the plates. He states that on one occasion he held them on his knee for an hour and a half, and also affirms that "as many of the plates as Joseph Smith translated I handled with my hands, plate after plate." This testimony was given when Harris was not a member of the Church.

Early in the history of the Latter-day Saints Martin Harris became disaffected. He committed grave errors and gave way to a very unchristian-like spirit. The communion of the Saints was withdrawn from him and he became an outcast to the blessings of the gospel. Thus he remained many years, or more than a third of a century, but in his old age he returned as a wandering sheep to the true fold, and again became a partaker of the gifts and blessings of the everlasting gospel. We will now insert an interview had with him when he was not a member of the Church (in 1853?) and two letters written by him nearly twenty years afterwards, after he had renewed his covenant with the Lord at the waters of baptism.

September 15th, 1853.

"Be it known to all whom this may concern that I, David B. Dille,
of Ogden City, Weber county, Salt Lake, _en route_ to Great
Britain, having business with one Martin Harris, formerly of the
Church of Latter-day Saints, and residing at Kirtland, Lake county,
Ohio, did personally wait upon him at his residence, and found him
sick in bed; and was informed by the said Martin Harris that he had
not been able to take any nourishment for the space of three days.
This, together with his advanced age, had completely prostrated
him. After making my business known to Mr. Harris, and some little
conversation with him, the said Martin Harris started up in bed,
and, after particularly inquiring concerning the prosperity of the
Church, made the following declaration:

'I feel that a spirit has come across me--the old spirit of
Mormonism; and I begin to feel as I used to feel; and I will not
say--'I won't go to the valley.' Then addressing himself to his
wife, he said--'I don't know but that, if you will get me some
breakfast, I will get up and eat it.'

"I then addressed Mr. Harris relative to his once high and exalted
station in the Church, and his then fallen and afflicted condition.
I afterwards put the following questions to Mr. Harris, to which
he severally replied with the greatest cheerfulness: 'What do you
think of the Book of Mormon? Is it a divine record?'

"Mr. Harris replied: 'I was the right hand man of Joseph Smith,
and I know that he was a prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon
is true--_and you know that I know that it is true_. I know that
the plates have been translated by the gift and power of God, for
His voice declared it unto us; therefore I know of a surety that
the work is true; _for did I not at one time hold the plates on
my knee an hour and a half_, while in conversation with Joseph,
when we went to bury them in the woods, that the enemy might not
obtain them? Yes, I did. _And as many of the plates as Joseph Smith
translated, I handled with my hands, plate after plate_.' Then,
describing their dimensions, he pointed with one of the fingers of
his left hand to the back of his right hand and said: 'I should
think they were so long,' or about eight inches, 'and about so
thick,' or about four inches; 'and each of the plates was thicker
than the thickest tin.'

"I then asked Mr. Harris if he ever lost 3,000 dollars by the
publishing of the Book of Mormon?

"Mr. Harris said, 'I never lost one cent. Mr. Smith paid me all that
I advanced, and more too.' As much as to say he received a portion
of the profits accruing from the sale of the books.

"Mr. Harris further said: 'I took a transcript of the characters
of the plates to Dr. Anthon, of New York. When I arrived at the
house of Professor Anthon, I found him in his office and alone, and
presented the transcript to him, and asked him to read it. He said
if I would bring the plates, he would assist in the translation. I
told him I could not, for they were sealed. Professor Anthon then
gave me a certificate certifying that the characters were Arabic,
Chaldaic and Egyptian. I then left Dr. Anthon, and was near the
door, when he said, 'How did the young man know the plates were
there?' I said an angel had shown them to him. Professor Anthon
then said, 'Let me see the certificate!' Upon which, I took it from
my waistcoat pocket and unsuspectingly gave it to him. He then tore
it up in anger, saying, there was no such things as angels now, it
was all a hoax. I then went to Dr. Mitchell with the transcript,
and he confirmed what Professor Anthon had said.'

"Mr. Harris is about fifty-eight years old, and is on a valuable
farm of ninety acres, beautifully situated at Kirtland, Lake
county, Ohio."--_Millennial Star_.

* * * * *

"SMITHFIELD, UTAH,

"Nov. 23, 1870.

"_Mr. Emerson_,

SIR:--I received your favor. In reply I will say concerning
the plates, I do say that the angel did show to me the plates
containing the Book of Mormon. Further, the translation that I
carried to Professor Anthon was copied from these same plates;
also, that the professor did testify to it being a correct
translation. I do firmly believe and do know that Joseph Smith
was a prophet of God; for without, I know he could not had that
gift; neither could he have translated the same. I can give, if
you require it, one hundred witnesses to the proof of the Book of
Mormon. I defy any man to show me any passage of scripture that I
am not posted on or familiar with. I will answer any question you
feel like asking to the best of my knowledge, if you can rely on
my testimony of the same. In conclusion, I can say that I arrived
in Utah safe, in good health and spirits, considering the long
journey. I am quite well at present, and have been, generally
speaking, since I arrived. With many respects,

"I remain your humble friend,

"MARTIN HARRIS."

* * * * *

"SMITHFIELD, CACHE CO., UTAH.

"January, 1871.

"_To H. Emerson_,

DEAR SIR:--Your second letter, dated December, 1870, came duly
to hand. I am truly glad to see a spirit of inquiry manifested
therein. I reply by a borrowed hand, as my sight has failed me too
much to write myself. Your questions:

"Question 1. 'Did you go to England to lecture against Mormonism?'

"Answer. I answer emphatically, No, I did not. No man ever heard me
in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon, the administration
of the angel that showed me the plates; nor the organization
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the
administration of Joseph Smith, Jun., the prophet whom the Lord
raised up for that purpose in these latter days, that He may show
forth His power and glory. The Lord has shown me these things by
His Spirit, by the administration of holy angels, and confirmed
the same with signs following, step by step, as the work has
progressed, for the space of fifty-three years.

The Lord showed me there was no true church upon the face of the
earth, none built upon the foundation designed by the Savior, the
rock of revelation, as declared to Peter. (_See Matt., xvi_.,
16-18.) He also showed me that an angel should come and restore the
holy Priesthood again to the earth, and commission His servants
again with the holy gospel to preach to them that dwell on the
earth. (_See Revelation, xiv_., 6, 7.) He further showed me that
the time was nigh when He would 'set His hand again the second time
to restore the kingdom of Israel, when He would gather the outcasts
of Israel and the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the
earth,' when He would bring the record of Joseph which was in the
hand of Ephraim, and join with the record of Judah, when the two
records should become one in the hand of the Lord to accomplish His
great work of the last days. (_See Ezekiel, xxxvi, xxxvii; also
Isaiah, xxix.,; also Isaiah, lviii. to the end of the book; also
Psalms_ .)

"Question 2. 'What became of the plates from which the Book of
Mormon was translated?'

"Answer. They were returned to the angel, Moroni, from whom they
were received, to be brought forth again in the due time of the
Lord; for they contain many things pertaining to the gathering
of Israel, which gathering will take place in this generation,
and shall be testified of among all nations, according to the old
prophets; as the Lord will set His ensign to the people, and gather
the outcasts of Israel. (_See Isaiah, xi_.)

"Now, dear sir, examine these scriptures carefully; and should
there still be any ambiguity relative to this great work of the
last days, write again and we will endeavor to enlighten you on any
point relative to this doctrine.

"I am, very respectfully,

"MARTIN HARRIS, SEN."

The following interesting statement is an extract from a letter written to the _Deseret News_, by Elder Edward Stevenson:

"Martin Harris related an instance that occurred during the time
that he wrote that portion of the translation of the Book of
Mormon, which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the
Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that the Prophet possessed a seer
stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the
Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone.
Martin explained the translation as follows: By aid of the seer
stone, sentences would appear and were read by the prophet and
written by Martin, and when finished he would say, 'Written,' and
if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another
appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until
corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven
on the plates, precisely in the language then used. Martin said,
after continued translation they would become weary and would
go down to the river and exercise by throwing stones out on the
river, etc. While so doing on one occasion, Martin found a stone
very much resembling the one used for translating, and on resuming
their labor of translation, Martin put in place the stone that
he had found. He said that the Prophet remained silent unusually
and intently gazing in darkness, no traces of the usual sentences
appearing. Much surprised, Joseph exclaimed, 'Martin! What is the
matter? All is as dark as Egypt.' Martin's countenance betrayed
him, and the prophet asked Martin why he had done so. Martin said,
to stop the mouths of fools, who had told him that the Prophet had
learned those sentences and was merely repeating them, etc.

Martin said further that the seer stone differed in appearance
entirely from the Urim and Thummim that was obtained with the
plates, which were two clear stones set in two rims, very much
resembled spectacles, only they were larger. Martin said there
were not many pages translated while he wrote; after which Oliver
Cowdery did the writing.

In concluding this portion of our subject we desire to draw attention to the entire agreement between the witnesses as to the manner in which the plates were translated. If any fraud had been practiced, or there had been a conspiracy to deceive, these witnesses in the lapse of so many years would doubtless have told conflicting stories, especially in regard to minor details. But as it is their statements are harmonious one with the other, their testimony unchangeable and the whole consistent with the narrative of the Prophet Joseph and the condition of things by which they were then surrounded.