The complete story, parts 1 and 2 of martin harriss witness to the book of mormon to watch originals from the channel theldslife. Martin harris testimony of the book of mormon as given to. His is a story of fascination with worldly honors, flirtations with apostasy, and pride that nearly cost him the joy of his later years in the west. Martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was for the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor of the book of mormon, 1955, p. Martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, was born may 18, 1783, in easttown, saratoga county, new york, and moved with his fathers family in his ninth year to the town of palmyra, wayne county, new york in the fall of 1827 he made the acquaintance of the prophet joseph smith, who at that time was severely persecuted by his enemies, he having received from the angel. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director witnesses. The illness of martin harris, deseret news, 21 july 1875, 387. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. Gunnell goes on to quote a letter written in 1844 by phineas young to brigham young, martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was of the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon, wayne c. The first major biography about one of the most important men of the early church is hot off the press from byu studies. Physical descriptions of him say that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, had blue eyes, brown hair, and a greekstyle beard shaved to grow off the edge of his jaw and chin. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon reveals the compelling story of a man who had seen angels and knew joseph smith was a prophet but who nevertheless struggled to keep his faith in the prophetic calling of joseph smith and the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. Harris declared repeatedly that he had as much evidence for a shaker book he had as for the book of mormon the braden and kelly debate, p. The evidence left by the book of mormon witnesses is rich, varied, and uneven, including the following.
Blackening martin harriss reputation, post1830 dan. Martin harris later said that he lost confidence in joseph smith and his mind became darkened quoted in anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, 110. Martin harris may 18, 1783 july 10, 1875 was an early convert to the latter day saint movement who financially guaranteed the first printing of the book of mormon and also served as one of three witnesses who testified that they had seen the golden plates from which joseph smith said the book of mormon had been translated. The case against the three witnesses to the book of mormon. Anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, 115. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Witnesses of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Basically, because he got uppity with joseph smith following the kirtland antibanking safety society scandal of 1837, in which smith and the other leaders of the kass lost all the savings of many kirtland saints with their undercapitalized nonba. Peterson focuses mainly on an article published in. His testimony, and those of two others, can now be found in the front of the book of mormon under the title the testimony of the three witnesses.
The authors mention of the fact that all of the book of mormon witnesses except martin harris were related to either joseph smith or david whitmer is meant to evoke feelings and prejudices that these men were in some sort of dishonest collusion due to their relationship to one another. The three witnesses were of questionable character this assertion is based on what fellow mormons said about them. Martin harris witness and testimony cannot be trusted. On march 27, 1808, when martin was 25yearsold he married his cousin, lucy harris.
All three men eventually broke with smith and the church he organized, although harris and cowdery. How did martin harris help bring forth the book of mormon. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. He has continued to talk about and testify to the truth of the book of mormon, and was in his happiest mood when he could get somebody to listen to his testimony. Martin harrisone of the witnesses of the book of mormon, deseret news, september 7, 1870, 6. The joint statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmerhas been printed with a separate statement by the eight witnesses in nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. Martin harris called at the historians office accompanied by edward stevenson, journal history of the church, august 31, 1870, 1. Martin harris was a wealthy and respected resident of palmyra, new york, and was one of joseph smiths earliest supporters. A recently republished document written by a man who disliked mormonism but knew martin harris testifies yet again to the solid good character of one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon.
Just as surely as the sun is shining on us and gives us light, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just as surely as the breath of life sustains us, so surely do i. Three witnesses of the book of mormon department of. At the beginning of the book of mormon, we have the testimony of joseph smith, the testimony of three witnesses, and the testimony of eight witnesses. A few more notes from susan easton black and larry c. When he was tenyearsold his family relocated to palmyra, new york. Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to. I have seen what i have seen and i have heard what i have. The earliest documented statement of the three witnessesoliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harrisis their statement in the handwriting of oliver cowdery subsequently published in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon provo. Of martins testimony, warren parrish wrote, martin harris, one of the subscribing witnesses, has come out at last, and says he never saw the plates, from which the book purports to have been translated, except in a vision and he further states that any man who says he has seen them in any other way is a liar, joseph smith jr. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon, by susan easton black and larry c.
Porter, tells the life story of a man who was instrumental in getting the book of mormon translated, published, and distributed. Martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, died july 10, 1875, at the home of his son martin harris jr. The joint statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmerhas been printed with a separate statement by the eight witnesses in nearly every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in. Each of these specific menoliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmersacrificed much to help with the translation and publication of the book of mormon, and its likely this is a significant part of why they were chosen as witnesses. Martin harris was born on may 18, 1783, at what is now saratoga, new york. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon reveals the compelling story of a man who struggled to keep his faith in the prophetic calling of joseph smith and the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. The earliest documented statement of the three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris is their statement in the handwriting of oliver cowdery subsequently published in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. As many of the plates as joseph smith translated i handled with my hands.
Martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon martin harris was born on may 18, 1783 in washington county, new york. He was released from the high council in september 1837 and three months later was excommunicated. The dying testimony of martin harris, as given to william pilkington by martin harris himself, in clarkston, cache county, utah. Three witnesses oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris declared an angel of god appeared to them and showed them the book of mormon plates and they heard the voice of the lord pronounce that joseph smiths translation had been accomplished. And martin harris was financially invested in the success of the book of mormon in a way that it would ruin his estate if it failed. Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. Martin harris among the favorite anti mormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates.
The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account. Martin harris may 18, 1783july 10, 1875 underwrote the first printing of the book of mormon and also served as one of three witnesses who testified that they had seen the golden plates from which joseph smith said the book of mormon had been translated. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by eight witnesses, has been printed with every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. His is a story of fascination with worldly honors, flirtations with apostasy, and pride that nearly cost him the joy of his. Martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon. Our heavenly father uses multiple witnesses to testify of truth see 2 corinthians. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. Harris, martin, in black, membership of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 18301848, 21. I first met martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the authenticity of the book of mormon, in smithfield utah in 1874. Martin harris on the witness stand in lyons, new york. I asked martin harris how he could bear so wonderful a testimony after having left the church. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of.
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