Book of mormon said that harris used to practice a good deal. Martin harris was a prosperous man with a large farm above, left and rich belongings such as the engraved watch above. Palmer wrote that moderns tend to read into the witnesses testimonies a rationalist perspective rather than a nineteenthcentury magical mindset. One of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, june 1829. Martin harris and the book of mormon history of the saints. Martin harris made a significant financial contribution to the printing of the book of mormon.
Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. Lucy harris a hostile witness of the book of mormon. Nevertheless, at least during the early years, harris seems to. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon provo. When he was tenyearsold his family relocated to palmyra, new york. In addition, it has been argued that smith and the witnesses had a similar magical worldview.
Native honesty and lifelong testimony, is summarized. Her family were members of the religious society of friends, also known as the quakers. 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. The joint statement of the three witnessesoliver 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. Jan 27, 2020 a few more notes from susan easton black and larry c. Associates considered martin harris a good man ces letter alleges. 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.
Phineas young wrote to his older brother brigham young on december 31, 1841, from kirtland, ohio. Martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon. Savage, 1870, copy at church history library, original in. Brand new biography of martin harris now available book of. Brand new biography of martin harris now available book. Lucy harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. All three men eventually broke with smith and the church he organized, although harris and cowdery. Porter, tells the life story of a man who was instrumental in getting the book of mormon translated, published, and distributed. Witnesses to the book of mormon had ever seen or handled. Martin harris 17831875, a new york farmer, was one of the three witnesses to the divine origin of the book of mormon.
Special witness to the book of mormon by madge harris tuckett and belle harris wilson, published in provo by maasai in 1983. Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. Martin harris was born on may 18, 1783, at what is now saratoga, new york. George godfrey, testimony of martin harris, from an unpublished manuscript copy in the possession of his daughter, florence godfrey munson of fielding, utah.
While the principal target of painesville telegraph. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Lucy harris was born on may 1, 1792, to rufus harris and lucy hill, in palmyra, new york. 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.
Martin harris repeatedly insisted that joseph smith give him the book of mormon translation to show his wife and prove the legitimacy of his work. Martin harris mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Then he offered this interesting statement about his testimony. 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. How did martin harris help bring forth the book of mormon. Dec 11, 2018 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. Gunnell, martin harriswitness and benefactor to the book of mormon masters thesis, brigham young university, 1955, 119. Martin harriswitness to the book of mormon fairmormon. 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. 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. When lucy was 15 she married martin harris, on march 27, 1808. Jan 06, 2016 martin harris witness and testimony cannot be trusted. The play marked a fourth generations rehearsal of martin harriss witness.
Its all but irrelevant whether harris said it or not. 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. 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. Aug 05, 2014 martin harris and the book of mormon he was a man raised up for a singular purpose, called and chosen to assist in the bringing forth of the book of mormon. Witnesses and witnessing are vital in gods plan for the salvation of his children. The martin harris story, with biographies of emer harris and dennison lott harris. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. Ferrell indicates that there is no record of lucys grave being moved and it is most probable that she was originally interred in the palmyra cemetery. Did martin harris ever deny his book of mormon witness because he thought that joseph smith was a fallen prophet. The first major biography about one of the most important men of the early church is hot off the press from byu studies. 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.
Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to. Cowdery continued to serve alongside joseph smith in the years to come. 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 on the witness stand in lyons, new york dan. Though martin could not have known it at the time, he gave his land for a legacy and his reputation among men for another in heaven. Blackening martin harriss reputation, post1830 dan peterson.
Mormon defender daniel peterson recently published an article about book of mormon witness martin harris. Martin harris inspired a folkhero tradition that has lasted down to the present. Lucy harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Martin had always been a staunch supporter of joseph smith and it is unlikely that he considered joseph a fallen prophet as did the other witnesses. Did martin harris ever deny his book of mormon witness. Martin harris on the witness stand in lyons, new york. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. He was released from the high council in september 1837 and three months later was excommunicated. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Their written testimony of three witnesses has been included in all of the almost 100 million copies of the book of mormon the church has published since 1830. In a notarized statement dated 29 october 1921, george godfrey, who prepared martin harriss grave in clarkston, utah, summarized his lengthy acquaintance with the witness.
The dying testimony of martin harris, as given to william pilkington by martin harris himself, in clarkston, cache county, utah. A few more notes from susan easton black and larry c. The earliest signature of martin harris, one of the three witnesses, and the only of his signatures outside of the archives of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is displayed on a. In a notarized statement dated 29 october 1921, george godfrey, who prepared martin harris s grave in clarkston, utah, summarized his lengthy acquaintance with the witness. For whatever reason, martin was excommunicated in kirtland, ohio in dec.
As long the book of mormon continues to bring men to worship the risen christ the name of martin harris, special witness, will. Much less is known about the circumstances surrounding the excommunication of martin harris. His is a story of fascination with worldly honors, flirtations with apostasy, and pride that nearly cost him the joy of his. On march 27, 1808, when martin was 25yearsold he married his cousin, lucy harris. 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. Martin harris came from a family of english quakers who emigrated to palmyra, new york at the end of the 18 th century. Martin harris testimony of the book of mormon as given to. All three men eventually broke with smith and the church he organized, although harris and cowdery were eventually rebaptized into the church. 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. Martin harriswitness and benefactor to the book of mormon. 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. 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 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.
Blackening martin harriss reputation, post1830 dan. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon, by susan easton black and larry c. The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830.
The house pictured here above, right currently sits on the farm martin once mortgaged to pay for the printing of the book of mormon. Martin harris was a wealthy and respected resident of palmyra, new york, and was one of joseph smiths earliest supporters. 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. Or whether the report comes from a disaffected member whos no less credible than a tbm apologist with extreme confirmation biaslike dan peterson. Each of the witnesses should each have written their own testimony instead of merely signing a prepared statement written by joseph. Clarkston, the place where book of mormon witness martin harris spent his final nine months before dying in 1875, is a sleepy farming town in the northeast part of. Did martin harris claim that even the eight witnesses. I first met martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the authenticity of the book of mormon, in smithfield utah in 1874.