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. Its all but irrelevant whether harris said it or not. Blackening martin harriss reputation, post1830 dan peterson. 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. 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. When lucy was 15 she married martin harris, on march 27, 1808. 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 and the book of mormon history of the saints. Porter, tells the life story of a man who was instrumental in getting the book of mormon translated, published, and distributed. Martin harris witness and testimony cannot be trusted. Martin harris came from a family of english quakers who emigrated to palmyra, new york at the end of the 18 th century.
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. The first major biography about one of the most important men of the early church is hot off the press from byu studies. Martin harris was anything but a skeptical witness. 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. 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. 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. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. 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.
The story of martin harris is 110 pages in that book, with the stories of emer harris and dennison lott harris being given 78 pages. The play marked a fourth generations rehearsal of martin harriss witness. Lucy harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Martin harris on the witness stand in lyons, new york dan. 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.
Each of the witnesses should each have written their own testimony instead of merely signing a prepared statement written by joseph. Martin harris mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. In addition, it has been argued that smith and the witnesses had a similar magical worldview. 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. All three men eventually broke with smith and the church he organized, although harris and cowdery were eventually rebaptized into the church. Did martin harris ever deny his book of mormon witness. George godfrey, testimony of martin harris, from an unpublished manuscript copy in the possession of his daughter, florence godfrey munson of fielding, utah. 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. Brand new biography of martin harris now available book.
Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon susan easton black, larry c. Special witness to the book of mormon by madge harris tuckett and belle harris wilson, published in provo by maasai in 1983. Associates considered martin harris a good man ces letter alleges. 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. Witnesses to the book of mormon had ever seen or handled. How did martin harris help bring forth the book of mormon. Brand new biography of martin harris now available book of.
The martin harris story, with biographies of emer harris and dennison lott harris. Martin harris was born on may 18, 1783, at what is now saratoga, new york. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. 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. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon, by susan easton black and larry c. Jan 27, 2020 a few more notes from susan easton black and larry c. 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. Lucy harris was born on may 1, 1792, to rufus harris and lucy hill, in palmyra, new york.
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. Martin harris among the favorite antimormon charges is that the three witnesses only imagined that they saw the book of mormon plates. The house pictured here above, right currently sits on the farm martin once mortgaged to pay for the printing of the book of mormon. On march 27, 1808, when martin was 25yearsold he married his cousin, lucy harris. His is a story of fascination with worldly honors, flirtations with apostasy, and pride that nearly cost him the joy of his. When he was tenyearsold his family relocated to palmyra, new york.
Martin harris made a significant financial contribution to the printing of the book of mormon. Native honesty and lifelong testimony, is summarized. Martin harris was a wealthy and respected resident of palmyra, new york, and was one of joseph smiths earliest supporters. Uncompromising witness of the book of mormon provo. As long the book of mormon continues to bring men to worship the risen christ the name of martin harris, special witness, will. Witnesses and witnessing are vital in gods plan for the salvation of his children.
Most of the evidence for such an argument is based on two statements made by martin harris. Martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon. Blackening martin harriss reputation, post1830 dan. One of the three witnesses of the book of mormon, june 1829. Martin harriswitness to the book of mormon fairmormon. 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 utah, 15 miles from the idaho border.
Having a special interest in martin harris, i have been saddened at how he is. Jan 27, 2017 the solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. 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. Did martin harris claim that even the eight witnesses. 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. For whatever reason, martin was excommunicated in kirtland, ohio in dec. The three men chosen as witnesses of the book of mormon were oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris. 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. I first met martin harris, one of the three witnesses to the authenticity of the book of mormon, in smithfield utah in 1874. Phineas young wrote to his older brother brigham young on december 31, 1841, from kirtland, ohio. Or whether the report comes from a disaffected member whos no less credible than a tbm apologist with extreme confirmation biaslike dan peterson.
The three are part of twelve book of mormon witnesses, who also include smith and the eight witnesses. Her family were members of the religious society of friends, also known as the quakers. Much less is known about the circumstances surrounding the excommunication of martin harris. 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. Lucy harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of. 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. All three men eventually broke with smith and the church he organized, although harris and cowdery. Nevertheless, at least during the early years, harris seems to. Did martin harris ever deny his book of mormon witness because he thought that joseph smith was a fallen prophet. Book of mormon said that harris used to practice a good deal. The solemn testimony of the three witnesses has appeared in every edition of the book of mormon since 1830. A few more notes from susan easton black and larry c. 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.
The dying testimony of martin harris, as given to william pilkington by martin harris himself, in clarkston, cache county, utah. Palmer wrote that moderns tend to read into the witnesses testimonies a rationalist perspective rather than a nineteenthcentury magical mindset. Martin harris inspired a folkhero tradition that has lasted down to the present. Gunnell, martin harriswitness and benefactor to the book of mormon masters thesis, brigham young university, 1955, 119. 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.
Lucy harris a hostile witness of the book of mormon. Supposedly harris was once asked if he saw the plates with his naked eyes to. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of. Cowdery continued to serve alongside joseph smith in the years to come.
Savage, 1870, copy at church history library, original in. Mormon defender daniel peterson recently published an article about book of mormon witness martin harris. Then he offered this interesting statement about his testimony. 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. Martin harris 17831875, a new york farmer, was one of the three witnesses to the divine origin of the book of mormon. 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. Martin harris on the witness stand in lyons, new york. 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. Jan 06, 2016 martin harris witness and testimony cannot be trusted. Martin harris was a prosperous man with a large farm above, left and rich belongings such as the engraved watch above. 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. Martin harriswitness and benefactor to the book of mormon. 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.
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