Martin Harris

Family Background

1783. May 18: Born in Easttown, New York. In 1808 he married his cousin Lucy Harris; they had three children. She divorced him in 1831 because of his funding of the Book of Mormon. In 1837 he married Brigham Young's niece Caroline Young, by whom he had five children.

Farmer and Community Leader

1804. Harris's 240 acres of prime land made him one of the most prosperous farmers in the Palmyra, New York, region. He served in the local militia during the War of 1812, and was later elected or appointed to a number of civic posts.

Book of Mormon Scribe

1827. As a neighbor, Harris was one of the few persons outside the Smith family to know of the existence of the Book of Mormon plates before they were retrieved from the Hill Cumorah.

1828. According to Harris, an angel told the Prophet "to go look in the spectacles, and he would show him the man that would assist him ... He did so, and he saw myself, Martin Harris."

As a "last precautionary step" to be sure "there was no risk whatever in the matter," Harris took some of the copied characters from the plates to scholars in New York City. Though he did not obtain written certification of their authenticity, he was satisfied, and became the first Book of Mormon scribe.

To convince his skeptical wife, Harris persuaded the Prophet to let him take the 116 pages of completed manuscript home with him. They were lost or stolen, and as a result, the plates and interpreters were taken "for a season," and Martin was no longer allowed to transcribe.

Book of Mormon Witness and Benefactor

1830. As one of the Three Witnesses, Harris testified he heard the voice of God declare the Book of Mormon to be authentic as an angel showed him the gold plates.

Harris mortgaged his farm to raise the $3000 needed to print five thousand copies of the Book of Mormon. Lucy, violently opposed to his investment, unsuccessfully sued Joseph Smith for "defrauding Husband." The marital discord increased when Martin testified that "Joseph had never asked him for money that he was not more than willing to give."

Early Church Leader

1830. Oliver Cowdery baptized Martin Harris shortly after the organization of the Church. The following year, he accompanied Joseph Smith to select the "land of consecration" in Missouri.

1834. Became a member of the first high council in Kirtland.

During Zion's Camp, Harris boasted that he could handle snakes with "perfect safety." While "fooling with a black snake with his bare feet, he received a bite on his left foot."

1835. Harris and the other Book of Mormon Witnesses, David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, selected, ordained, and instructed the twelve elders who became the original Quorum of the Twelve.

Dissident

1834. Tried by the Kirtland High Council for accusing Joseph Smith of not understanding the Book of Mormon, of wrestling too much, and of drinking while translating the Book of Mormon, Martin confessed that his mind had been darkened so that he said things inadvertently.

His discontent mounted with the collapse of the Kirtland Anti-Banking Society, and on September 3, 1837, Harris was dropped from the Kirtland High Council. He and his family remained in Kirtland when most Saints emigrated to Missouri or Nauvoo. "I never did leave the Church," he claimed, "the Church left me."

Kirtland Temple Caretaker

In later years Harris often conducted tours of the temple. One visitor described him as a "poorly clad, emaciated little man on whom the winter of life was weighing heavily." Harris enjoyed proclaiming his testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith:

"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 know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, chosen of God to open the last dispensation of the fullness of times; so surely do I know that the Book of Mormon was divinely translated."

Rebaptism

On various occasions Harris was reported to be a firm believer in Shakerism, a Strangite, and a member of the Church of Christ. In all, he affiliated with eight different religious groups.

1859. Caroline Harris and their five children emigrated to Utah without him. Though she never divorced Harris, Caroline married John Cathy Davis in 1860.

1870. Harris was persuaded to visit Utah by his son's brother-in-law, William H. Homer. Harris sent a message to Brigham Young through Homer: "Tell him that Martin Harris is an old, old man, living on charity, with his relatives. Tell him I should like to visit Utah, my family and children—I would be glad to accept help from the Church, but I want no personal favor. Wait! Tell him that if he sends money, he must send enough for the round trip. I should not want to remain in Utah."

Brigham Young contributed the first $25, declaring: "Send for him? Yes, even if it were to take the last dollar of my own. Martin Harris spent his time and money freely, when one dollar was worth more than one thousand dollars are now. Send for him?Yes, indeed, I shall send!"

During the trip, Harris was frequently invited to witness to the Book of Mormon. At one of these gatherings, a baptism was performed, and Edward Stevenson explained rebaptism to Harris, who said it was "new doctrine to him." He "had not been cut off from the Church," but if rebaptism were "required of him it would be manifested to him by the spirit."

A short time later, he informed Stevenson that "the Spirit had made known to him that it was his duty to renew his covenant before the Lord." Stevenson rebaptized Harris, and Orson Pratt reconfirmed him. Pratt later explained, "Martin Harris, when he came to this Territory a few years ago, was rebaptized, the same as every member of the Church from distant parts is on arriving here. That seems to be a kind of standing ordinance from all Latter-day Saints who emigrate here, from the First Presidency down; all are rebaptized and set out anew by renewing their covenants."

After visiting friends in Salt Lake, Martin moved to Clarkston, Utah, where he lived with his son, Martin Harris, Jr.

When the Relief Society offered to have a set of false teeth made up for him, Harris replied, "No sisters, I thank you for your kindness but I shall not live long. Take the money and give it to the poor."

Death

1875. July 10: Died at the age of ninety-two in Clarkston, Utah. Buried in the Clarkston Cemetery with a Book of Mormon in his right hand and a Doctrine and Covenants in his left.

Sources
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981.
Contributor 5 (1884):406.
Deseret News, 24 September 1856.
History of the Church, 1:21, 2:95, 2:510, 2:575, 4:424.
Jenson, Andrew. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson Historical Company, 1901-1936.
Journal of Discourses, 18:160.
Millennial Star, 31 October 1846.
Nibley, Preston, ed. History of Joseph Smith By His Mother. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1973.
Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. William Pilkington, Jr. "The Dying Testimony of Martin Harris as given to William Pilkington, Jr., by Martin Harris Himself in Clarkston, Cache Co., Utah."
_____. William Pilkington, Jr. "Autobiography."

	A Book of Mormons Richard S. Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker Copyright 1982, Signature Books Salt Lake City, Utah Contents


	Martin Harris (1783-1875)

		Martin Harris was a Book of Mormon scribe and Book of Mormon witness. Photograph courtesy LDS Church Archives.


	Family Background 1783. May 18: Born in Easttown, New York. In 1808 he married his cousin Lucy Harris; they had three children. She divorced him in 1831 because of his funding of the Book of Mormon. In 1837 he married Brigham Young's niece Caroline Young, by whom he had five children. Farmer and Community Leader 1804. Harris's 240 acres of prime land made him one of the most prosperous farmers in the Palmyra, New York, region. He served in the local militia during the War of 1812, and was later elected or appointed to a number of civic posts. Book of Mormon Scribe 1827. As a neighbor, Harris was one of the few persons outside the Smith family to know of the existence of the Book of Mormon plates before they were retrieved from the Hill Cumorah. 1828. According to Harris, an angel told the Prophet "to go look in the spectacles, and he would show him the man that would assist him ... He did so, and he saw myself, Martin Harris." As a "last precautionary step" to be sure "there was no risk whatever in the matter," Harris took some of the copied characters from the plates to scholars in New York City. Though he did not obtain written certification of their authenticity, he was satisfied, and became the first Book of Mormon scribe. To convince his skeptical wife, Harris persuaded the Prophet to let him take the 116 pages of completed manuscript home with him. They were lost or stolen, and as a result, the plates and interpreters were taken "for a season," and Martin was no longer allowed to transcribe. Book of Mormon Witness and Benefactor 1830. As one of the Three Witnesses, Harris testified he heard the voice of God declare the Book of Mormon to be authentic as an angel showed him the gold plates. Harris mortgaged his farm to raise the $3000 needed to print five thousand copies of the Book of Mormon. Lucy, violently opposed to his investment, unsuccessfully sued Joseph Smith for "defrauding Husband." The marital discord increased when Martin testified that "Joseph had never asked him for money that he was not more than willing to give." Early Church Leader 1830. Oliver Cowdery baptized Martin Harris shortly after the organization of the Church. The following year, he accompanied Joseph Smith to select the "land of consecration" in Missouri. 1834. Became a member of the first high council in Kirtland. During Zion's Camp, Harris boasted that he could handle snakes with "perfect safety." While "fooling with a black snake with his bare feet, he received a bite on his left foot." 1835. Harris and the other Book of Mormon Witnesses, David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery, selected, ordained, and instructed the twelve elders who became the original Quorum of the Twelve. Dissident 1834. Tried by the Kirtland High Council for accusing Joseph Smith of not understanding the Book of Mormon, of wrestling too much, and of drinking while translating the Book of Mormon, Martin confessed that his mind had been darkened so that he said things inadvertently. His discontent mounted with the collapse of the Kirtland Anti-Banking Society, and on September 3, 1837, Harris was dropped from the Kirtland High Council. He and his family remained in Kirtland when most Saints emigrated to Missouri or Nauvoo. "I never did leave the Church," he claimed, "the Church left me." Kirtland Temple Caretaker In later years Harris often conducted tours of the temple. One visitor described him as a "poorly clad, emaciated little man on whom the winter of life was weighing heavily." Harris enjoyed proclaiming his testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith: "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 know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, chosen of God to open the last dispensation of the fullness of times; so surely do I know that the Book of Mormon was divinely translated." Rebaptism On various occasions Harris was reported to be a firm believer in Shakerism, a Strangite, and a member of the Church of Christ. In all, he affiliated with eight different religious groups. 1859. Caroline Harris and their five children emigrated to Utah without him. Though she never divorced Harris, Caroline married John Cathy Davis in 1860. 1870. Harris was persuaded to visit Utah by his son's brother-in-law, William H. Homer. Harris sent a message to Brigham Young through Homer: "Tell him that Martin Harris is an old, old man, living on charity, with his relatives. Tell him I should like to visit Utah, my family and children—I would be glad to accept help from the Church, but I want no personal favor. Wait! Tell him that if he sends money, he must send enough for the round trip. I should not want to remain in Utah." Brigham Young contributed the first $25, declaring: "Send for him? Yes, even if it were to take the last dollar of my own. Martin Harris spent his time and money freely, when one dollar was worth more than one thousand dollars are now. Send for him?Yes, indeed, I shall send!" During the trip, Harris was frequently invited to witness to the Book of Mormon. At one of these gatherings, a baptism was performed, and Edward Stevenson explained rebaptism to Harris, who said it was "new doctrine to him." He "had not been cut off from the Church," but if rebaptism were "required of him it would be manifested to him by the spirit." A short time later, he informed Stevenson that "the Spirit had made known to him that it was his duty to renew his covenant before the Lord." Stevenson rebaptized Harris, and Orson Pratt reconfirmed him. Pratt later explained, "Martin Harris, when he came to this Territory a few years ago, was rebaptized, the same as every member of the Church from distant parts is on arriving here. That seems to be a kind of standing ordinance from all Latter-day Saints who emigrate here, from the First Presidency down; all are rebaptized and set out anew by renewing their covenants." After visiting friends in Salt Lake, Martin moved to Clarkston, Utah, where he lived with his son, Martin Harris, Jr. When the Relief Society offered to have a set of false teeth made up for him, Harris replied, "No sisters, I thank you for your kindness but I shall not live long. Take the money and give it to the poor." Death 1875. July 10: Died at the age of ninety-two in Clarkston, Utah. Buried in the Clarkston Cemetery with a Book of Mormon in his right hand and a Doctrine and Covenants in his left. Sources Anderson, Richard Lloyd. Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981. Contributor 5 (1884):406. Deseret News, 24 September 1856. History of the Church, 1:21, 2:95, 2:510, 2:575, 4:424. Jenson, Andrew. LDS Biographical Encyclopedia. 4 vols. Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson Historical Company, 1901-1936. Journal of Discourses, 18:160. Millennial Star, 31 October 1846. Nibley, Preston, ed. History of Joseph Smith By His Mother. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1973. Salt Lake City, Utah. LDS Church Archives. William Pilkington, Jr. "The Dying Testimony of Martin Harris as given to William Pilkington, Jr., by Martin Harris Himself in Clarkston, Cache Co., Utah." _____. William Pilkington, Jr. "Autobiography."