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Difference between revisions of "Question: Do Martin Harris's statements related to the "spiritual eye" or "eye of faith" contradict the reality of his witness?"
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==Question: Do Martin Harris's statements related to the "spiritual eye" or "eye of faith" contradict the reality of his witness?== | ==Question: Do Martin Harris's statements related to the "spiritual eye" or "eye of faith" contradict the reality of his witness?== | ||
Some wish to make it appear as though the statements made by Martin Harris about the Three Witnesses’ manifestation discount its reality. Doing so pulls Harris’ statements out of their proper context. This vital viewpoint can be regained by simply taking a look at several passages from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—which all predate Martin’s public statements about the nature of his experience. | Some wish to make it appear as though the statements made by Martin Harris about the Three Witnesses’ manifestation discount its reality. Doing so pulls Harris’ statements out of their proper context. This vital viewpoint can be regained by simply taking a look at several passages from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—which all predate Martin’s public statements about the nature of his experience. | ||
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===The scriptural witnesses=== | ===The scriptural witnesses=== | ||
'''{{s||Ether|5|2–3}}''' | '''{{s||Ether|5|2–3}}''' | ||
:This prophetic passage had a direct application to Martin Harris as one of the Three Witnesses. It said: “the plates . . . . unto three shall they be <font color="blue">shown by the power of God</font>” | :This prophetic passage had a direct application to Martin Harris as one of the Three Witnesses. It said: “the plates . . . . unto three shall they be <font color="blue">shown by the power of God</font>” | ||
| − | '''{{s|| | + | '''{{s||D&C|5|11,13,24–26}}''' |
:“unto [three of my servants] I will show these things . . . . <font color="blue">I will give them power that they may behold and view these things</font> '''as they are'''.” Speaking specifically of Martin Harris: “then will I grant unto him <font color="blue">a view of the things which he desires to see</font>. And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true, for <font color="blue">I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man</font>. And I the Lord command him, my servant Martin Harris, that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he shall say: <font color="blue">I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God</font>; and these are the words which he shall say.” | :“unto [three of my servants] I will show these things . . . . <font color="blue">I will give them power that they may behold and view these things</font> '''as they are'''.” Speaking specifically of Martin Harris: “then will I grant unto him <font color="blue">a view of the things which he desires to see</font>. And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true, for <font color="blue">I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man</font>. And I the Lord command him, my servant Martin Harris, that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he shall say: <font color="blue">I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God</font>; and these are the words which he shall say.” | ||
| − | '''{{s|| | + | '''{{s||D&C|17|1–3,5}}''' |
:All three of the witnesses were told: “<font color="blue">you shall have a view of the plates . . . . And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old</font> . . . . And after that <font color="blue">you have obtained faith, and have seen them</font> '''with your eyes''', you shall testify of them . . . . And ye shall testify that <font color="blue">you have seen them, even as my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., has seen them; for it is by my power that he has seen them, and it is because he had faith</font>” | :All three of the witnesses were told: “<font color="blue">you shall have a view of the plates . . . . And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old</font> . . . . And after that <font color="blue">you have obtained faith, and have seen them</font> '''with your eyes''', you shall testify of them . . . . And ye shall testify that <font color="blue">you have seen them, even as my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., has seen them; for it is by my power that he has seen them, and it is because he had faith</font>” | ||
From these scriptural texts it is evident that: | From these scriptural texts it is evident that: | ||
| − | * The Three Witnesses were required by God to exercise faith like “the prophets of old” in order to view the angel and the plates (cf. {{s||Moroni|7|37}}; {{s|| | + | * The Three Witnesses were required by God to exercise faith like “the prophets of old” in order to view the angel and the plates (cf. {{s||Moroni|7|37}}; {{s||D&C|20|6}}). |
* God would exercise His power to enable the Three Witnesses to see things that were not usually visible to mortal eyes. | * God would exercise His power to enable the Three Witnesses to see things that were not usually visible to mortal eyes. | ||
| − | * Nevertheless, the Three Witnesses would see the angel and the plates “with [their] eyes” and “as they are” in objective reality. | + | * Nevertheless, the Three Witnesses would see the angel and the plates “with [their] eyes” and “as they are” in objective reality. |
===Contemporary witnesses=== | ===Contemporary witnesses=== | ||
| − | Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; '''mine eyes have beheld'''". <ref>{{TS1|author=NeedAuthor|vol=3|num=21|date=1 September 1842|start=898}}</ref> Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates. <ref>''Autobiography of Alma L. Jensen'', 1932.</ref> | + | Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; '''mine eyes have beheld'''".<ref>{{TS1|author=NeedAuthor|vol=3|num=21|date=1 September 1842|start=898}}</ref> Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates.<ref>''Autobiography of Alma L. Jensen'', 1932.</ref> |
Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work: | Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work: | ||
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: "It was a clear, open beautiful day, far from any inhabitants, in a remote field, at the time we saw the record, of which it has been spoken, brought and laid before us, by an angel, arrayed in glorious light, [who] ascend [descended I suppose] out of the midst of heaven. '''Now if this is human juggling—judge ye'''".<ref>Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, in letter dated 29 November 1829, quoted in Corenlius C. Blatchly, "[http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/1829-mormon-discovery-brought-to-you-by-guest-erin-jennings/ THE NEW BIBLE], written on plates of Gold or Brass," ''Gospel Luminary'' 2/49 (10 Dec. 1829): 194. {{ea}}</ref> | : "It was a clear, open beautiful day, far from any inhabitants, in a remote field, at the time we saw the record, of which it has been spoken, brought and laid before us, by an angel, arrayed in glorious light, [who] ascend [descended I suppose] out of the midst of heaven. '''Now if this is human juggling—judge ye'''".<ref>Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, in letter dated 29 November 1829, quoted in Corenlius C. Blatchly, "[http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/1829-mormon-discovery-brought-to-you-by-guest-erin-jennings/ THE NEW BIBLE], written on plates of Gold or Brass," ''Gospel Luminary'' 2/49 (10 Dec. 1829): 194. {{ea}}</ref> | ||
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| − | + | [[es:Pregunta: ¿Los comentarios de Martin Harris relacionados con el "ojo espiritual" o "ojo de la fe" en contradicción con la realidad de su testimonio?]] | |
| − | + | [[pt:Pergunta: Você declarações de Martin Harris relacionadas com o "olho espiritual" ou "olhos da fé" em contradição com a realidade de sua testemunha?]] | |
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Latest revision as of 15:18, 13 April 2024
Some wish to make it appear as though the statements made by Martin Harris about the Three Witnesses’ manifestation discount its reality. Doing so pulls Harris’ statements out of their proper context. This vital viewpoint can be regained by simply taking a look at several passages from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—which all predate Martin’s public statements about the nature of his experience.
The scriptural witnesses
- This prophetic passage had a direct application to Martin Harris as one of the Three Witnesses. It said: “the plates . . . . unto three shall they be shown by the power of God”
- “unto [three of my servants] I will show these things . . . . I will give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are.” Speaking specifically of Martin Harris: “then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see. And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man. And I the Lord command him, my servant Martin Harris, that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he shall say: I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God; and these are the words which he shall say.”
- All three of the witnesses were told: “you shall have a view of the plates . . . . And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old . . . . And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them . . . . And ye shall testify that you have seen them, even as my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., has seen them; for it is by my power that he has seen them, and it is because he had faith”
From these scriptural texts it is evident that:
- The Three Witnesses were required by God to exercise faith like “the prophets of old” in order to view the angel and the plates (cf. Moroni 7꞉37; D&C 20꞉6).
- God would exercise His power to enable the Three Witnesses to see things that were not usually visible to mortal eyes.
- Nevertheless, the Three Witnesses would see the angel and the plates “with [their] eyes” and “as they are” in objective reality.
Contemporary witnesses
Joseph Smith was an eyewitness to what Martin Harris said at the exact moment that the manifestation took place. He reported that Martin's words were: "Tis enough; mine eyes have beheld".[1] Another eyewitness, named Alma Jensen, saw Martin Harris point to his physical eyes while testifying that he had seen both the angel and the plates.[2]
Oliver Cowdery wrote a letter to a skeptical author in November 1829, and spoke for both himself and Harris on the question of whether there was some trickery or "juggling" at work:
- "It was a clear, open beautiful day, far from any inhabitants, in a remote field, at the time we saw the record, of which it has been spoken, brought and laid before us, by an angel, arrayed in glorious light, [who] ascend [descended I suppose] out of the midst of heaven. Now if this is human juggling—judge ye".[3]
Notes
- ↑ NeedAuthor, Times and Seasons 3 no. 21 (1 September 1842), 898. off-site GospeLink
- ↑ Autobiography of Alma L. Jensen, 1932.
- ↑ Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, in letter dated 29 November 1829, quoted in Corenlius C. Blatchly, "THE NEW BIBLE, written on plates of Gold or Brass," Gospel Luminary 2/49 (10 Dec. 1829): 194. (emphasis added)