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==Quotations from Martin Harris which demonstrate the literal nature of the Three Witness experience== | ==Quotations from Martin Harris which demonstrate the literal nature of the Three Witness experience== | ||
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* To William Homer (1869): | * To William Homer (1869): | ||
− | ::Young man, do you see that sun shining through that window? Just so sure as that sun shines and gives us light by day, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just so sure I know the Book of Mormon is true. For I saw the angel, I heard <strike>the</strike> <his> voice, I saw and handled the plates upon which the Book of Mormon was written; and by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, the translation was made by the Prophet Joseph Smith, whom I know by the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, was a true Prophet of God....<ref>Martin Harris to W.H. Homer in December 1869, in William Harrison Homer, "Testimony given by Brother W.H. Homer, January 3, 1922, 5:15 P.M., at 2522 No. Kodaio Blvd., Chicago, the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs. Merrill O. Maugh<an>," | + | ::Young man, do you see that sun shining through that window? Just so sure as that sun shines and gives us light by day, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just so sure I know the Book of Mormon is true. For I saw the angel, I heard <strike>the</strike> <his> voice, I saw and handled the plates upon which the Book of Mormon was written; and by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, the translation was made by the Prophet Joseph Smith, whom I know by the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, was a true Prophet of God....<ref>Martin Harris to W.H. Homer in December 1869, in William Harrison Homer, "Testimony given by Brother W.H. Homer, January 3, 1922, 5:15 P.M., at 2522 No. Kodaio Blvd., Chicago, the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs. Merrill O. Maugh<an>," Church Archives; in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=314}}</ref> |
*Elder Edward Stevenson reported in 1870: | *Elder Edward Stevenson reported in 1870: | ||
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* To John E. Godfrey (May 1875): | * To John E. Godfrey (May 1875): | ||
− | ::"After they [David Whitmer, Joseph, and Oliver] had been visited by the angel the Prophet then came over to me where I was praying, and I asked the prophet to pray with me...after praying sometime the angel appeared with the golden plates and '''I saw with these two eyes''' the angel stand with the gold plates in his hands, and I saw him turn leaf by leaf the plates of gold, and I also heard the voice of the Lord saying that these words were true and translated correctly."<Ref>Martin Harris interview with John E. Godfrey, May 1875 in John E. Godfrey, Affidavit, 2 June [July] 1933, | + | ::"After they [David Whitmer, Joseph, and Oliver] had been visited by the angel the Prophet then came over to me where I was praying, and I asked the prophet to pray with me...after praying sometime the angel appeared with the golden plates and '''I saw with these two eyes''' the angel stand with the gold plates in his hands, and I saw him turn leaf by leaf the plates of gold, and I also heard the voice of the Lord saying that these words were true and translated correctly."<Ref>Martin Harris interview with John E. Godfrey, May 1875 in John E. Godfrey, Affidavit, 2 June [July] 1933, Church Archives; Published in ''Deseret News'' (church section), 15 July 1933, 5 {{ea}}; in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=372}}</ref> |
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+ | * To Ole A. Jensen (June 1875): | ||
+ | ::"The Prophet Joseph Smith, and Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer and myself, went into a little grove to pray to obtain a promise that we should behold it with our <strike>eyes</strike> '''natural eyes, that we could testify of it''' to the world {{ea}}."<ref>Martin Harris Interview with Ole A. Jensen, July 1875 in Ole A. Jensen, "Testimony of Martin Harris (ONe of the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon)," undated (c. 1918), original in private possession, photocopies at Utah State Historical Society, Church Archives, and Special Collections of BYU's Harold B. Lee Library; cited in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=375}}</ref> | ||
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+ | * To Alma L. Jensen (July 1875): | ||
+ | ::"Now I don't believe, but I know it [the Book of Mormon] to be true, for with these eyes I saw the ange and with these ears (pointing to them) I heard him say it was a true and correct record of an ancient people that dwelt upon this the American continent, and I hereby testify to you young men that it is true."<ref>Martin Harris, interview with Alma L. Jensen, 4 July 1875, statement 1 June 1936, Dayton, Idaho, typescript, in archives, Harold B. Library, BYU; cited in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=378}}</ref> | ||
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* When in England to preach for an LDS splinter group, Martin Harris was ejected from a meeting of Latter-day Saints. He left, and began to loudly criticize the Church leadership. Critics of Mormonism arrived quickly. | * When in England to preach for an LDS splinter group, Martin Harris was ejected from a meeting of Latter-day Saints. He left, and began to loudly criticize the Church leadership. Critics of Mormonism arrived quickly. | ||
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::George Mantle to Marietta Walker, 26 December 1888: | ::George Mantle to Marietta Walker, 26 December 1888: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> |
"He believes in the visitation of angels in bodily form, for he has seen and conversed with them, as he thinks, and is satisfied."
- — Report on Martin Harris from skeptical newspaper, 1870 (emphasis added).[1]
Martin Harris, another chief of Mormon imposters, arrived here last Saturday from the bible quarry in New-York. He immediately planted himself in the bar-room of the hotel, where he soon commenced reading and explaining the Mormon hoax, and all the dark passages from Genesis to Revelations. He told all about the gold plates, Angels, Spirits, and Jo Smith.—He had seen and handled them all, by the power of God! [2]
A few hours before his death and when he was so weak and enfeebled that he was unable to recognize me or anyone, and knew not to whom he was speaking, I asked him if he did not feel that there was an element at least, of fraudulence and deception in the things that were written and told of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and he replied as he had always done so many, many times in my hearing the same spirit he always manifested when enjoying health and vigor and said: ‘The Book of Mormon is no fake. I know what I know. I have seen what I have seen and I have heard what I have heard. I have seen the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon is written. An angel appeared to me and others and testified to the truthfulness of the record, and had I been willing to have perjured myself and sworn falsely to the testimony I now bear I could have been a rich man, but I could not have testified other than I have done and am now doing for these things are true.[6]
When we came out of the meeting Martin Harris was beset with a crowd in the street, expecting he would furnish them with material to war against Mormonism; but when asked if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, he answered yes; and when asked if the Book of Mormon was true, this was his answer: "Do you know that is the sun shining on us? Because as sure as you know that, I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and that he translated that book by the power of God."[16]
Notes
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