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* George Godfrey, and Martin Harris's response to him, after Godfrey suggested that Harris had been deceived: | * George Godfrey, and Martin Harris's response to him, after Godfrey suggested that Harris had been deceived: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
− | 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.<ref>George Godfrey, “Testimony of Martin Harris,” from an unpublished manuscript copy in the possession of his daughter, Florence (Godfrey) Munson of Fielding, Utah; quoted in Eldin Ricks, The Case of the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1971), 65–66. Also cited in {{Book:Anderson:Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses|start=117}}</ref></blockquote> | + | 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.<ref>George Godfrey, “Testimony of Martin Harris,” from an unpublished manuscript copy in the possession of his daughter, Florence (Godfrey) Munson of Fielding, Utah; quoted in Eldin Ricks, ''The Case of the Book of Mormon Witnesses'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1971), 65–66. Also cited in {{Book:Anderson:Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses|start=117}}</ref></blockquote> |
− | + | To William Waddoups (1870): | |
+ | |||
+ | "Young man, I had the privilege of being with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and with these eyes of mine," pointing to his eyes, "I saw the angel of the Lord and I saw the plates and the Urim and Thummim and the sword of Laban, and with these ears," pointing to his ears, "I heard the voice of the angel, and with these hands, "Holding out his hands, "I handled the plates containing the record of the Book of Mormon,<ref>Note that Harris handling the plates was likely prior to the witness experience, while they were covered, in assisting Joseph early on with the translation.</ref> and I assisted the Prophet in the translation thereof."<ref>Martin Harris, interview with William Waddoups, September 1870, "Martin Harris and the Book of Mormon," ''Improvement Era'' 26 (September 1923): 980; in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=335}}</ref> | ||
− | + | To William Homer (1869): | |
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− | |||
+ | :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>," LDS 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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*"I can prove by the Bible the truth of the work, as well as being '''an eye witness''', for I saw the book in the angel's hands and I also heard his voice, and I bear my testimony to you that I saw his words were fulfilled by my taking the words of a a book to the professor [Charles Anthon], although I did not know it at the time."<ref>Martin Harris interview with E. Stevenson, in Edward Stevenson, ''Reminiscences of Joseph, the Prophet and the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City: Edward Stevenson, 1893), 30–33 {{ea}}; in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=326}}</ref> | *"I can prove by the Bible the truth of the work, as well as being '''an eye witness''', for I saw the book in the angel's hands and I also heard his voice, and I bear my testimony to you that I saw his words were fulfilled by my taking the words of a a book to the professor [Charles Anthon], although I did not know it at the time."<ref>Martin Harris interview with E. Stevenson, in Edward Stevenson, ''Reminiscences of Joseph, the Prophet and the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City: Edward Stevenson, 1893), 30–33 {{ea}}; in {{EMD|vol=2|pages=326}}</ref> | ||
− | + | * 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. | |
− | : | + | George Mantle to Marietta Walker, 26 December 1888: |
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | 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."<ref>George Mantle to Marietta Walker, 26 December 1888, Saint Catherine, Missouri, cited in ''Autumn Leaves'' 2 (1889): 141. Cited in {{JBMS-2-2-11}}</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
</onlyinclude> | </onlyinclude> | ||
{{endnotes sources}} | {{endnotes sources}} | ||
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]] | [[Category:Letter to a CES Director]] |
"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]
To William Waddoups (1870):
"Young man, I had the privilege of being with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and with these eyes of mine," pointing to his eyes, "I saw the angel of the Lord and I saw the plates and the Urim and Thummim and the sword of Laban, and with these ears," pointing to his ears, "I heard the voice of the angel, and with these hands, "Holding out his hands, "I handled the plates containing the record of the Book of Mormon,[7] and I assisted the Prophet in the translation thereof."[8]
To William Homer (1869):
Elder Edward Stevenson reported in 1870:
George Mantle to Marietta Walker, 26 December 1888:
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."[13]
Notes
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