History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

48 THE STORY OF MORMOXISM.
characters on the plates, Martin Harris coming to his
assistance, and by means of the urim and thummim
manages to translate some of them, which work is
continued till February 1828. Harris' wife is exceedingly
curious about the matter, and finally obtains
possession through her husband of a portion of the
manuscript. 12 About this time Harris takes a copy
12 Martin Harris 'says he wrote a considerable part of the book as Smith
dictated; and at one time the presence of the Lord was so great that a screen
was hung up between him and the prophet; at other times the prophet would
sit in a different room, or up stairs, while the Lord was communicating to him
the contents of the plates. He does not pretend that he ever saw the wonderful
plr.tes but once, although he and Smith were engaged for months in
deciphering their contents.' Mormonism Unveiled, 14. 'Harris rendered
Smith valuable assistance by transcribing for him, since he could not write
himself. Poor Martin was unfortunately gifted with a troublesome wife. Her
inquisitive and domineering nature made him dread unpleasant results from
his present engagement. His manuscript had reached 11G pages, and he
therefore begged permission to read it to her "with the hope that it might
have a salutary effect upon her feelings. " His request was at length granted;
but through carelessness or perfidy, while in his house, the precious document
was irrecoverably lost. Joseph suffered greatly in consequence of this
kmderance, but more from the anger of heaven which was manifested against
him. As soon as possible, he resumed his task, having secured the services
of another scribe, Oliver Cowdery, a school-master in the neighborhood.
Martin Harris, earnest as he was, had never yet been favored with a sight of
the golden plates. He had not attained to sufficient purity of mind; but a
copy of a small portion of their contents was placed in his hands, and this he
was told he might show to any scholar in the world, if he wished to be satisfied.
Accordingly he started for New York, sought Professor Anthon
(Charles Anthon, LL.D., then adjunct professor of ancient languages in Columbia
College), and requested his opinion.' Taylder's Mormons, xxxviii.-ix.
'She (Harris's wife) contrived in her husband's sleep to steal from him the
particular source of her disturbance, and burned the manuscript to ashes.
Tor years she kept this incendiarism a profound secret to herself, even until
after the book was published. Smith and Harris held her accountable for the
theft, but supposed she had handed the manuscript to some '_' evil-designing
persons," to be used somehow in injuring their cause. A feud was thus produced
between husband and wife which was never reconciled. Great consternation
now pervaded the Mormon circles. The reappearance of the mysterious
stranger (who had before visited the Smiths) was again the subject of
inquiry and conjecture by observers, from whom was withheld all explanation
of his identity or purpose. It was not at first an easy task to convince the
prophet of the entire innocency of his trusted friend Harris in the matter of
this calamitous event, though mutual confidence and friendship were ultimately
restored.' Tucker's Orig. and Prog. Mot:, 46. Of this lost manuscript Smilh
afterward wrote: ' Some time after Mr Harris had begun to write for me he
began to tease me to give him liberty to carry the writings home and show
them, and desired of me that I would inquire of the Lord through the urim
and thummim if he might not do so.' To two inquiries the reply was no, but
a third application resulted in permission being granted under certain restrictions,
which were, that Harris might show the papers to his brother,
his wife, her sister, his father and mother, and to no one else. Accordingly
Smith required Harris to bind himself in a covenant to him in the most
solemn manner that he would not do otherwise than had been directed. ' He