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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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48 THE STORY OF MORMOXISM.<br />

characters on the plates, Martin Harris coming to his<br />

assistance, and by means <strong>of</strong> the urim and thummim<br />

manages to translate some <strong>of</strong> them, which work is<br />

continued till February 1828. Harris' wife is exceedingly<br />

curious about the matter, and finally obtains<br />

possession through her husband <strong>of</strong> a portion <strong>of</strong> the<br />

manuscript. 12 About this time Harris takes a copy<br />

12 Martin Harris 'says he wrote a considerable part <strong>of</strong> the book as Smith<br />

dictated; and at one time the presence <strong>of</strong> the Lord was so great that a screen<br />

was hung up between him and the prophet; at other times the prophet would<br />

sit in a different room, or up stairs, while the Lord was communicating to him<br />

the contents <strong>of</strong> the plates. He does not pretend that he ever saw the wonderful<br />

plr.tes but once, although he and Smith were engaged for months in<br />

deciphering their contents.' Mormonism Unveiled, 14. 'Harris rendered<br />

Smith valuable assistance by transcribing for him, since he could not write<br />

himself. Poor Martin was unfortunately gifted with a troublesome wife. Her<br />

inquisitive and domineering nature made him dread unpleasant results from<br />

his present engagement. His manuscript had reached 11G pages, and he<br />

therefore begged permission to read it to her "with the hope that it might<br />

have a salutary effect upon her feelings. " His request was at length granted;<br />

but through carelessness or perfidy, while in his house, the precious document<br />

was irrecoverably lost. Joseph suffered greatly in consequence <strong>of</strong> this<br />

kmderance, but more from the anger <strong>of</strong> heaven which was manifested against<br />

him. As soon as possible, he resumed his task, having secured the services<br />

<strong>of</strong> another scribe, Oliver Cowdery, a school-master in the neighborhood.<br />

Martin Harris, earnest as he was, had never yet been favored with a sight <strong>of</strong><br />

the golden plates. He had not attained to sufficient purity <strong>of</strong> mind; but a<br />

copy <strong>of</strong> a small portion <strong>of</strong> their contents was placed in his hands, and this he<br />

was told he might show to any scholar in the world, if he wished to be satisfied.<br />

Accordingly he started for New York, sought Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Anthon<br />

(Charles Anthon, LL.D., then adjunct pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> ancient languages in Columbia<br />

College), and requested his opinion.' Taylder's Mormons, xxxviii.-ix.<br />

'She (Harris's wife) contrived in her husband's sleep to steal from him the<br />

particular source <strong>of</strong> her disturbance, and burned the manuscript to ashes.<br />

Tor years she kept this incendiarism a pr<strong>of</strong>ound secret to herself, even until<br />

after the book was published. Smith and Harris held her accountable for the<br />

theft, but supposed she had handed the manuscript to some '_' evil-designing<br />

persons," to be used somehow in injuring their cause. A feud was thus produced<br />

between husband and wife which was never reconciled. Great consternation<br />

now pervaded the Mormon circles. The reappearance <strong>of</strong> the mysterious<br />

stranger (who had before visited the Smiths) was again the subject <strong>of</strong><br />

inquiry and conjecture by observers, from whom was withheld all explanation<br />

<strong>of</strong> his identity or purpose. It was not at first an easy task to convince the<br />

prophet <strong>of</strong> the entire innocency <strong>of</strong> his trusted friend Harris in the matter <strong>of</strong><br />

this calamitous event, though mutual confidence and friendship were ultimately<br />

restored.' Tucker's Orig. and Prog. Mot:, 46. Of this lost manuscript Smilh<br />

afterward wrote: ' Some time after Mr Harris had begun to write for me he<br />

began to tease me to give him liberty to carry the writings home and show<br />

them, and desired <strong>of</strong> me that I would inquire <strong>of</strong> the Lord through the urim<br />

and thummim if he might not do so.' To two inquiries the reply was no, but<br />

a third application resulted in permission being granted under certain restrictions,<br />

which were, that Harris might show the papers to his brother,<br />

his wife, her sister, his father and mother, and to no one else. Accordingly<br />

Smith required Harris to bind himself in a covenant to him in the most<br />

solemn manner that he would not do otherwise than had been directed. ' He

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