![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(→Question: Was Martin Harris a gullible witness who would simply believe anything he was told?) |
(→Question: Was Martin Harris a gullible witness who would simply believe anything he was told?) |
||
Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
#He took a copy of characters that Joseph copied from the plates to several professors in New York in order to try and verify them. | #He took a copy of characters that Joseph copied from the plates to several professors in New York in order to try and verify them. | ||
#He swapped the seer stone that Joseph was using during the Book of Mormon translation in order to test the prophet's ability. | #He swapped the seer stone that Joseph was using during the Book of Mormon translation in order to test the prophet's ability. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
It is well-known that Martin Harris took copies of the Book of Mormon characters to Charles Anthon and another language expert. While Anthon would later claim (in partially contradictory statements) that he had told Harris that it was all a fraud, Harris came back more convinced than ever that Joseph could actually translate. | It is well-known that Martin Harris took copies of the Book of Mormon characters to Charles Anthon and another language expert. While Anthon would later claim (in partially contradictory statements) that he had told Harris that it was all a fraud, Harris came back more convinced than ever that Joseph could actually translate. | ||
Line 40: | Line 34: | ||
[[Category:Letter to a CES Director]] | [[Category:Letter to a CES Director]] | ||
[[Category:MormonThink]] | [[Category:MormonThink]] | ||
+ | |||
Line 45: | Line 40: | ||
[[en:Question: Was Martin Harris a gullible witness who would simply believe anything he was told?]] | [[en:Question: Was Martin Harris a gullible witness who would simply believe anything he was told?]] | ||
[[es:Pregunta: ¿Fue Martin Harris testigo crédulos que simplemente creer cualquier cosa que se le dijo?]] | [[es:Pregunta: ¿Fue Martin Harris testigo crédulos que simplemente creer cualquier cosa que se le dijo?]] | ||
+ | [[pt:Pergunta: Martin Harris era uma testemunha ingênua que simplesmente acreditar em qualquer coisa que foi dito?]] |
Martin recalled his first discussions with Joseph about the claims regarding plates:
Even in religious matters then, Martin was keenly aware of the risk of mistake and deception.
There are two specific things that Martin did in order to test Joseph.
It is well-known that Martin Harris took copies of the Book of Mormon characters to Charles Anthon and another language expert. While Anthon would later claim (in partially contradictory statements) that he had told Harris that it was all a fraud, Harris came back more convinced than ever that Joseph could actually translate.
During the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith often used a small seer stone. On one occasion, Martin Harris switched the stone for another stone of the same appearance. Martin reports what happened:
Once Martin found a rock closely resembling the seerstone Joseph sometimes used in place of the interpreters and substituted it without the Prophet’s knowledge. When the translation resumed, Joseph paused for a long time and then exclaimed, “Martin, what is the matter, all is as dark as Egypt.” Martin then confessed that he wished to “stop the mouths of fools” who told him that the Prophet memorized sentences and merely repeated them. [2]
Here again, Martin conducted a clever "blinded test" of Joseph's ability, and Joseph passed--convincing Martin further.
The story of Martin Harris' desire to take the 116 pages of Book of Mormon manuscript to convince his family and friends that Joseph was a genuine prophet is also well known. Here again, Martin sought to use empirical proof (the manuscript itself) as evidence that Joseph could do what he claimed.
Notes
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now