Abstract
Martin Harris (1783–1875), a substantial farmer of Palmyra, New York, was the financial backer of the Book of Mormon. He was also one of “Three Witnesses” who in 1829 claimed to have seen not only the golden plates or tablets from which the book was “translated,” but also “an Angel of God” who “came down from heaven, and … brought and laid [the plates] before our eyes” in conjunction with a divine attestation of the project itself, heard in the voice of God.
As one may imagine, Harris was a complex figure whom historians have both beatified and maligned. But how did Harris see himself? And how did he view his role in expediting the publication of the Book of Mormon? Whether as freewheeling enthusiast or indecisive benefactor, this was a man whom (Latter-day) Saints needed, but had to manage.
In this paper, I will explore how Harris managed certain matters himself rather more than may previously have been supposed. Using a number of little-known or seldom-pondered remnants and scenes from Harris’s life, I will suggest a man of proactive will to accelerate the printing and dissemination of the first Mormon book as strategically as possible, in consideration of his perceived interests and available time.
Date
1-1-2024
Volume
18
Number
1
First Page
65
Last Page
96
Journal Title
American Communal Societies Quarterly
ISSN
1939-473X
