The Last Testimony of Martin Harris

The Last Testimony of Martin Harris

I first saw Martin Harris in Kirtland, Ohio, about the last of December, 1869. On my return from a mission in England, I stopped to visit some of my relatives in Pennsylvania. On resuming my journey, one of my cousins, James A. Crockett, came as far as Kirtland, Ohio with me. We remained in Kirtland over night and the next morning, after breakfast, we asked the landlord who was the custodian of the Mormon Temple at Kirtland. He informed us that Martin Harris was the custodian, and pointed out where we would find the old gentleman. Accordingly, we went to the door and knocked. In answer to our knock there came to the door of the cottage a poorly clad, emaciated little old man, on whom the winter of life was weighing heavily. It was Martin Harris. In his face might be read the story of his life. There were the marks of spiritual upliftment. There were the marks of keen disappointment. There was the hunger strain for the peace, the contentment, the divine calm that it seemed could come no more into his life. It was a pathetic figure, and yet it was a figure of strength. For with it all, there was something about the little old man which revealed the fact that he had lived richly, that into his life had entered such noble experiences as come to the lives of but few. I introduced myself modestly as a brother-in-law of Martin Harris, Jr., as he married my eldest sister. And as an Elder of the Church I was returning from a foreign mission. The effect of the introduction was electric. The fact of relationship was overwhelmed by the fact of Utah citizenship. The old man bristled with vindictiveness “One of those Brighamite Mormons, are you?” he snapped. Then he rallied impatiently against Utah and the founder of the Mormon Commonwealth. It was vain that I tried to turn the old man’s attention to his family. Martin Harris seemed to be obsessed. He would not understand that there stood before him a man who knew his wife and children.

After some time, however, the old man said, “You want to see the Temple, do you?” “Yes, indeed,” I exclaimed, “If we may.” “Well, I’ll get the key.” From that moment, Martin Harris, in spite of occasional outbursts, radiated with interest. He led us through the rooms of the temple and explained how they were used. He pointed out the place of the School of the Prophets. He showed where the Temple Curtain had at one time hung. He related thrilling experiences in connection with the history of the sacred building. In the basement, as elsewhere, there were many signs of dilapidation. The plaster was fallen off the ceilings and the walls; windows were broken; the woodwork was stained and marred. Whether it was the influence of these conditions or not, it is difficult to tell, but here again Martin Harris was moved to speak against Utah Mormons. An injustice, a gross injustice had been done to him. He should have been chosen President of the Church.

When the old man was somewhat exhausted, I asked, “Is it not true that you were once very prominent in the Church, that you gave liberally of your means, and that you were active in the performance of your duties?” “That is very true,” replied Martin Harris, “Things were all right then. I was honored while the people were here, but now that I am old and poor it is all different.”

“Really,” replied I, “How can that be? What about your testimony of the Book of Mormon? Do you still believe that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet?” Again the effect was electric. A changed old man stood before me. It was no longer a man with an imagined grievance. It was a man with a message, a man with a noble conviction in his heart, a man inspired by God and endowed with divine knowledge. Through the broken window of the Temple shown the winter sun, clear and radiant.

“Young man,” answered Martin Harris with impressiveness, “Do I believe it? Do you see the sun shining through that window? Just as surely as the moon and stars give us light by night, just as surely as the breath of life sustains us, so surely do I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God; so surely do I know that the Book was divinely translated. I saw and handled the plates, I saw the angel, I heard the voice of God. I do know that the Book of Mormon is true.” It was a sublime moment. It was a wonderful testimony. We were thrilled to the very roots of our hair. The shabby, emaciated little man before us was transformed as he stood with hand outstretched toward the sun of heaven. A halo seemed to encircle him. A divine fire glowed in his eyes. His voice throbbed with the sincerity and conviction of his message. It was the real Martin Harris whose burning testimony no power on earth could quench.

Martin Harris was now in a softer mood. He turned to me and asked, “Who are you?” I explained again our relationship. “So my son Martin married your sister,” repeated the old man, shaking my hand. “You know my family then?” “Yes,” replied I, “Wouldn’t you like to see your family again?” “I should like to see Caroline and the children,” mused Martin, naming over the children. “But I cannot; I am too poor.” “That need not stand in the way,” answered I. “Pres. Young would be only too glad to furnish means to convey you to Utah.” “Don’t talk of Brigham Young,” warned Harris. “He would not do anything for Martin Harris.” “Send him a message by me,” persisted I, now deeply concerned on the project. “No,” declared Harris emphatically, “Yet I should like to see my family.” “Then entrust me with the message,” pleaded I. Martin Harris paused. “Well,” he said slowly, “I believe I will. You call on Brigham Young. Tell him about our visit. Tell him that Martin Harris is an old, old man living on charity with his relative. Tell him I should like to visit Utah, my family, my children. I would be glad to accept help from the Church, but I want no personal favor. Wait, tell him that if he sends money, he must sent enough for the round trip. I should not want to remain in Utah.”

In due time, I reached my home in the Seventh Ward in Salt Lake City. I recounted to my father the experience with Martin Harris, and we two set out immediately to report at the office of President Young. The President received us very graciously. He listened attentively to my recital of my visit with Martin Harris. President Young asked questions now and again to make clear on certain points. Then, when the story was told he said, “I want to say this: I was never more gratified over any message in my life. Send for him: Yes, even if it were to take the last dollar of my own. Martin Harris spent his time and money freely when one dollar was worth more to the Church than one thousand dollars is now. Send for him? Yes, indeed, I shall send. Rest assured, Martin Harris will be here in time. It was Martin Harris who gave the Prophet Joseph Smith the first money to assist him in the translation of the Book of Mormon. Martin Harris was the first scribe to assist in the translation of the Book of Mormon from the original plates as he was dictated to by the Prophet who was led by the Holy Ghost and the Urim and Thummin. It was Martin Harris, called by revelation to assist in the selection and ordination of the first quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the newly organized Church. It was Martin Harris who also aided in the selection of the first High Council in the Church, and he was a member of said council. It was Martin Harris who sold his farm for three thousand dollars and paid for the publication of the Book of Mormon. And when the vacancy in the first Presidency was filled, no wonder that Martin Harris felt greatly disappointed, but Martin Harris never denied the faith, never affiliated with any other sect or denomination, but when the Church came West, Martin Harris remained behind.”

During the summer of 1870, Elder Edward Stevenson was authorized to collect money by subscription to bring Martin Harris to Utah. About two hundred dollars were raised; and on Aug. 30, 1870 Martin Harris arrived in Salt Lake City in the company of Elder Stevenson.

When Martin Harris reached Salt Lake City, he visited Brigham Young at his home. They became reconciled and Martin Harris was invited to speak in the Tabernacle and he bore a faithful testimony. He went to Smithfield, and later to Clarkston and made his home with his son, Martin Harris, Jr. In the course of time, he returned to full fellowship and communion with the Saints.

Early in July, 1875, five years after he came to Utah, Martin Harris was stricken with a kind of paralysis. It was the venerable witness’ last illness, but through it all he remained true to his faith.

We began to think that he had borne his last testimony. The last audible words he had spoken were something about the Book of Mormon but we could not understand what is was, but these were not the aged witness’ last words. The next day, July 10^th, marked the end. It was in the evening. It was milking time; Martin Harris, Jr., and his wife, Nancy Homer Harris, had gone out to milk and to do the evening’s chores. In the house with the stricken man were left my mother, Eliza Williamson Homer, and myself who had had so interesting a day with Martin Harris at Kirtland. I stood by the bedside holding the patient’s right hand, and my mother at the foot of the bed. When we first entered the room the old gentleman was sleeping, but he soon woke up and asked for a drink of water. I put my arm under the old gentleman, raised him, and my mother held the glass to his lips and he drank freely; then he looked up at me and recognized me. He had been unconscious several days. He said, “I know you; you are my friend.” He said, “Yes, I did see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written. I did see the angel, I did hear the voice of God, and I do know that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet of God, holding the keys of the Holy Priesthood.” This was the end. Martin Harris, divinely chosen witness of the work of God, relaxed, gave up my hand. He lay back on his pillow and just as the sun went down behind the Clarkston mountains, the soul of Martin Harris passed on, and when Martin Harris, Jr., and his wife returned to the house they found that their father had passed away, and in the passing, Martin Harris, favored of God, repeated in an irrefutable testimony of the divine origin of the Book of Mormon and of the Holy calling of the great American Prophet, Joseph Smith.

(signed) WILLIAM H. HOMER

SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me this 9^th day of April, A.D. 1927

(signed) J.W. ROBINSON Notary Public

My commission expires

March 17, 1928

(SEAL)

At a meeting of the Harris family held at Geneva Resort, Utah County, Utah, August 3, 1928, William H. Homer gave a talk on his personal contacts with Martin Harris, and read a document which he had prepared covering the subject. In addition to this document, he told us that Martin Harris was born on May 18, 1783, in East Town, Saratoga County, New York, that he was reared on a farm, and served his country during the War of 1812. After returning from the War he resumed farming and became acquainted with Joseph Smith in 1827, shortly after the Prophet obtained the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated.

After Brother Homer finished his address, Mrs. Joseph T. (Irinda Crandall) McEwan spoke and said that when Martin Harris came to Salt Lake City, as described by Brother Homer, he stayed at her house in Salt Lake City. While he was there, hundreds of people came to see him, including President Brigham Young, to talk over with him the details regarding his contact with the Book of Mormon story and of the appearance of the Angel to him. She said that anyone who heard Martin Harris describe the scenes and bear his testimony to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon could not help but be deeply impressed with his sincerity and his absolute conviction of the truth of what he was saying.

Later Mrs. Sariah Steele, of Goshen, Utah, spoke and said that she was the oldest living granddaughter of Martin Harris and that she was the daughter of Martin Harris, Jr. She told of her experiences with her grandfather whom she knew when she was a little girl. She had sat on his lap may times and heard him bear fervent testimony to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon record and of the part he played in connection with the testimony of the three witnesses. She said that anyone who had ever come in contact with him and had heard him bear his testimony was thoroughly impressed with his sincerity and with the truthfulness of the story which he told.

There were about 100 members of the Harris family present at the meeting and heard these talks.

(signed) F.S. Harris

Copied by Janet Jenson, March 7, 1958 from a copy in the possession of the Brigham Young University Library in the personal file of F.S. Harris.