1828–1829

Martin Harris Helps Joseph

Learning to trust the Lord

One day, while Joseph and Emma were living in Pennsylvania, a friend named Martin Harris came to visit them. Martin owned a large farm in New York. He knew about Joseph’s work with the gold plates. He had helped Joseph before, and now he wanted to know if there was more he could do to help.

Saints, 1:49

Joseph and Emma were thankful. Many people thought Joseph was lying. It was good to have a friend like Martin who believed the gold plates were real.

Saints, 1:49

As Joseph translated the plates, Martin wrote down what he said. Martin was excited to be helping the Lord with this great work.

Saints, 1:50

Martin’s wife, Lucy, was not happy. She did not believe Joseph really had gold plates. She thought Joseph was tricking Martin. She wanted Martin to come back to New York and stop helping Joseph.

Saints, 1:49–50

But Martin kept working with Joseph. He thought that if Lucy could read what they were working on, she would believe too. He asked Joseph if he could take the pages they had translated to New York to show his wife. Joseph said that he would pray and ask God.

Saints, 1:50–51

God told Joseph not to let Martin take the pages. Martin asked Joseph to pray again. Joseph prayed and got the same answer. But Martin really wanted to show his wife the pages, and Joseph wanted to help his friend. Joseph prayed a third time. This time God told Joseph he could decide what to do.

Saints, 1:51

Joseph told Martin that he could take the pages to New York, but he could show them only to certain family members. And he needed to bring the pages back in two weeks. Martin agreed and left with the pages.

Saints, 1:51

While Martin was gone, a baby was born to Joseph and Emma. But the baby died, and Emma became sick. Emma and Joseph were very sad.

Saints, 1:51–52

Joseph worried about Emma. He also worried about Martin. The two weeks had passed, and Martin had not come back. Emma was worried too.

Saints, 1:52

Emma told Joseph to go to New York to look for Martin. Joseph met Martin at his parents’ home. When Joseph asked Martin about the pages, Martin was very sad. He said the pages were lost. He had looked everywhere but could not find them.

Saints, 1:52–53

Joseph became very sad and afraid. He knew he was wrong to let Martin take the pages. He went back home and told Emma what happened. The angel Moroni came and took back the gold plates. He said if Joseph was humble and repented, he could have the plates back and translate again.

Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–11; 10:1–3; Saints, 1:53–54

For many weeks, Joseph thought about what he did wrong. He prayed and asked for forgiveness. God did forgive him. He told Joseph that the pages had been stolen by people who were trying to stop God’s work. But no one can stop God’s work. God had a plan to keep His work going.

Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–10; Saints, 1:54–55

Moroni gave the plates back to Joseph. God told Joseph and Martin that if they were humble and trusted Him, they could keep helping with His work in many ways. They could help bring the Book of Mormon to the world. This book would help people everywhere repent and believe in Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 3:16–20; 5:21–35; Saints, 1:56–57