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Synopsis on the Lost 116 Pages taken from,

Joseph Smith on Trial:

Rich Kelsey

 

 

Consider what the early days were like for Joseph Smith.  Many[xxx] had heard of the incredible story he was telling of finding[xxxi] golden plates with ancient writing upon them.  The supposed translation of the language on the plates into English started slowly and progressed through difficult times.  In the beginning Joseph’s scribes were his wife Emma and her brother Reuben Hale.  Then, Martin Harris, a wealthy farmer, took over. 

....

The Perfect Breeding Ground for Doubt

Envision what it was like during the time Joseph Smith and Martin Harris were working on the translation,

“Although in the same room, a thick curtain or blanket was suspended between them, and Smith concealed behind the blanket…” (Account of Martin Harris given to the Rev. John A. Clark in 1828)[xxxiv]

 

After two months, Martin needed to take some time off.  Before Martin headed home, Joseph’s Mother claimed that he asked her son to permit him to look upon the plates:

“Mr. Harris [Martin] remained with my son and wrote diligently until he had transcribed nearly 116 pages of the record.  When it became necessary for him to return home — he began to request Joseph to permit him to look upon the plates for he desired a further witness…“ (Lucy Smith History: First Draft, Biographical Sketches, chapter 25, author paraphrase)[xxxv]

The magical method of translation was the perfect breeding ground for doubt.[xxxvi]  Martin had just written page after page of supposed divine prose, dictated straight from the “Prophet and Seer of the Lord.”[xxxvii]  One may have thought the role Martin played in bringing forth the Book of Mormon would have been a faith-building experience; instead, it left him wondering,

“Was Joseph making a fool of him?  Was he the classic dupe, to be cheated out of his money and farm when the fraud was complete?  Martin wanted more evidence to set his own mind at ease and to quiet the doubters at home.” (Joseph Smith and the beginnings of Mormonism, Richard L. Bushman, p. 90)   

There was a long road ahead for Martin.  A road paved with uncertainty.[xxxviii]  He knew that he would be facing strong opposition.[xxxix] He wanted a further witness that he really wasn’t being played for a fool.

When Joseph stood firm, refusing to show Martin the plates, Martin began to nag Smith to at least let him take the manuscript home for Lucy to read.  Maybe that would stop her from complaining?  Included in Martin’s nagging[xl] was a threat to pull back his financial support unless Smith complied.[xli]  Joseph was persuaded by Martin to hand over the work.

When Martin arrived back on the farm, he found his wife had turned into a cold, hard, unresponsive woman, whose ruined life she blamed on him.[xlii] Lucy had moved out everything she owned that she could carry.[xliii]  Martin’s bed[xliv] had been moved into another room which she refused to enter.[xlv]

In an effort to make peace, Martin brought the manuscript in for Lucy and a few other family members to examine.  Afterwards, Lucy and Martin went to visit with friends at the house of one on Lucy’s relatives.  Martin ended up going home by himself.  Lucy was still away from the farm when a friend of Martin’s came to see him.

Martin wanted to show his friend the manuscript but it was locked away in Lucy’s bureau and only Lucy had the key.  In order to show the work, Martin broke into her bureau, damaging it considerably.[xlvi]  Upon her return, Lucy became enraged after seeing the damaged bureau.[xlvii]  She then stole the manuscript.  There were no copies.

Moroni takes the plates:

As a consequence of Smith’s disobedience leading up to the loss of the manuscript, the golden plates and the magical stone glasses were supposedly taken from him for a season. 

 

According to the story, God had told Smith not to allow Martin Harris to take the manuscript home the first two times he asked.  Smith said that he should have been content with the first answers he received from the Lord; and because he wasn’t, he had disobeyed God.

Smith claimed that the angel Moroni said on the 22nd of September, if he walked worthy before God, he would receive the golden plates again.  As the story goes, Joseph did walk worthy before God and he was given the plates back a few months later on September 22.nd

...

The Lost 116 Pages:

“Mrs. Harris [Lucy] persisted in her endeavors to expose the fraud, and in her husband's absence took 116 pages of the manuscript and gave them in custody of a neighbour. When charged with it she replied, ‘if this be a divine communication, the same Being who revealed it to you can easily replace it,’ She was convinced they could not possibly write it again word for word… and intended when they had replaced the portion and published it, to have it publicly compared.”[liv]

When Mrs. Harris challenged the defendant to replace the stolen work with a word-for-word copy, the moment of truth arrived.  Joseph Smith soon found reasons why he would not retranslate the work. 

 

His mother explained,

“…there is no doubt but Mrs. Harris took it from the drawer, with the view of retaining it, until another translation should be given, then, to alter the original translation, for the purpose of showing a discrepancy between them, and thus make the whole appear to be a deception.”[lv]

The defendant was supposedly,

“… commanded of the Lord … not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen…”[lvi]

Rebuttal: 

This is pure doubletalk.  The con-game would be over if the truth were found out — that Joseph Smith could not recreate a word-for-word copy.  Mrs. Harris’s claim that he was a grand imposter was reinforced when he failed to re-create the original work.  Statements claiming that the original work had been, or would be altered, were just a smokescreen. 

Martin Harris Loses Faith in Joseph Smith:

During this dark hour, Martin’s faith in the defendant took a nosedive.  From there, his seed of doubt[lvii] sprouted and grew until it came into full bloom.  For a period of time, Harris set out to destroy Smith’s reputation.

Then Smith receives a revelation from God saying that Martin Harris is a wicked man.

God supposedly said,

“Behold, they have sought to destroy you, yea, even the man in whom you have trusted, has sought to destroy you, and for this cause I said, that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted, and he has also sought to destroy your gift;… And behold, Satan has put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated…”[lviii]

One might wonder why the defendant would now publically accuse his former scribe of a conspiracy[lix] to ruin his reputation.  Well, at this point in time Smith may have believed that Harris was a lost cause.

 

Starting Over With New Plates

Smith’s reputation was in jeopardy.  His original manuscript had been stolen, and he dare not try to reproduce it.  Nothing less than an incredible story was needed to redeem the defendant from his present distress; so, an incredible story is just what he conjured up. 

The answers to Smith’s troubles were supposedly written in gold.  A prophet from the Book of Mormon came to his rescue.  Instead of starting over with the plates of Lehi, he would start over with the plates of Nephi:

 

Defense:

Objection your honor; how is this relevant?

Prosecution:

If it pleases the court, I would like to continue with this rundown, what I am presenting shows a telling pattern, it is relevant; without this information key elements in this case would be left unheard.

Court:

Objection overruled; you may continue.

 

Smith never translated another word from the supposed plates of Lehi — the translation of which Harris lost. 

Instead, Smith supposedly replaced the lost pages from the plates of Nephi.[lxi]

Official LDS statement on the subject:

The Book of Lehi:

Joseph Smith began with the book of Lehi when he was translating the Book of Mormon. It was a record that Mormon had abridged from the plates of Lehi. After he had 116 pages of manuscript that he had translated from this book, Joseph gave the manuscript to Martin Harris, who had briefly served as Joseph’s scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon. The pages were then lost. Joseph did not retranslate the book of Lehi to replace the lost manuscript but instead translated other related accounts from the gold plates (Guide to the Scriptures, Lehi, Father of Nephi, The Scriptures, LDS.org).

 

THE WORDS OF MORMON

CHAPTER 1

Mormon abridges their history onto the plates of Mormon—He inserts the plates of Nephi into the abridgement…

Verse (3) And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.

This chapter contains the story of Mormon finding a set of plates entitled, “the plates of Nephi.”  Mormon realizes that “the plates of Nephi” contain the same basic record as the plates of Lehi.  Mormon then inserts “the plates of Nephi” into the ancient record along with the rest of the golden plates.

The Words of Mormon Continued:

Verse (6) But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophecying (sic) and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.

Verse (7) And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will (Words of Mormon 1:6-7).

 

In the Words of Mormon the Prophet Mormon is explaining that he is taking the plates of Nephi and adding them to the golden record.  The chapter Words of Mormon is one small chapter in the Book of Mormon, half of which is devoted to explaining that the prophet Mormon found the plates of Nephi and inserted those plates in with the rest of the record.

Members of the jury; in the practice of law, what is written here easily fits the description, “too much information.”  When criminals are implicated in a crime they often attempt to beef up their alibi by adding more information than would normally be expected.  That extra information is supposed to point the focus of the investigation away from the subject in question.  A good counselor can see through this.

 

Endnotes:

[xxx] “…Most of our readers have probably heard of the Golden Bible, which it is asserted was found not long since, in some part of Ontario county. Some of the circumstances attending the remarkable discovery of this truly remarkable work, may not be uninteresting to some of our readers, as they serve to show how easily ignorance and superstition are made to support whatever doctrines may be advanced -- no matter how revolting they may appear in the light of reason. An angel appeared to an ignorant man near Palmyra and directed him to dig at a designated place, with a promise that he would there find a new revelation engraved on plates of metal. The man obeyed the messenger, and on digging, soon discovered an oblong box tightly cemented together. Upon opening this, he found enclosed a bundle of plates similar to gold, about 7 inches long, 6 broad, and all about 6 inches deep each sheet being of about the thickness of tin. They were united at one edge with 3 silver wires, so that they opened in a manner similar to a book.” (AUBURN FREE PRESS, Vol. VII. Auburn, N. Y., Wednesday, December 8, 1830. No. 28)   

[xxxi] I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New-York.  (Preface, 1830 Book of Mormon)

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[xxxiv] “This was Harris's own account of the matter to me. What other measures they afterwards took to transcribe or translate from these metallic plates, I cannot say… In addition to the facts with which I myself was conversant in 1827 and 1828, connected with the rise of Mormonism…”, (Gleanings by the Way, 1842, W.J. & J.K. Simon, pp. 222ff) [Microfilm copy]

[xxxv] “When it was became necessary for Martin to return home ) remained with my son and wrote dilligently untill he had transcribed nearly 116 pages of the record when it <then> became necessary for him to return home—he now began to requested Joseph to permit him to look upon the plates for he desired a further witness that of their work <actual existance and> that he might be better able to give a reason for the hope that was within <him> of seeing great things come to pass in the last days—“ (Lucy Smith History: First Draft  Biographical Sketches, chapter 25, verse 1).

[xxxvi] “By the middle of June, 1828, Martin had covered 116 pages of foolscap with text from the golden plates, and yet uncertainty still beset him.” (Joseph Smith and the beginnings of Mormonism, Richard L. Bushman, 1988, P. 90)  

[xxxvii] “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God…” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3)

[xxxviii] “Yet uncertainty still beset Harris.” (Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, Richard L. Bushman, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2005, p.66)

[xxxix] “When she returned home, being about two weeks after her arrival in Harmony, the place where Joseph resided, she endeavoured to dissuade her husband from taking any further part in the publication of the Record; however, Mr. Harris paid no attention to her, but returned and continued writing.” (Lucy Smith: Biographical Sketches, 1853 edition, Cory/Pratt, chapter 24)

[xl] “Mr. Martin Harris, who was employed as Mr. Smith's scribe at the beginning of the translation, had written out with his own hand 116 pages of manuscript. By long and persistent coaxing, and the most faithful promises of secrecy, he secured Mr. Smith's permission to carry said manuscript to his own house for his wife's inspection—a woman who is accredited with a very irascible temper. Before the precious treasure was returned to its owner, a sad domestic quarrel so thoroughly provoked Mrs. Harris, that in an evil hour she put said manuscript forever out of the way. The general belief was that she burned it.” (The Stolen Manuscript: The lost 116 Pages of the Book of Mormon; Excerpt from The Golden Bible by Rev. M. T. Lamb, 1887, p. 118)

[xli] “…for behold you should not have feared man more than God…” (Lucy Smith History - First Draft / Biographical Sketches, chapter 27)

[xlii] (Martin Harris) “...has whipped his wife and beaten her so cruelly and frequently, that she was obliged to seek refuge in separation. He is considered here, to this day, a brute in his domestic relations, a fool and dupe to Smith in religion, and an unlearned, conceited hypocrite…” (Statement from Jesse Townsend, pastor of Palmyra’s Western Presbyterian Church, 1817-20, and at nearby Sodus, 1827-31, Vogel 3:23)

[xliii] “…and that she was compelled to deposit a few things away from home in order to secure them. So she carried away her furniture, linen, and bedding; also other moveable articles, until she nearly stripped the premises of every thing that could conduce either to comfort or convenience, depositing them with those of her friends and acquaintances, in whom she reposed sufficient confidence to assure her of their future safety.”(Lucy Smith: Biographical Sketches, 1853 edition, Cory/Pratt, chapter 24)

[xliv] “…his wife’s anger kindled afresh at his presence, insomuch that she prepared a separate bed and room for him, which room she refused to enter.” (Lucy Smith: Biographical Sketches, 1853 edition, Cory/Pratt, chapter 24)

[xlv] In the 1872 Palmyra Courier, James H. Reeves published , ”He (Martin) vowed that he would not allow her in his room and she declared she would never trouble him on that score. So determined were they in occupying separate apartments, that both expressed themselves to the hired man, that if he ever knew of their occupying the same sleeping room, they would give him their best cow.” (Vogel 2:343).

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[xlvi] “…Martin laid it aside (The 116 pages) and went with Mrs H to visit a relative of her’s who lived [blank] miles distant and as his wife declined returning with him he left her with her friends and went home alone — shortly after he got there a very particular friend made him a visit to whom he related all he knew concerning the record The man’s curiosity was much excited and he earnestly desired to see the transcript Martin was anxious to gratify his friend although it was contrary to his obligation. but when he went to seek for it he found that key could not be found but he soon resolved to carry his design into execution and to do this he picked the lock and in so doing he injured his lady’s beaureau considerably”(Lucy Smith History First Draft / Biographical Sketches).

[xlvii] “…when Mrs Harris returned and beheld the marred and injured state of her beaureau her irracible temper knew no bounds and an intolerable storm ensued throughout the house which descended with greatest force upon the head of the devoted husband” (Lucy Smith History First Draft / Biographical Sketches).

[xlviii] “His (Joseph’s) occupation was that of seeing, or pretending to see by means of a stone placed in his hat, and his hat closed over his face.  In this way he pretended to discover minerals and hidden treasures.... The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while the Book of Plates were at the same time hid in the woods!” (Isaac Hale affidavit, Joseph Smith, Jr.'s father-in-law, Susquehanna Register, May 1, 1834)

[xlix] “Behold thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord but because of transgression if thou art not aware thou wilt fall but remmember (sic) God is merciful therefore repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you and thou art still chosen and art again called to the work except thou do this thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men and have no more gift.” (Lucy Smith History: First Draft  Biographical Sketches, chapter 27)

[l] Solomon Spalding Manuscript — Manuscript Found:

“(My brother)… told me he had been writing a book, which he intended to have printed, the avails of which he thought would enable him to pay all his debts. The book was entitled the ‘Manuscript Found,’ of which he read to me many passages. It was an historical romance of the first settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are the descendants of the Jews, or the lost tribes.

    It gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they arrived in America, under the command of Nephi and Lehi. They afterwards had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct nations, one of which he denominated Nephites and the other Lamanites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were slain. They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds so common in this country. Their arts, sciences and civilization were brought into view, in order to account for all the curious antiquities found in various parts of North and South America.

    I have recently read the Book of Mormon, and to my great surprise I find it nearly the same historical matter, names, &c. as they were in my brother's writings. I well remember that he wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence with "And it came to pass," or "Now it came to pass," the same as in the Book of Mormon, and according to the best of my recollection and belief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter. By what means it has fallen into the hands of Joseph Smith, Jr. I am unable to determine. — JOHN SPALDING.” (True Origin of Book of Mormon, Charles A. Shook, (Cincinnati: Standard Pub. Co., 1914 p.96)

TESTIMONY  OF  MARTHA  SPAULDING:

“I was personally acquainted with Solomon Spaulding, about twenty years ago. I was at his house a short time before he left Conneaut; he was then writing a historical novel founded upon the first settlers of America. He represented them as an enlightened and warlike people. He had for many years contended that the aborigines of America were the descendants of some of the lost tribes of Israel, and this idea he carried out in the book in question. The lapse of time which has intervened, prevents my recollecting but few of the leading incidents of his writings; but the names of Nephi and Lehi are yet fresh in my memory, as being the principal heroes of his tale. They were officers of the company which first came off from Jerusalem. He gave a particular account of their journey by land and sea, till they arrived in America, after which, disputes arose between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different bands, one of which was called Lamanites and the other Nephites. Between these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently covered the ground with the slain; and their being buried in large heaps was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country. Some of these people he represented as being very large. I have read the Book of Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollection the writings of Solomon Spaulding; and I have no manner of doubt that the historical part of it is the same that I read and heard read more than twenty years ago. The old, obsolete style, and the phrases of "and it came to pass," &c. are the same. — MARTHA SPALDING.” (True Origin of Book of Mormon, Charles A. Shook, (Cincinnati: Standard Pub. Co., 1914 p. 97)

[li] "In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." (History of the RLDS Church, 8 vols. Independence, Missouri: Herald House, 1951. Last Testimony of Sister Emma, 3:356)

[liv] (MORMONISM, AN EXPOSURE OF THE IMPOSITIONS. ADOPTED BY THE SECT CALLED “THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS” – pamphlet by the Rev. F.B. Ashley, UK, 1851, p. 13)

[lv] (Lucy Smith: Biographical Sketches, 1853 edition, Cory/Pratt, chapter 26)

[lvi] TO THE READER—

    As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by the evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again—and being commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi…” (Preface to the 1830 Book of Mormon)

 [lvii] “Between April 12 and June 14, 1828, the two of them completed 116 pages of manuscript. At this point, Harris, who suffered from his wife's doubts about the existence of the plates, asked permission to show the manuscript to her and four other family members.” (Church History 1820 – 1831, Background Founding New York Period; light planet on-line article)

[lviii] (Doctrine and Covenants 10:7 and 10; also, Lucy Smith: Biographical Sketches, 1853 edition, Cory/Pratt, chapter 27)

[lx] “The most widespread rumor was that Harris' wife, irritated at having earlier been denied a glimpse of the ancient plates, had removed the manuscript translation from Martin's unlocked bureau and burned it. Not long afterward, she and Martin separated.” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Manuscript Lost 116 Pages, Macmillan 1992).

[lxi]

(Verse) 32 And, behold, they will publish this, and Satan will harden the hearts of the people to stir them up to anger against you, that they will not believe my words.

(Verse) 33 Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation, that the work may not come forth in this generation.

(Verse) 34 But behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom, and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation.

(Verse) 35 Marvel not that I said unto you: Here is wisdom, show it not unto the world—for I said, show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved.

(Verse) 36 Behold, I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous;

(Verse) 37 But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

(Verse) 38 And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, is engraven upon the plates of Nephi;

(Verse) 39 Yea, and you remember it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates of Nephi.

(Verse) 40 And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account—

(Verse) 41 Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained;” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:32-41).

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[lxii] (2009 Fairmormon.org article: Book of Mormon as the most correct book)

[lxiii] “Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken—for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled—I should not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did I should be destroyed” (History of the Church Volume One, 1:42).

[lxiv] “When Bill McKeever visited the restored Peter Whitmer cabin at Fayette (NY) in April of 1990, a curtain was hanging between two tables where the translation supposedly took place. In the adjacent visitor's center a painting of Smith "translating" the plates also showed a curtain separating Smith and his scribe. Page 29 of the book, Meet the Mormons (1965 ed.), also shows a curtain separating Smith from his scribe Oliver Cowdery.” (A Seer Stone and a Hat - "Translating" the Book of Mormon, by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson)

[lxv] “The way that Smith made his transcripts and translations for Harris was the following: Although in the same room, a thick curtain or blanket was suspended between them, and Smith concealed behind the blanket, pretended to look through his spectacles, or transparent stones, and would then write down or repeat what he saw, which, when repeated aloud, was written down by Harris, who sat on the other side of the suspended blanket.”  (Account of Martin Harris given to the Rev. John A. Clark, as related in his 1842 book, Gleanings by the Way, W.J. & J.K. Simon, pp. 222ff). [Microfilm copy]

[lxvi] “Harris was told that it would arouse the most terrible divine displeasure, if he should attempt to draw near the sacred chest, or look at Smith while engaged in the work of decyphering (sic) the mysterious characters.” (1827 — Account of Martin Harris given to the Rev. John A. Clark, as related in his 1842 book Gleanings by the Way, W.J. & J.K. Simon, pp. 222ff). [Microfilm copy]