The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story": Eleventh Book of the Faith-promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.
History
The Myth of the "Manuscript Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story": Eleventh Book of the Faith-promoting Series. Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of Young Latter-day Saints.
Book of Mormon
Early in the history of the Latter-day Saints Martin Harris became
disaffected. He committed grave errors and gave way to a very
unchristian-like spirit. The communion of the Saints was withdrawn
from him and he became an outcast to the blessings of the gospel. Thus
he remained many years, or more than a third of a century, but in his
old age he returned as a wandering sheep to the true fold, and again
became a partaker of the gifts and blessings of the everlasting gospel.
We will now insert an interview had with him when he was not a member
of the Church (in 1853?) and two letters written by him nearly twenty
years afterwards, after he had renewed his covenant with the Lord at
the waters of baptism.
September 15th, 1853.
"Be it known to all whom this may concern that I, David B. Dille,
of Ogden City, Weber county, Salt Lake, _en route_ to Great
Britain, having business with one Martin Harris, formerly of the
Church of Latter-day Saints, and residing at Kirtland, Lake county,
Ohio, did personally wait upon him at his residence, and found him
sick in bed; and was informed by the said Martin Harris that he had
not been able to take any nourishment for the space of three days.
This, together with his advanced age, had completely prostrated
him. After making my business known to Mr. Harris, and some little
conversation with him, the said Martin Harris started up in bed,
and, after particularly inquiring concerning the prosperity of the
Church, made the following declaration:
'I feel that a spirit has come across me--the old spirit of
Mormonism; and I begin to feel as I used to feel; and I will not
say--'I won't go to the valley.' Then addressing himself to his
wife, he said--'I don't know but that, if you will get me some
breakfast, I will get up and eat it.'
"I then addressed Mr. Harris relative to his once high and exalted
station in the Church, and his then fallen and afflicted condition.
I afterwards put the following questions to Mr. Harris, to which
he severally replied with the greatest cheerfulness: 'What do you
think of the Book of Mormon? Is it a divine record?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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