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Martin Harris (May 18, 1783 – July 10, 1875) was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement who financially guaranteed the first printing of the Book of Mormon and also served as one of Three Witnesses who testified that they had seen the golden plates from which Joseph Smith said the Book of Mormon had been translated.
The Witness: Martin Harris. By Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. One of Martin Harris’s greatest contributions to the Church, for which he should be honored for all time, was his financing the publication of the Book of Mormon.
Martin Harris knew most of the story: An angel had visited Joseph Smith and revealed to him the existence of a record on ancient metallic plates buried in a hill near his home. For three years, Joseph had watched and waited.
Harris was present at the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 6 April 1830 and was baptized that day. He moved with the Saints to Kirtland, Ohio, in 1831 and, after being called by revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 52:24), served a mission to Missouri that same year.
May 27, 2011 · Martin Harris (1783-1875), a New York farmer, was one of the Three Witnesses to the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. He also financed the first publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 at a cost of $3,000 and later helped finance publication of the Book of Commandments.
Martin Harris was present at the organization of the Church on April 6, 1830, and was baptized that day by Oliver Cowdery. In May 1831 he led fifty converts from Palmyra to Kirtland, Ohio. When Harris moved to Kirtland, Ohio, his wife refused to follow.
Although historical recounting of the lost manuscript differs in detail, Latter-day Saint scholars agree that Martin’s wife Lucy Harris played a role. In spite of efforts by Martin and the Prophet Joseph to find the missing pages, they were never found.
