Best Talk on Martin Harris

Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses of The Book of Mormon was a neighbor to the Joseph Smith family in Palmyra New York. Most members of the Church have heard about Martin Harris, and what they've heard usually revolves around him losing the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. That is an important story, and many lessons were and are learned from that hard lesson, Martin Harris came back and did a great work for the Lord, and that is where the focus of his life should be.

The contributions of Martin Harris are great. The Lord knew Martin and prepared him for his great mission in helping with the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Members of the Church today do a disservice to Martin Harris and to history by glossing over his life, and contributions. Martin Harris did amazing things for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he deserves to be remembered for all his contributions and not just one thing.

President Dallin Harris Oaks gave a powerful discourse on the importance of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, with a specific focus on Martin Harris. President Oaks gives an outline of the life of Martin Harris, how he helped the Church, what happened when he left the Church, and how Martin Harris came back to the Church. Martin Harris also cared for and watched over the Kirtland Temple after the Saints had moved on. Martin was converted again to the Church and when Martin Harris returned to the Church he eventually moved to Utah, he spoke in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. He died in Clarkston Utah, at age 92. Never denying his testimony of the Book of Mormon, and his testimony is forever documented in the front of every Book of Mormon.

Martin Harris’s brother, Emer is President Oaks great-great Grandfather.