Doctrine and Covenants Lesson #4
Our Heritage, pages 5–10
This lesson topic caught me off guard when I read which sections of scripture we would be covering this week. The experience we are studying is of Martin Harris' losing the 116 pages of translation from Joseph Smith. In these lessons, there are links given to provide historical context for the revelations received and I found this one fascinating:
It explains the contributions of Martin Harris and gives a lot of details I never knew about the situation and about the man. It's definitely worth a read if you want to learn something new.
From the prophet Joseph Smith, here is a summary of what happened:
“Some time after Mr. [Martin] Harris had begun to write for me, he began to importune me to give him liberty to carry the writings home and show them; and desired of me that I would inquire of the Lord, through the Urim and Thummim, if he might not do so. I did inquire, and the answer was that he must not. However, he was not satisfied with this answer, and desired that I should inquire again. I did so, and the answer was as before. Still he could not be contented, but insisted that I should inquire once more. After much solicitation I again inquired of the Lord, and permission was granted him to have the writings on certain conditions; which were, that he show them only to his brother, Preserved Harris, his own wife, his father and his mother, and a Mrs. Cobb, a sister to his wife. In accordance with this last answer, I required of him that he should bind himself in a covenant to me in a most solemn manner that he would not do otherwise than had been directed. He did so. He bound himself as I required of him, took the writings, and went his way. Notwithstanding, however, the great restrictions which he had been laid under, and the solemnity of the covenant which he had made with me, he did show them to others, and by stratagem they got them away from him, and they never have been recovered unto this day.
“In the meantime, while Martin Harris was gone with the writings, I went to visit my father’s family at Manchester.” (History of the Church, 1:21.)
From the Institute manual it helps to finish the story:
His mother, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote about Joseph’s arrival at their home in Manchester and of his anguish when he learned that Martin Harris had lost the manuscript. After a long delay, Martin showed up at the house and confessed that he could not find the papers.Questions to ask while reading the scripture block for the week:
“Joseph who had not expressed his fears till now, sprang from the table, exclaiming, ‘Martin, have you lost that manuscript? Have you broken your oath, and brought down condemnation upon my head as well as your own?’
“‘Yes; it is gone,’ replied Martin, ‘and I know not where.’
“‘Oh, my God!’ said Joseph, clenching his hands. ‘All is lost! all is lost! What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God. I should have been satisfied with the first answer which I received from the Lord; for he told me that it was not safe to let the writing go out of my possession.’ He wept and groaned, and walked the floor continually.
“At length he told Martin to go back and search again.
“‘No’; said Martin, ‘it is all in vain; for I have ripped open beds and pillows; and I know it is not there.’
“‘Then must I,’ said Joseph, ‘return with such a tale as this? I dare not do it. And how shall I appear before the Lord? Of what rebuke am I not worthy from the angel of the Most High?’ …
“The next morning, he set out for home. We parted with heavy hearts, for it now appeared that all which we had so fondly anticipated, and which had been the source of so much secret gratification, had in a moment fled, and fled forever.” (History of Joseph Smith, pp. 128–29.)
What do you learn about God from this experience?
Why is this lesson titled and meant to emphasize the Book of Mormon?
What does this mean for us now?
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