Doctrine & Covenants 3-5, My Work Shall Go Forth, Come Follow Me, Did Martin Harris Lose His Soul

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This week we discuss the the many difficulties that Joseph Smith faced in the early stages of translating the gold plates delivered to him by Moroni. Emma Smith served as Joseph's Scribe early on. Martin Harris, having desires to be a part of God's work also assisted as Joseph's scribe. Martin faced heavy pressures from his family about his being fooled by a young man who wanted only to take his money. Martin, strongly desiring to convince his family, wanted some type of proof or evidence to show them. After asking the Lord on 3 different occasions, Joseph finally gains permission and gives the 116 pages of manuscripts.
Emma gives birth, unfortunately, the baby does not survive. Martin Loses the manusript and then has to tell Joseph. Joseph Loses the ability to translate as Moroni takes the gold plates and the Urim and Thummim back. Joseph's world seems to be crashing down around him as several things go wrong all about the same time.
Joseph, instead of turning away, turns to the Lord with a humble and repentant heart and pleads for forgiveness. Within a couple of months, Moroni appears to Joseph again delivering the Urim & Thummim for Joseph to receive a revelation. He then obtains the plates and again begins to translate.
How much blame can we put on Martin's inability to take no for an answer or his losing of the 116 pages. How much blame can we put on Joseph for giving into Martin's requests. I don't think we can blame them at all. If we look honestly, we see a lot of ourselves in both of these men. Joseph is still learning to be a prophet, seer, and revelator. Martin has strong desires to be involved but is still learning his place. Martin is 20 years older than Joseph and tends to rely upon his own understanding rather than the directions of Joseph as they come from God.
Join us as we seek to learn from these great men as they make mistakes that probably all of us would have made and do make.

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