Martin Harris: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Martin Harris (May 17, 1783 - July 10, 1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. He was also one of the spiritual witnesses as well as a handler of the Golden Plates.

Because he showed varying religious allegiances and fervors, Harris is often portrayed as a superstitious and religiously unstable man, but others consider these characterizations unfair, noting Harris was financially stable and well respected in Palmyra, New York, where he met Joseph Smith, Jr. and his father's family. Supporters note Harris was consistent in his staments and opinions of the Book of Mormon.

His first wife was Lucy Harris (also his first cousin), whom he married on March 27, 1808. She is generally credited as responsible for the disappearance of the first 116 pages of manuscript dictated by Smith to Harris, due to her distrust of Smith and his methods. They had at least six children together and were divorced. Lucy Harris reported her husband's attitude towards her worsened dramatically after encountering Smith, and she traces the divorce to this change.

His second wife was Caroline Young, niece of Brigham Young, whom he married on November 1, 1836. They had seven children.

He died in Clarkston, Utah.