Martin Harris

(Biographical Information Coming Soon)
After being excommunicated from the church, Martin Harris remained in Kirtland, Ohio. In 1869, 25 years after the death of Joseph Smith, Martin was asked about if he really did believe oseph Smith and the "gold bible". Martin stated,

"Do I believe it! Do you see the sun shining! Just as surely as the sun is shining on us and gives us light, and the moon and stars give us light by night, just as surely as the breath of life sustains us, so surely do I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, chosen of God to open the last dispensation of the fulness of times; so surely do I know that the Book of Mormon was divinely translated. I saw the plates; I saw the Angel; I heard the voice of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, I might as well doubt my own existence as to doubt the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon or the divine calling of Joseph Smith."

Five years later Martin would finally rejoin the LDS Church, which he played a key role in founding, and moved to the Cache Valley area of Utah. He was never called to any leadership positions, but would share his testimony whenever asked. He gave his last testimony moments before his death on July 10, 1875. William Homer, who was present with Martin in his last hours recorded:

"Martin Harris had been unconscious for a number of days. When we first entered the room the old gentleman appeared to be sleeping. He soon woke up and asked for a drink of water. I put my arm under the old gentleman, raised him, and my mother held the glass to his lips. He drank freely, then he looked up at me and recognized me. He said, "I know you. You are my friend." He said, "Yes, I did see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written; I did see the angel; I did hear the voice of God; and I do know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, holding the keys of the Holy Priesthood." This was the end. Martin Harris, divinely-chosen witness of the work of God, relaxed, gave up my hand. He lay back on his pillow and just as the sun went down behind the Clarkston mountains, the soul of Martin Harris passed on. When Martin Harris, Jr., and his wife returned to the house they found that their father had passed away, but in the passing, Martin Harris, favored of God, repeated an irrefutable testimony of the divine inspiration and the prophetic genius of the great Prophet, Joseph Smith.”

Martin had been a deep man of faith his whole life. If Martin had lied about the plates, or been conspiring with Joseph to con and deceive the world, he likely would have wanted to confess and repent prior to dying. Instead, he felt putting his soul right with God included bearing his testimony about what he was been blessed to witness one last time on his deathbed.


References:
William J. Hamblin, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon, p.517
LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson
History of the Church
Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith
Jaynann Payne, “Lucy Mack Smith: Woman of Great Faith,” Ensign, Nov 1972, 68