July 08, 1828 - D&C 3 was received

[Hemidakota]

July 8, 1828— Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith received D&C 3, a revelation calling him to repentance after entrusting Martin Harris with 116 pages of translation from the golden plates. (History of the Church, 1:21–23)

Historical Setting: Section three is a revelation given in consequence of the loss of the 116 pages of manuscript of the Book of Mormon which had been translated by Joseph Smith when Martin Harris was his scribe. . . (CHMR, Vol. 1, p. 23)

Joseph Smith, Jun. - . . . Mr. Harris, having returned from his tour, left me and went home to Palmyra, arranged his affairs, and returned again to my house about the 12th of April, 1828, and commenced writing for me while I translated from the plates, which we continued until the 14th of June following, by which time he had written one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript on foolscap paper. Some time after Mr. 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 covenants 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. (HC, Vol. I, pp. 20-22)

Ref: For additional information see History of Joseph Smith by his mother Lucy Mack Smith, pp. 124-132.

Background Narration:

Joseph Fielding Smith

Naturally, both Martin Harris and Joseph Smith passed through very severe mental torture following the loss of the manuscript. This was especially true of the Prophet. The Lord, knowing the end from the beginning, had provided for just this emergency and in a revelation given to the Prophet before the Lord took from him his gift, he was informed that the work and designs of the Almighty cannot be frustrated by puny man or by the devil. The Prophet was taught that even though a man may receive many revelations, if he sets himself up in his own strength or follows his carnal desires he will incur the displeasures, even the vengeance, of a just God. In his infinite wisdom our Father has provided for every problem or difficulty that may arise to stop or hinder the progress of his work. No power on earth or in hell can overthrow or defeat that which God has decreed. Every plan of the adversary will fail, for the Lord knows the secret thoughts of men, and sees the future with a vision clear and perfect, even as though it were in the past. [sec. 38:21.] Jacob, son of Lehi, in his rejoicing declared: "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." (2 Nephi 9:20.) He knew that Satan would try to frustrate the coming forth of the Book of Mormon by the stealing and changing of the manuscript, and provided for it hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Martin Harris without a doubt fell a prey to the enticings of Satan, in his constant pleading for the manuscript. Satan played upon his pride and he foolishly thought that by the showing of the manuscript his kindred could be convinced.

There is always danger when men boast in their own strength, or when they seek to satisfy their own desires. When those desires are contrary to the will of the Lord, and are still persisted in, they will without fail return in punishment upon their heads. (CHMR, 1947, 1:24-25.)

George Q. Cannon

The work of translating the plates progressed through the two months from April until June; not steadily, for Martin [Harris] was much called away. But at the expiration of that time, on the 14th day of June, 1828, Martin had written one hundred and sixteen pages foolscap of the translation.

And at this hour came a test, bitter in its experiences and consequences to the Prophet of God.

A woman wrought a betrayal of the confidence reposed in Martin Harris and a temporary destruction of Joseph's power.

The wife of the scribe was desirous to see the writings dictated to her husband by Joseph: she importuned Martin until he, too, became anxious to have in his own possession the manuscript. Long before the 14th day of June, he began to solicit from the Prophet the privilege of taking the papers away that he might show them to curious and skeptical friends; and thereby be able to give convincing proof to doubting persons, of Joseph's divine mission.

A simple denial was not sufficient, and he insisted that Jehovah should be asked to thus favor him. Once, twice, in answer to his demands, the Prophet inquired; and each time the reply was that Martin Harris ought not be entrusted with the sacred manuscript. Even a third time Martin required that Joseph should solicit permission in his behalf; and on this occasion, which was near the 14th day of June, 1828, the word came that Joseph, at his own peril, might allow Harris to take possession of the manuscript and exhibit it to a few other persons who were designated by the Prophet in his supplication. But because of Joseph's wearying applications to God, the Urim and Thummim and seer stone were taken from him. Accordingly the precious manuscript was entrusted to the keeping of Martin Harris; and he bound himself by a solemn oath to show it to only his wife, his brother Preserved Harris, his father and mother, and Mrs. Cobb, his wife's sister. After entering into his sacred covenant, Martin Harris departed from Harmony, carrying with him the inspired writings.

Then came about the punishment of Martin for his importunacy and of Joseph for his blindness. Wicked people, through the vanity and treachery of Martin's wife and his own weakness, gained sight of the precious manuscript and they contrived to steal it away from Harris, so that his eyes and the eyes of the Prophet never again beheld it.

For his disobedient pertinacity in voicing to the Lord the request of Martin Harris, Joseph had been deprived of the Urim and Thummim and seer-stone; but this was not his only punishment. The pages of the manuscript which contained the translation he had been inspired to make, and which thereby became the words of God, had been loaned to Martin Harris and been stolen; and now the plates themselves were taken from him by the angel of the record.

The sorrow and humiliation Joseph felt were beyond description. The Lord's rebukes for his conduct pierced him to the center. He humbled himself in prayer and repentance; and so true was his humility that the Lord accepted it as expiation and the treasures were restored to his keeping.

Martin Harris was also shamed and grieved; and he repented in anguish the violation of his trust. But, though a measure of confidence was restored to him, he was never again permitted to act as a scribe for the Prophet in the work of the translation.

While Joseph was mourning the loss of the manuscript, the Lord revealed to him many truths regarding the situation to which he had brought himself, and also warning him of the designs of wicked men who plotted to overthrow him and to put the name of God and his newly revealed record to shame in the land.

A rebuke was given at this time in words which Joseph always remembered. (Life of Joseph Smith, 1907, pp. 31-33.)

Section Header Notes: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, July, 1828, relating to the loss of certain manuscripts of the first part of the Book of Mormon, which Joseph had reluctantly allowed to pass from his custody to that of Martin Harris, who had served for a brief period as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon. This revelation was given through the Urim and Thummim. See History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 21. Compare Section 10.

Versus amount: 20

Suggested link: D&C 10

Summary and Conclusion: The prophet Mormon, who was given the responsibility of abridging the ancient records of the forefathers of the Lamanites, was also told by the Lord some of the purposes for the preservation of the record. Thus, the wording of Mormon's testimony is similar to the words used by the Lord in this revelation: "Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel. Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved. . . . Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God. . . . " (Mormon 7:2-3, 5.) (Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants, vol. 1 by Daniel H. Ludlow, p.59)

We see why the Lord said at the beginning of these sections:

The works, and designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. (D&C 3:1)