Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word.

Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.

2nd Nephi chapter 11, verse 3.

Hey listeners, this is Nick from Book of Mormon Central, and today's podcast addresses the question.

Why did Martin want a view of the plates in March 1829? After Martin Harris told Joseph in July 1828 that he had lost the 116 pages

of the Book of Mormon translation manuscript that Martin had helped transcribe earlier that spring,

the two of them did not have any contact as far as we know until March 1829.

At that time, as Martin later remembered, the people rose up and united against the work,

gathering testimony against the plates.

According to Lucy Max Smith, Martin's wife, Lucy Harris, spearheaded the effort,

mounting her horse and riding from house to house through the neighborhood, like a dark spirit,

gathering testimony against Joseph's claims to have gold plates.

Lucy and others were planning to file a lawsuit against

Joseph Smith for attempting to defraud people, particularly Martin himself, with false claims

about having gold plates. The people told Martin that they had sufficient testimony to incriminate

both Joseph and his father, Joseph Smith Sr. And if Martin did not help them put Joseph in jail for deception,

they would also charge Martin as a co-conspirator.

This situation inspired Martin to go to Harmony and meet with Joseph Smith.

Due to the impending legal proceedings,

Martin had good reasons to want and ask for a greater

witness of the plates.

As a result, Joseph Smith sought the will of the Lord and received the revelation now

...