"Accordingly when Tuesday afternoon came Mrs. Harris made her appearance; and she was hardly seated when she began to importune Joseph relative to the truth of what he had said concerning the Record; declaring, that, if he really had any plates, she would see them; and, that she was determined to help him publish them." — Lucy Mack Smith¹

Lucy Harris was born in Palmyra in 1792 into a Quaker family from Rhode Island. She married her first cousin, Martin Harris, at age 16, and was partially deaf by 1827.²

Lucy was interested in the gold plates and in donating to support the translation effort—if Joseph would show her the plates. Joseph refused. But that night, Lucy dreamt an angel appeared and showed her the plates. Lucy woke the next morning and insisted on donating $28 to help with the translation.³ Joseph decided to let Lucy and her daughter heft the plates in a box.⁴

Over time, Lucy began to doubt Joseph and his visions. Martin thought she would be convinced if he showed her the translation. He asked Joseph to allow him to take the 116 pages home to show a few family members. This led to the 116 pages being lost.⁵

1. Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, Chapter 24, 119, josephsmitharchives.org

2. "Harris, Lucy Harris," josephsmithpapers.org

3. "Four Women Were Witnesses to Book of Mormon Translation Process," Church News

4. "A Multiplicity of Witnesses: Women and the Translation Process," Amy Easton-Flake and Rachel Cope, BYU Religious Studies Center

5. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 5, 51-53