“I have looked in every place in the house. I have even ripped open beds and pillows and I know it is not there.” — Martin Harris¹

When Martin Harris returned from New York City, he took over as the scribe for the translation at the Hale Farm in Harmony, Pennsylvania. By the following June, Joseph and Martin had produced the first 116 pages of the translation.²

During this time, Martin's wife Lucy became skeptical of Joseph and the work, and Martin thought that if he showed her the translation, she would be convinced. He asked Joseph to let him take the 116 pages home to show a few family members.³ Joseph was reluctant, but after Martin's repeated requests and after seeking divine approval three times, he let Martin take the pages. However, Martin was instructed to only show the pages to a few individuals and to make sure the pages were always safe.³

Unfortunately, Martin lost the 116 pages. He frantically searched for them, but could not find them.³ When Joseph returned to Harmony after Martin told him the bad news, the angel Moroni appeared to him and took the plates.⁴ For a short time, Joseph lost his ability to translate.⁵ The lost manuscript was never found, and on her deathbed, Lucy Harris denied having taken the 116 pages.⁶

1. Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, Chapter 25, 131, josephsmithpapers.org

2. History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834], 9, josephsmithpapers.org

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

4. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 6, 54

5. “Revelation, July 1828 [D&C 3],” Historical Introduction, footnote 12, josephsmithpapers.org

6. Don Bradley, The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon’s Missing Stories, 69-70.