A Marvelous Work and a Wonder Summary and Analysis

As Joseph Smith began his translation, his supporter, Martin Harris and his wife, who did not support her husband or Joseph, began to tease and threaten Joseph to see the plates. Martin lifted the box in which they were kept, but was stubbornly refused the opportunity to view them, as was everyone but Joseph. Mrs. Harris harassed Joseph, Emma, and Martin in her search for the plates, determined to find and see them for herself. If she could not see the plates themselves, she wanted to see a copy of the characters. Martin convinced Joseph to copy some of the characters from the plates.

Martin Harris expected the writing to be in Hebrew, for these were descendants of the Jews. However, in order to use less space, and for ease of...