meeting-place, and from the hands of the angel received the plates, with the charge that he was now responsible for them, and if by any carelessness he permitted them to be taken from him he should be cut off; but if he did his best to preserve them till the messenger should call for them,[1] he should be favoured with the Divine blessing and protection.
Joseph's former troubles were as nothing to what followed after he obtained possession of the plates. In his autobiography he says: "Multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible," but he succeeded in maintaining possession. Embarrassments increasing, and the bride's family being more favourably disposed, the young folks returned to her father's home, carrying with them the plates. They were assisted by one Martin Harris, who from this time occupies an important position in the development of the new faith, and becomes one of the "witnesses" to the Book of Mormon.
During the winter of 1827–8, Joseph copied a number of the engravings and translated them by means of the Urim and Thummim, and this copy and translation he placed in the
- ↑ To the Mormons it appeared right enough that the angel should retake possession of the plates after Joseph had translated the portion entrusted to him. Others have taken a rather different view of the transaction.
