"I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world. I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment....I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name; And it is by my almighty power that you have received them"
The guy who let himself get pressured into convincing Joseph Smith to release 116 pages of manuscript, and then got them stolen and therefore lost his role as scribe and got Smith's translation privileges revoked for a time stayed close. This Martin Harris supported the ongoing translation even if he could no longer be involved directly, staying abreast of progress and continuing to desire further and greater witnesses than those he had already received. Some of it was persistent doubt and bowing to pressure from others to check on his investment, but some of it was genuinely taking steps forward despite what skepticism he was confronted with externally and internally.
As time came for the translation to be published, publishers were consulted and it became apparent that they were leery of the normal risks of publication. Usually printers fronted the labor, paper, and ink costs in order to own the rights to profit if a book project surpassed the costs of its printing run. E. B. Grandin in Palmyra knew this particular book would have stiff opposition, and so he demanded all the costs up front. He would charge what at the time must have seemed astronomical to Smith: $3000. Harris, however had the means. But it would be his deepest investment yet, it would require the mortgage of his substantial farm. His marriage was on the rocks, and would eventually be lost, but at this point in history, his wife's pressure was at its fullest--she couldn't stand to see him put their wealth in jeopardy. And while he did resist that pressure, and did mortgage his family's means of support, the feeling that he may have just risked it all for something that might fail must have loomed over him. So he asked Joseph, one last time, to inquire of the Lord over what he should do--just one more little assurance surely couldn't hurt, right?
Note the tone of the opening verses here. Finality rings throughout. There is Christ as the Alpha Creator, Word who was in the Beginning, who was with God and was God, in whom Harris already has faith. But there is also Christ as the Omega, the end, the accomplisher and finisher of the work of His Father. As our model, these twin aspects must not have failed to impress Harris's mind with the idea that he was small, but still must follow in faith--he too must end the things he begins, he too must be "all in" even when the outside voices question the wisdom, he too must not just set good faith goals, but follow through with action, trusting the Lord would bring about the object of faith.
While finality and seriousness is the overarching tone, there is also encouragement. Like the wisest of coaches who know how to motivate players to their best performances even when the stakes are high and the chips are down, the Lord reminds him that the power is His, and if it's His, and you are on His errand, His power is yours too. What greater confidence can one have?
Just like courage is not the absence of fear, faith is about action through doubt, not the absence of doubt. The key is to remember how invincible you are with God backing you up. The key is to keep your eyes on Him, not your fears. The key is to obey before you know for sure. And the pattern is that His power empowers.
Harris's actions in faith, through persistent doubt, led to the conversion and eternal salvation of many millions. Yours can too.
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