Page "Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)" Paragraph 10

Even before he had become a Mormon, Harris had changed his religion at least five times.

After Smith's death, Harris continued this earlier pattern, remaining in Kirtland and accepting James J. Strang as Mormonism's new prophet, a prophet with his own set of supernatural plates and witnesses to authenticate them.

In August 1846, Harris traveled on a mission to England for the Strangite church, but the Mormon conference declined to listen to him ; and when he insisted on preaching outside the building, police removed him.

By 1847, Harris had broken with Strang and accepted the leadership claims of fellow Book of Mormon witness, David Whitmer.

Mormon Apostle William E. M ' Lellin organized a Whitmerite congregation in Kirtland, and Harris became a member.

By 1851, Harris accepted another Latter Day Saint factional leader, Gladden Bishop, as prophet and joined Bishop's Kirtland-based organization.

In 1855, Harris joined with the last surviving brother of Joseph Smith, William Smith and declared that William was Joseph's true successor.

Harris was also briefly intrigued by the " Roll and Book ," a supernatural scripture delivered to the Shakers.

By the 1860s, all of these organizations had either dissolved or declined.

In 1856, his wife Caroline left him to gather with the Mormons in the Utah Territory while he remained in Kirtland and gave tours of the temple to curious visitors.