Footnotes

1. [1]

   Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:8–10, 14]; Revelation, Sept. 1830–D [D&C 30:5–6]; Revelation, Oct. 1830–A [D&C 32:1–3].

2. [2]

   Lucy Mack Smith described a similar type of document created in 1828 when Martin Harris took what JS later called the “Book of Lehi” to show his wife. Smith explained that Harris “bound himself in a written covenant of the most solemn nature, that he would strictly comply with the injunctions which he had received.” (Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1845, 127.)

3. [3]

   Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:9].

4. [4]

   Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 501 [3 Nephi 21:23–24].

5. [5]

   Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 566 [Ether 13:6].

6. [6]

   See Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:7–8]; and Revelation, Sept. 1830–B [D&C 28:9].

7. [7]

   “The Book of Mormon,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 7 Dec. 1830, [3]. The Palmyra, New York, Reflector reported that Cowdery and his companions “had been directed to locate the site for the New Jerusalem, which they should know, the moment they should ‘step their feet’ upon it.” (“Book of Mormon,” Reflector [Palmyra, NY], 14 Feb. 1831, 102, italics in original.)

   Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

   Reflector. Palmyra, NY. 1821–1831.

8. [8]

   History of Portage County, Ohio, 533; Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, Ohio, 295. The relationship between the two was close enough that in 1829 Eddy named his newborn son Ezra Booth Eddy. (Eddy, Eddy Family in America, 408–409.)

   History of Portage County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc. . . . Chicago: Warner, Beers, 1885.

   Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, with Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. [Burton, OH]: Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880.

   Eddy, Ruth Story Devereux, comp. The Eddy Family in America. Boston: T. O. Metcalf, 1930.

9. [9]

   Hayden, Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, 250–252. Booth’s disaffection from the Church of Christ followed a disappointing journey he made to Missouri shortly after his conversion, “for the purpose of exploring the promised land—laying the foundation of the City of Zion, and placing the corner-stone of the Temple of God.” He later wrote, “On our arrival in the western part of the State of Missouri, the place of our destination, we discovered that prophecy and visions had failed, or rather had proved to be false.” Booth further explained to Eddy, “A journey of 1000 miles to the west, has taught me far more abundantly, than I should probably have learned from any other source. It has taught me quite beyond my former knowledge, the imbecility of human nature, and especially my own weakness. It has unfolded in its proper character, a delusion to which I had fallen a victim, and taught me the humiliating truth—that I was exerting the powers both of my mind and body, and sacrificing my time and property to build up a system of delusion, almost unparalleled in the annals of the world.” (Ezra Booth, Nelson, OH, to Ira Eddy, 12 Sept. 1831, in Ohio Star [Ravenna], 13 Oct. 1831, [3], italics in original.)

   Hayden, Amos Sutton. Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio; with Biographical Sketches of the Principal Agents in Their Religious Movement. Cincinnati: Chase and Hall, 1875.

   Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.

10. [10]

    Ezra Booth, “Mormonism No. VIII,” Painesville (OH) Telegraph, 20 Dec. 1831, [2]–[3].

    Painesville Telegraph. Painesville, OH. 1822–1986.

11. [11]

    As published in the Ohio Star, Booth’s letter paired the missionary covenant with an accurate copy of the September 1830 revelation that called Cowdery on the mission to the Lamanites. Booth also accurately referenced portions of other revelations, such as Revelation, July 1830–C [D&C 25], and Revelation, 1 August 1831 [D&C 58]. (Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. II,” Ohio Star [Ravenna], 20 Oct. 1831, [3]; Ezra Booth, “Mormonism—No. V,” Ohio Star, 10 Nov. 1831, [3].)

    Ohio Star. Ravenna. 1830–1854.