Footnotes
In the 9 December 1829 issue of the newspaper, Cole (under the pseudonym Obadiah Dogberry Esq.) declared that since the Book of Mormon would “not be ready for delivery for some months to come,—at the solicitation of many of our readers we have concluded to commence publishing extracts from it,” to appear in the near future. (“Gold Bible,” Reflector [Palmyra, NY], 9 Dec. 1829, 39, italics in original.)
Reflector. Palmyra, NY. 1821–1831.
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [9].
“The First Book of Nephi,” Reflector (Palmyra, NY), 2 Jan. 1830, 9.
Reflector. Palmyra, NY. 1821–1831.
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [9]–[10].
Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [9]–[10].
“Singular Winter,” Schenectady (NY) Cabinet, 6 Jan. 1830, [3]; “From Albany,” New-York Spectator, 15 Jan. 1830, 5.
Schenectady Cabinet. Schenectady, NY. 1810–1837.
New-York Spectator. New York City. 1804–1867.
There is additional evidence from Cole himself that may support the conclusion that his meeting with JS occurred on 10 January. In the 13 January issue of his paper, Cole explained to his readers that “the appellation of ‘Gold Bible,’ is only a cant cognomen that has been given it by the unbelievers. . . . The true title of the work, as appears from the copy-right, is ‘The Book of Mormon.’” Cole’s reference to the phrasing on the copyright form may suggest that he had discussed the matter of copyright when JS arrived at his shop the previous Sunday to assert his rights to the publication of the Book of Mormon. According to Lucy Smith, after initial belligerence, Cole agreed to an arbitration of the matter. He discontinued his publication of extracts from the Book of Mormon after the 22 January 1830 issue of the Reflector. (“Gold Bible,” Reflector [Palmyra, NY], 13 Jan. 1830, 20; Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, bk. 9, [9]–[11]; see also Copyright for Book of Mormon, 11 June 1829.)
Reflector. Palmyra, NY. 1821–1831.
A June 1829 revelation had commanded Cowdery to “cry repentance unto this people” and “search out the twelve” disciples who were to “go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature.” (Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18:14, 28, 37].)
In addition to aiding the printing process by creating a printer’s copy of the original manuscript for use in the printshop, Cowdery apparently set type for some of the pages as well. John H. Gilbert, typesetter for most of the Book of Mormon, later recalled that Cowdery, though not a printer, “was a frequent visitor to the office, and did several times take up a [composing] ‘stick’ and set a part of a page—he may have set 10 or 12 pages, all told.” (John H. Gilbert, Palmyra, NY, to James T. Cobb, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, 10 Feb. 1879, in Theodore Schroeder Papers . . . Relating to Mormonism.)
Gilbert, John H. Letter, Palmyra, NY, to James T. Cobb, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, 10 Feb. 1879. Theodore Schroeder Papers: Corres., Writings and Printed Ephemera Relating to Mormonism. Microfilm. New York: New York Public Library Photographic Service, 1986. Copy at CHL.
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 144 [Enos 1:11].
See Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 304 [Alma 29:16].
In several early documents, Oliver Cowdery signed his name with “H P” as middle initials. What the initials stand for is unknown. JS used just the “H” when writing to Oliver in October. (Letter to Oliver Cowdery, 22 Oct. 1829.)