Content preview - You need a premium account to view this content.

The Birth of Mormonism in Ohio

In the latter part of October 1830, four Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Mentor, Ohio, carrying, as one contemporary reported, carpet bags filled with copies of the Book of Mormon. The missionaries were Oliver Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon; Peter Whitmer, one of the eight witnesses to the Book of Mormon; Ziba Peterson, an early convert; and Parley P. Pratt, a traveling preacher who was converted to the restored Church while preaching the need for a restoration.

At the home of Sidney Rigdon, one of the most influential restorationist preachers living in northeastern Ohio, the Mormon elders introduced the restored gospel and presented to the preacher a copy of the ancient record. Parley P. Pratt, who had known the preacher for several years, later recalled that his ministerial friend "was much surprised," adding that "it was with much persuasion and argument that he was prevailed on to read" the book. Mr. Rigdon's first reaction to the Book of Mormon was unfavorable; he had a Bible that he believed was a revelation from God, and he "had considerable doubt" concerning the divine events attested to by the missionaries. While the elders were attempting to explain their convictions, he interrupted, saying, "No, young gentlemen, you must not argue with me on the subject; but I will read your book, and see what claims it has upon my faith, and will endeavor to ascertain whether it be a revelation from God or not."

Oliver Cowdery

Sidney Rigdon granted the missionaries permission to preach in his church to members of his Reformed Baptist congregation. As the missionaries unfolded the message of the restoration to the large congregation, they explained why they themselves had embraced the restored gospel. Two of them, Oliver Cowdery and Peter Whitmer, Jr., were witnesses to the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. Elder Cowdery also testified that he was present with Joseph Smith when an angel conferred upon them the lesser priesthood and again when holy angels restored to the earth the higher priesthood.

Parley P. Pratt

After the missionaries spoke, Sidney Rigdon stood and addressed the congregation. He said that the message they had received that evening was "of an extraordinary character, and certainly demanded their most serious consideration." He further exhorted them to "give the matter a careful investigation, and not turn against it without being fully convinced of its being an imposition, lest they should, possibly, resist the truth." Quoting the admonition of Paul, he concluded, "Prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good."

Sidney Rigdon's original response to Mormonism was negative for several reasons. For years he had held the traditional Protestant view that the Bible was the sole standard of religious truth and that visions and revelations had ceased with the deaths of the early apostles. Now here were missionaries who informed him of new revelations from heaven and of a book other than the Bible that contained the words of God. The first published account of his conversion was given in the Painesville, Ohio, Telegraph. The writer, who signed his report with the initials "M. S. C." (probably Matthew S. Clapp, a restorationist minister of the Christian [Disciple] church in Painesville), stated that the elders told Sidney Rigdon that converts whom he had earlier immersed for the remission of sin should now be baptized by individuals who possessed God's authority. "Rigdon seemed much displeased" when he learned that seventeen of his followers were baptized one night by the Mormon elders, the writer noted. When Mr. Rigdon again conversed with the missionaries, the article continued, he requested "proof of the truth of their book and mission." Oliver Cowdery, speaking for the missionaries, responded by bearing witness that in response to his own sincere, prayerful petition to his "Heavenly Father . . . in the name of Jesus Christ," he had received an answer from an angel sent by God.