Ezra Booth (1792–18??)

Methodist minister who joined the church early in 1831, went to Missouri and on his return to Kirtland or shortly thereafter, became disillusioned with Joseph and wrote nine letters that were published in the Ohio Star attacking Mormonism.

Born

1792 in Connecticut

  
Ordinations To the High Priesthood by Lyman Wight, June 3, 1831 Minutes of June 3, 1831
Ohio Was living in Nelson, Ohio, by 1819.  
Minister Methodist minister Joseph Smith history, 1839 in Papers 1:363.
Investigates [February–March] 1831 goes to Kirtland with John and Elsa Johnson soon after Joseph's arrival to investigate Mormonism and witnesses Joseph healing Elsa's arm. 

¶ Luke S. Johnson (h)

In 1864 George A. Smith said Ezra was converted by the healing. ¶ Satan came also
Ordained Elder at the time of his baptism (date unknown) Joseph Smith history, 1839 in Papers 1:363.
  June 3, 1831ordained to the High Priesthood by Lyman Wight (h) (swh). (Brethren are ordained to the High Priesthood for the first time.) Minutes of June 3, 1831
Missouri June 7, 1831 called to go to Missouri with Isaac Morley "preaching the word by the way." D&C 52:23
  August 4, 1831 one of fourteen elders attending the conference in Kaw county, Missouri Minutes of August 8, 1831
Silenced September 6, 1831 is "silenced from preaching as an Elder." Elders present: Joseph, Sidney, Oliver, Christian Whitmer, Sylvester Parker. FWR, 11–12.
Lord angry with September 11, 1831 "Behold, I, the Lord, was angry with him who was my servant Ezra Booth, and also my servant Isaac Morley, for they kept not the law, neither the commandment; They sought evil i their hearts, and I, the Lord, withheld my Spirit. They condemned for evil that thing in which there was no evil; nevertheless I have forgiven my servant Isaac Morley." D&C 64:15–16.
  September 12, 1831 renounces Mormonism in first of nine letters to be published in the Ohio Star. Ezra Booth Letters (1)
Wife Dorcas Taylor  
  Joseph's characterization  
  From [September 12, 1831, when he moved into John Johnson's home in Hiram] until the forepart of October, I did little more than to prepare to re-commence the translation of the Bible. About this time Ezra Booth came out as an apostate. He came into the church upon seeing a person healed of an infirmity of many years standing. He had been a Methodist priest for some time previous to his embracing the fulness of the gospel, as developed in the Book of Mormon, and upon his admission into the church, he was ordained an elder. … He went up to Missouri as a companion of Elder Morley; but when he actually learned that faith, humility, patience, and tribulation, were before blessing; and that God brought low before he exalted; that instead of "the Savior's granting him power to smite men, and make them believe" (as he said he wanted God to do him;) he found he must become all things to all men, that he might peradventure save some, and that too, by all diligence, by perils, by sea and land; as was the case in the days of Jesus, which appears in the 6th chapter of St. John's gospel, he said; "verily, verily I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." So it was with Booth, and when he was disappointed by his own evil heart, he turned away, and as said before, became an apostate, and wrote a series of letters which by their coloring, falsity, and vain calculations to overthrow the work of the Lord exposed his weakness wickedness and folly, and left him a monument of his own shame, for the world to wonder at. Times and Seasons, vol. 5 no. 7 (April 1, 1844), 481.

Ezra Booth Letters (1)

Coincidentally, Joseph moved to Hiram and Ezra penned his first anti-Mormon letter on the same day, September 12, 1831.
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