 |
| Popular Methodist minister Ezra Booth
joins the church early in 1831, goes to Missouri, and comes to the conclusion
that Mormonism is a hoax and a fraud. Writes nine letters detailing his
experience that are published October–November 1831. |
|
| Born |
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1792 in Connecticut |
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| Chardon |
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1820 moves to Chardon, Ohio and
organizes a Methodist class of ten members. |
|
Geauga history
Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, with Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men. Published by the Historical Society of Geauga County, 1880.
, 299. |
| Nelson |
|
1819 living in Nelson,
Ohio. |
|
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| Deerfield Circuit rider |
|
1822 forms the
Deerfield Circuit (Methodist Episcopal) with Rev. William Westlake. They
are followed by Revs. Dennis Goddard and Elijah H. Fields, and, in 1824
Rev. Ira Eddy and Rev. B. O. Plympton. |
|
Portage history
History of Portage County, Ohio (Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885; rev. ed., Portage County Historical Society, Inc., Ravenna, Ohio, 1972).
, 443. |
| Minister |
|
Methodist minister
in Mantua, Portage county, Ohio, by 1831. |
|
Hayden history
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio, A. S. Hayden (Cincinnati: Chase & Hall, 1876).
, 250. |
| 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. |
|
¶
Healings |
| Baptized and ordained |
|
Ezra Booth became a convert and
an elder, May 1831. |
|
Hayden history
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio, A. S. Hayden (Cincinnati: Chase & Hall, 1876).
,
251. Marinda Nancy Johnson's recollection implies earlier.
Women
Women of Mormondom, Edward W. Tullidge (New York: author), 1877.
,
404. |
| Proselytes in Hiram |
|
May 1831 visits Hiram, listens
to his good friend Symonds Ryder preach,
and obtains his permission to speak. |
|
Hayden history
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio, A. S. Hayden (Cincinnati: Chase & Hall, 1876).
, 251. |
|
|
[He] stated in the strong, clear
language of impassioned enthusiasm, the ground of his new faith, and the
inspiring hopes which it gave him. A deep impression was made upon the minds
of many who heard him. Elder Ryder was himself staggered; and "lest
haply he should be found even to fight against God," he sat in silence,
neither approving nor disapproving. |
|
Hayden history
Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio, A. S. Hayden (Cincinnati: Chase & Hall, 1876).
, 251. |
| High
Priesthood |
|
June 4, 1831 ordained
to the High Priesthood by Lyman Wight. |
|
¶ Lyman Wight's Vision and the Man of Sin |
| Call
to Missouri |
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June [6], 1831 called
to go to Missouri with Isaac Morley "preaching
the word by the way." |
|
¶
D&C 52:23 |
| Preaches in Norton township |
|
[June] 1831 preaches
the Book of Mormon to a large audience in
Bates Corners, Norton Township, Ohio. |
|
Ambrose Palmer to the editor,
Jan. 28, 1835,
MA
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate
1 no. 1 (Jan. 1835): 61. |
| Kaw county conference |
|
August 4, 1831 one
of fourteen elders attending the conference in Kaw County, Missouri. |
|
Minutes
of August 4, 1831 |
| Apostasy |
|
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. |
|
TS
Times and Seasons
4, no. 7 (Apr. 1, 1844): 481. Source (
MH-A
Manuscript History of the Church (December 1805-August 30, 1834), 553 pages numbered from the "back" of Joseph's "large journal" (A-1), written June 11, 1839-Aug. 24, 1843. Selected Collections 1:1, Volume 1 // “Joseph Smith History, 1839” (first 93 pages), Early Mormon Documents 1:56-148; “History, 1839” (first 240 pages), Papers of Joseph Smith 1:265-386. Original, Church Archives, CR 100 102, Volume 1.
) written by W. W. Phelps between [August] 1841 and August 1843. ¶ Scribes |
| Methodist |
|
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; as will be
seen by the foregoing revelations. |
|
| Missouri disenchantment |
|
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, |
|
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| Wicked, foolish, shameful |
|
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. |
|
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| Silenced |
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September
6, 1831 "silenced from preaching as an Elder" by Joseph, Sidney,
Oliver, others. |
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Minutes
of September 6, 1831 |
| 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 in their
hearts … 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. |
| Letters to the Ohio Star |
|
September 12, 1831
renounces Mormonism in the first of nine letters to be published in the Ohio
Star beginning in November 1831. |
|
Ezra
Booth Letters |
| Impact |
|
[November–December] 1831
in Norton township the effect of Ezra's letters is such that "the public
feeling was, that "mormonism" was overthrown" until Reynolds
Cahoon, David Whitmer, and Lyman
Johnson arrive on a mission. |
|
Ambrose Palmer to the editor,
Jan. 28, 1835,
MA
Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate
1 no. 1 (Jan. 1835): 61–62. |
| Resumes ministerial work |
|
Information about Ezra after 1831
is scarce. However, he did marry a couple in Mentor on January
16, 1832. |
|
PT
Painesville [Ohio] Telegraph, Eber D. Howe, ed.
,
Jan. 24, 1832. |
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Ezra Booth Letters
Biographies
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