Palmyra, New York:  Members of the group, known locally as the Mormons, have left the state of New York for Ohio.  In April 1830 they organized themselves into a new church, the Church of Jesus Christ, under the direction of Mr. Joseph Smith.  Since organization the Mormons have continued to grow in numbers.
     In a conference over in Fayette, early in 1831, Joseph Smith announced that it was the will of the Lord for all members of the group to gather in the area around Kirtland, Ohio.  This counsel was addressed to all three New York branches: Palmyra, Fayette, and Colesville.
     Mr. Smith, along with a few members of his family, left in advance of the main group arriving in Kirtland in February.  Several weeks later the main group left from Palmyra under the leadership of Mr. Smith's mother, Lucy Mack Smith.

      In Part IX, Parley was visit -ing people in the neighbor- hood of Newark, New York, when he was told of a "very strange book," the Book of Mormon.  A Baptist deacon by the name of Hamlin lent Parley his copy of the book.
     Parley wrote: "I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page.  I then read the test- imony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated.  After this I commenced its contents by course.  I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep.
     "As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man compre- hends and knows that he exists.  My joy was now full, as it were, and I rejoiced sufficiently to more than pay me for all the sorrows, sacrifices and toils of my life.  I soon determined to see the young man who had been the instrument of its discovery and translation."
     After reading the book, Parley changed course and went to the village of Palmyra 

(Excerpts from the Auto- biography of Parley P. Pratt)