Kirtland, Ohio:  Late in 1830, four Mormon preachers passed through the Kirtland area teaching that God had re- stored his church through a new prophet, one Joseph Smith.  They also taught that Mr. Smith had translated ancient scriptures from gold plates he found in near Palmyra, New York.
     Among those who believed these missionaries was the Reverend Sidney Rigdon, a Campbellite minister in Mentor.  Many others listened and several branches of this new church, the Church of Jesus Christ,  were organized in and around Kirtland.

Newel K. Whitney Store

     Early in 1831, the Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, came to Ohio with his wife Emma and took up residence in Kirtland with Newel K. Whitney.  A few months later he was followed by dozens more members of the Church from New York state.  The membership of the Mormons continues to increase in the Kirtland area by the addition of converts in the Ohio area and the migration of new converts.
     In late 1831, a group of church leaders met in Hiram to work on a publication con- taining the revelations given to Joseph Smith.  This new book is to be called the Book of Commandments.  One of the attendees, a William McLellin criticized the language of the revelations, but after attempting to write one of his own, and failing, he bore witness to the truthfulness and validity of the revelations.