This series looks back at how early critics of the church reacted to the rise of Mormonism. Some mocked it, others warned against it, and a few tried to make sense of it. Each post features a historical excerpt and some brief context to show how critics viewed the new faith as it was unfolding.
-The full series can be found here-
This article titled “The March of Mormonism” was published on July 1, 1831, in the Lockport Balance, a western New York newspaper printed by J. Mills. It appeared at a transitional moment in early Mormon history, just as Joseph Smith and a core group of followers were relocating from New York to northeastern Ohio.
Less than a year after the publication of the Book of Mormon in March 1830, the movement had shifted from a small regional body in the Palmyra–Manchester area to a community organizing migration around new revelations.
The immediate scriptural backdrop to this relocation appears in Doctrine and Covenants 37 (December 1830), which commands the Saints to “go to the Ohio.” This directive is reinforced in Doctrine and Covenants 38 (January 1831), which instructs believers to gather and promises spiritual endowment and protection. Shortly thereafter, Doctrine and Covenants 42 (February 1831) establish Kirtland as a place of organization and introduce the “law of consecration,” outlining principles of stewardships and communal property.
In June 1831, just weeks before this article’s publication, Doctrine and Covenants 52 directed elders to travel west to Missouri. Within a month, Doctrine and Covenants 57 (July 1831) would identify Independence, Missouri, as the location of Zion. This Balance article falls directly between these revelations. At the time of reporting, Kirtland functioned as the active gathering center, even as plans were unfolding for a more permanent Zion in Missouri.
The article reports that “Jo Smith” has established a “promised land” in and around Kirtland and describes roughly fifty individuals, including Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, departing for Ohio. Its reference to converts converting property into a “common stock” reflects early implementation of the consecration principles formalized in D&C 42.
So while the Saints understood this migration as obedience to revelation and participation in a covenant community, the general public saw it instead as economic irresponsibility and social disruption.
The March of Mormonism.
Published by The Lockport, Balance (Niagara co. N. Y.), July 1, 1831
Minor spelling and formatting changes were made for readability here
The Lockport, (Niagara co. N. Y.) Balance of the 31st ult. giving a history of what it terms the “Golden Bible of Imposition,” speaks of it as follows :
“It has no parallel in folly and stupidity from the days of Jo-hanna Southcote, to those of Jemima Wilkinson. In its character, or practical operations, it has no redeeming feature. It is with regret, however, that we are obliged, to add that it has proved successful. There are now probably a thousand disciples of the Mormon creed! ‘Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askélon.’ Their prophet, Jo, has selected a spot in the state of Ohio, which he calls the promised land! It was in and about the town of Kirtland, Cayuga county. Thither the deluded followers of the false prophet are repairing—it is but a few days since that an entire boat load of them passed this village, principally from the counties of Omuro and Wayne. Such as have property, convert it into a common stock, and thus create an inducement which is not overlooked by the idle and vici-ous. Families in some instances, have been divided; and in others, mothers have been obliged to follow their deluded husbands, or adopted the disagreeable alternative of parting with them and their children.”
The Balance states that the founder of Mormonism is Jo-Smith, an ignorant and nearly unlettered man, living near the village of Palmyra, Wayne co. the second an itinerant pamphlet peddler, and occasionally a journeyman printer, named Oliver Cowdry; the third, Martin Harris, a respectable farmer of Palmyra. The latter, as will be seen by the following paragraph, has recently departed for the land of promise ;
Mormon Emigration.—Several families numbered about 50 souls, took up their line of march from this town last week for the “promised land,” among whom is Martin Harris, one of the original believers in the “Book of Mormon.” Mr. Harris, was among the early settlers of this town, and has ever borne the character of an honorable and upright man, and obliging and benevolent neighbor. He had secured to himself by honest industry a respectable fortune, and he has left a large circle of acquaintances and friends to pity his delusion.—Palmyra Sentinel.
Check Your Understanding
Test what you remember about the July 1, 1831 article published in the Lockport Balance.
1. In which newspaper was “The March of Mormonism” published?
2. On what date was the article published?
3. What phrase does the article use to describe the Book of Mormon?
4. According to the article, what had Joseph Smith selected in Ohio?
5. Approximately how many individuals does the article say departed for Ohio?
6. Which three individuals are identified as leaders in the migration?
7. How does the article describe what believers did with their property?
8. To whom does the article compare Mormonism?
9. How does the article describe Joseph Smith?
10. What does the article say about Martin Harris before his departure?