By July 1831, reports of the new Mormon movement had begun appearing in newspapers well beyond Ohio and New York. The Church had recently commanded its members to gather to Jackson County, Missouri, which believers identified as the future site of Zion. As converts sold their property and departed westward, local newspapers covered the migration with a mixture of fascination and alarm. One such report, published in the Painesville Gazette, described dozens of newly ordained Mormon missionaries traveling "two and two" toward Missouri and repeated the movement's claims of miraculous healings, exorcisms, and other supernatural gifts.
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-
Robert Dale Owen, editor of the Free Enquirer, reproduced that newspaper account almost in its entirety while offering his own commentary. Rather than focusing on Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon itself, Owen uses the Gazette's report as the foundation for a broader philosophical argument. He acknowledges that many Mormon converts appeared entirely sincere, even if he regarded their leaders as impostors. That distinction, he argues, exposes a flaw in a common Christian apologetic: if the sincerity of eyewitnesses and miracle claims proves the truth of Christianity, then the same reasoning should also compel a person to accept the Book of Mormon and contemporary Mormon miracles as genuine. Owen closes by stating the point bluntly. Applying the argument consistently would require concluding that the Golden Bible "was writ by the finger of the Almighty, and their miracles performed by his divine interposition."
Unlike many early newspaper attacks on Mormonism, Owen's article is not primarily an exposé or a denunciation. Mormonism serves instead as a contemporary case study. Its rapid growth, miracle claims, and devoted followers provide Owen with a living example that sincere belief and confident eyewitness testimony, standing alone, cannot establish the truth of extraordinary religious claims.
Authenticity of the Golden Bible
Published by the Free Enquirer, July 16, 1831
Minor spelling and formatting changes were made for readability here
Our readers have all no doubt heard of the strange sect that has recently sprung up, to our western country, to wit, of the Mormonites. They have received, so they say and doubtless (many of them) believe, a Golden Book of Revelation from Heaven, in which is recorded
“whatever is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Their numbers already amount to many hundreds, and they seem enthusiastically devoted to their new creed. Here is the last paragraph I have noticed regarding them:
From the Painesville (Ohio) Gazette.
THE MORMONITES.
This infatuated people are again in motion. In their own cant phrase, “they are going to inherit the promise of God to Abraham and his seed.” Their destination is some indefinite spot on the Missouri river, they say about 1500 miles distant.—About 80 of them have recently been ordained, and some have gone, others are about going, two and two, part by the western rivers, and part by land, to their distant retreat, far away from the cheering voice of civilized man. Those who have disposed of their property go now, and such as have property, are making market for it so eagerly as often to disregard pecuniary interests, and all are to follow with all convenient dispatch. They still persist in the power to work miracles. They say they often have seen them done—the sick are healed—the lame walk—devils are cast out—and these assertions are made by men heretofore considered rational, and men of truth.
Man is a strange animal—and the lesson before us ought to tech us humility for ourselves, and forbearance towards the opinions of others; for though we are still of the opinion that the leaders of this faction are as gross imposters as was Jemima Wilkinson, yet we have no doubt the great body of their followers are sincere and honest.
Man is a strange animal, and the lesson before us may teach is more than humility and forbearance. It may teach us incredulity in all marvels and mysteries.
How often do we hear such arguments as the following urged as unanswerable in proof of the divine origin of Christianity: “Is it credible that men should imagine they had miraculous power, and should be capable of persuading their fellow-creatures of that, which, if an untruth at all, was so palpable an one? The primitive Christians could neither be deceivers nor deceived. If deceivers, would they have voluntarily and cheerfully endured reproach and loss? As eyewitnesses, and actors on the stage itself, could they be deceived.”
Apply the argument to the above case of the Mormonites; and it will go to prove that their golden Bible was writ by the finger of the Almighty, and their miracles performed by his divine interposition.
R. D. O.
Check Your Understanding: “Authenticity of the Golden Bible” (1831)
Test what you remember about Robert Dale Owen’s argument concerning Mormon miracle claims and religious testimony.
1. What development in the Mormon movement forms the background of the article?
2. Where had church members been commanded to gather?
3. Which newspaper account did Robert Dale Owen reproduce in the Free Enquirer?
4. Approximately how many Mormon missionaries does the newspaper report say had recently been ordained?
5. How were the newly ordained missionaries said to be traveling?
6. Which miraculous claims are specifically mentioned in the report?
7. What distinction does Owen make between Mormon leaders and their followers?
8. What broader lesson does Owen draw from the Mormon miracle reports?
9. What type of Christian argument does Owen apply to the Mormon example?
10. According to Owen, what conclusion would follow if that Christian argument were applied consistently to Mormonism?
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