CHAPTER XV.
The following letters were written by Ezra Booth, a Methodist Clergyman, and addressed to a presiding Elder. He was an early convert to Mormonism, and renounced it as soon as he was fully convinced of its nature and design.—He gives a clear and comprehensive view of the whole imposition, in a plain and unvarnished style, and will doubtless carry conviction to every rational mind, that the whole is a base fabrication. They were originally published in the Ohio Star; but their limited circulation has induced us to place them in this work.
LETTER I.
Nelson, Portage Co. Sept. 1831.
Rev. Ira Eddy—
Dear Sir: I received yours of the 2d inst. and heartily thank you for the favor. It revives afresh in my recollection the scenes of past years, upon the remembrance of which, I dwell with a mixture of pleasurable and painful senations. I arrived at my home on the 1st of the present month, having finished my tour to the west; since which time the scenes and events in the history of my life, for the last few months, have passed in review before my mind.
You are not, it is probable, ignorant of the designs of my most singular and romantic undertaking: sufficient to say, it was for the purpose of exploring the promised land—laying the foundation of the city of Zion, and placing the corner stone of the temple of God. A journey of one thousand miles to the west, has taught me far more abundantly, than I should have probably learned from any other
