Ezra Booth

Ezra Booth (February 14, 1792 – January 12, 1873) was an early member in the Latter Day Saint movement who became an outspoken critic of Joseph Smith and the Church of Christ. He was "the first apostate to write publicly against the new Church". Before joining the early Church of Christ in 1831, Booth worked as a Methodist Episcopal minister and a farmer in Ohio. After his baptism, he moved with his family to Kirtland and served as a missionary, preaching in Missouri and Ohio. Booth left the church later in 1831, five months after his baptism. He proceeded to write a series of nine letters denouncing Mormonism that were published by the Ohio Star.

Early life Booth was born in Newtown, Connecticut, on February 14, 1792. He became a deacon in the church on August 8, 1818 and then became an elder in 1821. He married Dorcas Taylor from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on November 10, 1819

Involvement in the Latter Day Saint movement Oh June 4, 1831, Booth was ordained a high priest by Lyman Wight Booth was reportedly possessed by a "foul spirit" during the meeting, and Joseph Smith "commanded it to depart". He was described as an "urbane" and "articulate" preacher. He was present for the laying of the cornerstone of the temple to be built at New Jerusalem. A revelation came to Smith a few days later, and stated thatI, the Lord, was angry with him who was my servant Ezra Booth, and also my servant Isaac Morley, for they kept not the law, neither the commandment; they sought evil in their hearts.... They condemned for evil that thing in which there was no evil; nevertheless I have forgiven my servant Isaac Morley.

The Ezra Booth letters

Less than three days after being "silenced from preaching as an Elder" and after being a member for only five months, Booth renounced Mormonism in the first of nine letters to be published in the Ohio Star, beginning in November 1831. Booth's letters focused on three main types of criticism: "inconsistencies he saw in the revelations of Joseph Smith, what he called the 'despotic' tendencies of the Church, and the 'manifest weakness' in the personality of Joseph Smith and other leaders." The letters proved to be popular, and the Ohio Star printed the nine of them almost weekly. The newspaper, however, refused Booth's request. His letters were later reprinted by E. D. Howe in his 1834 book Mormonism Unvailed.

Later years, death, and legacy After leaving the Church of Christ, Booth rejoined the Methodist faith, then became involved in the Millerite Movement. After William Miller's predictions about the Second Coming fell flat, Booth associated with the Shakers from 1845 to 1850. He then reportedly "abandoned Christianity and became an agnostic."

In 1865, Booth moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He died on January 12, 1873, at the age of 80. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Cuyahoga Falls next to his wife, Dorcas, and daughter, Almeda. He has been called "the most influential apostate of his time."