Leman Copley

Leman Copley (March 25, 1781 – December 1862) was an early convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Connecticut, Copley moved to Rutland County, Vermont, sometime before 1800 and was living in Thompson Township, Ohio, by 1820. Prior to his conversion to the Church of Christ, Copley was a Shaker.

He later joined the Church of Christ (predecessor to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), The three read Doctrine and Covenants section 49 to the Shakers, but the group rejected it. came to settle in Ohio, Copley was persuaded to allow them to settle on his large farm of nearly 1000 acres. Joseph Smith received a revelation to have the "Colesville Saints" go to Missouri, where God would reveal to Smith the location of the land of Zion. This was the beginning of the church's movement to Missouri and the dual centers of church activity (i.e. Kirtland, Ohio and Independence, Missouri). Copley was disfellowshipped in 1832 for refusing to keep his promise to help the Colesville Saints. Then, at Doctor Philastus Hurlbut's 1834 trial, Copley testified against Joseph Smith. He did not travel west with the rest of the Mormon pioneers.