Mormonism Unvailed: Eber D. Howe, with Critical Comments by Dan Vogel

Any Latter-day Saint who has ever defended his or herbeliefs has likely addressed issues first raised by EberD. Howe in 1834. Howe s famous expose was the first ofits kind, with information woven together from previousnews articles and some thirty affidavits he and otherscollected. He lived and worked in Painesville, Ohio, where, in 1829, he had published about Joseph Smith sdiscovery of a golden bible. Smith s decision to relocatein nearby Kirtland sparked Howe s attention. Ofeven more concern was that Howe s wife and other familymembers had joined the Mormon faith. Howe immediatelybegan investigating the new Church and formeda coalition of like-minded reporters and detractors.By 1834, Howe had collected a large body of investigativematerial, including affidavits from Smith s formerneighbors in New York and from Smith s father-inlawin Pennsylvania. Howe learned about Smith s earlyinterest in pirate gold and use of a seer stone in treasureseeking and heard theories from Smith s friends, followers, and family members about the Book of Mormon sorigin. Indulging in literary criticism, Howe joked thatSmith, evidently a man of learning, was a student of barrenness of style and expression. Despite its criticaltone, Howe s expose is valued by historians for its primarysource material and account of the growth of Mormonismin northeastern Ohio.