Errata

Due to an unfortunate oversight, an earlier version of the text for Hearken O Ye People was published, not its
final form. As a result, a number of typos and other small errors remain in the text. The
most egregious of these are corrected in this errata sheet. For a complete list of corrections
see below .

p. 6, 6 lines from bottom. Delete “late 1750s and”
p. 29, line 6. Delete “things”
p. 73, line 22. Delete first “the”
p. 82, lines 31–33, should read: “Ezra Booth probably was describing Gilbert when he
wrote of ‘a merchant, who had formerly been a member of the Methodist society’
who confirmed that those speaking in tongues were speaking in an Indian ‘dialect.’”
p. 83, lines 33 and 36. Change “Brother Tanner” to “Brother Tanuer.”
p. 96, line 8. Delete “and”
p. 101, line 5. Change “thirtieth” to “twenty-fifth”
p. 133, line 19. Delete “had”
p. 135, line 20. After “sins above everything else.” insert this paragraph,
“Joseph Smith reached the point where he elected to do just as the camp meeting sermons
encouraged. He would seek in expectation of finding. Joseph’s own quest for
understanding reflected that of others in the district. He also sought forgiveness for sin
and knowledge of correct doctrine. The spring of 1820 was unusually cold. Benajah
Williams, who preached on the circuit west of Joseph’s home near Rochester, noted
the initial melt of winter snows on March 16, but snow continued to fall for weeks.96
On Tuesday April 4, 1820, Williams noted: “This morning the sun rose verry clear &
the wether was some warmer than it had been for several Days. it had ben severe Cold
wether for several Days for the time of year.”97 On May 17 “it snowed verry fast powerfully
for several hours,” and as late as May 25 “the wether was cold & it snowd the
greater part of the Day.”98
p. 151, line 1. Change “Campbell sharply differed” to “Campbell and Scott sharply differed”
p. 151, line 25. Change “neither were the early apostles.” to “neither was the office of apostle.”
p. 182, line 1. Change “but it already become” to “but it had already become”
p. 199, line 1. Change “Newel Knight Whitney” to “Newel Kimball Whitney”
p. 210, line 1. Change “current” to “currant”
p. 212, photo caption. Change “The N. K. ‘White’ Store” to “The N. K. Whitney ‘White’
Store”
p. 212, photo caption line 3. Change “Left” to “Right” and “built” to “remodeled”
p. 213, photo caption line 4. Change “They later” to “Later owners”
p. 221, lines 6–8 from “Although a number of individuals later distinctly remembered reading
or hearing about this article, it has not yet turned up in surviving newspapers” to
“A number of individuals later distinctly remembered reading or hearing about this
article, which apparently was published September 22, 1829”
p. 224, footnote 29 last line, add sentence “The best candidate for this article is “Gold
Bibles,” Painesville Telegraph 1, no. 15 (September 22, 1829): 3.
p. 232, 12 lines from bottom. Change “its use for temple” to “its use to support a sawmill
for temple”
p. 236, item 4 in list. Change “the other half had” to “the entire lot had”
p. 243, photo caption. Change “Lyman Johnson (1811–56)” to “Lyman Johnson
(1811–59)”
p. 243, photo caption lines 6–8. Change “in 1856 from a drowning accident near Kirtland, n.d.
Photograph courtesy” to “in 1859 from a drowning accident, Photograph, n.d. courtesy”
p. 263, lines 11–12. Change “and John’s father” to “John’s father” and “Else’s gave” to
“Else gave”
p. 264, lines 15–16. Change “Vermont, this animal muscle essential in dragging” to
“Vermont; this animal muscle was essential in dragging”
p. 264, line 27. Change “leeched” to “leached”
p. 271, photo caption line 1. Change “beleivers” to “believers”
p. 272, line 10. Change “Mehetable” to “Mehitable” here on 2 lines from bottom and elsewhere
p. 282, 5 lines from bottom. Change “if by no means deserved” to “it by no means deserved”
p. 298, 7 lines from bottom. Change “December 6, 1831” to “December 8, 1831”
p. 299, 2 lines from bottom. Change “noted during the conference that ‘Ezra Booth” to
“noted that, during the conference, ‘Ezra Booth”
p. 305, footnote 1 line 4. Change “Disciple of Christ” to “Disciples of Christ”
p. 327, line 13. Change “describe them was new” to “describe it was new”
p. 335, lines 20–21. Change “Sidney Rigdon had the responsibility for articulating and writing
down the pair’s” to “Sidney Rigdon shared the responsibility for articulating the pair’s”
p. 336, line 11. Change “Oliver” to “Olive”
p. 345, lines 6–7. Change “as a member of the First Presidency” to “as a counselor to the
presidency”
p. 353, line 1. Change “breaking his collarbone” to “injuring his collarbone”
p. 353, line 17. Change “lights of Johnson home” to “lights of the Johnson home”
p. 372, footnote 4. Change “[what page is photo on?]” to “70.”

Book Availability

A number of people have asked where they can get copies of Hearken O Ye People. The easiest place to find it is online at Amazon or at Deseret Book. Amazon has elected at the moment to only get enough copies to cover their orders. Thus, even though the website continues to say they are sold out, if you order through them and are patient, you will get a copy. If you would like to read it right away, you can order from one of the other stores offering copies. You can also get copies at brick and mortar stores such as Benchmark Books, Confetti Books, and Deseret Book. If you ask for a copy at your favorite bookstore, they should be able to supply you as well.

Publication Date and Availability

After numerous long delays, I have learned printed and bound copies of the book Hearken will officially arrive at the publishers March 15-16. I guess in honor of my Irish forebears that makes for an "on the shelf" date of March 17. I understand the publisher is working on distribution locations but know it is available at the moment for advance purchase at Amazon. I'll post other locations as soon as I learn of them.

Overview of Hearken

The book Hearken is a history of Mormonism in Ohio that focuses primarily on the decade from 1829-1839 but includes elements from the larger Mormon experience. It examines the theolological, social, economic, and histrical context in which Joseph Smith, leader of the movement, received revelation. The book is divided into four parts with each part seeking to explore the historical roots of a specific aspect of the Ohio experience in depth. Hearken begins with a Forward written by Lachlan Mackay, Community of Christ Historic Sites Coordinator, and a Prologue that introduces Kirtland, Ohio through the perspective of those who were forced to leave their religious community. It ends with an Appendix that includes nine sermons addressing elements of Ohio's Latter-day Saint experience as recalled by George A. Smith and Brigham Young in November 1864. LaJean Carruth, an expert in Pitman shorthand, has transcribed these sermons.

The book's four sections are:

Part One: Ohio's "Mormonites"
This is an examination of the Morley Family religious community in Kirtland, Ohio and its transition to the "Mormonite Family" organizations that developed between November 1830 and February 1831 in northeastern Ohio. "Mormonite" was a term first applied by newspaperman Eber D. Howe to the nascent religious community that grew out of the original Morley Family commune. This section looks at the early revelations dealing with religious enthusiasm and the gifts of the Spirit through the eyes of Black Pete, an early member of the Morley Family who became part of the movement.

Part Two: Consecration
Newel K. Whitney, an early merchant active in Michigan and Ohio exemplifies the concept of consecration as it developed in Kirtland. This section examines the development of the concept of consecration as exhibited by N. K. Whitney. Whitney became an Overseer or Bishop of the Kirtland community where he helped distribute offerings consecrated by others and consecrated his own businesses to help build Mormonism in Ohio.

Part Three: "It Came from God": The Johnson Family, Joseph Smith, and Mormonism in Hiram, Ohio
The Johnson family played a pivotal role in Mormonism during the Ohio experience. This section explores their influence on Joseph Smith. It examines the "Plan of Salvation" as understood and preached by Reformed Baptists in the community and how The Vision, an experience had by both Joseph Smith and his scribe Sidney Rigdon, responded to current doctrine by reshaping and refining it in significant ways. This experience led to a violent attack on the two men that culminated in their attempted murder.

Part Four: Kirtland's Economy and the Rise and Fall of the Kirtland Safety Society
This section explores the beginnings of Kirtland's economy that eventually led to the organization of a quasi-banking, money-lending institution known as the Kirtland Safety Society. The institution encountered severe and sustained opposition from both within the religious community and without. Those involved in the community recalled that virtually the entire membership refused to follow Joseph's direction in financial matters as he sought to create a "Zion" community in Kirtland. It eventually led to the "excommunication" of Joseph Smith by a renegade part of the Mormon community and the mass defection of large numbers of members. Understanding the major issues of this economic battle helps place the widespread collapse of the Kirtland community within its historical context.

Book Table of Contents

Forward
Preface and Acknowledgements
A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History
Prologue

Part One: Ohio's "Mormonites"
Introduction
Chapter 1 Black Pete
Chapter 2 The Shout Tradition and Speaking in Tongues in the Black Community
Chapter 3 Barton Stone, Alexander Campbell, and the Foundations of Black Pete's Religious Involvement in Ohio
Chapter 4 Freedom and Authority
Chapter 5 Owenites and the Morley Community
Chapter 6 The Morley Family in Kirtland
Chapter 7 The Book of Mormon Comes to Ohio
Chapter 8 Black Pete and Early Mormonite Religious Enthusiasm
Chapter 9 Dissension in Ohio's Mormonite Family
Chapter 10 The Law of the Church
Chapter 11 Joseph Smith and the Gifts of the Spirit
Chapter 12 The June Conference and Authority to Discern Religious Ecstasy
Chapter 13 A New Understanding of the Gift of Tongues in Kirtland and Missouri

Part Two: Consecration
Introduction
Chapter 14 "To Manage the Affairs of the Poor": N. K. Whitney and Company
Chapter 15 Sidney Gilbert as an Independent Entrepreneur
Chapter 16 N. K. Whitney & Co.
Chapter 17 The Whitneys and the Latter-day Saints
Chapter 18 Whitney's Role as Bishop
Chapter 19 At the Whitney Store

Part Three: "It Came from God": The Johnson Family, Joseph Smith, and Mormonism in Hiram, Ohio
Introduction
Chapter 20 From Vermont to Ohio
Chapter 21 Hiram Township in Portage County
Chapter 22 Ezra Booth and the Johnson Family
Chapter 23 The Apostasy of Ezra Booth and Symonds Ryder
Chapter 24 Joseph Smith at the Johnson Home
Chapter 25 Continuing Revelation and the Seeds of Violence
Chapter 26 Reactions to "The Vision"
Chapter 27 The Mobbing of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon
Chapter 28 Last Days in Hiram
Chapter 29 The Johnson Family's Epilogue

Part Four: Kirtland's Economy and the Rise and Fall of the Kirtland Safety Society
Introduction
Chapter 30 The Foundation of Kirtland's Economy
Chapter 31 The Lyman and Loud Mills, Arnold Mason's Tannery, and the Means to Build a House of God
Chapter 32 A Plan to Get out of Debt
Chapter 33 The Kirtland Safety Society
Chapter 34 The End of Kirtland's Banking Experiment
Chapter 35 Epilogue

Appendix: Sermons
Introduction
George A. Smith      November 12, 1864
Brigham Young        November 12, 1864
Brigham Young        Two Sermons, November 13, 1864
George A. Smith      November 13, 1864
George A. Smith      November 14, 1864
Brigham Young        November 15, 1864
George A. Smith      November 15, 1864