Ezra Booth

Ezra Booth (February 14, 1792 – January 1873) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement who became an outspoken critic of Joseph Smith and the church Smith founded.

Booth was born in Newton, Connecticut. He had been a popular Methodist minister before going to Kirtland, Ohio with John and Elsa Johnson in 1831. After witnessing Joseph Smith healing Elsa's arm, Booth became a convert and was baptized and ordained an elder in May 1831, and was ordained to be a high priest by Lyman Wight on June 3, 1831.

On June 6, 1831, Booth was called to go to Missouri with Isaac Morley and "preach[] the word by the way." Booth began his mission by preaching the Book of Mormon to a large audience in Bates Corners, Norton Township, Ohio in June 1831. On August 4, 1831, Booth was one of fourteen elders attending the a “Special Conference” in Kaw township, Jackson County, Missouri called by Joseph Smith.

On September 6, 1831, Booth was "silenced from preaching as an Elder" by Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and others. Smith stated that this was because of Booth's dissension towards the leaders of the church, and his apparent lack of humility. Booth had apparently expected that he would convert people through the performance of miracles, as had been his experience with Smith; when no miracles were forthcoming, he became disillusioned. A revelation came to Smith a few days later, and stated that

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