 Cochran has been called a "John the Baptist" for Mormonism by Saco Valley historian G.T.Ridlon because so many Cochranites were among those who converted to Mormonism and moved west.Although the Cochranites practiced a type of "spiritual wifery" (see above) which sanctioned multiple female partners for each man in the group, their doctrines did not include the precept of "eternal marriage", and thus differed slightly from Utah Mormon polygamy.