The arrival of the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio,
marked the beginning of a period of rapid growth in the
membership of the Church. By early June 1831, the Church had
grown to about two thousand members. Among those who joined the
Church at this time were Sidney Rigdon’s mother and oldest
brother; Luke S. Johnson, one of the first missionaries in the
Church; and Ezra Booth, who joined the Church after witnessing a
miracle. Civic leaders, ministers, newspaper editors, and
parishioners joined together in an effort to stop the conversion
of their neighbors to the new religion. The Prophet recorded,
“Many false reports, lies, and foolish stories, were published
in the newspapers, and circulated in every direction, to prevent
people from investigating the work, or embracing the faith”
(History of the Church, 1:158). During these trying times of
slander and abuse, the Lord blessed the Saints with revelations
of comfort, peace, and assurance. One of these revelations was
section 45, of which the Prophet wro