“About this time came Leman Copley, one of the sect called Shaking Quakers, and embraced the fulness of the everlasting gospel, apparently honest hearted, but still retained ideas that the Shakers were right in some particulars of their faith; and, in order to have more perfect understanding on the subject, I inquired of the Lord.” — Joseph Smith1
Leman Copley was a prosperous farmer who had been a member of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, known as the Shakers.2 The Shakers were a Protestant sect founded in England, known for their communal living, pacifism, and belief in gender and racial equality. They differed from mainstream Christianity in several ways, including their views on baptism, the Second Coming of Christ, and celibacy.3
Copley joined the Church of Christ in the spring of 1831. Despite his conversion, he retained some Shaker beliefs and practices. He owned a large farm near Kirtland, Ohio, where the Church had recently established its headquarters. Copley agreed to let the Colesville Saints, a group of new converts from New York, settle on his land under the law of consecration. However, after a mission to his former Shaker community at North Union, Ohio, failed to convert the community to the Latter-day Saint faith, Copley withdrew his offer and told the Colesville Saints to leave his property.4
The mission to North Union was led by Sidney Rigdon and included Copley and Parley P. Pratt (and was partly unsuccessful due to Pratt's fiery preaching).5 The encounter left Copley shaken.6 He eventually left the Church around 1838 and remained in Ohio for the rest of his life. He died in Madison, Lake County, Ohio, in 1862.7
1. History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]
2. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 10, 112
3. "History of the Shakers," nps.gov
4. "Leman Copley and the Shakers," Revelations in Context
5. Revelation, 7 May 1831 [D&C 49] Historical Introduction, josephsmithpapers.org