“Since our acquaintance with J. Smith Jr. there has been the strongest ties of friendship existing between himself and S. Rigdon.” — Warren Cowdery¹

Sidney Rigdon, a preacher from Mentor, Ohio, profoundly influenced the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after he encountered the Book of Mormon in 1830.² Rigdon was introduced to the new scripture by his friend Parley P. Pratt, who was traveling to Missouri with Oliver Cowdery and Ziba Peterson.^3,4 His conversion led many of his congregation to follow him, strengthening the Church and establishing Kirtland as the gathering place for the Saints.²

1. Warren Cowdery, The Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 3, no. 12 (September 1837): 566

4. “Kirtland, Ohio,” churchofjesuschrist.org

2. "Sidney Rigdon," churchofjesuschrist.org

3. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 9, 98