Hiram, Ohio

Hiram, Ohio is the place where sections 1, 65, 67–70, 73–74, 76, 81, 99, and 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants were received, which included the vision of the Father and the Son and the three degrees of glory. Stated in the introduction to Section 64 Joseph Smith is preparing to move to Hiram, Ohio, to renew his work on the translation of the Bible with scribes Sidney Rigdon and John Whitmer. Joseph Smith lived at the home of John and Alice (Elsa) Johnson beginning in 1831. He initially probably stayed in a back room on the main level. By the end of October 1831, the Johnsons had partitioned an upstairs room to create a work space for Joseph. During this time, Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and John Whitmer all stayed in the vicinity of the Johnson farm. While living here, Joseph and Sidney were tarred and feathered by a mob on the night of 24–25 March 1832.[1] The adopted son of Joseph and Emma died shortly after these assaults.

Hiram, Ohio, was settled by immigrants from Pennsylvania and New England around 1802. It is about 25 miles southeast of Kirtland. The population in 1830 was about 500 and had grown to about 1,100 by 1840.[2]

In 1956, Wilford C. Wood of Bountiful, Utah, acted as agent to purchase the Johnson farm for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He personally worked to restore the home and property. It was one of a number of important historical sites and structures acquired through Wood's instrumentality.[3] The home was completely restored to its original condition in 2001.