“Written by the Hand of Mormon”
In June 1829, Joseph Smith and Martin Harris began contacting printers, including Thurlow Weed, who declined a contract, and Egbert B. Grandin, who eventually agreed to publish the Book of Mormon. Oliver Cowdery prepared a printer’s copy of the manuscript, and printing began in late August or early September. Employees of the print shop, including Pomeroy Tucker, Albert Chandler, and John H. Gilbert, later described the process in detail. During this same period, Cornelius Blatchly published an early newspaper article about the Book of Mormon, Abner Cole began illegally publishing extracts from the Book of Mormon, and a controversial revelation dealing with the Canadian copyright was dictated. In March 1830, the Wayne Sentinel announced the publication of the Book of Mormon.