He was one of the earliest critics of the spiritual claims of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, having commented on the "Golden Bible" before it was even published as the Book of Mormon.
[1] After a short career as a judge and perhaps a lawyer before that, Cole began editing a weekly newspaper in Palmyra, New York called The Reflector.
In the paper's first edition on September 2, 1829, Cole wrote the first public criticisms of Mormonism: "The Golden Bible, by Joseph Smith Junior, author and proprietor, is now in press and will shortly appear.
[2] Starting in January 1830, two months before the Book of Mormon was published, the Reflector printed the first few chapters of what he called "Jo Smith's Gold Bible" accompanied by his own criticisms.
Cole's commentary on Mormonism quickly gained a readership outside Palmyra and he went on to print a six-part series with a more analytical tone.
"Although he did not change his scornful tone," historian Richard L. Bushman wrote, Cole "did replace satire with argument and attempted to make a case against Joseph Smith that would appeal to his enlarged readership.