Joseph Knight, Sr. Farm PDF      Email to a Friend      Printer Friendly Version

The Joseph Knight, Sr. Farm Photo courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh

Joseph Knight, Sr. became acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1826 when Joseph worked for him on the Knight farm. When Joseph and Oliver were translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Knight, Sr. brought supplies to help sustain the translation.

Colesville was the location of the first branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Knight family were key members of the branch. Hyrum Smith served as the first branch president, followed by Newel Knight, Joseph Knight, Sr.'s son.

The Knight farm was the location of the first miracle that occurred in the Church after its organization. Newel Knight, who had become well-acquainted with the Prophet, after choosing not to pray at one of the meetings was seized upon by an evil spirit. The Prophet was called to cast it out.¹ The farm was also the location of the Prophet being arrested for the first time on June 28, 1830 following the organization of the Church. He was charged with "being a disorderly person by preaching the Book of Mormon, and setting the country in an uproar."² Joseph was put on trial, but acquitted of the charges against him.³

The Knights moved to Ohio when the Lord commanded the Saints to gather to the Kirtland region along with the other members of the Colesville branch. The members of the branch stayed together throughout the move to Ohio and then later on to Missouri and were known as the Colesville Branch.⁴ Joseph Knight, Sr. remained a faithful member of the Church and supporter of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He died in 1847 at Mt. Pisgah, Iowa after the Saints' expulsion from Nauvoo.

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SOURCES

¹ Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951), 1: 82-83.

² B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1930), 1: 205.

³ Ibid, 1:207.

⁴ Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1-4 vols., ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 289.