December 1830–August 1831

The Knights and Others Gather to Zion

Obeying the Lord’s call

Polly and Joseph Knight lived with their family in New York. They knew the Prophet Joseph well. After learning the gospel, they chose to join the Church. When the Lord asked the Saints to move to Ohio, the Knights obeyed.

Doctrine and Covenants 37; Saints, 1:33, 94, 109–110

The Knights were happy when they arrived in Ohio. Leman Copley, a member of the Church, said some of the Saints could live on his land. There was enough room there to plant crops and build homes. Joseph Knight and his sons worked hard to get the fields ready for planting.

Saints, 1:126–27

But one day, Leman changed his mind about his land. He did not want the Saints to live there anymore. He told the Knights and everyone else to leave.

Saints, 1:127

The Saints were worried. Now they had nowhere to live. They asked the Prophet Joseph what they should do.

Doctrine and Covenants 54; Saints, 1:127

The Lord said that these Saints should go to Missouri and build Zion. Zion would be a city where the Lord’s people could gather. In Zion, they would build a temple where they would make covenants, or promises with God. He would bless them if they kept these covenants. The Knights were excited to go.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:1–8; 42:30–36; 45:59–66; 54:6–9; 57:1–2; Saints, 1:128

As the Knights traveled to Missouri, Polly became very sick. Her husband, Joseph, and her sons worried that she would not live much longer. But Polly told her family that she wanted to be in Zion before she died. She wanted it more than anything!

Saints, 1:128

After a long journey, the Knights arrived in Missouri. Polly was very grateful to the Lord that she had lived to see it. The Knights thought the land was beautiful. They had faith that they could keep the Lord’s commandment to build Zion there.

Saints, 1:132

The Saints said a special prayer and called the land Zion, where the Lord’s people would come. The Prophet Joseph placed a stone to mark where the corner of the temple would be. A few days later, Polly died. The Lord promised that the Saints who came to Zion and died would rest in heaven.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:1–2; Saints, 1:132–33