The Last Chapter

Today is one month from our last day of Service in the Colorado Springs Mission. We will be reporting our Mission on Sunday, June 8 at noon at 224 E Avalon Street. We would love to see you, please let us know if you plan to come so that we make sure we have enough food.

Now to finish our New York, Joseph Knight Kitchen remodel project.

Joseph Knight Sr. and Polly Knight were loyal friends of the Prophet Joseph Smith and were among the earliest believers outside of the Smith family. In 1826, Joseph Knight Sr. hired Joseph Smith as a day laborer while Joseph Smith was courting Emma Hale. Knight trusted Smith so much that he allowed him to borrow his horse and wagon to make the journey to Harmony to visit Emma. On September 22, 1827, the night that Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the angel Moroni, Joseph Knight Sr. was among the Prophet’s supporters waiting at the Smith Family Farm Home for his return.

During the translation of the Book of Mormon, the Knights provided money, food, and other resources to support Joseph and Emma Smith as he translated the Book of Mormon. Joseph Knight Jr. recalled accompanying his father on several occasions to “see [Joseph] and carry him something to live upon.” In May 1829, Joseph Smith received a revelation for Joseph Knight Sr. which is now recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 12. After the Church was organized in early April 1830, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery travelled to Colesville, where they organized a branch during a meeting in the Knight home.

Joseph Knight Sr. was a farmer, miller, and grain dealer in Colesville, New York. Knight considered Joseph Smith “the best hand he ever hired.” When Joseph told Knight about the visions he had received, Knight believed him immediately. The Knight family remained loyal supporters of Joseph Smith and faithful members of the Church through the many moves, persecutions, and trials that followed.

While the guys meaning: Brett and Dale and Darren Jenks and Mikel Reber flew out here to help us. The rotted kitchen floor was 3 different levels that had to be taken out. We got this kitchen new flooring, installed cabinets done in 4 days, plus cut down an old walnut tree. MaryAnn and myself, helped with some painting, and cleaning up and helping mount the hardware, our main job was to give tours of the Joseph Knight home and the Josiah Stowel homes. They are a few miles apart.

My very first tour was at the Joseph Knight. I see a big bus pull up very slowly. I walk outside and this cute bubbly lady comes running off the bus. "Can we get a tour?, We don't have an appointment!" Of course, I said yes, but that not everyone could go in at the same time as this original part of the house is almost 200 years old, and there were 36 women from the Women of Zion Church History Tour with Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner. Who I happen to follow on Instagram. We got a fun group picture and I gave them a brief explanation outside and took a handful of ladies in at a time.

Nothing like jumping right in. It was a lot of fun. Basically I was just like in the days of old. Cooking the meals for the crew.