Joseph Knight, Sr., is one of the biggest unsung heroes of church history!

Do you know about this guy and his wife, Polly?

His quick-believing heart gave emotional and financial support to Joseph Smith.

His friends and family in Colesville, New York were all converted because of his example of faith, as well as his wife’s.

Joseph Knight, Sr., is the focus of the revelation in Section 12 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Pretty soon after this revelation was given, all of the Colesville saints were asked to move to Ohio, and then shortly after they got settled, Missouri.

While other believers made these same journeys, there was special unity with the Colesville saints.

They all stayed together and faithfully followed the prophet Joseph’s directions on where to go.

They stayed together, followed the prophet, and helped each other.

The Colesville Saints from Colesville, New York, led at the helm by Joseph and Polly Knight, changed the course of church history in a not-very-loud way.

Keeping this humble and faithful future in mind, I love reading Section 12, knowing what waited in store for Joseph Knight, Sr., and his posterity.

So, what specific directions was Joseph Knight, Sr., asked to do by the Lord?

I pulled out some of these simple invitations from this revelation:

Give heed to God’s word

Reap the harvest

Ask and ye shall receive

Keep the commandments

In other words…

Joseph Knight, Sr., was advised to read God’s word in the scriptures, share the gospel and reap the harvest, ask God in prayer, and keep the commandments.

Nothing groundbreaking or new.

Sunday School answers through and through.

But this simple revelation, given to Joseph Knight, Sr., led him on a path of quiet and powerful goodness.

Powerful discipleship doesn’t have to be flashy and dramatic.

The whole world doesn’t need to know your name in order to make a difference.

But quietly following the will of the Lord, teaching your family, and following the prophet can make a world of difference in the quietest way possible.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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7 Responses

  1. Joseph and Polly Peck Knight are my 5th Great Grandparents! Thanks for sharing this wonderful insight into their life’s. I love reading their histories and testimonies and D&C 12 has always been a special scripture to me!

  2. I love your characterization of this amazing faithful man. He was steadfast and loyal, through thick and thin, when many others abandoned the Prophet. Yes, indeed, quiet, loyal commitment is sometimes challenging, but the Knight family, sometimes called the second family in the Church (after the Smiths) met the challenge.

  3. Joseph Knight Sr is similar to Gideon of the Book of Mormon. He shows up when there is a dire need with no apparent resolution, fixes the problem, then fades away again. Talk about administering angels!

  4. My wife and I joined the church 32years ago ,pay full tithing,magnified any calling we ever had,try our best to live a Christ like life.My 2 children are inactive, That means our 6 grandchildren are not blessed or baptised,on top of that my parents severed ties with us 25years ago,because of our membership.It’s hard,we know the church is true,and keep plugging along.????

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