Emma was twenty-nine years old—and seven months pregnant—when, in the fall of 1832, their family moved from the John Johnson farm in Hiram Ohio to Kirtland, approximately thirty miles north. Joseph and Emma set up their humble home in the rooms above Newel K. Whitney’s store. Shortly thereafter, Joseph left for New York City to buy supplies for the Missouri saints. A little over a month later, on 6 November, Emma gave birth to Joseph Smith III, her fourth child, but the first to survive. Joseph returned from New York City just hours after his birth. Their adopted daughter, Julia Murdock Smith, was eighteen months old.

In addition to the family’s quarters, Joseph used one of the rooms for an office to complete his Bible translation. Shortly after Christmas, on December 27, Joseph asked nine high priests to join him in his office to teach them about revelation. They each came focused and unified on receiving God’s will, and exercising their faith. They each knelt and prayed individually to be of one heart and one mind. Following the prayers, Joseph began to receive the revelation, with Fredrick G. Williams acting as scribe. By 9:00 p.m., the revelation was not finished, so the nine men returned the next

day when the Lord revealed even more. These instructions and revelations formed the basis of the School of Prophets, a unique organization meeting to discuss revelation, future plans and challenges faced by this early community of Saints.

Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson as she examines these exciting elements of Church history.