The Rise of the Latter-day Saints: The Journals and Histories of Newell K. Knight

Historians and academics use a handful of histories written by those closest to Joseph Smith during his ministry to document and tell the story of the Latter-day Saints. One of the most important histories that has not previously been available is a complex history of the early Church written in several installments by Newel Knight. He was one of a few early converts to write about the founding events in Church history. Knight died in January 1847, north of Winter Quarters, at the young age of forty-six. During the last five years of his life, he wrote a personal history composed of two elements: autobiography and journal.

Though extremely important to the history of the Church, Knight’s history has always been a difficult source to use because it was never published in one place until now. This publication of his history will bring together his manuscripts and offer a way to cite them more precisely.