Characters of Note in This Book

The Steed Family

• Benjamin, the father.

• Mary Ann Morgan, the mother.

• Joshua, the oldest son; twenty-three as this book begins.

• Jessica Roundy, Joshua’s wife.

• Nathan, the second son; two years younger than Joshua.

• Lydia McBride, Nathan’s wife.

• Melissa, the oldest daughter; nineteen.

• Rebecca (“Becca”), age twelve.

• Matthew, youngest son; nine as the story begins.

The Smiths

^*Joseph, Sr., the father.

^*Lucy Mack, the mother.

^*Hyrum, Joseph’s elder brother; age thirty as the book begins.

^*Joseph, Jr., twenty-four.

^*Emma Hale, Joseph’s wife; a year and a half older than Joseph.

^*Other Smith children are mentioned but play no major role in this book.

Others

^*Oliver Cowdery, an associate of Joseph Smith’s.

^*Martin Harris, gentleman farmer from Palmyra.

^*Heber C. Kimball, an early convert from Mendon, New York, area.

^* Joseph Knight, Sr., and family, a prosperous family from Colesville, New York, area.

^*Newel Knight, son of Joseph Knight, Sr.

Josiah McBride, Lydia’s father.

Hannah Lovina Hurlburt McBride, Lydia’s mother.

^*Parley P. Pratt, a farmer from Ohio.

^*Sidney Rigdon, a preacher from Mentor, Ohio, area.

Carlton Rogers, a livery stable operator in Kirtland.

Clinton Roundy, Jessica’s father; a saloon owner in Independence, Missouri.

^*Peter Whitmer, Sr., and family, a family from Fayette, New York.

^*Newel K. Whitney, store owner in Kirtland, Ohio.

^*Brigham Young, an early convert from Mendon, New York, area.

Though too numerous to list, there are many other characters drawn from the pages of history who are mentioned by name in this book. Thus, actual names used by Joseph Smith or other contemporary sources in their historical accounts will be found here. For example, the Joshua Lewis family in Kaw Township, Edward Partridge, Sidney Gilbert, Sylvester Smith, W. W. Phelps, and dozens of others mentioned in the book, including many of the Missourians, were actual people who lived and participated in the events depicted in this work.

^*Designates actual people from Church history.

The Benjamin Steed Family

Like a Fire is Burning

The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!

The latter-day glory begins to come forth;

The visions and blessings of old are returning,
The angels are coming to visit the earth.

We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven—
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever: amen and amen!

—William W. Phelps