This podcast episode of “Research Like a Pro” focuses on the common ancestors of Joseph Knight Sr. and Jemima Griggs. Nicole shares how Joseph Knight Sr., who aided Joseph Smith Jr., is her half third cousin eight times removed, connected through her paternal grandmother’s fourth-great-grandmother, Jemima Griggs. They both descended from John Knight. Nicole explains how she uses the Relative Finder application on FamilySearch to find genealogical connections. Diana and Nicole talk about the multiple...
This podcast episode focuses on the genealogy of two women, Clarinda Knapp Allen and Jerusha Barden Smith, and their connection to early settlers and significant figures in American history and the Latter-day Saint movement. Nicole discusses her husband’s ancestry, specifically how his relatives married into the Hyrum Smith family. She then shifts focus to one of her own ancestors, Clarinda Knapp, whose relationship to Hyrum Smith’s wife, Jerusha Barden, becomes the central point of discussion....
Nicole and Diana discuss the life of Phinehas Richards, Nicole’s husband’s 4th-great-grandfather. Nicole shares details about Phinehas’s life, including his birth in Massachusetts, his marriage to Wealthy Dewey, and his work as a cabinet maker. She recounts Phinehas’s conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his baptism by Brigham Young, and his ordination as a high priest. Diana talks about Phinehas receiving a patriarchal blessing from Joseph Smith Senior in Kirtland, Ohio....
Nicole and Diana discuss Levi Richards’ journal account of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Nicole shares her personal connection to Levi Richards, who is her husband’s 4th-great-granduncle and the brother of Willard Richards. They talk about Levi’s life, his mission to England, and his role as a physician. They then focus on Levi’s journal and its significance as a historical source, specifically the 11 June 1843 entry where Levi recorded Joseph Smith’s testimony about the First...
In this episode of Research Like a Pro, Nicole and Diana discuss their ancestor, William Henry Kelsey, and the spiritual manifestations he recorded in his diary. They explore William’s early life in England, his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his missionary service. The discussion includes details about William’s family, his various residences, and his marriage to Harriet Huggett. Nicole shares specific entries from William’s diary, including accounts of spiritual...
Spiritual manifestations were recorded among early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like Joseph Smith’s vision of an angel, my ancestor, William Henry Kelsey recorded spiritual manifestations that occurred to himself and others in his diary during his time as a young missionary in England. This is the third post in my series about my ancestors and church history following this year’s Come Follow Me curriculum. This week’s lesson is titled,...
This year I am studying the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the context surrounding my ancestors’ membership in the early church. Many of my ancestors and my husband’s ancestors were baptized into the Church in the 1830s and 1840s. A study of the digitized manuscripts available from The Joseph Smith Papers as well as The Church History Catalog shed light on the context surrounding our ancestor’s lives. My goal is to...
