Vinson Knight

Vinson Knight (March 14, 1804 – July 31, 1842) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He served as a counselor in the bishopric in Kirtland, Ohio, from 1835 to 1838, then as bishop in Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess County, Missouri, from 1838 to 1839, and finally as bishop of the Lower Ward in Nauvoo, Illinois, having been called by Joseph Smith through revelation to that office in January 1841. Knight served as bishop in Nauvoo until his sudden death at age 38.

Early years

Knight was born March 14, 1804, in Norwich, Massachusetts, to Dr Randolphus E Knight and Rizpah Lee (daughter of American Revolutionary War Captain Sherebiah Lee). Following his father's death when he was five years old, his mother moved the family to upstate New York. Here Knight married Martha McBride, daughter of itinerant pre-Campbellite minister Daniel McBride and Abigail Mead, on July 26, 1826.

However it appears that by the spring of 1842, Vinson Knight had repented of any unauthorized plural marriage activity he may have been engaged in. This is seen in the minutes of the Women's Relief Society of Nauvoo, of which Knight's wife, Martha, was a founding member. The organization meeting was held on March 17, 1842, in Nauvoo, which also happened to be Martha's 37th birthday. The founding purpose of Relief Society was "not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls." Martha Knight was possibly present on March 31, 1842, when Emma Smith read a letter warning the women of Relief Society about seducers. The letter was signed by Vinson Knight along with Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball. An excerpt reads:

"...such men... say they have authority from Joseph, or the First Presidency, or any other Presidency of the Church; and thus, with a lie in their mouth, deceive and debauch the innocent, under the assumption that they are authoriz'd from these sources? May God Forbid!

"there are those, and we therefore warn you, & forewarn you, in the name of the Lord, to check & destroy any faith that any innocent person may have in any such character; for we do not want any one to believe any thing as coming from us... you are authoriz'd on the very first intimation of the kind, to denounce them as such, & shun them as the flying fiery serpent, whether they are prophets, Seers, or revelators; Patriarchs, twelve Apostles, Elders, Priests, Mayers, Generals, City Councillors, Aldermen, Marshalls, Police, Lord Mayors or the Devil, are alike culpable & shall be damned for such evil practices..."

Death and legacy

Just when he was increasingly involved in the affairs of Nauvoo, Knight suddenly took ill and died on July 31, 1842, in Nauvoo. One month later, on September 3, 1842, Martha lost her and Vinson's youngest child, Rodolphus Elderkin Knight, who was less than one year old.

After Vinson's untimely death in July 1842, Martha would enter into covenant with Joseph Smith.

In 1843, William Clayton documented a conversation he had with Joseph Smith discussing "delicate matters." The 23 June journal entry reads in part: "Also Brother Knight he [Joseph Smith] gave him one but he [Knight] went to loose conduct and he [Joseph Smith] could not save him." As one other men mentioned in the 23 June journal entry had died and another had suffered a heart attack, the reference to saving may refer to the fact that Vinson died despite likely attempts to prolong his life via faith healing, rather than asserting that Vinson was damned for the "loose conduct."

When it became possible to solemnize eternal marriages with deceased spouses in the Nauvoo temple in 1845-1846, Martha chose to be eternally united or sealed to Joseph Smith rather than Vinson. Heber C. Kimball acted as Joseph's proxy in the ceremony, and thus became Martha's husband "for time".

The woman traditionally considered to have become Knight's plural wife in 1841, Philindia Clark Eldredge Merrick (Myrick), also declined to unite herself with Vinson in eternity.

Notable descendants of Knight include Francis M. Gibbons and Larry W. Gibbons, both of whom became general authorities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Possible first Presiding Bishop

According to an analysis by D. Michael Quinn, Knight could be considered the first Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church.

Edward Partridge, the first man called to be a Mormon bishop, died in 1840. This was before Vinson Knight was called "to preside over the bishopric" (See D&C 124:141). Though the office of Presiding Bishop arguably didn't exist until 1847, Edward Partridge, rather than Vinson Knight, is recognized by the LDS Church as the first Presiding Bishop.