
Held every two years, the 2016 Knight Family Reunion featured two
days, June 10-11, of lively speaker presentations, relevant classes, an
array of new materials, photos and books, and kindred fellowshipping of
Knight cousins from all parts of the country.
Attendees looked over wall-sized pedigrees of all the children of
Joseph Knight Sr. This is a popular on-going project of James Knight
each reunion to give cousins a large view of their legacy.

On Friday afternoon, Paul Edwards, editor of the Deseret News, gave a
stimulating keynote address covering the reunion’s theme “Connecting
Generations.”
Afterwards, the first of a series of classes were offered featuring the latest
information on newly discovered descendants of Nahum Knight, Joseph
Knight Sr.’s first son, whose history has been missing for decades. Other
classes offered: the history of Polly Stringham and Esther Knight; First Sister
Missionaries of the LDS Church; and Tracing Knight Family Origins to
the Holy Land.
All enjoyed a dinner before the evening fireside featuring Raphael and
Shari Mecham, two of the restoration’s six directors and owners
of the Joseph Knight Sr. Ancestral Home in Nineveh, NY. For more than
12 years the Mecham, Glenn, and Painter families have dedicated their
time and resources to fully restore the Knight home. Knight cousins were
asked to help in the final costs of a new roof. Patty Steadman and Bob Jones
of Mormon Heritage Association introduced a special historical tour of
five Restoration sites in New York, including Nineveh and Afton, especially
for Joseph Knight Sr. descendants, September 12-15, 2016.
Saturday’s schedule started with an inspirational presentation of
Newel Knight’s personal life experiences from historian Bill Hartley, the
family’s great author, friend, and advocate. He described the progress of
the publication of the Newel Knight Journal anticipated in mid 2017.
The day was then filled with marvelous classes on family history and
Knight family themes. Diane Mangum made available a special walking
tour of Jesse Knight sites in Provo and a driving tour of nearby Knightsville.
Our thanks to Reunion Chairman John Mangum and committee members
Edi Ulloa, James Knight, Darrell Knight, Diane Mangum, Carolyn Lyman,
Howard Edwards, Kristen Knight, and Gordon Knight. Special thanks to
all class teachers, volunteer workers, and the Utah Valley University LDS
Institute staff and crew.
We were able to draw nearly 500 to this year’s event with a large number
as first-time attendees. May the spirit we felt at this year’s reunion continue
with us until we meet again in 2018! All felt assured that we kept the promise
of Joseph Smith to Father Knight that his “memory would never be forgotten
as long as one Son of Zion remained on the earth.”