“Behold, I say unto you that it is not expedient in me that ye should translate any more until ye shall go to the Ohio, and this because of the enemy and for your sakes.” — Doctrine and Covenants 37:11
In early 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing the members of the Church to gather in Ohio (now found in Doctrine and Covenants 37), promising they would be “endowed with power from on high” in this new location. This revelation led to a significant migration of Church members from New York to Ohio, where they established Kirtland as their new headquarters.2 Members undertook the journey to Ohio with faith and determination, many leaving their homes and belongings behind to follow the Prophet’s counsel. The Saints traveled in groups, facing challenges like harsh weather conditions and limited resources.2
Ann and Newel Whitney, who joined the Church while in Sidney Rigdon’s congregation, hosted Joseph and Emma in Kirtland. Although the Whitneys had three small children and an aunt living with them, they invited the Smiths to stay in their house until they found a place of their own.3
The period in Ohio also saw the construction of the Kirtland Temple, the establishment of the School of the Prophets, and the publication of the Doctrine and Covenants.4
