Biography
Lyman Wight was born 9 May 1796 in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York to Levi Wight (1761-1830) and Sarah Corbin (1760-1832) and died 31 March 1858 Decker, Travis County, Texas of unspecified causes. He married Harriet Benton (1798-1889) 5 January 1823 in Henrietta, Monroe County, New York.
First Lamanite Mission
One of the earliest missionary expeditions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First Lamanite Mission commenced in October 1830 in New York with the call of Oliver Cowdery (1806-1850), "second elder" in the Church; Peter Whitmer (1809-1836); Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857); and Ziba Peterson (1810-1849) (D&C 28:8;32:1-3). It initiated the long continuing Church practice of taking the gospel to Native Americans. The Book of Mormon, in part a record of American Indian origins, prophesies that the Lamanites will assist in building the millennial New Jerusalem (3 Ne. 20-21), to be located in the Western Hemisphere (Ether 13:3-6; cf. D&C 28:9). They traveled over a thousand miles in mid-winter weather to indian territory located west of Independence, Missouri.
While not having any notable success with these indeginous people, the missionaries did have some remarkable success with several white settlements along the way, particularly around northeastern Ohio resulting in over 130 converts that included some future leaders of the church and the relocation of the church from New York to Kirtland, Ohio in early 1831.[1][2]
Lyman Wight was one of the principal members in the Campbellite church living in northeastern Ohio.
Zions Camp Participant
This Judith Mehr rendition depicts struggles endured by members of Zion's Camp, an expeditionary force to help Church members in Jackson County redeem their brethren.
One of the most interesting episodes in the early history of LDS Church was the march of Zion's Camp (1834). The members of the Church in Missouri were being persecuted, and the Prophet Joseph made it a matter of prayer and received a revelation on February 24, 1834. The Lord instructed the Prophet to assemble at least one hundred young and middle-aged men and to go to the land of Zion, or Missouri. (See D&C 130:19–34.)
Zion’s Camp, a group of approximately one hundred and fifty men, gathered at Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1834 and marched to Jackson County, Missouri. By the time they reached Missouri, the camp had increased to approximately two hundred men.[3]
Lyman Wight was appointed military leader of the expedition for his knowledge of military affairs and drills.
Later Years
Lyman Wight was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the leader of the Latter Day Saints in Daviess County, Missouri, in 1838. In 1841, he was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. After the death of Joseph Smith resulted in a succession crisis, Wight led his own group of Latter Day Saints to Texas, where they created a Mormon settlement. While in Texas, Wight broke with other factions of Latter Day Saints, including the group led by Brigham Young. Wight was ordained president of his own church, but he later sided with the claims of William Smith, and eventually of Joseph Smith III. After his death, most of the "Wightites" (as members of this church were called) joined with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Orange Lysander Wight (1823-1907) | |||
| Anna Christina Wight (1825-1906) | |||
| Rosina Minerva Wight (1827-1850) | |||
| Lyman Lehi Wight (1833-1894) | |||
| Levi Lamoni Wight (1836-1918) | |||
| Laomi Limhi Wight (1838-1887) | |||
| John Whrymerian Wight (1856-1921) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| William Wight (1783-1824) | 2 March 1783 Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts | 31 March 1824 Centerville, Allegany County, New York | Elizabeth Hewitt (1789-1804) Abigail Cudworth (1787-1858) |
| Daniel Wight (1785-1841) | |||
| Abbott Wight (1787-1863) | |||
| Dolly Wight (1789-1862) | |||
| George Wight (1791-1813) | |||
| Stephen Wight (1793-1874) | |||
| Lyman Wight (1796-1858) | 9 May 1796 Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York | 31 March 1858 Decker, Travis County, Texas | Harriet Benton (1798-1889) |
| Uzziel Wight (1798-1850) | |||
| Susan Wight (1800-1847) | |||
| Clarissa Wight (1803-1848) | |||
| Sarah Wight (1803-1888) | |||
References
- Lyman Wight - Wikipedia