Lyman and Harriet Wight built one of the first Latter-day Saint homes in the Grand River area of Daviess County, Missouri. Though the home is no longer standing, the site serves as a reminder of Latter-day Saints gathering to live and worship together in this place.
The Wight Home Site at Adam-ondi-Ahman represents the ongoing effort to establish Zion in Missouri. Following the Lord’s command to gather, Latter-day Saints created communities like this one, where they could live and worship Jesus Christ together.
Lyman and Harriet Benton Wight were some of the Church’s earliest members. After joining the Church in Ohio in 1830, they were dedicated to following the words of the prophet Joseph Smith and establishing Zion. They moved their family several times, first to Jackson County and then to Clay County before their move to Daviess County in early 1838. Lyman also served several missions for the Church.
The Wights were among the first Latter-day Saint settlers in this area, and Lyman operated a ferry across the Grand River. After visiting the Wights, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders determined to build a city and a stake of Zion here. Joseph Smith organized the Adam-ondi-Ahman stake of Zion on June 28, 1838. His uncle John Smith served as stake president, and he chose Lyman Wight and Reynolds Cahoon as his counselors.
On November 2, 1838, Missouri militiamen ordered all Latter-day Saints to leave the county. Lyman Wight was arrested and spent five months in jail with Joseph Smith inLiberty, Missouri . Meanwhile, Harriet and the children left their home with others from the stake, joining over 8,000 Saints driven from Missouri during the winter of 1838-1839.
Read more about Adam-ondi-Ahman inSaints Volume 1, Chapter 26, 28-29 .
Guests who park atTower Hill will find a walking trail just west of the parking lot leading to the Wight Home Site. The path to the homesite is roughly a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) round trip and requires hiking up and down a significant incline. Though the two-story log home no longer exists, the home’s location is marked, and there are interpretive signs that help explain more about the area and the Wight Home site.
Lyman and Harriet Benton Wight were some of the Church’s earliest members. After joining the Church in Ohio in 1830, they were dedicated to following the words of the prophet Joseph Smith and establishing Zion. They moved their family several times, first to Jackson County and then to Clay County before their move to Daviess County in early 1838. Lyman also served several missions for the Church.
The Wights were among the first Latter-day Saint settlers in this area, and Lyman operated a ferry across the Grand River. After visiting the Wights, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders determined to build a city and a stake of Zion here. Joseph Smith organized the Adam-ondi-Ahman stake of Zion on June 28, 1838. His uncle John Smith served as stake president, and he chose Lyman Wight and Reynolds Cahoon as his counselors.
On November 2, 1838, Missouri militiamen ordered all Latter-day Saints to leave the county. Lyman Wight was arrested and spent five months in jail with Joseph Smith in
Read more about Adam-ondi-Ahman in
What to Expect
Guests who park at
Accessibility
Accessibility
Parking
- There are no designated accessible parking spots in the parking area
Terrain and Flooring
Exterior
- Street: Gravel (good condition); level
- Path: Dirt (fair condition); sloped
Seating
- There is no seating available along the path