The story of the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830 Kirtland, Ohio, is told through the eyes of Ezra, son of Frederick G. Williams, the little remembered counselor to Joseph Smith in the original First Presidency. Anxious to tell his father's life story before he passes away, Ezra asks his son Fred to come from his home in Mexico, to Ezra's home in Utah. Fred brings his fifteen-year-old son Joseph with him. Ezra tells the two about life in Kirtland: the coming of four missionaries in the fall of 1830, which changes the lives of many, including the Williams family; of his own baptism by the Prophet Joseph; the building of the Kirtland temple; and troubles started by former faithful members who turn on the Church, and other enemies who want the Church to fail. His father eventually turns over all of his property to the Church, land where a temple will one day be built, land that Frederick will never be paid for. Dr. Williams takes the fall for the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society, witnesses the death of his son, Joseph Swain, is subpoenaed to court on frivolous charges, and retrieves money from the estate of Algernon Sydney Gilbert that belongs to the Church. Frederick goes about doing all of these things and more with no complaint and with little to no recognition. Because he prefers doing his work quietly, the membership at large has no idea where he is during a time when Joseph Smith is incarcerated in Liberty Jail, and the Church could use strong leadership. Assumptions are made that lead to great distress and sadness for Frederick. His health starts to break down, and he eventually dies at the young age of fifty-four. In addition to hearing him tell of his father's role in early Church events, the reader is treated to glimpses of Ezra's own life with his family, and the relationship he builds with the grandson he barely knows.
