Joshuaua Steed, the oldest living child of Benjamin Steed and Mary Ann Morgan, is a fictional character from The Work and the Glory series.
His older sister, Mary Steed, died on June 3, 1806 just minutes after she was born. Joshua has 8 younger siblings, but only 4 of them lived long enough to make it to book 1, Pillar of Light, taking place in 1827, just 3 years before the Church is organized by Joseph Smith Jr. Joshua's younger siblings are Nathan Steed, Melissa Steed, Rebecca Steed, and Matthew Steed.
Biography[]
Pillar of Light[]
In Pillar of Light The Steeds move to Palmyra and start clearing land. When Ben's chain breaks he sends Nathan and Joshua into town to fix it. It is in this moment they meet Martin Harris one of the Three Witnesses. Martin introduces them to Joseph and Hyrum and Ben hires them to work on his farm. During this time Joshua gets mixed up with Will Murdock, his brother David, and his cousin Mark Cooper and in a drunken argument they plot to ambush Joseph on the night of September 22, 1827 when he gets the golden plates from Moroni. Because of this Joshua and Ben get into a row and Ben kicks Joshua out of the house and he runs away from home and later gets arrested for stealing a horse. Joshua makes it to Missouri where Fire is Burning begins.
Like a Fire is Burning[]
In Like a Fire is Burning Joshua reaches Missouri and marries Jessica to get her away from her drunken father and his saloon. Joshua then enters a poker game and nearly loses his freight yard to a card shark who bluffs away Joshua's earnings. Left bankrupt Joshua sells his business to his partner but ends up in a fight with Jessica which ends in a divorce. Jessica runs away from Independence to Haun's Mill where she meets the Steeds who deliver her daughter Rachel. Joshua then meets Governor Boggs and he signs his extermination order and Joshua is forced to attack his own family. Joshua manages to get away from the raid on Zion's Camp and makes his way to Savannah Georgia where he rebuilds his business setting things up for Truth Will Prevail.
Appearances[]
Novels[]
- Pillar of Light (First appearance)
- Like a Fire is Burning
- Truth Will Prevail
- Thy Gold to Refine
- A Season of Joy
- Praise to the Man
- No Unhallowed Hand
- So Great a Cause
- All Is Well
Films[]
- The Work and the Glory
- The Work and the Glory: American Zion
- The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided