Moe was determined years earlier that a series of novels based around the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was something that he was inspired by God to ensure is written.

During the 1980s while working as a seminary teacher, Lund was approached with the offer from his boss, who told him that a Ricks College donor (Moe) had wanted him to write a novel adaptation of the early history of Latter-day Saints.

Though production concerns arose, including Lund's hope that the epic scope of his novels would translate adequately to film, the movie series was deemed a success.

[a] When the Steeds find that their family is divided on these topics, a number of them discover for themselves that what Joseph Smith teaches is true and decide to join the ranks of the newly reestablished church; at the dismay of the patriarch Benjamin.

The family's oldest son joins the ranks of the mobs who tyrannize the community, and despite his differences with the Latter-day Saints, Ben finds himself defending their personal choices.

As they continue the work that they believe they are divinely called to do, they begin to realize that the freedoms they hold as citizens of the United States are being taken from them and under the direction of their religious leaders, prepare to move until they find their promise Zion.

Though he doesn't believe their teachings, Ben is determined to protect his family, his friends the Smiths, and the innocent people who are being harmed; even if it means he must stop his oldest son in any way possible.

As the Latter-day Saints continue their journey to Missouri, Governor Boggs makes it lawful to kill a member of the church with his Mormon Extermination Order.

Joshua soon finds that he and his family are a part of the settlement that will be harmed in these attacks, and realizing that these events are not dissimilar to what he had committed himself to a younger age, he quickly discovers that it is only he who can save them from the gathering mob.

Joshua turns to God for guidance and for strength, while racing against time to mend the broken bonds of his childhood home and to fight against the arriving militant dangers.