When Moses visited Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple and gave him the keys to gather Israel, and when a later revelation from the Lord identified the location of the city of Zion, men, women, and children joyfully left Ohio to gather in their promised land — western Missouri. Independence was the center place, declared the Lord, and hopes were high as thousands of Saints flooded into the state. A printing press was dedicated; the United Order was established; and stores, farms, and homes flourished. But the light of Zion soon faded under the weight of relentless persecution and the apostasy of many early Church leaders. Joseph and others were arrested, jailed, and sentenced to death. And although their lives were spared, the dream of Zion and the eventual gathering of Israel before the great and dreadful day of the Lord was postponed until that future day when the Saints could gather before the throne of their Lord and King.

E. Keith Howick was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended the University of Utah where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science and Juris Doctor in law. He also taught and did PhD studies at Pennsylvania State University.

Keith has taught religion classes on all levels: in his ward, in seminary, in institute classes at the University of Utah and Montana State University and in the religion department at the Brigham Young University. He has also taught courses in American political government and conducted graduate seminars in public law at Pennsylvania State University.