Sounds like a thermocouple is bad. This is what senses the heat from the pilot light, and keeps the gas to the pilot light on. That same heat also allows the gas value to open when the thermostate calls for heat. Should the pilot light get blown out by high winds, or interuption of fuel, the thermocouple will cool, and it will keep unburned gas from entering the confined installation area, causing a hazard.
When a thermocouple goes bad, the pilot light will not stay lit. They are inexpensive and can be at the local hardward, and easy to replace.
So if you light the pilot, the gas at the pilot burns, and you hold the knob down for 2 minutes, and then when you let go and turn the knob, the fire at the pilot goes off, bad thermocouple.
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