Difference between revisions of "Parley P. Pratt"

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Parley P. Pratt[1] was an early member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church, and was one of the original Apostles in these last days.. He served as an apostle from 1835 until he was murdered in 1857.

Parley Parker Pratt was born on April 12, 1807 in Burlington, New York to Jared and Charity Pratt. On September 9, 1827, he married Thankful Halsey, who was several years older than he, and shortly after being married they settled a plot of land in Cleveland, Ohio, which was then on the frontier of the United States. He joined a church where the preacher was Sidney Rigdon. He decided to also become a preacher and sold his property.

While Pratt was traveling in New York he came across a copy of the Book of Mormon. He read virtually the entire book in one night and was convinced that it was true. He immediately went to Palmyra, New York and met Hyrum Smith. On September 1, 1830, just five months after the Church was founded, Pratt was baptized as a member by Oliver Cowdery. He was soon ordained an Elder, then left to visit family. His younger brother Orson Pratt became interested in the Church and was baptized just a short time later on September 19, 1830. Orson also became an Apostle leter.

In October of 1830, Pratt met the Prophet Joseph Smith and was asked to join a missionary group that was going to teach the Native Americans. On their way west, Pratt visited his old minister, Sidney Rigdon and was essential in converting Rigdon and 130 members of his congregation to the Church in just three weeks. Parley P. Pratt served many missions, to the Eastern United States, Southern United States, England, the Pacific Islands, and South America. He taught many people that would later become leaders of the Church including, his brother Orson Pratt, Frederick G. Williams, John Taylor, Joseph Fielding and his sisters Mary and Mercy. Mary later married Hyrum Smith and was the mother of future Mormon Church President Joseph F. Smith.

Along with his missionary service Pratt was a printer, writer and editor of the Church’s publication of The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star starting in 1839. The newspaper continued, with minor interruptions, until 1970. He also wrote the lyrics to three popular Mormon hymns: "Jesus, Once of Humble Birth," "The Morning Breaks," and "Come, O Thou King of Kings." He was also the first person to write a book about Mormonism, entitled "A Voice of Warning." It was very popular among Mormons in the nineteenth century.

After Joseph Smith was martyred, Pratt and his family moved to Utah with most of the Church members. Pratt was essential in establishing camps along the Mormon Trail including Garden City and Mt. Pisguh, Nebraska. He also led a company of pioneers across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley.

In the 1850’s with the help of George D. Watt Pratt developed the Deseret Alphabet, which was designed to help the many immigrants from Europe learn English. In the 1850s he lived in California, presiding of missionary work there and in the Pacific. In 1856, Pratt was called on another mission. While on this mission he was tracked by a man named Hector McLean who was upset with Pratt for marrying his former wife Eleanor McLean. He pressed charges against Pratt, but he was released. Only a short time later, on May 13, 1857, Pratt was ambushed and killed by McLean and two other men, near Van Buren, Arkansas. A monument marks his grave.