History of Orson Pratt (2)

Mormon History 1830-1844

History of Orson Pratt (1811–1881) (2)

Orson's missions in Ohio and the East from 1832 to 1835. Later missions are briefly mentioned. Timely arrival in Kirtland to be ordained an apostle. Remarkable Visions and Prophetic Almanac, 1845. Helps author memorial to Congress in 1843, delivers it in 1844. Very brief summary of events 1838–1844.

This sketch is part of the series, "History of Brigham Young," published in the Millennial Star, 1863–1865. It was originally published in the Deseret News in 1858.

	¶	HISTORY OF ORSON PRATT.	MS 27, no. 5 (Feb. 4, 1865): 71–73.
Return to Benson	¶	Sept. 24 [1832].—Started on a return journey to Benson; arrived in five days; tarried in Benson a few days; held four meetings.	MS 27, no. 5 (Feb. 4, 1865): 71–73.
Lake Champlain to Moerstown	¶	Oct. 2 [1832].—Went on board of a vessel, sailed seventy miles down Lake Champlain; landed at Port Kent on the west shore, and then travelled about thirty miles to Moerstown, New York, where we found one of our brethren, Ira Ames; held three meetings in this region.
Vermont	¶	Oct. 8 [1832].—Re-crossed the lake into Vermont; the next day preached in Franklin village; two days more brought us to the town of Jay, where we held three meetings.	Jay is 36 mi. east of Franklin.
Charleston	¶	October. 15 [1832].—Started for Bath; called at Charleston and held two meetings.	Charleston is 26 mi. east of Jay.
Bath, New Hampshire	¶	Oct. 20 [1832].—Arrived in Bath; stopped five days; held six meetings in neighboring towns; baptized one, and ordained John Duncan a Priest; and William Snow from Charleston being present, we ordained him an Elder.	Bath, New Hampshire is 75 mi. south of Charleston.
Companions	¶	October 26 [1832].—I started in company with Elders L. E. Johnson Hazen Aldrich and William Snow, and travelled west some three or four hundred miles—a portion of which we rode on a canal boat, where I preached to the passengers.
Spafford, N.Y. branch Conference	¶	Nov. 8 [1832].—Arrived in Spafford, Onondaga county, New York, at which place there was a Branch of the Church; here we tarried six days; held five meetings, one of which was a Conference, eleven Elders present; baptized eight, among whom were Allen Holcomb, whom we ordained an Elder, Libbeus T. Coon and Mahew Hilman.
New companions		Elder L. E. Johnson here united in the ministry with Hazen Aldrich, and started for Ohio. I united in the ministry with Elder William Snow, and started eastward, preached in the villages of Vesper, Tully and Fabius; in the latter place tarried six days, baptized two, namely, Samuel and Jemima Newcomb.	Orson and Lyman E. Johnson had been companions since Feb. 3, 1832. ¶ Orson Pratt (h1)
	¶	Nov. 23 [1832].—Travelled eleven miles; preached twice in Casinovia, then travelled six days to the town of Day, Saratoga county, where we tarried seventeen days, held fifteen meetings.
Bolton branch	¶	Dec. 20 [1832].—We started for Bolton, on the west shore of Lake George; here was a Branch of the Church; we tarried ten days, held ten meetings, baptized ten persons.
Back to Benson	¶	Dec. 31 [1832].—Ordained Silas T. Gardner an Elder, and then started for Benson, in Vermont; held one meeting in Benson, and then pursued our [72] journey to Bath, about 100 miles distant.
1833 Bath, Charleston	¶	Jan. 8, 1833.—Arrived in Bath; I tarried nine days, William Snow having gone to Charleston; held five meetings, then visited the Church at Charleston, held one meeting, returned to Bath and held two meetings.
Start for Ohio	¶	Jan. 28 [1833].—Started for Ohio.
	¶	Feb. 2 [1833].—Arrived in Bolton; tarried four days, held three meetings, baptized two, ordained John Tanner a Priest, and then pursued my journey several hundred miles west.
David W. Patten, Reynolds Cahoon		Within about 150 miles of Kirtland, I fell in company with D. W. Patten (h) and Reynolds Cahoon , tarried and held four meetings with them, and then proceeded on my journey to Kirtland,
Arrives Kirtland Statistics		where I arrived Feb. 17, 1833, having been absent on this eastern mission one year and fourteen days, during which we travelled on foot near 4000 miles, attend 207 meetings, mostly in places where they had not heard the word, baptized 104 persons, and organized several new Branches of the Church.
Washes hands, feet School of Prophets Lives with Joseph		Feb. 18 [1833].—Washed my hands and feet as a testimony unto the Lord that I had warned this wicked generation and that my garments were clean from their blood, and on the same day I admitted into the School of the Prophets. During my attendance at this school, I boarded with the Prophet Joseph, from whom I received much good instruction. On the Sabbath days I continued preaching in various places.	Feet Washing
March 26 start mission with Lyman.		Elder Lyman E. Johnson and myself, having received a commandment through the Prophet to visit the Churches and preach in the Eastern States, left Kirtland on the 26th of March to fill our mission.	Orson Pratt journals, 16.
Arrive Bath June 7		We arrived in Bath, New Hampshire, on the 7th June, having attend forty-four meetings by the way, and baptized thirteen.
Bath conference Ordinations, including Harlow Redfield, Hazen Aldrich		June 8 [1833]. Met in Conference in Bath; present—High Priests 4, Elders 8, Priests 2. At this Conference Elders Willard Woodstock, Harlow Redfield, William Snow and Hazen Aldrich, were ordained high priests; Henry Harriman was ordained an Elder, and Daniel Carter, a member, was ordained a Priest, the ordinances being administered under my hands.	Harlow (1801–1866) joined the church in 1831. Member of the Kirtland high council, 1837, Provo's first city council. Hazen became senior president of the Second Quorum of Seventy.
		During the next six days we held meetings in the towns round about.
Lyman to Charleston, St. Johnsbury	¶	June 14 [1833].—Elder Lyman E. Johnson went to Charleston, and [I] continued laboring in St. Johnsbury and the adjoining towns.
Orson baptizes 6, including Jacob Gates.	¶	June 18 [1833].—I baptized six, namely, Gardner Snow, Willard Snow, Lucina Snow, Jacob Gates, Mary Gates and Emily Harvey, the last person named having been healed three days before by the power of God.	Jacob Gates (1862–1892) became one of the seven presidents of the Seventy.
Baptize 8 in northern Vermont		After this I held thirty-five meetings in different counties in Northern Vermont, and baptized eight, returned to St. Johnsbury.
17 in St. Johnsbury area	¶	July 6 [1833].—Preached in St. Johnsbury and baptized Sally Snow. The 28th, preached and baptized Susan Briant. After this held sixteen meetings in the towns around, and baptized seventeen, the most of whom lived in Danville. Many were healed, through the ordinances, by the power of God.
	¶	July 19 [1833].—Started for Charleston.
Charleston, New Hampshire conference	¶	July 24 [1833].—Attend Conferences at Charleston. Elder Orson Johnson and John Badger were ordained High Priests. Winslow Farr, Isaac Aldrich and Roswell Evans, were ordained Elders; Gardner Snow, Willard Snow and Joseph Swasey, were ordained Priests; and Horace Evans was ordained a Teacher, the ordinances being under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson.
		After attending five meetings, I left for Danville.
Danville	¶	Aug. 31 [1833].—Ordained Jacob Rust an Elder; tarried three days longer; held three meetings and baptized three,
Bath		and then went to Bath; held five meetings in the adjoining towns, and baptized three.
	¶	Sept. 8 [1833].—Held two meetings in Bath. Brother Horace Cowan ordained an Elder under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson.
Leave for Kirtland	¶	Sept. 9 [1833].—I left Bath for Kirtland; held some meetings by the way;
Arrive Septeber 28 Statistics		arrived in Kirtland Sept. 28th, having been absent six months, duirng which I travelled about 2000 miles, attended 125 meetings, and baptized upwards of 50 persons.
Kirtland labor Live with Joseph	¶	I remained in Kirtland about two months, labored on the House of the Lord and printing office thirty days; the most of the time boarded with the Prophet.
Mission east		Nov. 27 [1833].—Elder Lyman E. Johnson and myself started to visit some of the eastern Churches, having been set apart by a Council of High Priests for that purpose.
Elk Creek difficulties		Dec. 11 [1833].—Held a Conference in the evening at Elk Creek; settled some difficulties between the Elders; Amasa Lyman ordained a High Priest under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson. From Kirtland to this place we had held seven meetings.
Silver Creek to Genesee, Waterloo		Dec. 16 [1833].—We went to Silver Creek; tarried eight days; held eight meetings in the adjoining town, then left for Genesee, where we held a Conference, and preached much in the adjoining region. After which I went to Waterloo, near where the Church was first organized, where I arrived on the 17th of January, 1834.
To Kirtland		Jan. 20, 1834.—I started for Kirtland, preaching by the way.
		Feb. 13.—Arrived in Kirtland, Elder Lyman E. Johnson having arrived a few days before me. I had been absent two months and a half, travelled about 1000 miles, and attend 37 meetings.
Cleveland		Feb. 22 [1834].—I preached about four miles east of Cleaveland.
Newbury		Feb. 23.—Preached at Newbury Centre.
Mission to raise volunteers		Feb. 24 [1834].—I travelled to Kirtland. This day the Prophet received a revelation, wherein Orson Hyde and myself were appointed to travel together, to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s House, preparatory to the redemption of Zion. (See Doc. and Cov., sec. 101, par. 7.)
To Genesee		Feb. 26 [1834].—We left Kirtland; travelled eastward above two weeks, preaching by the way. Arrived in Genesee March 15th.
1834 mission with John Murdock	¶	Mar. 17 [1834].—Attended Council held at Father Beaman's house, in which I was appointed to travel with Elder John Murdock.	MS 27, no. 6 (Feb. 11, 1865): 86–88.
West to Greenwood	¶	Mar. 20 [1834].—We started westward, preaching almost every day. Baptized two in the town of Greenwood.
Freedom: 22	¶	Mar. 30 [1834].—Arrived in the town of Freedom; tarried I this region twelve days; held eleven meetings; baptized 22, one of whom, Heman Hyde, April 10th, we ordained a Teacher.
	¶	Apr. 11 [1834].—Continued our journey towards Kirtland, occasionally preaching by the way.
Arrive Kirtland Statistics	¶	Apr. 24 [1834].—Arrived in Kirtland, having been absent nearly two months, during which we travelled about 800 miles, attended thirty-four meetings, baptized twenty-four persons.
Copies revelations for Joseph	¶	Apr. 26 [1834].—I copied revelations for the Prophet Joseph.
Start for Missouri with 20 Joseph joins		May 1 [1834].—Being appointed to take charge of a company of twenty persons, we started for Zion with four wagons. The Prophet overtook us in a few days with a larger company, and we continue our journey to Clay county, Missouri.
Joins high council		July 7 [1834].—I was ordained one of the standing High Council in Zion, under the hands of President Joseph Smith.	Minutes of July 7, 1834
Visits Clay county Saints	¶	July 19 [1834].—Bishop Partridge and myself having been appointed by the High Council to visit the scattered Saints throughout Clay county, and [87] set the Churches in order, commenced our mission. We held eight meetings in different parts of the county.
Reports to high council	¶	July 31 [1834].—We reported the results of our mission to the High Council, which accepted the same. After which the Council selected John Corrill, Simeon Carter, Parley P. Pratt and myself to visit the church throughout the county and hold public meetings, which we accordingly did.	Minutes of July 31, 1834 (report was tabled.)
To Kirtland William D. Pratt	¶	Aug. 21 [1834].—The High Council gave their sanction for me to travel eastward towards Kirtland, preaching by the way. I accordingly united in the ministry with my brother William D. Pratt, and in a few days left, travelling on the north side of the Missouri river.	About the last of November I united in the ministry with Elder John Murdock, and continued my journey eastward, preaching in many places. In a few days we arrived at sugar Creek, Indiana, where we found Lorenzo D. Barnes and Lewis Robbins, who had just arrived from Zion. After holding a few meetings in this region, and baptizing a few, I united with Elder Barnes to travel.
Sick		Overexertion in travelling brought on the fever and ague, which contiued to afflict me at intervals for months. Sometimes I laid down upon the wet prairies, many miles from any house, being unable to travel.
William D. Pratt		William D. Pratt stopped at Vandalia, Illinois.
Terre Haute		At Terre Hauts [Haute] I preached a few times, and baptized George W. Harris and wife.
John Murdock
1835	¶	Jan. 2, 1835.—We left Sugar Creek; preached in many places for the next eighteen days.
Cincinnati	¶	Jan. 20 [1835].—Arrived in Cincinnati.
Licking river branch	¶	Jan. 22 [1835].—Crossed the Ohio river; visited a small Branch of the Church on Licking river [Kentucky]; tarried with them two weeks, preaching almost every evening; baptized a few.	The Journal History entry for this date indicates the branch had nine members.
Cincinnati a month	¶	Feb. 6 [1835]. Went to Cincinnati, and commenced preaching in that city and in the towns round about. Tarried one month; baptized some.
Newbury six weeks	¶	March 6 [1835].—We started for another field of labor, and commenced preaching in Newbury and in the adjoining towns; tarried about six weeks, preaching almost every day.
Learns by chance: named an apostle	¶	April 20 [1835].—We started for Kirtland. While in the streets of Columbus, Ohio, I saw a man passing, whom I felt impressed to speak to. He was a Saint, and the only one in the city. I stopped at his house, and there read a late number of the Messenger and Advocate. Found that I had been chosen one of the Twelve Apostles, and was requested to be in Kirtland on the 26th of April.
Kirtland Saints pray Orson to meeting	¶	April 24 [1835].—Took the stage, and arrived in Kirtland on the 26th, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon; walked into the meeting, and learned that they had been prophesying that I would arrive there, so as to attend that meeting, although no one of them knew where I was. I was much rejoiced at meeting with the Saints.
Ordained an apostle	¶	April 26 [1835].—I was ordained one of the Twelve Apostles in this last dispensation under the hands of David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery.
Blessed	¶	April 29 [1835].—I was blessed under the hands of Joseph Smith, sen.
Twelve leave on mission	¶	May 4 [1835].—I left with the Twelve on a mission through the middle and eastern States.
Sarah Marinda Bates	¶	June 18 [1835].—I baptized Sarah Marinda Bates, near Sackets Harbor, whom I received in marriage upwards of one year after.	Sarah was born Feb. 5, 1817 and died Dec. 25, 1888. Orson and Sarah had eleven children. Original: Sacketts
New Hampshire		During the latter part of July, the month of August, and the fore part of September, I preached almost every day in New Hampshire, in towns where they had not before heard, baptized a few, and then returned to Kirtland.
Kirtland	¶	Sep. 25 [1835].—Arrived in Kirtland.
Ohio river mission Branch Samuel Avard		Oct. 14 [1835].—Started on a mission to the Ohio river, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver county, Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small Branch of the Church, and ordained Dr. Samuel Avard an Elder, to take charge of them and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
Teach Hebrew Kirtland endowment		In December I taught an evening grammar school in Kirtland, also during the winter studied Hebrew about eight weeks; received a certificate from Professor Sexias, testifying to my proficiency in the language, and certifying to my capabilities to teach the same this was the winter and spring of our endowments in the Kirtland Temple.
1836 Canadian mission	¶	April 6, 1836.—Left Kirtland on an [88] eastern mission; went to Canada West; preached about two months; baptized several.
Branches, Jefferson county	¶	June 4 [1836]. Took the steamer for Oswego; commenced preaching in Jefferson county [New York] and the regions adjoining; baptized many, and raised up some new Branches.
Marries Sarah	¶	July 4 [1836].—I was married to Sarah M. Bates. Elder Luke Johnson officiating.
Kirtland	¶	The fore part of October I closed my mission in those parts, and started with my wife and a few of the Saints for Kirtland, where we arrived on the 12th of October.
Algebra	¶	Towards the last of autumn I commenced the study of Algebra without a teacher, occupying leisure hours in the evening. I soon went through Day's Algebra.
1837 moves to Henderson	¶	About the middle of August, 1837, I moved my family from Kirtland to Henderson.	Henderson is 10 miles S of Sackets Harbor on the E shore of Lake Ontario.
Jefferson county mission		Oct. 2. [1837]—Having provided a home for my family, I started into the vineyard, labored during the fall and winter in the counties south-east from Jefferson county, N.Y.; baptized a few.
1838 New York	¶	Early in the spring [1838] I took my family and went to the city of New York, and appointed to preside over a large Branch of the Church in that city. I preached diligently among them some six or seven months; baptized many.
Sarah to Henderson		In the mean time I again visited Henderson, left my wife at her father's, and returned to New York;
Winter 1838–1839 St. Louis		but receiving a letter from Far West, Missouri, to come to Zion, I again went to Henderson, brought my family again to New York city, and from there we departed for the west; arrived in St. Louis about the middle of November. The ice prevented our progress any further. Stopped in St. Louis, and labored with my hands during the winter.
1839 Quincy	¶	In the spring of 1838 [sic, 1839], I removed to Quincy.
Mission to England		In April went to Far West, from which the Saints had been drive; held a Conference with several of the Twelve on the morning of the 26th, and took our departure from the corner stone of the Temple for foreign nations, according to the revelation given through the Prophet more than a year before. Returned to Illinois.
Parley's escape	¶	July 4. [1839]—Was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering my brother Parley from prison.	Parley was taken prisoner with Joseph, Sidney, Hyrum, Lyman, and George Robinson on October 31, 1838. He remained incarcerated in the Richmond and Columbia jails nearly three months longer than Joseph and Hyrum, who "escaped" from the Liberty jail in mid-April 1839.
New York, eastern churches	¶	In the autumn visited New York city; continued preaching in the eastern churches of the Saints until the spring of 1840,
1840 England, Scotland Remarkable Visions		when I embarked with several of the Twelve for England. In April made my way to Edinburgh, Scotland; preached there about nine months; raised up a Church of over 200 Saints; published a pamphlet now entitled Remarkable Visions.	A [sic] Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions …, a 31-page pamphlet, was published in England in September 1840 and as a 36-page pamphlet in New York in 1841. It contains the first published account of the First Vision. The wording of several key elements suggests it was a resource for Joseph's first published account, the 1842 Wentworth letter. Crawley bibiography, items 82, 109, 110.
1841 returns to family after two years	¶	In the spring of 1841, set sail from Liverpool with several of the Twelve and arrived in New York city, where I republished the Remarkable Visions. Visited Henderson, near Lake Ontario, and then pursued my journey to Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, having been absent from much family about two years.
Nauvoo math school	¶	I remained in Nauvoo about one year, during a portion of which I had the charge of a mathematical school.
1843 mission in the East	¶	In the summer of 1843 I performed a mission, with several of the Twelve, through the Eastern States;
Nauvoo city council		returned in the autumn, and being elected a member of the City Council, I was appointed in connection with others, to draw up a memorial to Congress, which was accepted by the Council, and I was appointed to go to Washington and present the same.
1844 Memorial to Congress		I accordingly went and tarried in Washington ten weeks—this was in the spring of 1844.	Orson left for Washington on December 22, 1843.
Prophetic Almanack		While sojourning in that city, I preached and baptized a few, and during my leisure moments I calculated eclipses, and prepared an Almanac for publication for 1845. This I entitled The Prophetic Almanack. It was calculated for the latitude and meridian of Nauvoo, and some other principal towns in the United States. This was the first that I ever calculated and published. After this I visited several of the Eastern States, holding meetings both religious and political.	The Prophetic Almanac for 1845 was probably published in July 1844. It includes a calendar with the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, high tides for Boston and New York, locations and phases of the moon, 1845 eclipses, quotations from Joseph and Parley, the Mormon Creed ("Let every body mind their own business"), an essay on tradition, reason, and scripture, and a set of theological questions and answers that includes ideas from Joseph's King Follet discourse of April 7, 1844. Crawley bibiography, item 229.
Martyrdom Nauvoo	¶	June 27, 1844.—I was in New York city and wrote a letter home to my family. After hearing of the martyrdom of Joseph the Prophet, I returned with several of the Twelve to Nauvoo.
Math and science studies	¶	From 1836 to 1844, I occupied much [89] of my leisure time in study, and made myself thoroughly acquainted with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, conic sections, differential and integral calculus, astronomy, and most of the physical sciences. These studies I pursued without the assistance of a teacher.
	¶	For further particulars concerning my travels and ministry, those interested can refer to my manuscript journal.	Orson Pratt journals
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