| Early convert (1830),
missionary to Kirtland, Missouri, Canada, the East, England, and Midwest.
Member, original Quorum of the Twelve. Pamphleteer (esp. Voice of
Warning)
and first editor of the MIllennial Star. |
| 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, May 19, 1858. |
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HISTORY OF PARLEY
P. PRATT.
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BY history
"History of Brigham Young," Millennial Star 25-27 intermittently. Includes "History of …" biographies and autobiographies of the original Quorum of the Twelve. Brigham's, first in the series, begins at vol. 25 no. 19 (May 9, 1863): 295 and concludes with vol. 26 (June 4, 1864): 359.
26, no. 52 (Dec. 24, 1864): 822–825. |
| Born
1837 |
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I am the third son
of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson, of Columbia county, New York. I
was born April 12, 1807, in Burlington,
Otsego co., New York. |
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| Childhood |
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Of my childhood and
youth I will say but little. I was raised to hard work on a farm, brought
up in the strictest morals, was a believer in the Bible and Jesus Christ,
received but a limited education in the common schools. |
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| Marries
Thankful |
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I was married September
9, 1827, in Canaan, Columbia co., N.Y. My wife's name was Thankful, daughter
of William and Thankful Halsey; she was born in New
Lebanon, Columbia co.,
N.Y., March 18, 1797. |
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Canaan is 5 miles south of New Lebanon.
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| Dies
after birthing first child |
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On the
25th of March, 1837, she gave birth to my firstborn, whose name is Parley,
and died the same day. This happened in Kirtland,
Ohio. |
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Thankful
was 40. |
| Baptized
by Oliver, early September 1830 |
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About
the first of September, A.D. 1830, I was baptized by the hand of an Apostle
named Oliver Cowdery. This took place in Seneca Lake. I was confirmed the
same day and ordained an Elder, at the house of Father Whitmer, Seneca county,
N.Y. From that time forth I began to minister in the fulness of the Gospel.
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| Mission,
baptizes Orson |
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My first mission was
in Columbia county, among my relatives and neighbors, where I baptized my
brother Orson Pratt. |
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Parley
baptized Orson on Sept. 19, 1830. ¶
Orson Pratt (h1) |
Meets
Joseph in Manchester
Baptize 7 |
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Returning to western
New York the same autumn I saw for the first time Joseph Smith, the Prophet,
at his father's house in Manchester; heard him preach, and preached in his
house, at the close of which meeting we baptized seven persons. |
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The seven include
¶ Ezra Thayer, Northrop Sweet and Oliver Cowdery's stepmother Keziah
Cowdery.
Inventing
Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record, H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters (Salt Lake City: Smith Research Associates, 1994).
, 135. |
| Lamanite
missionaries called |
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After this he inquired
of the Lord, and received a revelation appointing me a mission to the west,
in company with Oliver Cowdery, Peter
Whitmer, Jun., and Ziba
Peterson. We started this mission in October, 1830. |
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D&C
32 (Oct. [17], 1830)
Covenants of the Lamanite Missionaries |
1,500
mile mission
Preach to Indians in New York, Ohio |
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From Father Whitmer's
in western New York, we travelled nearly fifteen hundred miles, mostly
on foot, and arrived in Jackson county, Missouri, in the beginning of
the year 1831, having preached the Gospel and left the Book of Mormon
with the Cateraugus Indians near Buffalo, N.Y., and with the Wi-an-dots
of Ohio. |
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| Establish
Kirtland church |
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We also preached the
Gospel and established the Church in Kirtland, Ohio, and the regions round
about, consisting of several hundred members, among whom were Sidney Rigdon,
Isaac Morley, John
Murdock, Lyman Wight (h) (swh)
and many others, whom we ordained Elders. |
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Preach
to Delaware Indians in Kansas
Ordered out
Baptize a few in Jackson county |
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Passing the western
bounds of Missouri amid the deep snows of January 1831, we entered what
is now called Kansas, and bore the Book of Mormon and our testimony to the
Delaware Indians, who received it joyfully. We were soon ordered out by
Government agents, and threatened with the military. We then returned to
Jackson county, Missouri, and preached the Gospel in several neighborhoods,
baptizing a few. |
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| Returns
to Kirtland, March 1831 |
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On
the 14th February same year, I took leave of my fellow-laborers in Jackson
county, and travelled, mostly on foot, to Kirtland, Ohio, nearly one [823] thousand miles, where I arrived some time in March. |
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| Mission
to Kirtland areas |
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Here I met with President
Joseph Smith, who inquired of the Lord and received commandment for me to
preach the Gospel and visit the churches in the regions around, which I
did until |
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In
April he preached with Orson in Rome and Thompson. ¶
Orson Pratt (h1), but before that, he, Sidney, and ¶ Leman
Copley spent a weekend with the Shakers in North Union, Ohio. D&C
49, March [20–26], 1831. |
Conference
of June 1831
High Priesthood
Preach en route to Missouri |
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the Conference at Kirtland,
held June 6, 1831, in which President Joseph Smith, by the word of God,
ordained me, with many others, to the High Priesthood, and received a revelation
for me and my brother Orson, and many others, to journey two and two, to
the western bounds of Missouri, preaching and baptizing by the way. |
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Minutes
of June [3–6], 1831; D&C
52
Ezra Booth, who became disillusioned with
the church during the journey, provides the most detailed account of
the journey to Missouri. Ezra
Booth Letters (2)
Joseph's party left for Missouri on June 19, arrived July 14, and departed
for Kirtland on August 9.
Parley and
Orson left Kirtland "soon after" the revelation and arrived
"in upper Missouri in September."
Parley P. Pratt
Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000). Originally published as Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. (New York: Published for the Editor and Proprietor by Russell Brothers, 1874).
, 82–84.
On the journey they held "about fifty meetings, and baptized five
in Peru, Delaware county, Ohio, and six in Vermillion county, Illinois."
¶ Orson Pratt (h1) (Orson says
he arrived in Jackson county at the end of August.)
I have found no minutes of February 1832 meetings in Zion, but Parley
did attend the "general Conference" there in late January. Minutes
of January 23, 1832. |
| Trip
to Jackson county |
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We started in June,
performed this journey on foot, organized several churches by the way, and
arrived in western Missouri in October of the same year. |
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| Remains,
sick with ague |
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From this time until
February 1832, I was very sick of fever and ague, during which I tarried
with the churches there. |
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Healed
Leave for Kirtland, February 1832 |
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About the middle of
February I attended Conference in Jackson co., over which Bishop Edward
Partridge presided. Here I was healed by the laying on of bands, and
the next day started my return mission in company with John
Murdock and others. |
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| Reach
Kirtland, May 1832 |
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After a tedious a journey
of a thousand miles, we arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, in May 1832, having preached
by the way with some success. |
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Mission
to Pittsburgh
Move to Jackson county |
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After a short mission
to Pittsburgh and back, on foot, distance 130 miles, I removed with my wife
to Jackson county, Missouri, where I settled, opened a farm, and built a
log cabin. |
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is 123 mi. SE of Kirtland; Pittsburgh Junction,
Ohio is 129 mi. S of Kirtland.
Parley baptized Noah Packard in Parkman,
Geauga County, Ohio, June [1–5], 1832 and Hyrum Smith confirmed him. ¶ Noah Packard |
| Mission
to Missouri, Illinois with William E. McLellin |
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The next winter, in
company with Elder William E. McLellin,
I performed a mission on foot through Missouri and into Green county,
Illinois, where we preached with much success; distance about six hundred
miles in going and returning. |
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Original: W. E. McLellin |
| School
of Elders in Zion |
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About the 1st of June
I returned home, devoted my time among the churches and in presiding over
a school of Elders in Zion, and in laboring with my hands. |
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| 1833
driven from Jackson to Clay county |
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In the autumn of 1833
I was driven out of Jackson county, with the rest of the Church, at the
loss of my home. I took refuge in Clay county, where I obtained a living
by day-labor, jobbing, &c. |
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| 1834
to Kirtland for help (3 weeks) |
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On the 1st of February,
1834, being sent by a General Conference, held in Clay county, I started
in connection with Elder Lyman Wight, on horseback, rode one
thousand miles, and arrived in Kirtland in March. |
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No
minutes of this conference are known. "… a general Conference
was held at my house, in which it was decided that two of the Elders should
be sent to Ohio, in order to counsel with President Smith …"
Parley and Lyman volunteer. "I was at this time entirely destitute
of proper clothing for the journey; and I had neither horse, saddle, bridle,
money [132] nor provisions to take with me; or to leave with my wife, who
lay sick and helpless most of the time."
Parley P. Pratt
Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, edited by Scot Facer Proctor and Maurine Jensen Proctor (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000). Originally published as Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, edited by Parley P. Pratt Jr. (New York: Published for the Editor and Proprietor by Russell Brothers, 1874).
, 131–132.
Minutes
of February 24, 1834. |
| Raise
volunteers for Zion's Camp |
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President Joseph Smith
inquired of the Lord, and by revelation our mission was still extended eastward
in connection with others. |
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D&C 103:30 (Feb. 24, 1834) |
To
New York with Joseph
Visits churches |
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President Joseph Smith
and myself journeyed together as far as Genesee county, New York, where
we held Conference, after which we separated and I still continued eastward,
visiting the churches in northern New York, and my friends in Columbia county. |
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Original:
Genessee (a common spelling) |
| Return
to Kirtland |
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I again arrived in Kirtland
in the latter part of April. |
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| Zion's
Camp |
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On the 1st of May 1834,
I started with President Smith and company for Upper Missouri, where we
arrived in July. In this journey I had travelled by land near four thousand
miles. From this till October I spent the time in laboring with
my hands. |
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Heber's
Zion's Camp (1) |
| Moves
back to Ohio |
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On
the 8th of October, in compliance with a revelation through the Prophet
Joseph, I started with my wife for Kirtland, Ohio. After journeying near
one thousand miles with a horse-team, we stopped for the winter at New
Portage, within fifty miles of Kirtland. Here I devoted my time diligently
in the ministry and in laboring with my hands until February 1835, when
I repaired to Kirtland. |
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| Apostle |
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February 21, 1835, I
was ordained one of the Twelve Apostles under the hands of Joseph Smith
and others. I then immediately returned to New Portage, settled my affairs,
and returned again to Kirtland, to join the Twelve on a mission eastward.
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¶
Minutes of February 21, 1835 |
| Mission
to the East |
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May 4th, we started
this mission. The season was spent in preaching, visiting the churches,
holding Conferences, &c., in the eastern States. August found us in
the State of Maine, and in September we returned to Kirtland. |
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¶ Heber
C. Kimball (3) |
| School
of the Prophets |
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The winter was spent
in the School of the Prophets in the House of the Lord. |
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| 1836
mission to Canada |
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In April 1836, I took
a mission to Canada, and labored through the season in the city of Toronto and
round about, which mission [824] resulted in the baptism and ordination
of John Taylor, Joseph Fielding
and others, and in the gathering into the Church of many souls. |
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¶
Joseph Fielding Diary: 1832-1837
¶ Toronto Methodists
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| Kirtland |
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In October of the same
year I returned to Kirtland; spent the winter at home. |
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| Parley
Jr. born, mother dies |
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On the
25th of March 1837, my son Parley was born, in fulfilment of a prophecy
delivered on the head of my wife, about eleven months previous, by Elder
H. C. Kimball. Having lived to see
and embrace her child, she died about two hours after his birth. |
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| Returns
to Canada |
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In the spring of 1837,
soon after the death of my wife, I returned to Canada on a short mission
to the Saints, during which several of the Canadian Elders—viz., Joseph
Fielding, Isaac Russell, John Snyder and John Goodson, were selected for
a mission to England. |
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| First
mission to England |
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They were set apart,
and performed that mission under the Presidency of Elders H. C. Kimball
and Orson Hyde;
this being the first introduction of the fulness of the Gospel in Europe.
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| Marries
Mary Ann Frost |
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May 9th, same year,
I was again married, receiving the hand of Mary Ann Frost, daughter of Aaron
Frost, of Maine.
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New York |
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Soon after this marriage
I went to the city of New York, where, at length, I succeeded in baptizing
many, among whom was Addison Everett. |
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Parley's missionary companion is Elijah Fordham. |
| "Voice
of Warning" |
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Here I wrote and published
the "Voice of Warning," and here God manifested his power in many
gifts and healings, causing the Work to spread through the city and round
about. |
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| 1838
to Missouri |
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In April 1838 I took
leave of New York, and with a small colony emigrated once more to Missouri.
We settled in Caldwell County in May, where I built a house and made a farm
with my own hands, besides devoting much of my time to the ministry.
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| Imprisoned |
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In autumn of the same
year I was imprisoned with brother Joseph and others, while my family and
the whole Church were robbed, plundered, and driven from the State. |
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During
his imprisonment, Parley wrote the manuscript for an 84-page pamphlet, |
Escape
Nauvoo |
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On the fourth of July,
1839, I gained my freedom by the power of God, after eight months and four
days, imprisonment, and escaped to Illinois. I found my family in Quincy,
and gathering with them to Nauvoo, I again commenced to labor with my hands. |
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| 1839
mission to England with Orson |
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On the 29th of August
1839, I started on a mission to England, in compliance with a revelation
through Joseph Smith. We travelled by land, in a carriage, near six hundred
miles, my brother Orson and my family accompanying me. |
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| Detroit
Father dies |
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We arrived at Detroit
and tarried a few days with our brother Anson, and with our father and mother
who then lived with him. My father, being about 70 years of age, was then
laying low with a fever, and soon after died. |
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Parley publishes History
of the Late Persecution during this visit to Detroit. |
| Winter
in New York |
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Continuing our journey,
we arrived in New York some time in autumn where I tarried for the winter,
having great success in the ministry. |
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| 1840
to Liverpool |
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On the 9th of March
1840, I sailed for Liverpool, England, in company with Elders B. Young,
H. C. Kimball, O. Pratt (h1)
and others. We had a rough passage of twenty-eight days, and on the sixth
day of April landed in Liverpool. |
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¶
Heber C. Kimball (5) |
Conference
in Preston
Publishing committee
Millennial Star begins |
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We convened a General
Conference at Preston on the 15th of April, in which Elders B. Young, H.
C. Kimball and myself were appointed a publishing committee for the
Church. I was also appointed editor and publisher of a monthly periodical
to be called the MILLENNIAL STAR, the first number of which was issued in
May, following. |
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| Mission
president |
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I continued in this
publishing department between two and three years the last eighteen months
of which I had the Presidency of the Church in the British Isles. |
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| 1842
to New Orleans
Winter in Chester,
Illinois |
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About the 20th of October
1842, I took leave of England, and sailed for New Orleans, chartering a
ship called the Emerald, and taking out with me several hundreds
of the Saints. We landed in New Orleans after a tedious passage of ten weeks.
Passing up the river for one week I landed with my family in Chester, Illinois,
where we wintered on account of the ice. In the course of the winter I paid
a visit to Nauvoo on horseback, and was welcomed by brother Joseph and my
friends in general. |
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| 1843
Nauvoo |
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On the 12th of April
1843, I landed in Nauvoo with my family. The remainder of the season was
spent in building, &c. |
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| 1844 |
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The spring of 1844,
I was sent out on a mission to the eastern States. I went as far as New
York, held several meetings, but was constrained by the Holy Spirit to return
home speedily. On arriving in Chicago, Illinois, I heard of the death of
Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I arrived home in time to console the Saints and
assist in and keeping them together, until the return of President Young
and others of the Twelve. |
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| Sketch
approved |
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March 13, 1858.—Presidents
B. Young, H. C. Kimball, O. Hyde, O. Pratt, W. Woodruff, Geo. A. Smith and
E. T. Benson, heard this history read by R. L. Campbell, and approved of
it. |
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March 13, 1858 was ten months to the day after the assassination of Parley P. Pratt. |
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Parley P. Pratt
Egging of Parley P. Pratt (1835)
Orson Pratt
Biographies
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