Saints Without Halos: A Mormon History Website

Mormon History 1830-1844

Parley P. Pratt's Toronto Letters (1836)

On Heber C. Kimball's promise of untold riches and a child, Parley P. Pratt leaves Kirtland in April 1836 on a mission to Toronto, Canada (his wife, suffering from consumption, had been unable to bear children). In Toronto he meets a study group of disaffected Methodists who had been visited by Irvingite misisonaries from England. Members of the group include Isabella Russell Walton and her Russell siblings; John Taylor, his parents, and his wife Leonora Cannon Taylor; Joseph Fielding and his sisters, Mary Fielding and Mercy R. Fielding. In approximately one month all of these folks and others, a total of twenty-five, are baptized into the Church.
The Messenger and Advocate published both letters in vol. 2 no. 6 (May 1836). The first, from Toronto, is dated May 9; the second, written in Kirtland, dated May 26.
The dating of the first is problemmatic: (1) The first letter states " I landed [in Toronto] about 10 days since" —April 30; but the second letter specifies the arrival date of April 19. (2) It is doubtful the events described in the first letter occurred in ten days. (3) There are three references to Sundays. Only two could occur in ten days, so two of the references would have to refer to the same day, which seems unlikely in context. Parley probably arrived in Toronto on April, as stated in his second letter. My guess is May 9 was the date he finished the letter—or mailed it, or it was received in Kirtland.

Editor's introduction	The following letter is from our esteemed friend and br. Parley P. Pratt. Elder Pratt not knowing of the change in the editorial department of this paper, addressed br. Whitmer, which will explain a sentence in the last clause.	MA 2, no. 6 (May 1836): 217–220.
	We are not forward in giving news in advance, neither do we think proper to entertain our readers with accounts from travelling elders, unless they have been successful in baptizing more or less, but the peculiar situation of br. Pratt, and the great stir which has been made about that people called Irvinites, has induced us to publish his letter entire.
	If the Lord continue to give elder Pratt access to that people, (which he will if they are honest before him,) then we may expect soon to hear of his success in that place; but if not, he will have the satisfactory reflection, that he has performed his duty in warning them to flee from the awaiting destruction, so plainly set forth in the prophets of God. And we hope not only that br. Pratt may meet with great success where he is not laboring, but that all others, who are proclaiming the gospel, may be instrumental in gathering out the elect of the Lord from the midst of a perverse generation. We say, may they be blessed with much wisdom, may they abound in all prudence, may the authority of the holy ministry attend them, may great grace be upon them, and may the Lord our God preserve them from the wicked devices and corrupting snares of a race of men whose hearts are far from the truth.
	Editor.

May 9, 1836	City of Toronto U.C. May 9, 1836.
	To the Editor of the Latter Day Saints Messenger And Advocate:
	Dear Brother,
Arrival in Toronto, April 30 No opportunities to preach	I am now in Toronto, the seat of government for the province of Upper Canada, a large town on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, consisting of from 12 to 20 thousand inhabitants. I landed here about 10 days since, a stranger and alone. Every place was closed against me as I applied for an opportunity to preach, until I was almost discouraged.	10 days since: Saturday, April 30.
Widow and family believe	I cried unto the Lord to open my way, and as I was on the point of leaving the city, the Lord sent a poor widow to me, who opened her house, and I spake the word of the Lord to her and to her household and friends, who believed, and have offered themselves for baptism.	¶ Joseph Fielding letter widow: Isabella Walton. ¶ Joseph Fielding diary.
Heals blind widow	The next day I visited another poor widow, who was nearly blind with inflammation: the Lord healed and opened her eyes, which has made her business enough, as many go to learn of her how her eyes were opened.	next day: Sunday, May 1? Only contemporary reference to healing a blind woman in Toronto.
Preaches to a few Churches closed Declares he shall warn the city	[318] I preached to a few individuals, and still cried unto God to open my way. I applied to two chapels, to the court house, and to the infidels in vain. But the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I said: In the name of Jesus Christ, in the strength of the God of Elijah, this city shall be warned, till every ear shall tingle and every heart be penetrated; their iniquities be brought to light, and the Lord's people gathered to the standard of truth which shall be raised in this city, and shine forth to all the regions round about.
Dines with preacher and followers Begin to believe	Sunday I went to meeting first to a chapel, where the preacher preached the power of faith in its true light, and then prayed for the whole face of things to be changed. I said, amen. After meeting, while dining with him and some of his hearers, I told them what the Lord had did for us: and they began to believe.	Sunday: May 1?
Mr. Patrick, study group	Afternoon I went to a Mr. Patrick's house to meeting, where many had been wont to assemble to search the scriptures: they had discovered the corruptions of christendom, and were diligently searching for truth.	For Joseph Fielding's description of the group before Pratt's arrival, ¶ Joseph Fielding letter.
Baptism of the spirit, gifts Acknowledge need for prophets and apostles	A few hours were spent in searching into the nature of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, with its several gifts. The result of the investigation was, they felt the need of prophets and apostles to organize them, and minister the ordinances and spirit to them. Some said, "Let us be agreed and ask for God to commission us by revelation." Others said, "it might be that the Lord had already commissioned apostles in some parts of the world; and if he had, it must come from them."
Stranger invites Parley to speak Proposes evening meeting Kneel and pray for guidance	During this time I had listened in silence: some times crying and sometimes smiling—my heart burning within me. Some one at length observed, that a stranger was in the room who might wish to speak. I said I should be glad to speak on the subject in the evening: liberty was granted, and appointment made: after which they kneeled down and in tears confessed their naked, destitute, situation; prayed God to pity and relieve them.
Evening meeting Doors open	In the evening they heard me; and from that time, doors have been opened wider and wider: priests and people flock to hear.
Preaches in open air Hundreds attend Many invitations	Last Sunday I preached in the heart of the city, in the open air: hundreds flocked to hear, and solemnity and good order were seen through all the crowd. God gave me a voice like a trump, so that many from all the surrounding houses and streets were enabled to hear distinctly. Multitudes were thronging the streets for other meetings who were also warned as they past. I am invited to many places in the city and in the country.	Last Sunday: May 8 (yesterday)
Preaches day and night Ministers cower	I preach, read and converse to people all day and all night: sometimes the morning sun is dawning upon us before we have thought of rest; and generally the clock strikes twelve before we retire. None oppose openly, but the hireling priests, and they are glad to retire in shame and confusion, and seek an asylum within their own synagogues, where they well know they are secure from the pointed charts of truth, at present; but soon shall they be thrown down, and they stand naked and exposed to the piercing eye of Jehovah.
Multitudes want baptism	There are multitudes who are expecting to be baptized, and some are only waiting an opportunity. …
Irvingite doctrines, missionaries	I have gotten access to the writings and publications of the people called "Irvinites," in Scotland and England, and I find they have searched deep into the gathering of Israel; the coming of Christ to reign on the earth; the apostasy of the Gentile church, and the need of an organization by authority from God, and of the restitution of the gift of the Spirit. Tens of thousands are awakened in that land to these subjects, and are sending swift messengers to the nations around them, to teach these things, insomuch that the excitement seems to have become general among kings and nobles, priests and people.
Parley has written them Many converts know Irvingites in England	I have addressed a letter of eleven pages to that land, giving a sketch of the work of the Lord among us. Many believers here are late from England, so we may have access to many names in that country: these are already beginning to express desires for their friends in that country to hear these things.
	Now brother Whitmer, I have one request let this be read in your public meeting, in the house of the Lord, and let the prayers of the church come up with a hearty amen, for me and the people here; for never did I feel to say, How great is the work required of me, with a more realizing sense than now—I cry unto God day and night.
	Yours in the Lord.
	[319] P. P. Pratt.

May 26, 1836	Kirtland, May 26, 1836.
	Dear brother Cowdery:
Just returned from Toronto	Sir, having just returned from a short mission in Upper Canada, I take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you for insertion in the Messenger and Advocate praying that it may be edifying to the readers of that useful and interesting paper.
Leave Kirtland, April 5 Arrive April 19	I left Kirtland April 5th, in company with elders, O. Pratt and F. Nickerson; and after a long and tedious journey, through mud and rain, we arrived in Upper Canada, where I took leave of the other two brethren, and pursued my course for Toronto, the capital of the Province, at which place I arrived on the 19th of April.
Churches unavailable, teach in homes, steps Thousands hear Preach in large barns Day and night	I sought in vain for a chapel, court house or other public building, in which to preach, all being closed against me.—At length one or two private dwellings were opened freely, where I commenced, and continued preaching, until it was no longer practicable for want of sufficient room to accommodate the multitude, when I commenced preaching on the steps of a private dwelling: two rooms of the house were first filled, and then a large door-yard. This place was situated in the midst of the city so that many thousands could hear. I continued several sabbath days to hold forth the word of life to multitudes. I also continued preaching both in the city and country daily: In the country, we were under the necessity of opening large barns in order to accommodate the people. Many who were greatly rejoiced at first, soon began to search for truth with all diligence, by night and day, insomuch that sleep departed for a season from our eyes, and sometimes, daylight dawned in the East before we retired to rest.
Rev. opposes Book of Mormon	Our meetings were sometimes disturbed by Rev. gentlemen of the clergy; among them was the Rev. Mr. Evens, Editor of the Christian Guardian, and others who attended with a design to prove the Book of Mormon an imposition and myself an impostor, I refused to hear them at ten or eleven o'clock at night, in a crowded private dwelling, with out order or moderators; but I offered to meet any, or all of them on fair grounds, if they would open any public building, appoint moderators to keep order and give me half of the time, I pledged myself under these circumstances, to sustain the Book of Mormon with all the evidence they could the Bible, but they very prudently refused. One circumstance I will mention to show the weakness and falsehood, to which the clergy resort in their exertions against the truth.	The Christian Guardian was a Methodist paper, with the largest circulation in Toronto
Rev. cites Campbell Steel sword anachronistic	The Rev. Mr. Milkins gave an appointment for preaching in the chapel in the country against Mormonism, on Friday evening, May 20th, I attended; the house was thronged with auditors, and after an introduction, with a lengthy preface on the subject of false christs, false prophets, barkers, jumpers &c. (as found in the preface of Mr. Campbell's pamphlet, and other libelous publications) he, at length made a quotation from the 12th page of the Book of Mormon, concerning Laban's sword of steel, stating that he was fully prepared to reject any book as a Revelation, which gave an account of steel, so early as six hundred years before Christ.
Parley refutes from Bible	[320] It being contrary to all history, he probably supposed we were ignorant of the Bible and had never read Job 20th chap. 24th verse and Jeremiah 15th: 12th verse, Psalm, 18 chap. 24 v. Sam. 22 chap. 35 v. all these speak of steel earlier than Nephi.
Nephi killed Laban Moses Killed an Egyptian Samuel killed Agag	His next exertion was against Nephi for killing Laban and getting the brass plates by fraud and deception, saying, away with prophets of that description, as he never would acknowledge a prophet of that character, forgetting, that in so doing, he rejected Moses, who killed an Egyptian, hid him in the sand and run his country to escape the penalty of the law, and Samuel, who hewed down Agag a helpless, unarmed prisoner, in cool blood. He doubtless, forgot that Nephi's life had been sought by Laban, and that Laban had robbed him of all his property which was exceeding great, and that he killed Laban in obedience to express commandment of the Lord.
Misreading Nephi	His next objection was raised against page 46th where it is stated that Nephi's brethren rebelled against him for attempting to build a ship. They sought to put him into the sea, but he commanded them not to touch him, saying if they did, they should wither as a dried reed. The Rev. gentleman represented them as taking him, and binding him and they did not wither as he prophesied. He probably supposed we should not read for ourselves, that they did not touch him at that time, but they repented of their wickedness, and assisted him to build a ship, and after they had built the ship, and been many days at sea, they took him and bound him, but not before. Even them, they were immediately chastised by judgments insomuch, that they soon loosed Nephi.
Abiniadi speaking of Christ in past tense As did Isaiah	Another mighty effort was against page 189. Abinadi speaking of things to come as if they had already come, spake of the resurrection of Christ in the past tense, long before Christ was born. This was a great objection to the book, but equally so, the candid reader will discover against the book of Isaiah, who exclaimed (several hundred years before Christ's birth) in the past tense. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, 53:7th, also in the 8th verse it is stated that he was taken from prison and from judgment &c. He must have supposed we would take for granted what the preacher said, and never read the Bible or the book of Mormon, either impartially for ourselves.
Nehor's execution	Another objection was on page 232 where we find the account of Nehors, slaying Gideon and was taken before judge Alma, judged and hung for priestcraft instead of murder: nevertheless, these are the words of Alma on the same page, "thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, who has done much good among this people, and were we to spare thee, his blood would come upon us for vengeance, therefore, thou art condemned to die."
Three days of darkness	Another objection was three days darkness on this land, and only three hours darkness in Asia. But I remember a division more close than that, where the Lord severed between the land of Goshen and the rest of Egypt, so that the Egyptians saw not one another for three days, "but the Hebrews had light in their dwellings".
Generations since Adam	Another objection was that the book of Ether gave the genealogy from the Tower of Babel back to Adam, 29 generations: The other scriptures made but 10 generations. He also stated that Ether did not trace it through the flood, consequently, how could the people be saved, whose genealogy Ether gave.
	Now who has ever looked at the book of Ether and does not know, that no genealogy is given from the Tower back to Adam, but from the tower down through after generations to Ether? (see book of Mormon page 539).
Book of Mormon witnesses not disinterested Nor were witnesses of resurrection	Another objection was, the witnesses to the book of Mormon, were interested witnesses consequently not to be believed. Probably, not recollecting that in so saying, he was rejecting the New Testament, as they first chosen witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, were all interested witnesses: their time, their character, their property and their lives were at stake, and all would be lost if Christ were an impostor.
Rev. speaks until 11:00. Crowd drowns out Parley Sets meeting for next day	After exerting all his powers of speech, until near eleven o'clock, he at length dismissed, when I entered the pulpit and pledged myself to prove, misrepresentation and falsehood, throughout his entire discourse upon this subject. Some of the assembly began to clamor so loud, I could not be heard, although many wished to hear. Therefore, I was obliged to defer my reply to his several objections till the next day at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at which time I had an appointment to preach in a barn in the same vicinity.
Shows Rev. his errors Invites him to acknowledge publicly, refused	I had an interview with the Rev. gentlemen in the morning, which lasted some hours. I showed him wherein he had stated falsehoods, or misrepresented many things in his argument: this I did before many witnesses. I then requested him to go before the public and make a humble confession of the wrong he had done, and the falsehoods he had been guilty of stating, but he utterly refused.
Refutes Rev. publicly	At 4 o'clock P.M. a multitude assembled a the barn, I then replied publicly to the Rev. gentlemen's arguments of the preceding evening.
May 21 baptize 9	After I closed my discourse, we went to the water and I baptized nine persons, who, apparently, came with contrite spirits, believing with all their hearts; expressing a full determination to serve the Lord to the end.
May 22 membership 25 Confirm members	The next day being Sunday, May 22d, the numbers of those who had been baptized having increased to twenty five, and brethren O. Pratt and F. Nickerson being present and assisting, we laid our hands upon them and confirmed them in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Ghost. In the ordinances of the day, we were blessed with joy and peace and with the powers of the Holy Ghost.
	Thus grew the word of God and prevailed mightily. May the Lord bless them and add to their numbers, daily, such as shall be saved.
	Yours in the bonds of the everlasting covenant.
	To the Editor of the Messenger & Advocate.
	P. P. Pratt
	Missions