THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PARLEY PARKER PRATT
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ONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS,
EMBRACING THE LIFE, MINISTRY AND TRAVELS, WITH EXTRACTS, IN
PROSE AND VERSE, FROM HIS MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS.
EDITED BY HIS SON, PARLEY P. PRATT.
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth;
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and
_their works do follow them_."--Rev. xiv. 13.
Chicago: Published for Pratt Bros. by Law, King & Law
1888
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, By
Parley P. Pratt, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at
Washington.
Preface
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In publishing this volume I am discharging a duty solemnly
imposed upon me by my lamented father, just before his departure on
his last mission to the United States.
It affords me great pleasure to present the Autobiography of the
late Author to his relatives, his numerous friends, and to the
general reader.
The writer is well and favorably known through his "Voice of
Warning," his "Key to Theology," and other productions of his pen,
as well as through his personal labors. He was one of the first
Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, having
been called by revelation and ordained to that office by the
Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. He was intimately
associated with the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum, with Presidents B.
Young and H. C. Kimball, and other leading men, almost from the
first rise of the Church: his history, therefore, was so interwoven
with that of the Church, that many of the most interesting sketches
of Church history will be found therein.
The following pages, which embrace his life, ministry and
travels, and some of his best miscellaneous writings in prose and
verse, are the productions of his own pen.
He spared no pains to make the work a reliable record, and one
that would be acceptable to all lovers of truth. It is written in
the author's happiest style. He was an early pioneer of the Great
West, and travelled extensively in different countries.
His life was one of indefatigable labor, varied and complicated,
crowded with public labors and responsibilities, and full of
strange and extraordinary events--a life mingled with the extremes
of joy and sorrow--or, in the writer's own words, "a truly eventful
one."
With confidence and satisfaction I submit this work to the
reader, feeling assured that it will stand upon its own merits. I
also have an earnest and sincere desire that it may be the means,
through the blessing of God, of accomplishing much good.
In editing the work I have been kindly assisted by the author's
personal friend, Elder John Taylor, to whom I feel deeply indebted.
The work embraces a period of history of fifty years--from the
author's boyhood to the time of his betrayal, by apostates, into
the hands of his enemies, and martyrdom.
The writer, in his second preface to his "Voice of Warning," in
1846, gave expression to the following sentiment: "Should the
author be called to sacrifice his life for the cause of truth, he
will have the consolation that it will be said of him, as it was
said of Abel, '_He being dead yet speaketh_.'"
Editor.
Salt Lake City, _Dec., 1873_
To the Public
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The circumstances attending the death of our beloved and much
esteemed Apostle, Parley Parker Pratt, rendered it impossible for
him to complete and prepare for publication the work in which he
had for many years been engaged, which is now presented to the
public.
The general history and incidents were recorded in various forms
of manuscript, some in book form, some in loose leaves, whilst
others were extracts from the "Millennial Star" and other
publications, yet they needed collating and revising preparatory to
their publication.
The deceased, as appears above, had laid upon his eldest son, P.
P. Pratt, the responsibility of publishing his history in case
anything should happen to prevent himself from doing it.
At the solicitation of Brother Pratt I undertook the task of
assisting to collate and revise the work preparatory to
publication. I found, as I expected it to be, quite an undertaking.
But, as Bro. Parley brought the gospel to and baptized me, and as I
have always entertained for him the most profound regard, I
esteemed it a duty, due alike to gratitude and respect, to assist
in having him properly presented before the community.
In the revision the changes are very few and unimportant, the
meaning being rigidly adhered to, and the original, so far as
possible, preserved intact. His doctrines and general views are
left unchanged, as he was always considered sound in doctrinal
points.
The multitudinous reminiscences manifested in his eventful life
exhibit a true and living faith in God and his religion--an
honesty of purpose, an inflexible will, and an unflagging,
indefatigable industry and perseverance. He possessed a
comprehensive mind, coupled with a sound judgment. He manifested an
indomitable fortitude under the most trying circumstances, and in
adversity and trials, as well as in prosperity, exhibited an
example worthy of praise and emulation. He was indeed a true
Latter-Day Saint, an honorable Apostle, a good and kind husband, an
affectionate father, a true friend, and an honest man.
From various premonitions which he had during his last visit
with me in New York, I was satisfied that, when I took my last sad
leave of him in that city, I should never see his face again in the
flesh. These presentiments were but too speedily and sadly
fulfilled. He has gone--but has left a name and a fame that will
live throughout time and burst forth in eternity; and in the
morning of the first resurrection, when the opening heavens shall
reveal the Son of God, and he shall proclaim, "I am the
resurrection and the life," when Death shall deliver up the dead, I
expect to meet Bro. Parley in the resurrection of just.
John Taylor.
CONTENTS
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CHAPTER I.--Parentage:--Childhood:--Youth:--Education:--Early
Impressions:--Journey Westward:--Making a New Farm in the Wilderness of
Oswego.