The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and TravelsPratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Religion
The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and Travels
Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Apostles -- Biography; Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker), 1807-1857
On Sunday we held meeting at his house; the two large rooms were
filled with attentive listeners, and he invited me to preach. I did
so, and afterwards listened with interest to a discourse from his
own mouth, filled with intelligence and wisdom. We repaired from
the meeting to the water's edge, and, at his request, I baptized
several persons.
President Joseph Smith was in person tall and well built, strong
and active, of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very
little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself, on which
the eye naturally rested with interest, and was never weary of
beholding. His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with
intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and
an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all
restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something
connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye,
as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze
into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds.
He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his
manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his
benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal, and
his language abounding in original eloquence peculiar to
himself--not polished--not studied--not smoothed and softened by
education and refined by art; but flowing forth in its own native
simplicity, and profusely abounding in variety of subject and
manner. He interested and edified, while, at the same time, he
amused and entertained his audience; and none listened to him that
were ever weary with his discourse. I have even known him to retain
a congregation of willing and anxious listeners for many hours
together, in the midst of cold or sunshine, rain or wind, while
they were laughing at one moment and weeping the next. Even his
most bitter enemies were generally overcome, if he could once get
their ears.
I have known him when chained and surrounded with armed
murderers and assassins who were heaping upon him every possible
insult and abuse, rise up in the majesty of a son of God and rebuke
them, in the name of Jesus Christ, till they quailed before him,
dropped their weapons, and, on their knees, begged his pardon, and
ceased their abuse.
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