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
"Of course, my hearers, he himself acts upon the principle which
he lays down to others; and if he does, he never studies, never
searches the prophecies, acknowledges himself in darkness on all
subjects connected with unfulfilled prophecy; expects to remain so,
and expects his hearers to do the same.
"O, my beloved friends, have the people of this western country
been led in darkness for so many years by learned and reverend
gentlemen? are they willing to remain in darkness now, when the
veil is withdrawn, and his folly made manifest before all the
people, and this too by his own words, uttered in presence of you
all?
"If so, follow him, and cleave to him as your teacher. But if
not, we exhort you to hold fast the truth as we have delivered it
to you; come forward this day, and obey the ordinances of God; seek
for the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, and continue to
search the Scriptures for more light, and God will bless you
forever. Amen."
After this meeting some of the Baptists and others came forward
and were baptized, and joined the Church of the Saints; and the
people in general remained steadfast in the faith, and were unmoved
by the exertions of Messrs. Peck and Dotson.
This filled them with envy, and they soon began to manifest a
lying and abusive spirit to such a degree that all the people could
see and distinguish plainly between the spirits of truth and error.
Mr. Peck soon took leave and retired home, and we continued our
mission.
Hundreds of the people were convinced of the truth, but the
hearts of many were too much set on the world to obey the gospel;
we, therefore, baptized only a few of the people, and organized a
small Society, and about the first of June took leave and returned
home.
Having rested myself a few days, I now commenced again to
cultivate the earth. I plowed about six acres of ground for wheat,
and was busy from day to day in the woods, preparing timber to
fence the same, when the following dream, or night vision, was
given me:
A man came to me and called me with a loud voice: "Parley,
Parley." I answered, "Here am I." Said he, "Cease splitting rails,
for the Lord has prepared you for a greater work." I answered,
"Whereby shall I know that this message is from the Lord?" He
replied, "Follow me, and I will show you."
I followed him for some distance along a long path, and at last
came to a place of ancient sepulchres, where many of the Nephites
of old had been buried. One of these opened--the flesh of the man
withered away; he became like a skeleton, and passed down into the
grave. I understood and knew by the spirit, that this signified
that it was the voice of one from the dead which had spoken to me.
I therefore exclaimed, "It is enough; I know the message is of the
Lord; return unto me, that we may converse together." He then came
forth out of the grave, was again clothed upon with a body like a
man, and he talked with me, and told me many things.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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