Beloved brethren and sisters—Being about to depart from this
Territory and from the "home mission" to which I was appointed among
you, and to journey to the States on a mission, I rise to express my
feelings and my faith, and to leave my testimony with you.
There are some, I presume, in this congregation, who personally have
been strangers to me, and who have not heard my testimony. I have been
acquainted in this Church and connected with it from the first year of
its organization in the wilderness of western New York. It was
organized on the 6th day of April, 1830, and I was baptized into it
about the 1st of the September following.
When I first became a member of this Church, one small room could have
contained all the members there then were in the world, and that, too,
without being crowded; for at times, I presume, there were not fifty.
The first thing that attracted my attention towards this work was the
Book of Mormon. I happened to see a copy of it. Some man, nearly a
stranger to it, and not particularly a believer in it, happened to get
hold of a copy: he made mention of it to me, and gave me the privilege
of coming to his house and reading it. This was at a place about a
day's journey from the residence of Joseph Smith the Prophet and his
father, and while I was returning to the work of my ministry; for I
was then traveling and preaching, being connected with a society of
people sometimes called Campbellites or Reformed Baptists.
I had diligently searched the Scriptures, and prayed to God to open my
mind that I might understand them; and he had poured his Spirit and
understanding into my heart, so that I did understand the Scriptures
in a good degree, the letter of the Gospel, its forms and first
principles in their truth, as they are written in the Bible. These
things were opened to my mind; but the power, the gifts, and the
authority of the Gospel I knew were lacking, and did really expect
that they would be restored, because I knew that the things that were
predicted could never be fulfilled until that power and that authority
were restored. I also had an understanding of the literal fulfillment
of the prophecies in the Bible, so that I really did believe in and
hope for the literal restoration of Israel, the cutting off of
wickedness, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
triumph of his kingdom on the earth. All this I was looking for; and
the Spirit seemed to whisper to my mind that I should see it in my
day.
Under these circumstances, I was traveling to impart the light which
I had to others; and while doing this, I found, as I before stated,
the Book of Mormon. I read it carefully and diligently, a great share
of it, without knowing that the Priesthood had been restored—without
ever having heard of anything called "Mormon ism," or having
any idea of such a Church and people.
There were the witnesses and their testimony to the book, to its
translation, and to the ministration of angels; and there was the
testimony of the translator; but I had not seen them, I had not heard
of them, and hence I had no idea of their organization or of their
Priesthood. All I knew about the matter was what, as a stranger, I
could gather from the book: but as I read, I was convinced that it was
true; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, while I read, and
enlightened my mind, convinced my judgment, and riveted the truth
upon my understanding, so that I knew that the book was true, just as
well as a man knows the daylight from the dark night, or any other
thing that can be implanted in his understanding. I did not know it by
any audible voice from heaven, by any ministration of an angel, by any
open vision; but I knew it by the spirit of understanding in my
heart—by the light that was in me. I knew it was true, because it was
light, and had come in fulfillment of the Scriptures; and I bore
testimony of its truth to the neighbors that came in during the first
day that I sat reading it, at the house of an old Baptist deacon,
named Hamblin.
This same spirit led me to enquire after and search out the
translator, Joseph Smith; and I traveled on foot during the whole of
a very hot day in August, blistering my feet, in order to go where I
heard he lived; and at night I arrived in the neighborhood of the
little village of Manchester, then in Ontario County, New York. On the
way, I overtook a man driving some cows, and enquired for Joseph
Smith, the finder and translator of the Book of Mormon. He told me
that he lived away off, something more than an hundred miles from
there, in the State of Pennsylvania. I then enquired for the father
of the Prophet, and he pointed to the house, but said that the old
gentleman had gone a journey to some distant place. After awhile, in
conversation, the man told me that his name was Hyrum Smith, and that
he was a brother to the Prophet Joseph. This was the first Latter-day
Saint that I had ever seen.
He invited me to his home, where I saw mother Smith and Hyrum Smith's
wife, and sister Rockwell, the mother of Orin Porter Rockwell. We sat
up talking nearly all night; for I had not much spare time, having two
appointments out, and a long day's journey for a man to walk. I had to
return the next morning, and we conversed during most of the night
without being either sleep or weary.
During that conversation, I learned something of the rights of the
Church, its organization, the restoration of the Priesthood, and many
important truths. I felt to go back and fill the two appointments
given out, and that closed my ministry, as I felt that I had no
authority, and that I would go back and obey the Priesthood which was
again upon the earth.
I attended to my appointments, and was back again the next morning to
brother Hyrum's. He made me a present of the Book of Mormon, and I
felt richer in the possession of that book, or the knowledge contained
in it, than I would, could I have had a warrantee deed of all the farms
and buildings in that country, and it was one of the finest regions in
the world. I walked awhile, and then sat down and read awhile; for it
was not my mind to read the book through at once. I would read, and
then read the same portion over again, and then walk on. I was filled
with joy and gladness, my spirit was made rich, and I was made to
realize, almost as vividly as if I had seen it myself, that the Lord
Jesus Christ did appear in his own proper person, in his
resurrected body, and minister to the people in America in ancient
times. He had surely risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, and
did come down on the American continent, in the land Bountiful, on the
northern part of South America, and did minister to the remnants of
Joseph, called the Nephites, and did show his resurrected body unto
them.
They did handle him, see him, and examine the wounds that were pierced
in his hands, his side, and his feet; and they bathed them with their
tears and kissed them, and thousands of them did bear record of these
facts. He did deliver to them his Gospel in its fulness and plainness,
in the presence of thousands, and did command them to write it in a
book; and he promised that that book should come to light in latter
days, in time for the great restoration of all Israel, and the
fulfillment of the prophecies relating to the great work of the last
days.
I was made to realize this and to bring it home to my faith, my
senses, and my knowledge, with a warmth, love, and assurance that I
could scarcely contain for I had either studied and seen him in my
reflections, or I had heard his voice whispering to me. Do you not
think that I rejoice?
As before stated, I fulfilled my two appointments; crowds heard me and
were interested, and solicited me to make more appointments. I told
them that I would not—that I had a duty to perform for myself. I bid
them farewell, and returned to Hyrum Smith, who took me to a place,
about twenty-five miles off, in Seneca County, New York. He there
introduced me to the three witnesses whose names appear at the
beginning of the Book of Mormon, also to the eight witnesses. I
conversed with Oliver Cowdery, one of the three witnesses, and on the
next day we repaired to Seneca Lake, there I was baptized by Oliver
Cow dery, then the second Apostle in this Church, and a man who had
received the ministration of an angel, as you can learn by reading his
testimony.
After being baptized, I was confirmed in a little meeting during the
same day, was full of the Holy Ghost, and was ordained an Elder. This
transpired on the 1st day of September, 1830; and from that day to
this, I have endeavored to magnify my calling and to honor the
Priesthood which God has given me, by testifying to both small and
great of the things that he has revealed in these last days.
I have testified and do still testify of the truth of the Book of
Mormon—that it is an inspired record, the history of a branch of the
house of Israel that live in America; that it does contain the fulness
of the Gospel as revealed to them by a crucified and risen Redeemer;
and that wherever it goes and its light is permitted to shine, the
Spirit of the Lord will bear testimony of its truth to every honest
heart in all the world. Wherever that book is candidly perused, the
Spirit will bear record of its truth: and I bear this testimony this
day, that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator—an
Apostle holding the keys of this last dispensation and of the kingdom
of God, under Peter, James, and John. And not only that he was a
Prophet and Apostle of Jesus Christ, and lived and died one, but that
he now lives in the spirit world, and holds those same keys to usward
and to this whole generation. Also that he will hold those keys to all
eternity; and no power in heaven or on the earth will ever take them
from him; for he will continue holding those keys through all
eternity, and will stand—yes, again in the flesh upon this earth, as
the head of the Latter-day Saints under Jesus Christ, and under Peter,
James, and John. He will hold the keys to judge the generation
to whom he was sent, and will judge my brethren that preside over me;
and will judge me, together with the Apostles ordained by the word of
the Lord through him and under his administration.
When this is done, those Apostles will judge this generation and the
Latter-day Saints; and they will judge them with that judgment
which Jesus Christ will give unto them; and they will have the same
spirit and the same mind as Jesus Christ, and their judgment will be
his judgment, for they will be one.
Some of my brethren feel, once in a while, as though we were but men,
which is true; and at times we are forgetful, and especially myself.
Sometimes men will come up and say, "Why, do you not remember me,
brother Pratt?" No, I do not, particularly, though your countenance
looks familiar. "What, do you not remember me? I was along with you at
such a place: it is strange that you cannot remember me." At such
times you may think, how will brother Parley, with his brethren, sit
in judgment upon us when he forgets some things, and cannot remember
what we have done to him? I expect, by the power of the resurrection
and the quickening power of the celestial glory, that my memory will
be perfected, and that I will be able to remember all the acts,
duties, and doings of my own life. I will also remember, most
correctly and perfectly, every act of benevolence that has ever been
done to me in the name of the Lord and because of my calling; and I
will remember, most perfectly, every neglect and slighting by those to
whom I have been sent.
I will be able to say to a just person, "Well done, good and faithful
servant; for you did do good so-and-so to me or my brethren:
therefore, enter into the joy of your Lord." I will also be able to
say to others, "Depart from me; for I was an hungered, and ye did not
feed me; I was naked, and ye clothed me not; I was sick, or in prison,
or in a strait, and ye helped me not; I had a mission to perform, and
ye took no interest in it."
So it will be with brother Joseph, or brother Brigham, or any of the
Apostles or Elders that hold a portion of the keys of the Priesthood
to this generation; if they hold them faithfully. They will be able to
remember and understand all their own doings and all the acts of this
generation to whom they are sent; and they will judge them in the name
of Jesus Christ. We will be judged by brother Joseph; and he will be
judged by Peter, James, and John, and their associates. Brother
Brigham, who now presides over us, will hold the keys under brother
Joseph; and he and his brethren, who hold the keys with him, or under
his direction, will judge the people; for they will hold those keys to
all eternity, worlds without end. By those keys they will have to
judge this generation; and Peter, James, and John, will hold the keys
to preside over, and judge, and direct brother Joseph to all eternity;
and Jesus Christ will hold the keys over them and over us, under his
Father, to whom be all the glory. This is my testimony; and in
obedience to these keys, if God will open my way and spare my life, I
will continue to act.
I am now about to start to the States, to preach the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and bear testimony of those things which I most assuredly do
know; for this is my calling. I have desired, after traveling for
twenty-five or twenty-six years, mostly abroad, to stay at home and
minister among the people of God, and take care of my family; but
God's will be done, and not mine. If it is the will of God that I
should spend my days in pro claiming this Gospel and bearing
testimony of these things, I shall think myself highly privileged and
honored. And when the Spirit of God is upon me, I think it matters
but very little what I suffer, what I sacrifice—whether I secure the
honor or dishonor of men, or where I die, if it so be that I can
keep the faith, fight the good fight, and finish my course with joy.
I have all eternity before me, in which to enjoy myself; and though I
am a stranger and a pilgrim on this earth, and whether I be rich or
poor, or live long or short, I shall yet plant gardens and eat the
fruit of them, plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof, build
houses and inhabit them, and, as one of the elect of God, shall long
enjoy the works of my hands. All this shall I do, though worms eat the
body that I now have.
There are many who consider the times to be hard, and the sufferings
to be endured so great that they feel to withdraw from this people.
Some say they have no faith in the Book of Mormon. A word for those. I
do not believe that they have read that book; or, if they have, I do
not believe that they have read it humbly, attentively, prayerfully,
and under a good influence. I do not think they were counted honest,
or that they had a heart that had place for the Spirit of God. If they
were at all acquainted with that influence, or had it in them, they
would not only believe it, but they would know that it was true. They
would not only know and acknowledge it by the Holy Ghost, but they
would know it naturally, just as we know that a man is a Prophet, when
the thing which he predicts comes to pass.
Twenty-six years ago, that book was published in English, and within
those years have been progressively fulfilled many plain and definite
pre dictions that are therein recorded, insomuch that a professed
infidel, one who had not before believed in Jesus Christ nor in the
Bible, may easily comprehend that the things predicted in the Book of
Mormon, many of them, have demonstrated themselves by their plain,
literal, simple fulfillment. I will mention one thing among a thousand.
When that book was printed in English, an ancient prophecy in it
stated that it should come to the knowledge of the Gentiles in the
latter day, at a time when the blood of the Saints would cry from the
ground because of secret murders, and the works of darkness, and
wicked combinations. And not only the blood of Saints, but the blood
of husbands and fathers should cry from the ground for vengeance on
the workers of iniquity, and the cries of widows and orphans would
come up before God, against those that committed those crimes.
When that book was translated by Joseph Smith, and published in
English, we were living in a constitutional Government, the laws of
which guaranteed liberty of conscience to every man in his religious
belief. It was at a time when no man had been seriously injured
because of his belief; and it was as incredible and unlooked for that
a Saint would be slain for his religion as that the Government would
be broken up; and nobody believed that it would be broken up; for the
principles of truth had ruled, guaranteeing liberty and protection to
all parties. No man had been persecuted to death for his religion,
under the effectual working of that Constitution. Hence, I want those
persons who have not faith in the Book of Mormon to tell how Joseph
Smith could think of such things; and if the ancient Prophet did not
foretell those things, Joseph Smith did.
How came he to tell that the people of his father's house would
suffer? or that husbands and fathers, widows and orphans would
send up their cry for vengeance on the wicked of our day? You that do
not believe in the Book of Mormon, I want you should account for that
prediction. It is plain and simple. I read it in 1830, and no man had
then suffered a violent death for his religion in this generation in
our nation.
Now, then, imagine yourselves living in the United States twenty-eight
years ago, and causing to be printed such a production as the Book of
Mormon, and I want to know how you would know of any such thing as is
there predicted? I say there was no probability that it would be
fulfilled, but yet I say that it has been very remarkably fulfilled,
so that every public minister and officer knows that it has been
fulfilled, and that the Union is trembling and being threatened, and
our right to law and protection being questioned.
The blood of innocence cries for vengeance, because its enemies have
not administered justice. They have not carried out the constitutional
guarantees, but have suffered innocent blood to flow. They have not
administered justice nor law in the case, but have allowed wholesale
murderers to run at large in Missouri and Illinois. And many of the
people and of their rulers have consented to the shedding of that
innocent blood, and the result is that the cries of widows and orphans
ascend to God. I wish those who do not believe the Book of Mormon to
tell me by what power or foreknowledge that prediction was published
in 1830.
I used to read an epistle which stated that if the Gentiles should
reject the fulness of the Gospel contained in the Book of Mormon, and
become filled with all manner of iniquity and murders, priestcraft,
whoredoms, and lying, the Lord would take the fulness of his Gospel
from among them, and send it into the midst of the remnant of Israel.
What have we been doing these ten years past? Ten years ago, a good
portion of this people lived in the old settled States, and they were
in so many places that a man had to dodge or hide up somewhere, to
keep from hearing the fulness of the Gospel. It was preached in their
cities, at their capital, in their villages, in town and in country,
in the groves and in their courthouses; and thousands upon thousands
in the United States flocked to hear the fulness of the Gospel, which
was preached everywhere.
How is it now? With the exception of a few, who are on missions or
business there, a man might travel from Maine to Louisiana, and
scarcely have a chance to hear the fulness of the Gospel; and if he
wished to hear the Gospel, he would have to come here. Thus we see
the literal fulfillment of that prediction. I read it in 1830, and used
to wonder how it would be fulfilled. But notwithstanding the jealousy
that existed in the United States in regard to this people, the Book
of Mormon was so common and preached so extensively, that some of
them, right in their wickedness, Herod-like, happened to discover the
prediction in regard to the fulness of the Gospel's coming to the
remnants of Joseph, and happened to understand it in part.
So Herod, in his wickedness, when he heard of the rejoicing of the
Jews and that their Messiah was born, when the wise men read the
prophecies to him, believed those prophecies and tried to hinder their
fulfillment. For that purpose he issued an order to murder all the
young children of Bethlehem of two years old and under. He must have
believed the prophecy, or he would never have undertaken to hinder its
fulfillment.
In like manner, the people in the United States were afraid
that "Mormonism" was true, and in their sins they partly believed it;
wherefore the proclamations for murders and for banishment, for
mobbings and plunderings, with a view to hinder its accomplishing what
was predicted it would, and to prevent the fulfillment of prophecy.
Were you to ask them the reason for all this, their truthful reply
must be, "We were afraid that the 'Mormons' would fulfil a prediction
of the Prophets, and carry the Gospel to the remnants of Joseph." They
considered that, Herod-like, to be treasonable. Some have wondered
that a king's being born in Bethlehem should be treason, not
understanding that the kingdom of God meant an eternal kingdom. And in
speaking of the United States and "Mormonism," they said, "If the
fulness of the Gospel should be preached to the remnants of Joseph, it
would be awful," and tried to prevent its being so, but failed in the
attempt.
Myself, Elder Oliver Cowdery, and others crossed the Missouri line,
into what is now called Kansas, and preached the Gospel to the
Delaware Indians. We presented them with the Book of Mormon, and left
a copy or two with those that could read it and interpret to others.
At that time "Mormonism" had not been heard of any further west of
Ohio than we carried the news, and lyings and misrepresentations
concerning it had not preceded us. But there were sectarian
missionaries on the frontiers, Methodists, Baptists, &c., striving to
gain a foothold among Indians; and they all joined against us. Such
was the envy and jealousy of the spirit in them, they knew not why,
that we were ordered out of the Indian country, on penalty of having
the Militia take us out.
In Missouri the Saints were watched like thieves, and, when we became
more and more known among the people, were mobbed and plundered again
and again, till eventually we were driven into Illinois.
At those times, I used to wonder how that prophecy would be fulfilled,
contained in the Book of Mormon, which reads, "If the Gentiles reject
the fulness of my Gospel, and are full of all manner of evil and
wickedness, I will bring the fulness of my Gospel out from among them,
and will establish it in the midst of the remnants of Joseph." I
watched it for years, looking for it to be fulfilled, and marveled.
But we were again mobbed, and they continued to mob us for eight or
ten years, thus helping us to fulfil that very prophecy. They were
made the instruments to annoy us, till we could have no peace without
leaving them and coming out here into the wilderness.
We loved home so well, and our houses, and temples, and farms, that we
would not willingly leave and accomplish the work laid upon us;
therefore we were made to be willing—made to do what we were pleaded
with to do before. You know that an ancient Prophet said, "My people
shall be willing in the day of my power." Here we are; and just as
sure as the things in the Book of Mormon have been progressively
fulfilling until now, and as sure as all the powers of the Saints and
of their enemies have tended to that point, just so sure will every
remaining item be fulfilled in its time and in its place.
Again, the man that believes "Mormonism," believes in the gathering of
the people of God and in the keys of the Priesthood and Apostleship,
and that through those keys the people are to be built up, preserved,
sanctified, and prepared for the coming of the Lord. Let me ask many
that have been gathered through the instrumentality of those keys, do
you believe that to scatter again is disobeying them? No, many of you
do not.
Some folks think that "Mormonism" is a certain set of
doctrines found in the books, together with certain ordinances, and
think that one is a Saint if he credits those doctrines and those
ordinances. Suppose an island peopled by persons who by some
providence had the Book of Mormon and the Bible, or either of those
books, but no Priesthood. They are not members of the Church, even
though they be most strictly honest. They may have read the sacred
records and believed them, all the principles contained therein, and
desired to serve God; but the question is, could they obey the Gospel
of which they read in those books, organize themselves into the Church
of Christ, and be governed by the principles of the kingdom of God,
and be accepted of God as his Church? I say, they could not.
What could they do? They could believe in Jesus Christ, and pray to
the Father in his name, and observe his moral precepts. But to obey
the ordinances of God—to become his Church and kingdom, is something
which they could not do, unless their prayers of faith prevailed upon
the Almighty to in some manner bless them with the Priesthood.
Otherwise, all they could do would be to rejoice in the truth, worship
God, obey his moral precepts, and wait for some messenger to come and
organize them; and if they were obliged to live without the
Priesthood, they would have to receive its ministrations in the next
world.
In what manner was the Priesthood restored to this earth in our day?
Angels ministered from heaven—men who had died holding the Priesthood
of the Son of God, and revealed the Book of Mormon, and conferred the
Priesthood upon our first Apostles, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
When they were baptized by the command of the angel, had received the
Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and been ordained according to
the command, they continued to receive commandments, from time to
time, to ordain other Apostles and other Elders.
In the year 1835, in Kirtland, Ohio, they ordained our President,
Brigham Young, also Heber C. Kimball, your servant that is now
addressing you, and many others, by the word of the Lord. Thus our
President and others received the keys of the Apostleship, and we
magnified it until Joseph's death, when two of his Quorum of Three
went behind the veil, and the third, Sidney Rigdon, who had got in the
background, became an apostate. The First Presidency was reorganized,
under the authority proceeding from the Almighty through Joseph Smith,
in the persons of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard
Richards; and they, by virtue of the keys lawfully in their
possession, filled up the vacancies occasioned in the Quorum of the
Twelve, and also the vacancy made in their Quorum by the death of our
beloved brother, Willard Richards.
Had we undertaken President-making in this Church simply by our
uninspired notions, Brigham Young held more keys than all our votes
put together; and had we voted against him, we would have voted
ourselves out of the kingdom of God. He and those that stood by him
would have held the keys of the Priesthood, as they have and do, and
would have built up the kingdom, while those who opposed them would
have been like salt that had lost its savor. It was not in our power
to manufacture this Presidency, but only to uphold and cleave to it;
and blessed are we, inasmuch as we have done this thing.
These keys came from Joseph Smith, who received them from Peter,
James, and John, who received them from the risen Jesus, the
Redeemer of men. If we hearken to these keys, we shall be saved, and
inherit celestial glory and exaltation; if we do not, we shall be
damned, and fall short of all the blessings promised to the saved.
Such is my faith; this is my knowledge, this is my testimony, and
these are my feelings and real sentiments. God being my helper, giving
me his Spirit, and counting me worthy to abide in his kingdom, I mean
to continue to the end in upholding those keys, and, by my prayers and
works, to stand by them and live in obedience to them as long as I
live on the earth. If I abide in the vine, I will have strength, by
the power of the Holy Ghost, to magnify my calling and to inherit a
crown of celestial glory: if I do not, then I will fall, and, I had
almost said, become like another man: but not so; for then I will only
be fit to be cast out and trodden under foot, like salt that has lost
its savor.
I crave the privilege of remaining within this kingdom; and I ask for
your prayers, your blessings, your faith, and your assistance, as a
people, and for the assistance and watchcare of the angels of God, and
for the blessings of my brethren that preside over me. I crave these
things, and the privilege of serving God unto the end.
If I go forth and testify of the truth of the Book of Mormon and of
Joseph Smith as a Prophet, a Revelator, and an Apostle of the living
God; also of Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, and
the rest of my brethren that hold the keys of this kingdom; and call
upon the people to repent and forsake their follies, their
priestcraft, their adulteries, and their errors, and to obey the
Gospel under the hands of the Elders sent out by these men; and tell
them to gather together and obey those ministers of Christ as long as
they live, and then obey their successors in office—if I do all this,
and live faithful, and set a good example, it will be the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and the power of God unto all that receive it. If I do
not do this, it will not be the Gospel, but it will be something else.
It is appointed unto all men, whenever this Priesthood is on the earth
and comes within their reach, to repent and be baptized under the
hands of this Priesthood, in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive
the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by the servants of God, and
to break off from their sins and bring forth fruits of righteousness.
If they do this, and endure to the end, they will be saved; but if
they do not, they will be damned.
May God bless you all, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
- Parley P. Pratt