During the summer, after my return from the South, I performed several home missions or preaching tours through Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties, and in September received an appointment to take a mission to the States, for which I received the following letter of appointment: UTAH TERRITORY, PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, ELDER PARLEY P. PRATT. Dear Brother—As you are about to leave on your mission to the States, we feel to give you a word of counsel for your guidance. We expect that your principal occupation will be to travel and preach the gospel in different places, as you shall be led by the spirit of the Lord. We are informed that there is quite a large number of Saints in the southwestern part of Virginia, which it is our wish you shall visit and instruct in the principles of the gospel. Owing to the extra duties of delegate being placed upon Brother John Taylor, it is suggested that you also aid him in writing for The Mormon, and such other duties as may devolve upon you by the united counsel of brethren now in charge on that mission. As you are expected to return the ensuing season, we do not consider that it would be wisdom for you to have the burden of the mission to rest upon you, but rather that you should aid the brethren for the brief period which you will remain with them. If Brother Snow should be able to resume The Luminary, we should be pleased to have you assist him also in writing for that publication. We believe that, by thus devoting your time during the ensuing winter, you will render the brethren now upon that mission effective aid, and be a comfort and consolation to the brethren and Saints who shall have the pleasure of your ministerial administrations, and be blessed with your society in this your short visit to the Saints in the States; and that the Lord will bless you abundantly with His spirit, and enable you to perform your mission with honor and satisfaction to yourself, and His divine acceptance, is the prayer of Your brethren in the Gospel of Christ, After receiving the foregoing appointment my time was employed chiefly in settling up my business and preparing for the journey eastward. September 7, 1856. I preached my farewell discourse in the Tabernacle, in which I bore testimony to the Book of Mormon and of the calling of Joseph Smith, and of his Presidency and Apostleship. At noon, the same day, gave instructions and strict charge to my son, Parley P., concerning my business, and the duties that would devolve upon him in my absence. At 5 P.M. met with my quorum in prayer, in which President Young and others laid their hands upon my head and set me apart for my mission to the States—confirming and sealing upon my head all the keys and powers of the eternal priesthood, so far as they were held upon the earth—"and that I should always be numbered among those that were faithful to the priesthood, both in this life, in the world of spirits and in the resurrection." September 11. Bid farewell to my family and friends and started on my eastern mission in company with several elders and friends, who were going to the States. We met, on the journey across the plains, several companies, chiefly from Europe. Some of them were companies traveling with ox teams, and several hand cart companies. The first hand cart company we met was near Green River, which consisted of two hundred and thirty men, women and children. These had crossed the plains from Iowa City—some 1,200 miles—the women as well as men drawing hand carts and the children walking. They had travelled twenty miles a day and sometimes more. Their faces were much sun-burnt and their lips parched; but cheerfulness reigned in every heart, and joy seemed to beam on every countenance. The company gathered around us and I tried to address them, observing that this was a new era in American as well as Church history; but my utterance was choked, and I had to make the third trial before I could overcome my emotions. We had passed on, nothing worthy of note occurring until we arrived at Fort Kearney. October 17.—We arrived at Fort Kearney; here the death of A. W. Babbitt, and others with him was confirmed. The commanding officer of the fort came to me and said he had an account of Babbitt's death from the Indians themselves; and that he had obtained his papers and accounts, which he would deliver to Babbitt's wife, if she would come. We pursued our long and wearisome journey through Iowa and Illinois. On the way we saw Nauvoo and the ruins of the temple in the distance. This called up reflections which I will not attempt to describe. I thought of the temple and city in their glory; of the twenty thousand Saints once busy there; of the vast congregations once assembled there in prayer and praise; of the martyred prophets and Saints; of the wholesale murder and plunder perpetrated by ruthless mobs. I thought of my once happy but now fallen country. I greatly desired relief by tears, but tears would not come to my relief. I felt too deeply; but I felt some relief in assuring myself that at last justice would triumph and righteousness reign. November 18.—We landed in St. Louis after a long and toilsome journey of over two months. Here I remained, attending public meetings with the Saints; visiting, instructing, writing history, and writing for The Mormon, then published by Elder John Taylor in New York; visiting and preaching at several places in Missouri and Illinois, until the 16th of December, when I left St. Louis for New York—travelling by railroad. I stopped at Cincinnati, where I arrived at 4 A.M. on the 17th. Here I found some Saints, who took me and my baggage, and extended to me the hospitality of their homes. I remained in Cincinnati, preaching, conversing with the Saints and others, writing correspondence for The Mormon, history, etc., until the 22d, when I took leave of the Saints and started by railway for Philadelphia, where I arrived on the 24th—meeting there President John Taylor and other brethren, who kindly greeted me. Here I remained preaching, visiting, conversing, writing history, corresponding with The Mormon, etc., until the 31st, when I took the 10 A.M. train for New York, where I safely landed the same day—thus closing another year of my changeful, varied and eventful life. It leaves me among strangers, and yet in my own native state—a pilgrim and almost a stranger in the very city where, twenty years ago, I labored, toiled, prayed, preached, wrote and published the message of eternal truth. Oh, how darkness prevails! How ignorant, blind and impenetrable are the minds of men! My Father in Heaven, Thy will be done. As a blank of another year of my life is about to commence to be filled up, I will close the volume of the book I have been writing, commending myself to God and the guardianship of his angels; asking, in the name of Jesus Christ, that my sins and follies, up to this date, may be blotted out, and that my labors and records may be accepted; then I will retire to rest with a conscience void of offense, and with a calm and resigned confidence in my Heavenly Father. If I am privileged to awake in the morning of a new year, I will commence a new book or volume of my life. January 1st, 1857. Thank God for a new year and for the reservation of my life and health. Spent the day in visiting with President Taylor and others, and at 5 P.M. repaired to the Latter-day Saints' Hall, where I met with some four hundred persons, mostly members of the Church, in a public party. Judge Appleby called the meeting to order; I opened by prayer. President Taylor made a few remarks, after which there were songs, recitations, speeches, and amusements of various kinds, refreshments, etc., which lasted till eleven o'clock, after which I addressed them, bearing testimony of the restoration of the priesthood and gospel by Joseph Smith; was followed by Presidents Smith and Taylor. While in this party we received news of the safe landing of two hundred and twenty Saints from Europe on the "Columbia." My time was occupied in visiting the Saints, meeting in council with the brethren, writing, etc., until the 5th, when I met in the evening with Brothers Taylor, Smith, Snow and Appleby in council at Brother Taylor's residence. After opening by prayer I was chosen to preside, and Brother Appleby acted as clerk. Brother Snow made a statement in relation to the financial condition of the emigration under his agency. We agreed to make this a matter of prayer, and to solicit and influence means into that channel as far as possible. At 7 P.M. Brother Taylor having furnished an upper room in his residence, the before-named persons, five in number, met in a room for prayer, in which we humbled ourselves and called on the Lord for remission of our sins and the light of the Spirit of God to guide us in our several duties. We also asked for means, and for our way to be opened up to enable us in all things to magnify our callings; dedicating ourselves renewedly to the service of God. After this we continued in council until a late hour. January 6th. I visited Mr. George W. Pratt, No. 89 Gold Street, on the subject of genealogy—he being the son of Zadoc Pratt, ex-member of Congress, and descended from the same parentage as myself, our progenitors being among the early settlers of the New England Colonies. I conversed with him very agreeably for half an hour, and learned that he was in correspondence with Brother Orson, in Liverpool, on the subject of our ancestry in England. January 7th—I was in council all day at Brother Taylor's residence with the brethren of the Twelve. We resolved to concentrate our energies this year in forming settlements on or near the Platte River, on the route of our emigration, according to the instructions of President Young. We voted that The Mormon be continued, and that it is not expedient for Brother Snow to resuscitate the Luminary at present. Next day bid farewell to the brethren, and took the train for Trenton, N. J. Here I was kindly received by Brother Hurdley and family, where I remained for two days, the weather being very cold. Saturday, 10th.—Joseph Asay came with a carriage and conveyed me about four miles into the country to his house. This day I completed a communication for The Mormon on spiritual communication in modern times. Sunday, 11th.—Preached to a small congregation in a school house, and returned with Brother Asay and spent the evening in instruction—several of the Saints from Trenton being there. Spent the time writing, visiting and conversation with the friends here until the 14th, when I took leave of my kind friends in Trenton; taking the cars for Tacony, where I arrived at noon, went to Sister Conrad's, where I was received with every conceivable kindness. After dinner preached to them and read the revelation on marriage. God blessed me to open their understandings, teaching things of the kingdom. Here I wrote a communication for The Mormon called the "Looking-glass;" conversed with and instructed the family on many things. Saturday, 17th.-Returned to Philadelphia and stayed at Brother Harmer's; received this evening letters from home, dated November 4th, at which time several of my family were sick. I invoked the blessing of God upon them that they might be healed and comforted. Sunday 18th.—Though the wind was very high and extremely cold, attended with a severe snow storm, I repaired to meeting and preached to a few in the morning, and at night attended meeting again in our own hall, the Spirit of God being among the Saints in the meeting. Monday, 19th.—Still being very snowy, cold and windy, remained at the house of Brother Harmer and wrote to my family. Sunday, 20th.—Railroad travel being obstructed by drifts of snow, I visited at Peter Rensimer's; stayed all night and talked to him, his wife and others, till a late hour. On the next day wrote a poem on "My Fiftieth Year," which was responded to by John Taylor, both of which were published in the Mormon at New York.* Returned to Tacony in the evening and repaired to the house of Sister Conrad; the family came together and I taught them the gospel. Next day visited with the family, taught them and some of their friends who came in, the principles of the gospel. [Footnote] *These poems will be found in the latter part of this work. Thursday, 24th.—Bade farewell to my kind friends in Tacony, took the train for Philadelphia, where I arrived at half past nine. Attended the Saints' meetings at Washington Hall three times this day; addressed the people morning and evening; communed with them; heard their testimony in the afternoon. We were blessed through the day with the Spirit of God and had much joy. February 1st. Attended meetings three times in Washington Hall, Philadelphia. Preached in the morning repentance to the Saints and preparation for the great restoration. In the evening preached on the Resurrection to a crowded house, and bid the Saints farewell. Tuesday, 3d. Wrote, visited sister Fenton, and there spent the evening in an agreeable company of some fifteen of the Saints. We sang and prayed, feasted and rejoiced, and taught them as we were led by the Spirit. Elder Angus M. Cannon being with me in this and nearly all my visitings and meetings in this city. A happier companion is seldom found. Wednesday, 4th. Spent the evening at a tea party; at ten o'clock we sang, "When shall we all meet again?" etc. Knelt down and prayed. This was my farewell of Philadelphia and the Eastern States. I then took a final leave of the Saints, and, accompanied by Elder Cannon, started for the railway. Here I met with Brother and Sister Beers, and some others who had come to see me off. I took the train for Pittsburg, where I safely arrived February 5, at 2:30 P.M. Took the train at three for Mansfield, Ohio, where I landed safely at 1:30 next morning. Stayed at a hotel, and on the 6th took train at 12 P.M. and arrived at Hannover, Huron County, Ohio, at 4 P.M. Here a neighbor volunteered to carry me half a mile to my brother, Nelson Pratt's. We were overjoyed to see each other after twenty-one years' absence. He had a wife and three children living, viz: a son, Edwin Delano Pratt, aged twenty years; and two daughters, Helen Orisa, aged fourteen, Aurelia Fenetto, aged twelve years. Remained and visited with my brother and family; talked, read, reasoned, etc., until the 11th, when I had a call from a young school teacher named Pratt, perhaps a distant relative, who had a spirit of inquiry and was teachable. We conversed much, and I lent him some books. As he and others were soliciting a meeting, I finally consented to appoint one for Thursday evening at the school house near my brother's. In fulfilment of this appointment I preached to a large congregation in a capacious school house. Friday, 13th.—At noon took leave of my brother Nelson and his family, who accompanied me to the railroad station, and bid me an affectionate farewell. This night, about eight o'clock, the locomotive ran over and killed a horse, and was thrown off the track with a number of cars, some of which were broken. By this accident we were hindered some six hours, during which time we sat in the cars and slept as best we could. Arrived in Columbus, Ohio, at 4 A.M. Here we stopped and slept at a hotel until 9 A.M. At 1 P.M., started for Cincinnati, where I arrived at dark, and was kindly received by Brother Meriweather and family. Sunday, 15th.—Met with the Saints three times; taught them repentance and reformation of life: stayed at brother Walker's. Monday, 16th.—In the evening Mr. Alberger and Dr. Darling called to see me, and spent the evening in conversation on the various phenomena of Spiritualism. Mr. Alberger related to me the circumstances of the introduction of a secret order, called the Patriarchal Order, which order, he said, was introduced by spirits in Cincinnati a short time previously by means of a stone, with a new alphabet and a key to read the same. He also made me a present of the stone, or rather a pattern of the same in plaster of Paris, with the alphabet thereon and key to read the same. Also a printed pamphlet containing the ceremonies of the "Patriarchal Order," and the forms of initiation of members into the same, with a request that I would take them to Salt Lake and exhibit them to the Council there. The following day, wrote an article for the Cincinnati Gazette, in defense of Utah. In the evening met with the Saints, and preached at Thos. Shore's. The next day was very rainy; visited at Brother Meriweather's, and found Brother Geo. A. Smith there, just arrived from Virginia. He had spent some time in Washington City, in company with John Taylor, who was one of the delegation, but as no encouragement was given for the admission of Utah at the present session, the petition was withdrawn. Friday, 20th.—Wrote for The Mormon, visited with Brother Smith, etc. My communication to the Cincinnati Gazette in defense of Utah, appeared in this day's paper. We mailed several copies of the paper to the members of Congress, and to The Mormon. Sunday, 22d.—Attended at Melodian Hall at 10:30 A.M., and heard an excellent discourse from Elder G. A. Smith. At 2:30 P.M. I preached on first principles, and in the evening met the Saints at Brother Shore's, and reorganized the Cincinnati Branch. Elder Joseph Bean was unanimously chosen to preside, and was ordained a high priest under the hands of G. A. Smith and myself. Brother Benjamin E. Styles was reappointed clerk. At ten o'clock we sung "When shall we all meet again." We appointed and set apart Brother D. O. Ridout to a mission in southwestern Virginia. We blessed and administered to several. A man named James Raliston came to us and expressed his faith in the gospel as he had heard us preach it the day before. Many of the Saints now gathered in to see us, and contributed means to help us, and manifested their love in every way that was in their power. We bid them farewell about 2 P.M., and took the train for St. Louis, at which place we arrived safely about midnight. Tuesday, 24th.—Called and stayed at Brother Boardman's. Here, for the first time, heard of the sudden and unexpected death of President J. M. Grant, who died in Salt Lake City, in November last. He was a great and good man, called away in the full vigor of manhood. He has gone to his rest, but we are left to mourn. Wednesday, 25th.—On repairing to the office found letters from home, also one from Sister Ruth Sayers, who crossed the plains with us on our outward trip from Salt Lake City. I also read in the Western Standard, a paper published by George Q. Cannon in California, a confirmatory account of the death of President J. M. Grant. We found the Saints in St. Louis well and prosperous. After spending some time in the office in council I repaired to brother Restell's, and was kindly received by Sister Restell and Sister Pollard. This night I was taken very sick. March 1st, 1857.—I found myself quite well again, and, being Sunday, I met with the Saints three times and had good attendance. I preached in the forenoon, and Erastus Snow and others in the afternoon. We had sacrament, and the gift of the Holy Ghost was upon us. Brother Snow spake by it in great wisdom. The spirit of reformation is abroad in the St. Louis branch, but the adversary also has a great hold there. Monday, 2d.—We met with the Saints and assisted President Snow to confirm twenty-nine souls, who were baptized in the font there. At 7 P. M. the same evening met with the brethren in council. Much instruction was given to the elders by Presidents Snow, Smith and myself. Tuesday, 3d.—Assisted President Snow at the office, on the Deseret alphabet, etc. The above is the last extract from the journal of President Parley P. Pratt. |
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