After reading the talk on
becoming a consecrated I was impressed with the paragraphs on Parley P Pratt
and what a tireless missionary he was. Here are those paragraphs from the talk.
Parley P. Pratt was such
a consecrated missionary. He had served as a missionary for more than 25 years of almost constant labors. He had
just returned from his latest mission in Chile. He was hopeful that he could
now remain at home and enjoy his family, but such expectations were short
lived. President Brigham Young called him to serve yet another mission– this
time in the eastern states. One can imagine the feelings that must have swelled
up in Parley’s heart. Perhaps he thought, “Haven’t I given all that a mortal
could be expected to give? Don’t I deserve to spend some time with my family
and friends? Can’t I just relax for a while?”
But
Parley P. Pratt was a consecrated missionary. On September 7, 1856, shortly
after learning of his call by Brigham Young, he offered the following tender
reflections and prophetic insights: “I have desired, after travelling 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
proclaiming 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 sacrificed–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.” (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p. xxv.)
I knew
that Parley P. Pratt was murdered while serving a mission and got to wondering
how long after the quote above it was that he was murdered. I actually have a
copy of his autobiography which I read years ago, but can’t remember a lot
about it, other than I was impressed with all he did when reading it. I was
thinking of all the books I have read, and then thought if I can’t remember
them, how am I benefited. We are taught from the Doctrine and Covenants that
whatever knowledge and intelligence we obtain in this life through diligence
and obedience we will have so much the advantage in the life to come.
·
Doctrine and Covenants 130:19
19
And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his
diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
I know
this scripture refers to more than book learning for example we gain knowledge
and intelligence through obedience. I kind of think everything we have read is
stored in our brain somewhere we just don’t have the ability to recall it. So
in the next life do we have perfect recall?
Back to
Parley P Pratt, it turns out that he was murdered in May 1857. So he began his last mission approximately 8 months prior to being murdered. It would seem
from his comment above that he might have had a premonition that he would not
be able to enjoy being with his family again in this life.
The Ensign had a good
article on Parley P. Pratt several years ago.
