Jump to content

Orson Pratt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orson Pratt
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
January 20, 1843(1843-01-20)– October 3, 1881(1881-10-03)
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 26, 1835(1835-04-26)– August 20, 1842(1842-08-20)
Called byThree Witnesses
LDS ChurchApostle
April 26, 1835(1835-04-26)
Called byThree Witnesses
ReasonInitial organization of Quorum of the Twelve
Reorganization
at end of term		George TeasdaleandHeber J. Grantordained to replenish the Twelve
Personal details
Born(1811-09-19)September 19, 1811
Hartford,New York,United States
DiedOctober 3, 1881(1881-10-03)(aged 70)
Salt Lake City,Utah Territory,United States
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37.92″N111°51′28.8″W/ 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W/40.7772000; -111.858000

Orson Pratt Sr.(September 19, 1811 – October 3, 1881) was an American religious leader and mathematician who was an original member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostlesof theChurch of Christ (Latter Day Saints).He became a member of theQuorum of the Twelveofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS Church) and was a leading Mormon theologian and writer until his death.

Church membership and service

[edit]

Pratt was born inHartford, New York,the son ofJared Pratt and Charity Dickenson.He was the younger brother ofParley P. Pratt,who introduced him to the LDS Church and baptized him on Orson's nineteenth birthday, September 19, 1830, inCanaan, New York.[2]

Pratt was ordained anElderseveral months later, on December 1, 1830, byJoseph Smithand immediately set out forColesville, New York,his first mission.[3]This was the first of a number of short missions in which Pratt visited New York,Ohio,Missouri,and the Eastern States.[4]On February 2, 1832, he was ordained aHigh PriestbySidney Rigdon,[5]then he continued his missions, preaching inPennsylvania,New York,New Jersey,Vermont,New Hampshire,Connecticut,andMassachusetts.

Pratt was a member of the original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, called in 1835 under the direction of Joseph Smith.[6]He was ordained to this position on April 26, 1835.[7]He served as a member of the mission of the Twelve Apostles to the British Isles between 1839 and 1841. He contributed to the mission by preaching inScotland,and producing an early missionary tract, "An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions and the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records."[8]This tract contains the earliest known public printing of an account of Smith'sFirst Visionand also contains material similar to that later published as the 1842Articles of Faith.[9]

On his return to America in 1841, Pratt found the church membership in contention over several issues. Rumors and gossip were rife inNauvoo, Illinois,and Pratt found the religious principle ofplural marriagedifficult to accept. He rebelled against Joseph Smith when a report by disaffected MormonJohn C. Bennettaccused Smith of proposing marriage to Pratt's wife,Sarah Pratt,which Smith denied. Sarah also claimed that Smith had proposed, and Pratt believed his wife. After days of Smith and the other members of the Twelve remonstrating with Pratt, they decided that he would not yield, and thus Pratt was excommunicated on August 20, 1842. Pratt reconciled with Smith a few months after their falling out and requested re-baptism. Pratt was reinstated in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on January 20, 1843.[10]Sources claim that Pratt returned to fellowship in the LDS Church because he was able to reconcile Smith's human weakness with his divine revelations,[11]and others point to Smith's explanation that he was only trying to test Sarah's obedience, though Joseph's conclusion was that Sarah had failed the test of obedience by not accepting his proposal.[12]

Conflict with Brigham Young

[edit]

Pratt's brief period of disassociation with the church had long-term consequences. When dealing with seniority in the council after the death of Joseph Smith,Brigham Youngruled that if a council member had been disciplined and removed from the council, his seniority was based on the date of readmission. By this ruling, both apostleOrson Hydeand Pratt were moved down in seniority in June 1875.[13]This ensured that neither would become president of the LDS Church.[14]

After thedeath of Joseph Smith,Pratt was among the apostles that supported the leadership of Brigham Young, who determined to move his followers from Nauvoo to theSalt Lake Valley,where the LDS Church became established.[9]Not only did Pratt support Brigham Young’s leadership after Smith’s death, but he was also instrumental in gaining the support of the general body of the church.[15]

As an apostle under Young's leadership, Pratt tended to disagree with him on a variety of topics and found little support from the other apostles.[4]Young expressed an appreciation for Pratt's ability to preach but added regrettably that Pratt preached "false doctrine" more often than not. A few examples of conflicts with Brigham Young include opposition on Orson Pratt's part to reestablishing aFirst Presidencyin 1847, thelegalization of slavery in Utah Territoryin 1852,[16]and Brigham Young'sAdam-God teachings.Young also opposed Pratt's teachings that the One God of the Bible was a matrix of attributes shared by many individuals who had achieved exaltation to godhood.[17][18]

Young attempted to minimize Pratt's influence. He did so by sending him away on numerous missions and reorganizing how seniority was established in the Quorum of the Twelve.[14]Even with these conflicts, Brigham Young refused to try Pratt for his fellowship in the Church, an indication of how Young was willing to tolerate differences of opinion on theological issues.[19]After Young's death, Pratt's interpretations and opinions held more influence over the other apostles and later church leaders.[20]

Missionary service

[edit]
Orson Pratt in 1851

After settling in the Salt Lake Valley with theMormon pioneers,Pratt was called to return to Europe as amissionadministrator between 1848 and 1851, during which time he also served as editor of theMillennial Star.[21]In 1850, asmission presidentof theBritishMission,Pratt told hismissionarieshis strategy for spreading the gospel in an article titled, "How to Warn the Whole British Nation in One Year!"[22]Although this goal was not achieved, by the end of the year there were twice as many LDS Church members residing in Britain as in the United States.[citation needed]As a mission president, Pratt was admired by the missionaries for the many logical and well-written pamphlets he wrote and published while he was there and the way he communicated with British intellectuals to discuss theology.[23]

While presiding over this mission, Pratt received a pamphlet fromLorenzo Snowentitled "The voice of Joseph" that Snow wanted translated into French to advance his missionary efforts in northern Italy. Pratt managed to make contacts with people in Paris who were willing to do this translation.[24]

In 1865, Pratt was one of the first Mormonmissionariesto work inAustria.Traveling with William W. Ritter, he was there for nine months, but did not baptize anyone. The missionaries were eventually expelled by the Austrian government.[25]

Migration west

[edit]
A dimensionally accurate replica of the 1847 roadometer

When news reached Pratt that the LDS Church was moving westward, he said, "We do not want one saint to be left in the United States." He helped lead the Saints "out of Babylon."[26]Pratt was a member of Young's initial pioneer company, the "Vanguard Company",that crossed the plains to select a western site for Mormon colonization. His journals of this trip are an important Mormon history resource. As the group made their way from Missouri to Utah, Pratt acted as the company's scientific observer. He made regular readings with the company's scientific instruments, took notes on geological formations and mineral resources, and recorded information on plants and animals. He described snow onLaramie Peakon June 7, and noted that rock found on June 10, "would make excellent grindstones, being of fine grit sandstone."[27]

As a mathematician, Pratt assisted company scribeWilliam Clayton[28]in the design and invention of a version of the modernodometer.[4]Intended to compute the distance traveled per day, the design consisted of a set of wooden cog wheels attached to the hub of a wagon wheel, with the mechanism "counting" the revolutions of the wheel.[29]The apparatus, called the "roadometer", was built by carpenterAppleton Milo Harmon,and was first used on the morning of May 12, 1847.[30]

WithErastus Snow,Pratt entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 21, 1847, three days ahead of the main body of the Vanguard company. Several days later, he preached the first sermon in the Salt Lake Valley and formally dedicated the valley to the Lord.[31]

Family and polygamy

[edit]
See also:Pratt family

Some sources agree that Pratt married seven women and was the father of forty-five children,[4][32]though other sources, including his first wifeSarah,claim that he married ten women.[33] At age 57 Orson Pratt married his tenth wife, sixteen-year-old Margaret Graham.

Pratt and all of his wives and children struggled with poverty,[34]likely because Brigham Young constantly sent Pratt on missions to minimize his influence in the Quorum of the Twelve. Still, Pratt was able to support himself and his family by writing and publishing pamphlets on Mormon theology. Some of his wives also earned money by selling hats, fabrics, and other goods.[35]

On August 29, 1852, Orson Pratt delivered a sermon that taught the principle of polygamy, discussing the blessings of raising many children up in the LDS Church. This was the first time the practice was discussed openly in the church.[36]In June 1870, Pratt participated in a debate againstJohn P. Newmanon whether or not the Bible supported polygamy.[37]He defended the practice in his writings forThe Seerand throughout his ministry, gaining the title "the apostle of polygamy."[38]

List of wives

[edit]
  • Sarah Marinda Bates
  • Charlotte Bishop
  • Adelia Ann Bishop
  • Mary Ann Merrill
  • Sarah Louisa Chandler
  • Marion Ross
  • Juliette Ann Phelps[4]
  • Eliza Crooks
  • Sarah Louise Lewis[39]
  • Margaret Graham[40]

1842 polygamy scandal and relationship with Sarah Pratt

[edit]

In 1886, Pratt's wifeSarah Prattclaimed in an interview that, while inNauvoo, Illinois,thatJoseph Smithwas attracted to her and intended to make her "one of hisspiritual wives"while Pratt was in England on missionary service. To Smith's proposal, Sarah replied that she would never break her marriage covenant with Orson and that she did not believe in Smith's revelation regarding plural marriage.[41]She issued an ultimatum to Smith: "Joseph, if you ever attempt any thing of the kind with me again, I will tell Mr. Pratt on his return home."[42]

After Pratt returned from England, Sarah later claimed another incident occurred between her and Smith at her home. Sarah Pratt's neighbor, Mary Ettie V. Smith, reported that "Sarah ordered the Prophet out of the house, and the Prophet used obscene language to her," claiming that he had found John C. Bennett in bed with her.[41]According to Bennett, another incident where Joseph Smith tried to kiss Sarah caused her to tell her husband about the whole incident.[12]Pratt was torn between believing his wife or Smith; he wrote, "My sorrows are greater than I can bear!"[10]Pratt then took Sarah's side and confronted Smith, who denied Sarah's allegation and responded that she wasJohn C. Bennett's lover.[43]The resulting estrangement between Smith and Pratt, who stood by Sarah in preference to the denials of Smith, led to Smith warning his disciple that "if [Pratt] did believe his wife and follow her suggestions he would go to hell".[44]

In the local and Mormon press, Sarah Pratt was accused of having had an adulterous relationship, not with Smith, but withJohn C. Bennett,and several affidavits were printed in local and pro-MormonNauvoopublications,[45][46]including the leading councils of the church and from others such as Jacob B. Backenstos, a relative of the sheriff ofHancock County,though many of these allegations are believed to be falsified.[47]Orson Pratt attempted to commit suicide in 1842.[4]At the time, apostleWilford Woodruffstated that "Dr. John Cook Bennett was the ruin of Orson Pratt."[48]

A public meeting was held where a resolution supporting Smith's character was proposed; Pratt stated that he was unable to support the resolution, to which Smith replied, "Have you personally a knowledge of any immoral act in me toward the female sex, or in any other way?" Pratt answered no,[10]but he became estranged from the church and Smith. Brigham Young,Heber C. Kimball,andGeorge A. Smithspent several days trying to get Pratt to believe Smith, but Pratt continued to side with his wife. Finally, the three apostles excommunicated Pratt from the church.[47]According to Van Wagoner's article "Sarah M Pratt: The Shaping of an Apostate", Sarah was not excommunicated at this time.[49]Additionally,The Joseph Smith Papers, Documentsfound there was no record of ecclesiastical action taken against Sarah in January 1843.[50]Both Orson and Sarah were rebaptized by Joseph Smith when they returned to the church in 1843.[49]Orson did not ever consider himself truly excommunicated, and neither, it seems, did Smith.[51]

Bennett claimed that Pratt and his wife were planning to leave Nauvoo and help him "expose Mormonism," but Pratt would later publish a statement in theNauvoo Expositorto deny this claim.[10]Pratt soon returned to the church and denounced Bennett. Van Wagoner cites a letter written by Pratt's brotherParley P. Prattwhich said that Orson was a part of the church and that Bennett's book,The History of the Saints(1842), was written solely to get vengeance on those who had excommunicated him and barely worth mentioning. Pratt wrote a postscript to his brother's letter: "J.C. Bennett has published lies concerning myself & family & the people with which I am connected".[52]

Smith and Pratt directly discussed Pratt's wife, with Smith stating to him, "She lied about me: I never made the offer which she said I did," after which Joseph suggested he divorce Sarah and start a new family.[10]Pratt did not divorce Sarah at that time, though one source does report that Orson came to believe that Sarah had lied about Smith's proposal.[51]This event would impact the couple for the rest of their lives; they eventually did divorce, though decades later.[53]Sarah secretly encouraged her children not to believe in Mormon teachings. She and her son,Orson Pratt Jr.,eventuallyapostatizedfrom the church.[54]

Writer, historian and philosopher

[edit]

While in Illinois, Pratt acted as an instructor of mathematics at theUniversity of Nauvoo.[55]

Second issue ofThe SeerFebruary, 1853.

In Utah, Pratt's strong skills in analysis and writing led Young to assign him to produce sermons and pamphlets dealing with religious topics. Pratt wrote sixteen pamphlets in defense of LDS Church doctrines, drawing on the works of Joseph Smith and his brother Parley P. Pratt. These include "Divine Authority, or the Question, Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?" in 1848 and "Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon" in 1850 and 1851.[32]His pamphlet "An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions" was the first published account of theFirst Visionand included a list of beliefs that is similar to Smith's 1842"Articles of Faith".In "Absurdities of Immaterialism", Pratt defended the Mormon doctrine of materiality, with reference to science, philosophy, and theology. As part of his system ofMormon theology,Pratt embraced the philosophical doctrine ofhylozoism.[56]

Although these materials were primarily used in the mission field, Pratt was also a church spokesman on the topic ofplural marriage.At a special conference inSalt Lake Cityin August 1852, Pratt publicly preached a sermon announcing the doctrine of plural marriage. He later published an essay in defense of the practice in 12 monthly installments in the church periodicalThe Seer,[4]which provides the most complete defense of the Mormon doctrine during this period.[35]Pratt himself is considered one of the most influential early apologists for the LDS Church.[14]

Pratt's views were not always without controversy. In 1865, a majority of theFirst Presidencyand theQuorum of the Twelve Apostlesof the LDS Church officially condemned some of Pratt's doctrinal writings, including some of his articles fromThe Seer.They considered it to be misleading and questionable in relation to the actual doctrine of the Church.[57][58]Though his many controversial beliefs have been rejected by Brigham Young and other Church leaders, Pratt's writings have nevertheless influenced many modern Mormon beliefs, including their concept of God and the doctrine of the gathering of Israel.[14]

In 1869, Pratt transliterated a portion of theBook of Mormoninto theDeseret Alphabet.[37]

Pratt acted asChurch Historian and Recorderfrom 1874 until his death. He edited many church periodicals and helped divide editions of theBook of MormonandDoctrine and Covenantsinto verses and provided footnoted cross references.[59]He served seven terms as Speaker of the House in theUtah legislature.[4]

Science publications and lectures

[edit]

Pratt was known as an accomplished mathematician and had a strong interest inastronomy.The disciplines combined with others to form in his mind a philosophy of what might be called 'early'Mormon cosmology.He offered science-based lectures on these topics to early Mormon audiences in Utah and published two related books.New and Easy Method of Solution of the Cubic and Biquadratic Equationswas published in 1866, andKey to the Universewas published in 1879.[32]The former is claimed to have been used as a textbook in England, Germany, and France, as Pratt was known as a talented mathematician even outside of Mormon circles.[60]

In October 1851, Orson Pratt taughtmathematicsin the 'Parent School' of theUniversity of Deseret.The Thirteenth Ward School House was used for a classroom. On December 15, 1851, he commenced a series of lectures onastronomyand itsreligious implications,in theCouncil House.These educational efforts technically were part of an adult educational program.[61]

List of published works

[edit]

Death

[edit]
Grave marker of Orson Pratt.

At age 70,[25]Pratt died of complications fromdiabetesin Salt Lake City. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.[4]He continued to be a leading Mormon theologian and writer until his death.[21]When he died, he was the last member of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve who had been an original member of the 1835 Quorum.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Smith, George D. (1994)."Nauvoo Roots of Mormon Polygamy, 1841-46:A Preliminary Demographic Report"(PDF).Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.27(1): 1–72.doi:10.2307/45228320.JSTOR45228320.S2CID254329894.Retrieved20 November2020.
  2. ^Ludlow 1992,p. 425.
  3. ^England 1985,p. 25.
  4. ^abcdefghiVan Wagoner, R.S.; Walker, S.C. (1982).A Book of Mormons.Salt Lake City: Signature Books. p. 212.ISBN0941214060.
  5. ^Watson 1975,p. 12.
  6. ^abChisholm 1911
  7. ^Watson 1975,p. 59.
  8. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 164.
  9. ^abLudlow 1992,p. 426.
  10. ^abcdeBushman 2005,Chapter 26.
  11. ^Whittaker 1994,p. xi.
  12. ^abSmith 2011,chpt. 2.
  13. ^Bergera 1992.
  14. ^abcdBergera 2002,Epilogue.
  15. ^Whittaker 1994,p. xii.
  16. ^Reeve, W. Paul (2023).Let's Talk About Race and Priesthood.Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 61, 64–69.ISBN978-1-63993-119-4.
  17. ^England 1985,p. 190.
  18. ^"1865 Proclamation of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles".Oracles of God: Significant Documents from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.BYU-Idaho Archives.Retrieved26 June2023.
  19. ^Arrington, Leonard J. (1986).Brigham Young: American Moses(1. Illinois pbk. ed.). Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press. pp. 206–209.ISBN978-0-252-01296-9.
  20. ^Bergera, Gary James (2006)."Conflict in the Quorum".SignatureBooks Archive.Archived fromthe originalon 2006-10-21.Retrieved2022-09-14.
  21. ^abLudlow 1992,pp. 425–428.
  22. ^England 1985,p. 156.
  23. ^England 1985,p. 155.
  24. ^Homer, Michael W. (2002)."Il Libro di Mormon: Anticipating Growth Beyond Italy's Waldensian Valleys"(PDF).Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.11(1).FARMS:40–44.doi:10.5406/jbookmormstud.11.1.0040.S2CID193621954.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-01-23.Retrieved2016-12-01.
  25. ^abDeseret News Church Almanac(2005 ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News. 2004. p. 273.
  26. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 249.
  27. ^May 1987,p. 57.
  28. ^Watson 1975,p. 376.
  29. ^Watson 1975,p. 391.
  30. ^Watson 1975,p. 393.
  31. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 256-257.
  32. ^abcLudlow 1992,p. 427.
  33. ^Van Wagoner 1986,pp. 92.
  34. ^Van Wagoner 1986,p. 93
  35. ^abWhittaker 1994,p. xvii.
  36. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 186, 286.
  37. ^abAllen & Leonard 1992,p. 348.
  38. ^Smith 2011,chpt. 3.
  39. ^Van Wagoner 1986,pp. 88.
  40. ^England 1985,p. 296-297.
  41. ^abSmith 1971,p. 83.
  42. ^Van Wagoner 1986,p. 72.
  43. ^Van Wagoner 1986,p. 72
  44. ^Van Wagoner 1986,p. 77.
  45. ^"Times and Seasons".No. 3. Nauvoo, Illinois. August 1, 1842. pp. 868–878.
  46. ^"Times and Seasons".No. 3. Nauvoo, Illinois. October 1, 1842. pp. 939–940.
  47. ^abBergera 2002,chpt. 1.
  48. ^Watson 1975,p. 180.
  49. ^abVan Wagoner 1986,p. 82.
  50. ^Godfrey, Smith, Grow, and Esplin 2020,p. 352; note 8.
  51. ^abBergera 2002,chpt. 2.
  52. ^Van Wagoner 1986,pp. 82–83
  53. ^Park, Benjamin E. (2020).Kingdom of Nauvoo.Liverwright Publishing Corporation. p. 146.
  54. ^Whittaker 1994,p. xiii.
  55. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 173.
  56. ^England 1985,p. 148-149.
  57. ^"Deseret News". August 23, 1865. p. 373.
  58. ^Roberts, B.H. (1912).Defense of the Faith and the Saints(2 ed.). p. 294.
  59. ^Allen & Leonard 1992,p. 388
  60. ^Whittaker 1994,p. xviii.
  61. ^Lyon, T. Edgar (August 1947)."Orson Pratt — A Biographical Study".The Instructor.82(10): 470..

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toOrson Pratt.
Wikiquote has quotations related toOrson Pratt.
Wikisourcehas original works by or about:
Orson Pratt
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saintstitles
Later renamed:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(1844)
Preceded by Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
January 20, 1843–October 3, 1881 		Succeeded by
Church of the Latter Day Saintstitles
Later renamed: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1838)
Preceded by Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 26, 1835–August 20, 1842 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orson_Pratt&oldid=1219896248"