TESTIMONY OF ELDER NEPHI PRATT /

(Note: AT the time Brother Pratt was presiding over the Northwestern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he often visited us, coming to Bozeman, where we lived whenever he came to Montana from Portland.  During one of these visits he and my father, Martin Lundwall, had one of their good gospel visits, such as men of mature years are capable of experiencing and enjoying.  My father requested that Brother Pratt record his testimony on the phonograph, whereupon Brother Pratt retired to an upstairs room and wrote his testimony.  As soon as I came home from work, being employed in the Government Service, I recorded his testimony on the records, and these records were afterwards taken by Apostle Melvin J. Ballard and I think he gave them to members of the family of Elder Pratt.  The testimony is in the exact words as he uttered them.  Signed: N. B. Lundwall.)

“I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that he fought with and conquered death that all men might come forth from their graves and live, and if I shall live to meet him face to face, in the great hereafter and shall behold him in all of His glory, even then I shall not know that He lives and that he died that men might live more certainly and more surely than I this day know these eternal truths.  I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God; that Holy Beings from the Bosom of eternity appeared unto him.  I know that Holy Messengers from God laid their sacred hands upon his head and gave him authority to preach the Gospel and administer the ordinances thereof.  I know that this great prophet held the keys to bind and seal on earth that which shall be bound and sealed in Heaven, and that by this authority and power family organization may in this world be formed for eternity, so that when a man and his wife and children shall enter through the veil into the eternal world, their union shall remain and shall continue through the endless ages of eternity.  These things God has made known to me, and whether come weal or woe, life or death, I testify that these things are true, and that these unspeakable blessings are within the reach of all who will seek after them.  This is my testimony before God and His Holy Angels, and upon its truths I am willing to stand before my Redeemer in the great Judgment Day.

[MS 5719 (5-6)]

[Transcribed by Erin T. McAllister and Brandan Hull, March 2011]

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