Letter from Moroni W. Pratt to a friend, July 1883

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The following extracts are from a letter sent to a friend of Elder Pratt’s, in Bloomington:

I have baptized two adults since my letter to the Democrat, making six baptisms since our spring conference. There was a cyclone passed through this state near where two of our Elders were laboring. It tore down a church and scattered contents promiscuously around. The church bible was found at some distance from the building, lying on a fence post and opened at the 24th chapter of Matthew, of which here are a few extracts—verse 3 “And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives the disciples came unto him privately saying, tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of they coming, and of the end of the world. And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.

See that ye be not troubled for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet; for nation shall rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But be that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

(It would be well enough to study the passages contained in the chapter, and see if the judgments of the Lord are not coming to pass as recorded.)

It is the first time that I ever heard of a cyclone carrying a bible to preach from, and giving references to chapter and verse, to prove its calling and authority to tear down the churches of hell, or the devil’s cradles in which he rocks sinners to sleep and leads them quietly down to hell. But we are testifying of cyclones and they testify of us and why should we not use the same bible. * * * * And now may God give you the victory is the prayer of your brother in the Gospel of Peace,

M.W. Pratt

[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 14, 1883, 10]
[Bear Lake Democrat, July 14, 1883]

[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Apr. 2006]

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