History of Orson Pratt continued
HISTORY
OF
O R S O N P R A T T
Continued.
February 2nd, 1832.—On this day, by the counsel of the Prophet, I was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Sidney Rigdon.
Feb. 3rd..—Elder L. E. Johnson and myself started on our eastern mission, traveling, as usual, on foot, without purse or scrip, and carrying our change of clothing in our hands. We traveled in an easterly direction through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York City, to Hurlgate, on Long Island; preached thirty times in towns and villages on the way, where they previously had never heard the gospel. In the town of Blakesley, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, we baptized four, and ordained one of them, namely, Asbury Secor, a priest. At Hurlgate, near the last of March, I baptized and confirmed my oldest brother, Anson Pratt. From this place we traveled north, visited Canaan, Columbia county, New York; saw my parents. We then traveled north east through the southern part of Vermont into New Hampshire, proceeded up the eastern shore of the Connecticut river to Bath, preaching wherever we were led by the Spirit; while journeying from Long Island to Bath held five meetings.
We tarried twenty-six days in the regions round about Bath, held twenty-one meetings, and baptized fifteen, among whom were Orson Johnson, Hazen Aldrich, Amasa Lyman, John Duncan, and Daniel S. Miles.
May 14.—We traveled north, and came to the town of Charleston in Vermont; tarried ten days; preached seven times in this region, baptized fourteen, among whom were Winslow Farr, William Snow and Zerubbabel Snow. In these parts the Lord wrought by our hands many miracles of healing.
May 25.—We went about thirty miles north west to the town of Troy; tarried nineteen days; held sixteen meetings in these regions; baptized eighteen in the town of Jay, and then started back to Charleston.
June 15.—Arrived among our brethren in Charleston; tarried eleven days, held six meetings; baptized eleven, one of whom was John Badger. Then went south a few miles and held eleven meetings; here the Lord healed a lame woman whom we baptized.
July 4.—Again visited Bath; tarried three days; preached twice; baptized four; ordained Hazen Aldrich an Elder.
July 9.—Started again for Charleston; tarried six days, attended three meetings; baptized one; ordained John Badger an Elder, William Snow a Priest, and Winslow Farr a Teacher and then traveled to the town of Jay, and held two meetings: we next returned to Bath, held two meetings, and ordained John Duncan a Teacher.
July 30.—We departed from Bath and went to the town of Benson, about five days’ journey; we tarried in this region about twenty-five days, held fourteen meetings in various towns and villages; baptized two, and attended a conference.
August 28.—We started a journey of over one hundred miles to the south part of Connecticut where we arrived on the first of September: commenced preaching in the towns round about; tarried twenty-three days; held eleven meetings in the town of Madison, and six in the town of Killingsworth; baptized ten; and ordained one of them, namely, Willard Woodstock an Elder.
Sept. 24.—Started on a return journey to Benson; arrived in five days; tarried in Benson a few days; held four meetings.
Oct. 2.–Went on board of a vessel, sailed seventy miles down lake Champlain; landed at Port Kent on the west shore, and then traveled about thirty miles to Moerstown, New York, where we found one of our brethren, Ira Ames; held three meetings in this region.
Oct. 8.—Re-crossed the lake into Vermont; the next day preached in Franklin village two days more brought us to the town of Jay, where we held three meetings.
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Oct. 15.—Started for Bath; called at Charleston and held two meetings.
Oct. 20.—Arrived in Bath, stopped five days; held six meetings in the neighboring towns; baptized one, and ordained John Duncan a Priest; and William Snow from Charleston being present, we ordained him an Elder.
Oct. 26.—I started in company with Elders L. E. Johnson, Hazen Aldrich, and William Snow and traveled west some three or four hundred miles—a portion of which we rode on a canal boat, where I preached to the passengers.
Nov. 8.—Arrived in Spafford, Onondaga co., New York, at which place there was a branch of the church; here we tarried six days; held five meetings, one of which was a conference; eleven Elders present; baptized eight, among whom were Allen Holcomb, whom we ordained an Elder, Libbeus T. Coon and Mahew Hilman. Elder L. E. Johnson here united in the ministry with Hazen Aldrich and started for Ohio. I united in the ministry with Elder William Snow and started eastward, preached in the villages of Vesper, Tully, and Fabius, in the latter place tarried six days; baptized two, namely, Samuel and Jemima Newcomb.
Nov. 23.—Traveled eleven miles: preached twice in Casinovia; then traveled six days to the town of Day, Saratoga co., where we tarried seventeen days; held fifteen meetings.
Dec. 20.—We started for Bolton on the west shore of lake George; here was a branch of the church: we tarried ten days; held ten meetings; baptized ten persons.
Dec. 31.—Ordained Silas T. Gardner an Elder, and then started for Benson in Vermont; held one meeting in Benson; and then pursued our journey to Bath about 100 miles distant.
January 8, 1833.—Arrived in Bath; I tarried nine days, William Snow having gone to Charleston; held five meetings, then visited the church at Charleston, held one meeting; returned to Bath and held two meetings.
Jan. 28.—Started for Ohio.
Feb. 2.—Arrived in Bolton; tarried four days, held three meetings; baptized two; ordained John Tanner a priest, and then pursued my journey several hundred miles west. Within about 150 miles of Kirtland, I fell in company with D. W. Patten and Reynolds Cahoon, tarried and held four meetings with them, and then proceeded on my journey to Kirtland, where I arrived Feb. 17, 1833, having been absent on this eastern mission one year and fourteen days, during which we traveled on foot near 4000 miles; attended 207 meetings mostly in places where they had not heard the word; baptized 104 persons and organized several new branches of the church.
Feb. 18.—Washed my hands and feet as a testimony unto the Lord that I had warned this wicked generation, and that my garments were clean from their blood, and on the same day I was admitted into the school of the Prophets. During my attendance at this school, I boarded with the Prophet Joseph, from whom I received much good instruction. On the Sabbath days I continued preaching in various places.
Elder Lyman E. Johnson and myself, having received a commandment, through the Prophet, to visit the churches and preach in the Eastern States, left Kirtland on the 26th of March to fill our mission. We arrived in Bath, New Hampshire, on the 7th June, having attended forty-four meetings by the way, and baptized thirteen.
June 8.—Met in conference in Bath: present, high priests, 4; elders 8; priests, 2. At this conference, Elders Willard Woodstock, Harlow Redfield, William Snow and Hazen Aldrich were ordained high priests; Henry Harriman was ordained an elder, and Daniel Carter, a member, was ordained a priest, the ordinations being administered under my hands. During the next six days we held meetings in the towns round about.
June 14.—Elder Lyman E. Johnson went to Charleston, and continued laboring in St. Johnsbury and the adjoining towns.
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June 18.—I baptized six, namely, Gardner Snow, Willard Snow, Lucina Snow, Jacob Gates, Mary Gates and Emily Harvey; the last person named having been healed three days before, by the power of God. After this I held thirty-five meetings in different counties in Northern Vermont, and baptized eight; returned to St. Johnsbury.
July 6.—Preached in St. Johnsbury, and baptized Sally Snow. The 28th, preached and baptized Susan Briant. After this held sixteen meetings in the towns around, and baptized seventeen; the most of whom lived in Danville. Many were healed, through the ordinances, by the power of God.
July 19.—Started for Charleston.
July 24.—Attended conference in Charleston. Elders Orson Johnson and John Badger were ordained high priests. Winslow Farr, Isaac Aldrich, and Roswell Evans were ordained elders; Gardner Snow, Willard Snow and Joseph Swasey were ordained priests; and Horace Evans was ordained a teacher, the ordinations being under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson. After attending five meetings I left for Danville.
Aug. 31.—Ordained Jacob Rust an elder; tarried three days longer; held three meetings and baptized three. And then went to Bath, held five meetings in the adjoining towns, and baptized three.
Sept. 8.—Held two meetings in Bath. Bro. Horace Cowen ordained an elder under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson.
Sept. 9.—I left Bath for Kirtland; held some meetings by the way; arrived in Kirtland Sept.28, having been absent six months, during which I traveled about 2,000 miles, attended 125 meetings, and baptized upwards of 50 persons.
I remained in Kirtland about two months, labored on the House of the Lord and printing office thirty days; the most of the time boarded with the Prophet.
Nov. 27.—Elder Lyman E. Johnson and myself started to visit some of the eastern churches, having been set apart by a council of high priests for that purpose.
Dec. 11.—Held a conference in the evening at Elk Creek, settled some difficulties between the elders; Amasa Lyman ordained a high priest, under the hands of Lyman E. Johnson. From Kirtland to this place we had held seven meetings.
Dec. 16.—We went to Silver Creek; tarried eight days; held eight meetings in the adjoining towns; then left for Geneseo, where we held a conference and preached much in the adjoining regions. After which I went to Waterloo, near where the church was first organized, where I arrived on the 17th of January, 1834.
January 20, 1834.—I started for Kirtland, preaching by the way.
Feb. 13.—Arrived in Kirtland, Elder Lyman E. Johnson having arrived a few days before me. I had been absent about two months and a half, traveled about 1000 miles, and attended 37 meetings.
Feb. 22—I preached about four miles east of Cleaveland.
Feb. 23.—Preached at Newbury Centre.
Feb. 24.—I traveled to Kirtland. This day the Prophet received a revelation, wherein Orson Hyde and myself were appointed to travel together, to assist in gathering up the strength of the Lord’s House, preparatory to the redemption of Zion. (See Doc. And Cov, sec. 101, par. 7.)
Feb. 26.—We left Kirtland; traveled eastward above two weeks, preaching by the way. Arrived in Geneseo March 15.
March 17.—Attended council, held at father Beaman’s house, in which I was appointed to travel with Elder John Murdock.
March 20.—We started westward, preaching almost every day. Baptized two in the town of Greenwood.
March 30.—Arrived in the town of Freedom; tarried in this region twelve days; held eleven meetings; baptized 22, one of whom, Heman Hyde, April 10, we ordained a teacher.
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April 11.—Continued our journey towards Kirtland, occasionally preaching by the way.
— 24.—Arrived in Kirtland, having been absent nearly two months, during which we traveled about 800 miles, attended thirty four meetings, baptized 24 persons.
— 26.—I copied revelations for the Prophet Joseph.
May 1.—Being appointed to take charge of a company of twenty persons, we started for Zion with four wagons. The Prophet overtook us in a few days with a larger company, and we continued our journey to Clay Co., Missouri.
July 7.—I was ordained one of the standing High Council in Zion, under the hands of Prest. Joseph Smith.
— 19.—Bishop Partridge and myself having been appointed by the High Council to visit the scattered Saints throughout Clay Co., and set the churches in order, commenced our mission. We held eight meetings in different parts of the county.
— 31.—We reported the results of our mission to the High Council, which accepted the same. After which the council selected John Carrill, Simeon Carter, Parley P. Pratt and myself to visit the church throughout the county and hold public meetings, which we accordingly did.
Aug. 21.—The High Council gave their sanction for me to travel eastward towards Kirtland, preaching by the way. I accordingly united in the ministry with my brother Wm. D. Pratt, and in a few days left, traveling on the north side of the Missouri river. Over exertion in traveling brought on the fever and ague, which continued to afflict me at intervals for months. Sometimes I laid down upon the wet prairies, many miles from any house, being unable to travel. Wm. D. Pratt stopped at Vandalia, Illinois. At Terre Haute I preached a few times, and baptized George W. Harris and his wife; about the last of November I united in the ministry with Elder John Murdock, and continued my journey eastward, preaching in many places. In a few days we arrived at Sugar Creek, Indiana, where we found Lorenzo D. Barnes and Lewis Robbins, who had just arrived from Zion. After holding a few meetings in this region, and baptizing a few, I united with Elder Barnes to travel.
Jan. 2, 1835.—We left Sugar Creek; preached in many places for the next eighteen days.
— 20.—Arrived in Cincinnati.
— 22.—Crossed the Ohio river, visited a small branch of the church on Licking river; tarried with them two weeks, preaching almost every evening; baptized a few.
Feb. 6.—Went to Cincinnati, and commenced preaching in that city and in the towns round about. Tarried one month; baptized some.
March 6.—We started for another field of labor, and commenced preaching in Newbury, and in the adjoining towns; tarried about six weeks, preaching almost every day.
April 20.—We started for Kirtland. While in the streets of Columbus, Ohio, I saw a man passing, whom I felt impressed to speak to: he was a Saint, and the only one in the city; I stopped at his house, and there read a late number of the Messenger and Advocate; found that I had been chosen one of the Twelve Apostles, and was requested to be in Kirtland on the 26th of April.
— 24.—Took the stage, and arrived in Kirtland on the 26th, about 10 o’clock in the forenoon; walked into the meeting, and learned that they had been prophesying that I would arrive there, so as to attend that meeting, although no one of them knew where I was. I was much rejoiced at meeting with the Saints.
— 26.—I was ordained one of the Twelve Apostles in this last dispensation, under the hands of David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery.
— 29.—I was blessed under the hands of Joseph Smith, sen.
May 4.—I left with the Twelve on a mission through the middle and Eastern States.
June 18.—I baptized Sarah Marinda Bates, near Sacketts Harbor, whom I received in
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marriage upwards of one year after. During the latter part of July, the month of August, and the fore part of September, I preached almost every day in New Hampshire, in towns where they had not before heard; baptized a few, and then returned to Kirtland.
Sept. 25.—Arrived in Kirtland.
Oct. 14.—Started on a mission to the Ohio river, preaching by the way; tarried two or three weeks in Beaver Co., Penn.; held sixteen meetings; baptized a few and raised up a small branch of the church, and ordained Dr. Sampson Avard an elder to take charge of them, and then returned to Kirtland, where I arrived on the 16th of November.
In Dec. I taught an evening grammar school in Kirtland, also during the winter studied Hebrew about eight weeks; received a certificate from Prof. Seixas, testifying to my proficiency in the language, and certifying to my capabilities to teach the same. This was the winter and spring of our endowments in the Kirtland Temple.
April 6, 1836.—Left Kirtland on an eastern mission, went to Canada West, preached about two months; baptized several..
June 4.—Took the steamer for Oswego, commenced preaching in Jefferson Co. and the regions adjoining; baptized many, and raised up some new branches.
July 4.—I was married to Sarah M. Bates, Elder Luke Johnson officiating.
The fore part of Oct. I closed my mission in those parts, and started with my wife and a few of the Saints for Kirtland, where we arrived on the 12th of Oct.
Towards the last of autumn I commenced the study of Algebra without a teacher, occupying leisure hours in the evening. I soon went through Day’s Algebra.
About the middle of August, 1837, I moved my family from Kirtland to Henderson.
Oct. 2.—Having provided a home for my family, I started into the vineyard, labored during the fall and winter in the counties southeast from Jefferson Co., N. Y.; baptized a few.
Early in the spring, I took my family and went to the city of New York, and was appointed to preside over a large branch of the church in that city. I preached diligently among them some six or seven months, baptized many. In the mean time I again visited Henderson, left my wife at her father’s, and returned to New York; but receiving a letter from Far West, Missouri, to come to Zion, I again went to Henderson, brought my family again to New York City, and from there we departed for the west; arrived in St. Louis about the middle of November. The ice prevented our progress any further. Stopped in St. Louis, and labored with my hands during the winter.
In the spring of 1838, I removed to Quincy, Illinois. In April went to Far West, from which the Saints had been driven, held a conference with several of the Twelve on the morning of the 26th, and took our departure from the corner stone of the Temple for foreign nations, according to the revelation given through the Prophet more than a year before. Returned to Illinois.
July 4.—Was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering my brother Parley from prison.
In the autumn visited New York City, continued preaching in the eastern churches of the Saints until the spring of 1840, when I embarked with several of the Twelve for England. In April made my way to Edinburgh, Scotland; preached there about nine months; raised up a church of over 200 Saints; published a pamphlet now entitled, REMARKABLE VISIONS.
In the spring of 1841, set sail from Liverpool with several of the Twelve, and arrived in New York City; where I republished the Remarkable Visions. Visited Henderson, near Lake Ontario; and then pursued my journey to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, having been absent from my family about two years.
I remained in Nauvoo about one year, during a portion of which I had the charge of a mathematical school.
In the summer of 1843, I performed a mission with several of the Twelve through the Eastern States; returned in the autumn; and being elected a member of the City Council, I was appointed in connection with others to draw up a memorial to Congress, which was accepted by the council, and I was appointed to go to Washington and present the same. I accordingly went and tarried in Washington ten weeks: this was in the spring of 1844. While sojourning in that city, I preached and baptized a few, and during my leisure moments, I
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calculated eclipses, and prepared an Almanac for publication for 1845. This I entitled THE PROPHETIC ALMANAC: it was calculated for the latitude and meridian of Nauvoo, and some other principal towns in the United States. This was the first that I ever calculated and published. After this I visited several of the Eastern States, holding meetings, both religious and political.
June 27, 1844.—I was in New York city and wrote a letter home to my family. After hearing of the martyrdom of Joseph the Prophet, I returned with several of the Twelve to Nauvoo.
From 1836 to 1844, I occupied much of my leisure time in study, and made myself thoroughly acquainted with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, conic sections, differential and integral calculus, astronomy, and most of the physical sciences. These studies I pursued without the assistance of a teacher.
For further particulars, concerning my travels and ministry, those interested can refer to my manuscript journal.
[Transcribed by Christina J. Durham, Marlene Peine, and Mauri Pratt; June 2012]