The President and Party
A dispatch per Deseret Telegraph Line, dated Scipio, 31,
Says, the President and party arrived here last evening at 5 p.m. and held meeting last night. Nephi Pratt, R.T. Burton and B. Young, jr., spoke on the subjects of gathering, and living up to the counsels of those God had placed to guide his people. There was a good meeting….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 31, 1870, 2]
[Deseret News, Sept. 1, 1870]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Nephi Pratt succeeded Franklin S. Bramwell as President of Northwestern States Mission.
–Jenson’s Chronology
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mar, 1902, 5]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Open-Air Meeting
…President Nephi Pratt of the Northwestern States Mission spoke on the restitution of the Gospel, and showed that there is but one Gospel, and that it is essentially and eternally unchangeable; hence the Gospel today must be the same as that which the Master established. He compared the principles taught by the former day Saints with those enunciated by latter-day Saints showing them to be the same. Also the organization of the primitive Church with that of Christ’s church today was emphasized as to their similarity. Even the mode of preaching the Gospel is identical with that of early days, and the same bitterness towards the true followers of the lowly Nazarene is ever unchanged. The Gospel has been restored by an angel to Joseph Smith in fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 8, 1905, 8]
[Deseret News, Oct. 9, 1905]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Saturday Afternoon Session
…Elder Nephi Pratt, president of the Northwestern States mission, was called upon to report his field of labor. In the Northwestern States mission there are between 700 and 800 Saints. The missionaries have been laboring with the millions of people that occupy that district of country. The Elders had sometimes felt discouraged with their labors, on account of religious indifference. But recently the Lord had shed his Spirit upon the people and baptisms as a consequence are being performed everywhere. At places from which a little while ago the Elders were withdrawn, the Elders are now reaping abundant harvest. The speaker related instances where the Spirit of the Lord had wrought upon the hearts of the people. As a rule, the newspapers are free with their columns to the missionaries.
Elder Pratt suggested that the missionary organizations here at home make it their business to look after the converts who come from the missionary fields, to introduce them to Bishops and others in wards where their interests will be safe.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 8, 1906, 4]
[Deseret News, Apr. 8, 1906]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Afternoon Overflow
…Elder Nephi Pratt, president of the Northwestern States mission, delivered a brief discourse on the beauties of the gospel of Christ. He was a strong believer in the free agency of man, and rejoiced in witnessing the pouring out of blessings upon the saints through the obedience to the commandments of heaven. The wickedness and ungodly would perish, but the righteous should inherit the earth; and while the machinations of men directed against the cause of God should be brought to naught. Mormonism, which is God’s truth, should stand forever….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 7, 1906, 5]
[Deseret News, Oct. 8, 1906]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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In the Assembly Hall
Overflow Gatherings Addressed by Mission President and Others
Attendance at the morning session at the tabernacle was so large that an overflow meeting in the assembly hall was arranged, and it was not long until that large auditorium was packed. Elder Heber J. Grant conducted the services, and the congregation joined in furnishing the music.
Elder Nephi Pratt
President Nephi Pratt, of the Northwestern States mission, reported the successes and difficulties encountered in the promulgation of the gospel in the field of the northwest. The headquarters of the mission are now at Portland, Or., and President Pratt reported the elders under his charge as laboring diligently for the spreading of the truth of the great latter-day gospel….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 7, 1907, 6]
[Deseret News, Apr. 8, 1907]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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At Assembly Hall
Morning Overflow Meeting Presided Over by Heber J. Grant
…Elder Nephi Pratt, president of the Northwestern States mission, next spoke, reporting the condition of that mission as the best he has known since he has presided over it. In a notable instance the eyes of the blind have been opened, and consumption cured through the prayer of faith. The elders and saints of that mission are being magnified before the world by their goodly example and influence, and the speaker exhorted all the saints to faithfulness, cheerfulness, and preaching the gospel to their neighbors and the world, both by example and precept….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 5, 1908, 2]
[Deseret News, Apr. 6, 1908]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Barratt Hall Overflow
Instructive Service Conducted for Those Unable to Attend Tabernacle
In spite of the fact that a drizzling rain was pouring down all morning and afternoon, there was an overflow meeting in Barratt hall beginning shortly after 2 p.m. The tabernacle was crowded and so was the assembly hall but the saints who were unable to find seats in those two places were directed to Barratt hall, where a most interesting and instructive service was held….
The first speaker was Elder Nephi Pratt, president of the Northwestern States mission. He bore a strong testimony to the divinity of the gospel and stated that he had come more than 800 miles to attend conference. He said that he had watched the growth of the Church since childhood and declared that its establishment and growth were the direct results of revelation. The speaker said he remembered, as a child, attending meetings under the old bowery, and that the present magnificent places of worship were seen years ago by the prophetic eyes of the inspired leaders of the Church. Elder Pratt said he knew Brigham Young and never forgot his teachings and he advised the saints to work out their individual salvation.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 4, 1908, 8]
[Deseret News, Oct. 5, 1908]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Morning Meeting at the Assembly Hall
Elder Nephi Pratt said he was one and a half years old when he came to Salt Lake valley. In that day it was a desert, so still that it must have been appalling to the few hundred who were here. He referred to the entry of the pioneers and the indication President Young gave as to the location of the temple. The speaker remembered the scenes through which the people passed. He saw mighty forces rise up to destroy the people and he has this people delivered. Its growth has been opposed but not retarded. And now the cry is “Give us room that we may dwell.”
In the Northwestern States mission more souls are now being gathered into the fold than has ever been the case in the past. Comparatively the hostility of the past has been broken up, and the people’s hearts are being agitated. It appears as if harvest time in the world is coming for a few years. In the mission that he has presided over for so many years, there are three women to one man. Some women in the mission cry because they have not kept the counsels of their parents, and their children are unblest because of the opposition of their husbands. He thought it better for women to pray to the Lord for 20 years for proper partners than to unite as some of the daughters of Zion have done….
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 4, 1909, 5]
[Deseret News, Apr. 5, 1909]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
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Brother Melvin Ballard was set apart under the hands of Presidents Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder and Francis M. Lyman and Elder John Henry Smith, as President of the Northwestern States Mission, to succeed President Nephi Pratt, Prest. Lyman officiating.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apr. 6, 1909, 8]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, May 2006]
-End-