Memo #99 (92 to go)

December 1, 2008
From: Richard M. Pratt
Re: Christmas
To: My beloved family and friends

My dear family once again it is Christmas time and many in the world are paying our Great Redeemer a little lip service. Let us do more than that. May I be able in the next four pages, so brief, when we consider the thousands of pages written about him. May I be able to, by the Spirit, working in me and in you gain some little glimpse of what Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and king is trying to do for you and I and every soul living on the earth or has or will yet enjoy its fantastic richness.
In as much as most Christmas messages are about the short 33 years he spent on earth may I briefly allude to them and then spend the balance of this message on the great King, Lord, and Law Giver whose soon arrival on this earth to rule and reign is about to be ushered in.
He started this mortal life as we all do by the birth process of a mother who offers to die that we might have physical life.
“and she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
(note: The earth he had created couldn’t even give him a decent place to be born.
Have you ever been in a barn filled with a variety of animals? I have and it definitely is not where I would want my beloved mother to give birth.
“and lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people.”
In the balance of this brief letter may I somehow in my inept way be able to portray the fantastic joy that awaits those who find their way back into the presence of this tiny baby now soon to be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In doing so we will have to pass thru some very turbulent times for all the nations of the earth must suffer the total collapse of earthly governments. For all earthly governments are in a sad stage of corruption as the rightful freedoms given by God are trampled on and destroyed. There are and will be thru this time of peril three places of safety.
NOTICE: “And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place (home ~ yours hopefully) of Zion and upon her assemblies (churches) a cloud and smoke by day, and the shinning of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.” (This is the same way the saints have been protected in times of danger earlier.) “there shall be a tabernacle (Temple) for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Notice: the three places of safety, your HOME, CHURCH, and the TEMPLE. From Isaiah 4: 5-6
This earth is living and must die, but since it keeps the law it shall be restored thru the resurrection by which it shall become Celestialized and the abode of Celestial Beings. For the Lord said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
It’s certain that the meek will not inherit it in this life. So that fulfillment can only come after the Lord and King has returned in power and great glory to rule and reign upon THIS earth forever.
There are so many scriptures pertaining to this monumental event that I can only refer to a few of them. But every aspect of the Savior’s soon return is prophesied in detail, except for one thing, the time . And there is excellent reason for this, If the time was given, we, being human, would put off getting prepared until it would be everlastingly to late.
Not knowing the exact time keeps the believers in a constant state of readiness. But the signs are everywhere that it is so very close.
Many people, other than ourselves, are at least making lip service to that monumental day.
“and it shall come to pass that he that loveth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.
And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke. And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven. And the remnant shall look for me, and behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels, and he that watches not for me shall be cut off. But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his trump, and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud….then shall the arm of the Lord fall upon the nations. And then the Lord shall set his foot upon this mount (Mt. Of Olives) and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro and the heavens shall shake.
And the Lord shall utter his voice, and the ends of the earth shall hear it; and they that have laughed shall see their folly…. then shall the Jews look upon me and say: what are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?
Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.” D & C 45:39-52
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and every thing that in them are or as it states in the opening chapter of John, “In the beginning was the word…the same was in the beginning with God…all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3
Having made ALL THINGS then he as the creator OWNS all things. And from the dust of the earth, which he owns he created man. Therefore none of us can even call our body our own for it belongs to the great creator. But what a marvelous plan he has for each one of us if we will but accept it.
You see HE is trying to create a royal place for us to live in opulence (what does that word mean?) forever more. Let us be among those who accept the offer.
First it takes three things to make a kingdom ~ LAND ~ PEOPLE ~ and a KING. He is the KING and He had created the land and since its creation he has been trying to people his kingdom.
Right now I am looking at a picture of my wife who at the age of twenty- two chose to become a citizen of the U.S.A. She had been born in Canada when it was still a part of the Kingdom of Great Britain, therefore she was a British citizen but in compliance with USA law she renounced her British citizenship and became a “naturalized” citizen of the U.S.A.
It wasn’t easy and took two or three years of hard study learning American history, an expensive trip to Calgary, Canada and all the money we could rake up plus the
Very generous help of a rich uncle whom I only remember as Uncle Ez. Who lived in Calgary. I never met him but will be eternally grateful to him. I think he was married to my wife’s mother’s sister so was only related by marriage. THANK YOU UNCLE EZ.
Now let us compare how the Lord provides citizenship for his kingdom. Like our country, birth into the world, no matter where, from pole to pole grants automatic citizenship. All new borns are citizens of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is His church and this is in preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven which He will bring with him and that will add to the present church laws all the civil laws needed to govern a bonifide Kingdom.
At the age of eight ones citizenship is on the line still, a one year extension is granted and their names are not taken off the kingdoms roles till their ninth birthday then it remains if they have complied with the naturalization laws. (baptism)
And here are the laws that allow eternal citizenship rights in the realms of the Lord.
We must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (the King) and that he rewards those that diligently seek him. This is called FAITH and without faith it is impossible to please Him.
We must put ourselves in full compliance with the Laws. This is called REPENTANCE.
Then by certain actions we show our New Country that we mean what we say and seal it with an oath, so to speak, called BAPTISM by immersion for the remittance of pardoning of our past unlawful behavior. This baptism can only be legal when performed by a qualified servant of the law. That legal servant has received his legality from someone in authority. In the case of His Kingdom it is called PRIESTHOOD. And every servant claiming authority must be able to show it in an unbroken line back to the King.
And the baptism must be confirmed by the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.
(and recorded)
Here is my Priesthood line of authority to perform these necessary ordinances to be a legal citizen of God’s realm:
I was ordained (commissioned) to the office of an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood by William R. Sloan who was ordained by Heber S. Allen, who was ordained by Apostle George Teasdale, who was ordained by President Brigham Young who was ordained by the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon. They were ordained by the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was ordained by Peter, James and John and they received their authority from Moses and Elijah and Jesus Christ on the Mt. Of Transfiguration and anyone who cannot show his line of authority back to Jesus who received it from his Father and our Father is an imposter.
It is important to keep a record of your line of authority!
Back in the 1950’s the highest ranking official of the Catholic church (I believe he had the title of Archbishop) in North America visited the Prophet David O. McKay in Salt Lake City. They had a very agreeable visit and toward the end of their conversation, the Bishop said to President McKay: “You do not know the strength of your position, for either your church is the only true church by direct revelation or the Catholic Church is the only true church by direct dissension from Christ. All the other Christian churches have no claim to authority. All they have is their protesting against the Catholic Church.”
President McKay smiled at him and said; “Yes we know the strength of our position.”
Now back to the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus will bring with him. All man made governments with only one or two tiny exceptions are tyrannical, dictatorial, abusive and destructive and none last forever for the subjects in their abused state usually aggravated by excessive taxation rise up in revolt or are extinguished by another dictatorial power neighboring them.
But what a difference in the Kingdom of Heaven. For out King wants to share equally with us ALL THAT HE HAS.
And what does he have that he can give it all to each one of his citizens. KNOWLEDGE. The more knowledge you give to more people the more you have left for yourself. As a teacher I completely understand this grand precept. A teacher always learns more than his students.
Knowledge brings POWER. The more knowledge the more power until the students are like the teacher.
So our teacher, our Lord, our Savior, our King, if we will let him, is going to give the subjects of his Kingdom all things of an eternal nature that will bring everlasting joy.
Someday we will have gained so much knowledge in this beneficent kingdom that we will have power to do all things. Yes, to go and to come in any direction with no restrictions of time and space. To create worlds, to people those worlds with our own spiritual offspring.
There is no limit to what we can become or what we can do if we will but comply with the few simple laws of the Kingdom of Heaven and follow Jesus Christ our King.
“If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye and then continue onward with that same speed to fly. Do you think that you could ever thru all eternity, find out the generation where Gods began to be?
Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend? Or view the last creation where Gods and matter end?
Me thinks the Spirit whispers, no man has found pure space, nor seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place.
The works of God continue, and worlds and lives abound; improvements and progression have one eternal round.
There is no end to matter; there is no end to space; there is no end to spirit; there is no end to race. There is no end to virtue; there is no end to might; there is no end to wisdom; there is no end to light.
There is no end to union; there is no end to youth; there is no end to priesthood; there is no end to truth.
There is no end to glory; there is no end to love; there is no end to being; there is no death above.” By Parley P. Pratt
Believe it and rejoice forever more! Merry Christmas! I love you all!
Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Pratt

Memo #98 (93 to go)

November 1, 2008
To: My Loved ones
From: Dad, grandpa etc.
Re: Receiving answers to prayers

Although I have memos written ahead to last to about January 1, 2012, I feel strongly to insert another memo at this time, on a subject that I feel very few understand and that theme is,
“How to receive answers to our prayers.” It has been born in upon my spirit to address this subject NOW. For in the troubled times upon us now, that will not end, but only increase until the Savior appears, we will survive more comfortably and with a greater feeling of joy and assurance if we can hear the voice of the Lord as we pray.
The heavens are open at all times to those few who understand how to pray and I believe that only a few understand. I often wonder if I understand, but I believe I do for my prayers are answered. Sometimes the answer is NO not yet.
Example: as the stake president set me apart for our last mission which was in the state of Iowa, he promised many wonderful things. The date was January 31, 1982 just six weeks short of my 70th birthday. Quote: “The youthful vigor which you now manifest will be renewed, and renewed, and renewed, for the Lord has need of you and he will use you all the days of your life until that sweet death which shall come to you shall actually be at your beck and call and you shall desire to enter the kingdom and it shall be granted you. Until that time you are to be engaged in the work of the ministry.”My auto biography Vol. 1 Page 219
Now, nearly 97 years old, that youthful vigor has greatly diminished, and my sweetheart has been gone over eight long years. How I long to join her and be shed of this aged and feeble body that will no longer respond to my demands. So recently I prayed that, that “sweet peace called death” would come and take me. And the answer was a resounding NO you have not yet finished your work on earth.
So what ever it is, I will remain here until my pre earth assignment is finished.
Number 1: LISTEN, I learned from this: Pray by Revelation. And you won’t ask for things that you shouldn’t have. Remember as a kid plaguing your parents for something that you knew you shouldn’t have, it’s the same thing.
But our biggest problem in our prayers: WE do ALL the talking ~and do NOT Listen.
We are usually in a big rush when we pray. We are late to work or school or are about to miss the big game on TV. We rush thru an abbreviated prayer, murmur amen and jump up and run. And the messenger from the Spirit World sent to answer our prayer is left muttering to him or her self thinking, “They just don’t listen.” Listen ~ Listen ~ Listen and you will get the answer, usually with in seconds. However, there are times when the answer is longer in coming.
Example: I prayed in my haymow asking what I could do to show my appreciation for my many blessings and a voice spoke loudly and instantly, “Sell your farm.” (Autobiography Vol 1 pg. 100) but after selling the farm it took about three years to get the answer to: What do I do next? But the answer came as I was prepared and led gradually into teaching in the church education system at seminary, institutes, and numerous assignments throughout the West and as far East as Omaha, Nebraska.

So LISTEN! Your prayers are being answered but perhaps you haven’t learned to hear the word of the Lord. The answer comes in many ways. Oft times it is just “the still small voice of the Holy Ghost. Just thoughts that come into your mind in response to your prayers and oft times without a formal prayer we will be guided. Example: after years of starvation, literally, in the first three or four years of our married life we were led into what became a very prosperous dairy business and at the height of our new prosperity both Grandma and I independent of each other received a strong impression to sell the dairy. We responded to that prompting and with in weeks the war started with the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Our government froze the price of milk but not the cost of production and broke most of the dairymen in the United States. We were not affected for we had insisted, guided by the Spirit, that the sale would be for cash in full. The man we sold to was bankrupt within the year. We warned him not to buy. He was already in the business and wanted to expand; saying, “We will soon be at war, people need milk and the government will see to it that we make money.” you see he wasn’t saying his prayers or he wasn’t listening.
“Pray always that ye be not deceived”, said our Savior. In other words after arising in the morning and cleaning up and dressing kneel down for a formal chat with your Heavenly Father and leave time to spend a few seconds after your amen to hear his answer then go about your daily affairs with your spiritual cell phone on so that you can hear him at any time. This is praying always as instructed. You will be guided by feelings, impressions, sudden thoughts, a voice, a heavenly visitor, a TV vivid picture etc according to the urgency of the situation.
Our nation is currently on the brink of a great catastrophe caused by living beyond our financial resources by both government and the people who have spent themselves into bankruptcy. This calamity will be worse than the terrible depression we went thru in the years 1929 ~ 1941. We were married right in the middle of it in 1934. The second winter of our marriage, with our new daughter Carolyn we survived for six months on bread and beans.
Don’t expect government to save us. Corrupt politicians have gotten us into this problem. But they couldn’t have done this, if we the people were not also guilty of living beyond our means.
Twenty five years ago I wrote; “We certainly are not going to receive any solution to our national or personal problems from government, for government only reflects the moral decay of the people. Then if the people of this great United States are to escape the loving chastisement of the Lord, they must cease to ignore him and repent and make God a part of their lives. And how can we get people to repent if we can’t get them to LISTEN. So God must increase world wide calamities until people have no where else to turn. How sad that they must suffer so and that they bring it upon themselves.
Some of the idols that the world is worshiping are: Sheer laziness, apathy, rebelliousness, love of money, cars, motorcycles, campers, boats and the love of pleasure in general will rob many of their eternal happiness. Sports are leading many souls into idol worship and will end in their destruction. Or as King Benjamin said, “Finally I cannot tell your all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.”
“The sad thing is that most of these things are not bad in and of themselves but are for our enjoyment. It is when we put them ahead of and in place of God that they become evil. Or they do not become evil, but we are using good things in an evil way.”
(Autobiography Vol. 1 pg. 222)
Listen! Pray always and you will not be deceived. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” James 1:5-7
this promise worked for a fourteen year old boy, Joseph Smith, and it has worked for everyone else who has followed it. It has worked for me! In every phase of life. Our Father is interested in our mortal life and anxious that we have a life here that we can enjoy. He knows our natural gifts and possibilities and will lead us into areas where those gifts will return us more than a comfortable living. More than a “ho hum marriage” more than a family of wayward kids.
Listen ~ Listen ~ Listen! I know! I have had three major and several minor career changes in my long life because I listened and each one was an improvement and I enjoyed them all. And we should enjoy them. “Life is that we might have joy.” and as President Hinckley said, “Life is to be enjoyed not just endured.”
But expect trials, for they cause us to grow. To grow until we are like him. It is said of Abraham (born 2000 BC) and Isaac and Jacob that because they did none other thing than that which they were commanded, that they have entered into their exaltation and sit upon thrones and are not angels but are Gods. (D & C 132) in other words, they listened.
Now let me tell of a time and its awful consequences when I didn’t listen. Read the whole story in my Autobiography Vol. 1 pages 90-91 It is really a very abbreviated account.
I was running as fast as I could run to drive strange cattle out of my yard and garden when a most remarkable thing happened, I had a vision. It was in full color and great detail. At the same time I could see everything around me, the invading cattle, my threatened garden etc. and I was still running.
In the vision, I saw my horses and the equipment they were hooked to, run over our two year old daughter. Her head was crushed and a large (about 5/8 inch square) spike of dirt covered iron penetrated to the center of her head (the doctors diagnosis) she should have died instantly. But she didn’t, in fact she was never even unconscious. During the operation to clean the wound and reshape her head they used only local anaesthesia. The doctor said they must keep her conscious as they probed in the brain to clean it and reshape her skull.
Now I come to the part I want to stress. But first I must mention that after the operation the doctor gave us only a 50 50 chance that she would live and an equal chance that if she lived she would be mentally a vegetable. He told us to pray that she die.
At the conclusion of the operation she was placed in a crib with the rails up of course. Within a few minutes, her head swathed in huge white bandages, she was up running around in the crib and playing as if nothing had happened.
I then had to hurry home. Many hours had passed, the horses were still out in the field hooked to the spike tooth harrow. Our two older kids were home from school with five year old Steve. I don’t remember who took care of him or if anyone did. But eleven year old Carolyn had gathered eight year old Kay and five year old Steve and held a prayer circle.
I comforted them, did the chores, and went to bed for a sleepless night as I pondered the happenings of the day. Hurrying the next morning to do the chores and getting Carolyn and Kay off to school and Steve to the neighbors, the thought came to me to find out what the strange proceedings of the previous day were all about.

Going back to the scene of the accident, and a short distance from it, I entered a beautiful grove of small maple trees and proceeded to their center where a large ponderosa pine tree towered heavenward. I felt confident that the nearest mortal was a mile or more away. There at the foot of the pine, kneeling and eyes shut, head bowed, I said, “Heavenly Father, ....”
Instantly a voice spoke calling me by name, “Richard.”
It was so startling that I leaped to my feet and looked around to see who was there. I WAS ALONE so far as mortals were concerned.
I found out what the prophets mean when they said they fell on their face, for that’s what I did, my knees just turned to water, I couldn’t have stood had I tried. Burying my face in the prickly pine needles and eyes screwed so tight closed they hurt, the voice again called me by name. (Of course Heavenly Father knows your name!) And said, “Richard, Satan wants your daughter dead, I have blessed her with a talent that will bless the lives of many and build and strengthen testimonies.” (Undoubtedly her beautiful singing voice.)
“I warned you and you could have prevented the accident, no thanks to you she will live and fill her earthly mission, but the next time I warn you, obey or be destroyed.”
The words were spoken very plainly, quietly and distinctly. Not once did I have to ask, “would you please repeat that?” and tho I was receiving a severe chastising yet I felt completely loved.
Over sixty years have passed since then and she is a happy and successful wife and mother and grandmother and has used her God given talents well.
(Autobiography Vol 1 pg. 90-91)
Who ever you are whether deciding to go or not to go on a mission or to marry in or out of the temple or start a career if you will LISTEN to your Heavenly Father you will make the choice that will lead you to fame and fortune. Or in the word of William Shakespeare, “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the crest, leads to fame and fortune, omitted and all the voyage of their lives is bound in shallows and in misery.”

Listen and you will succeed beyond your fondest dreams. I have and so can you.
I will write another memo on this subject if requested. There is so very much that could and has been written.

Pray always lest ye be deceived and keep listening. Heavenly Father is aware of you and your various challenges. He is a loving caring father and wants us to be happy. We can be happy as we keep the communications open with him and our minds ready and open to hear him.

My Love,
Dad. Grandpa Richard M. Pratt


Remember the blog spot for grandpa’s memos is: prattmemos.blogspot.com You may share this spot with any you know. We would love some feed back. There are also pictures on the blog and Rachel will keep it up and your replies will come back to Grandpa fast.

Memo #97 (94 to go)

To: Those I Love!

From: Dad, Grandpa, friend etc.

Re: The 4^th article of Faith Continued: Trust, Prayer, Holy Ghost

Rachel Rice a granddaughter and her very handsome husband Brian have created a blog for Grandpa’s memos! You can share them with all you care to and even give comments back to Grandpa. To see the blog, go to prattmemos.blogspot.com and get excited. The picture is of Rachel & Brian's son with his great grandpa Richard M. Pratt. Rachel is Rose’s daughter.

Now to the memo!

The past four memos, 93-96, discuss various ways of gaining faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are: Reason, History, Prophecy, and Witnesses. Today’s memo will cover, Trust, Prayer, and the Holy Ghost. I may have to carry it over to another memo.

Who can one trust in this ever more untrusting world? Not the government for they are leading us down a path that will end our nation unless they can be stopped. Yet it doesn’t seem to make much difference who we vote for or what party we endorse. This coming election may be a startling revelation and perhaps, hopefully give us some respite. On the other hand the quicker the collapse the sooner we can rebuild. I’ve gone thru it once and it wasn’t pleasant. It was called “The Great Depression.” the only thing great about it was the immense amount of suffering.

It lasted over 12 years from September 19, 1929 to December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor) or spanned my life from age 17 thru age 29.

We were married right about the middle and the bottom of that dreadful time, May 19, 1934. We had no resources, no where to turn. The few people we could trust, mostly family, were also destitute. But the depression ended for us two or three years before Pearl Harbor. Isn’t it ironic that the depression had to end by a terrible war, the worst the world has ever seen, in death, misery, and suffering.

And why did it end for us while it still raged around us. BECAUSE in our desperation we turned to the only source we could trust, that could help us, God Our Eternal Father.

In the troubled days ahead as the world slips ever deeper into the abyss of despair, PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD. GO TO HIM IN PRAYER AND LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS via the Holy Ghost.

But there is another source, and we would have failed without it, and it’s called FAMILY. And oh how that wicked one (Satan) is trying to destroy the family.

I was thinking the other day about the so called war on terrorists and how we are supposedly keeping our country safe by fighting in foreign lands which is so futile, hopeless, and downright silly.

For instance four out of every ten births in the USA are out of wedlock. What’s so bad about this? A few make it into a happy, productive adulthood. But most are dead ended in poverty or crime or both.

But now look at these startling figures, one and a half million babies are murdered by abortion each year. Talk about terrorists! When will it stop? Apparently you and I are not going to stop it. The government is making no effort to stop it. Who will stop it?

Now let us consider another area of terrorism. MURDER of adults. Our capital city, Washington DC with the strictest gun control laws in the nation suffers hundreds of murders yearly and all the mega cities in the USA are on a par with Washington. And as the gun control laws tighten the bloodshed increases.

In our own capital city, Salt Lake City, murders are of a daily occurrence. And it is not a large city.

And as the carnage increases and the gun control laws tighten, where are the guns coming from and of course the answer is simple. We are not protecting our borders and illegal aliens by the millions cross our borders at their leisure. True many are good people fleeing from oppression in their own lands. But this allows the criminals to smuggle guns, drugs etc. into our land.

Incidentally those states and cities which still allow legal gun possession, have a drastically lower death rate from murder. I’ve forgotten the figure but it’s more than 20% less.

In the meantime we continue to lose lives in Iraq, now more than 3000, and Afaganastan plus three times that many permanently crippled from wounds. Total lives lost in the USA number close to 2 million a year. Are we safe from Terrorism here at home while our troops are policing the world?

One might say, you can’t say these deaths were the result of terrorism. Perhaps we ought to talk to some of the victims. Murder from any source is sheer terror. I know for I have faced it.

We currently have over 700 military bases scattered over the world! YES that’s right. True some of them consist of only a few military personnel but many are large. I have a map before me right now, that is current, that shows we have established military bases in all the world except for a few small areas in Africa, a tiny speck in northern S.A. called Antilles. (Bet you never heard of it) and some of the Muslim countries, Iran being one of the largest.

The Prophet Joseph Smith made a prophecy eight days before his martyrdom, June 19, 1844 in which he stated: “There will be two great political parties in this country. One will be called Republican and the other the Democrat party. These two parties will go to war and out of these two parties will spring another party which will be the “Independent American Party.” (None of these parties existed by these names in 1844.) The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, “ let’s divide up the lands of the United States.” (From: Prophecy Key to the Future by Crouther page 10)

Joshua who succeeded Moses as the prophet-general of Israel and led Israel in battle for many years made these very significant statements: “Now there fore love the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Jos. 24:14-15)Here is another plus for witnesses. “And Joshua said unto the people, ye are WITNESSES AGAINST YOURSELVES THAT YE HAVE CHOSEN YOU THE LORD, TO SERVE HIM. AND THEY SAID, WE ARE WITNESSES.” Jos. 24:22

The first person we should put our trust in is the Lord. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: Love the Lord, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Who should you trust? After the Lord look to your mother and grandmother. An excerpt from Mother’s autobiography, Adaline Kearl Pratt - Kaleidoscope page 30. “In my blessing it states that by dreams and presentiments you will be warned of danger and changed in your course.” this literally took place in the autumn of 1948...our brother Ted, came to visit us from Canada. We spent a number of evenings staying up visiting until quite late. On one particular chilly evening, for the third day in succession, I omitted my prayers with the thought: “it’s chilly and I’m sleepy.” And with no particular feelings of guilt at not saying my prayers. In fact without a second thought I was soon cozy and asleep in bed.

I dreamed that Richard and I were with a large group of people of the world playing in the water and having fun. I was given to understand that Satan was there also. When I tried to pick him out of the crowd, I could not detect which one he was.

Then we were with a large group playing in the snow, laughing and having fun. I knew Satan was there also. Again I failed to find out which one he was.

The scene then changed to a beautiful, large living room where a party was in full swing. At the right of the room in front of a large glass window stood a group of well-dressed, happy, laughing people. On the left there was a stairway. At its foot stood two men, very handsome and exactly alike, Richard and I stood a little apart from the group. The two men began talking and looking our way. Richard whispered to me, “one of them is Satan. Which one?” I pointed to one and Richard said, “No dear, you’re wrong again.”

Upon one being eliminated, the other showed his real self. His handsome visage melted away and was replaced by an evil ugly frightening countenance. He started menacingly toward me. Without a moments hesitation, I raised my right arm to the square and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to leave.” He stopped, turned instantly, and fled thru the large glass window without breaking it. I was instantly wide awake with the words, “Pray always lest ye be deceived.” ringing in my ears. This warning testified to me the value of guidance from the men who hold the Priesthood and the importance of seeking always the Lord’s guidance thru prayer. It convinced me that the Lord loves us as individuals and is anxious to help us know the best paths to follow. I shall always be grateful to our Heavenly Father for his kindness in bringing these facts to my understanding. (page 31)

Note: “Pray always lest you be deceived.” is our own personal scripture for I have searched them repeatedly and cannot find it therein.

We are admonished to pray always. What does this mean? It should be easy to understand in these days of miracles ~ Just always have your spiritual “cell-phone” with you and turned on.

(Richard Pratt)

Yes, you can trust the “well” from which you come. My patriarchal blessing describes her fully. “You shall be privileged to marry in the temple of our God, one of his daughters who is as pure and sweet as the lilies in the field.”

The following is excerpted from a talk she gave at a stake girl’s conference in Holbrook, Arizona. She used to talk frequently at ward, stake, and youth conferences and was an excellent speaker. (In fact at one occasion I was supposed to be the main speaker following a short talk by her. But she got so involved in her message that she talked almost a full hour. Here is an excerpt.

“You girls remind me of a lovely garden with your radiant young faces, cupped in pretty colors. This garden is a royal garden. This garden will bare the choicest of fruits, bodies for our Heavenly Father’s spirit children.

At the time of creation, our Heavenly Father placed the first man, Adam, in another beautiful garden called Eden. In it were all the things a man could desire, all except a companion and help meet. So as a crowning achievement a woman was placed in the garden and given to Adam to be his wife. He called her Eve because she was the mother of all living.”

Eve was pure, strong and willing to joyfully accept the responsibilities connected with earth life. She soon learned the experiences of joy and sorrow, health and sickness, and pleasure and pain.

We too, must learn these values of life if we are to live up to the royal heritage that we have been entrusted with. It is about values and preparedness that I would like to touch upon. Life holds many beautiful and sublime experiences. These vary in degree, according to our preparedness to receive them. As a daughter, life can be beautiful and thrilling. Then as a mother it can be beautiful, thrilling and rewarding.

I was fortunate in having fine parents and a good home life. There were eleven children in our family. Five of these were girls. Then when I married there were five daughters born to us. Since then, the score has doubled again with ten granddaughters. So we know something about girls. And what we know we like! Yes, there were boys too, but for today we are just going to talk about girls. Our first baby was a tiny little 5 lb. 10 oz. Soft cuddly ~ yes, you guessed it, a girl. My joy was full as I tenderly cuddled this my first real live doll.

She opened her eyes. I looked and listened. Have you ever looked deep into a baby’s eyes and heard them speak? There is a certain spiritual communication of soul to soul.

“Mother, you are beautiful! And your arms feel warm and assuring. Thank you for being my mother. Thank you for saving your love and yourself for Daddy and me! Thank you for not listening to or reading that which was sordid or cheapening. And thank goodness Heavenly Father helped Dad and you to find each other! Because you hearkened to those that were your guides and listening to the whisperings of the spirit, I will have a head start in life. I hope that I have some good guides, too, so that I won’t stumble too much, and that I will follow their directions. It is great that you and Daddy were married in the temple for time and eternity. Now we can always be a family. It makes my chances for success more sure.”

“I liked being sheltered, warm and cozy inside, right next to your heart It was good! However, I heard people saying some rather disturbing things. They talked about population explosions and planned parenthood. They said it was wrong to have so many children, that there was not room in the world for them. But anyone with intelligence to create worlds would know how many children to place on each one, and know how much room is needed.” Note: there is more, read it on page 48 of “Kaleidoscope.”

Adaline closed her talk with a poem by Carol Lynne Pearson called Investment. It is choice.

The last few lines are the key: ..... “I see the wisdom of investment, the easy gift is easy to forget, but what is bought with coin of pain is dearly kept.”

Trust.....Prayer....The Holy Ghost. Keep on saying your prayers and trusting in the Lord.

Next month I’ll tell you more ways you can trust your grandmother.

Love,

Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt

Memo #96 (95 to go)

To: Those Beloved by me

From: Dad etc Richard Pratt

Re: Fourth Article of Faith (Witnesses)

The last three memos have dwelt on: “Reason” and its power in developing faith, “History” and its contribution, and “Prophecy”.

The subject today is, “Witnesses” and the law there of. God does everything by having witnesses. The Devine law of witnesses is best stated in Deuteronomy by the Lord: “At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.” Deut. 17:6 and 19:15

Two or more witnesses was not only to be applied in a trial where a life is at stake but in every important undertaking for the Lord said: “in the mouth of two or more witnesses every word may be established. Matthew 18:15-16

The Savior took Peter, James and John with him on the mount of transfiguration. Why did he not take Peter alone? Because he wanted more than one witness. Whenever the Lord does something, he does not expect us to believe it unless two or more have witnessed it.

However, the witness does not have to be other people. How did Christ become a witness for himself? By word of mouth; in the preaching of the gospel, because he taught as one having authority and not as the scribes; in the great work that he performed: restoring the sight to the blind, healing withered hands, raising the dead, and in many other ways blessing the sick and administering to the people. In this way his words and his work spoke for him, or as other scriptures say: by their works you shall know the truth of all things.

At other times his Father testified of him: at his baptism where the Holy Ghost descended and a white dove landed on the shoulder of Jesus signifying the presence of the Holy Ghost and the Father spoke from heaven saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

Again this voice of God on the Mt. of Transfiguration spoke saying the same words.

Matthew 17:5

On another occasion when Jesus was praying to his Father before a group of people, the Father spoke to him from the heavens answering his prayer, saying: “I have both glorified the name of Jesus, and I will glorify it again.” John 12:8 Some who were present said it thundered some said an angel spoke, but it was the Father.

So when the wicked Jews were almost extinguished at Jerusalem in 70 AD they had ample, ample, evidence both by word and by works that Jesus was indeed the Son of the living God.

But the ways of the Lord are not man’s ways. He works thru his witnesses in establishing his work, in every age, he uses the few, not the many.

Joseph Smith obeyed the law of witnesses. After the first vision which was proven by what resulted in the vibrant Church of Jesus Christ today.

This is the way the Lord has always worked. When the Savior rose from the dead, how easy it would have been for him to have gone to Pilate and said: “Here I am. You condemned me to death. I said I would rise on the third day. Here I am.” But Pilate did not see him after the resurrection, but those who BELIEVED in him did!

He appeared to Peter, and to the apostles, to Mary at the tomb, and to many others, but

never to those who had persecuted him and put him to death. The Romans did not see him; the unbelieving Jews did not see him; He sent his chosen witnesses out into all the world to declare the message of his risen glory.

If Jesus or an angel would appear today and the whole world saw him descend from heaven and tried to attract their attention, he would be greeted with great derision and after a few brief startled moments most would turn back to their favorite TV program or other worldly diversion.

The Prophet Joseph Smith was not alone. He was alone in the first vision, alone when Moroni first visited him and alone when he received the plates, which actually witnessed for themselves as does the translated Book of Mormon.

Every time keys were restored, two men received them. Why? Because it was necessary according to the divine law of witnesses for Joseph Smith to have a companion holding those keys. So as Oliver Cowdery states when John the Baptist came, he and Joseph received the Aaronic Priesthood under his hands; and when Peter, James and John came he was with Joseph Smith.

It was Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith who received the keys in the Kirtland Temple on the 3rd of April, 1836, when Christ appeared, when Moses appeared, when Elias appeared, when Elijah appeared. Why? Because as the Savior said: If I bear witness, of myself, my witness is not true. That is we do not have to believe it. There has to be two, that the testimony might be valid.

Other witnesses shared the burden with the Prophet. He declared that he stood in the presence of Jesus Christ and the holy angels who instructed him and gave him authority to organize the church. Not only was such authority given to him, but also to others. In addition to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, Sidney Rigdon and others have testified that they beheld the presence of angels and were instructed by them. Joseph Smith did not stand alone.

All save Joseph Smith left the church but none ever denied their witness and all returned to the church after much tribulation except, David Whitmar. And in his old age it was published in news papers that he had denied his testimony. It so incensed him that he went to great expense to have it published in major news papers here and abroad the he had NOT denied his testimony and reaffirmed that he had seen an angel who showed them the gold plates and he did hear a voice from heaven announcing their authenticity and correct translation.

Joseph and Hyrum, brothers, were joint witnesses as they were shot to death in Carthage jail. Joseph had gone from Nauvoo to Carthage knowing that they were to die. ~ NOTICE HE WENT KNOWINGLY! A day or two before going to Carthage he had crossed the Mississippi and was headed West to find that refuge for the Saints that Brigham Young led them to three years later.

When he received word from the saints including his wife that he was unduly alarmed and his life would be safe, he returned saying, “If my life is of no use to my friends it is of no use to me. And on the way to Carthage he declared the though he was going to his death he was as calm as a summer morning.

It was necessary that these martyrs seal their testimony with their blood, that the wicked might be condemned.

He had to die (Joseph). Why? Because we read in the scriptures that the testimony is not of force without the death of the testator ~ that is in his particular case, and in the case of Christ.

It was just as necessary that Hyrum Smith lay down his life a martyr for this cause as a witness for God as it was for Joseph Smith, so the Lord permitted them both to be taken in that way and both sealed their testimony with their blood. Both of them held the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times jointly, and they will through all the ages of eternity.

The Lord says: “Wo be unto him that receiveth the word of God as it comes to us thru two, three or eight witnesses. And that testimony will stand against the world at the last day, and every man that is living who has heard the testimony of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Joseph Smith and has refused to receive this message will have to give a reason why he rejected it before the judgement seat of God, because that testimony has gone out solemnly and they were God’s witnesses to all the world. (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1 ch. 13)

but perhaps the greatest witness of all is our self. My very self and your very self is a witness before God and before man that God lives. That God is comprised of three different men.

1.The Father who is a glorified, resurrected man who literally sired our spirit bodies. He loves us dearly, so dearly, that he allowed our oldest brother, God’s firstborn to come to earth and suffer bleed and die that we might have eternal life. In fact the whole work of our Father is , “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of each one of us. 2. The Savior too is a resurrected man with a body of flesh and bone as we will become because of his great sacrifice. The evidence is over whelming. 3. The Holy Ghost, a spirit man who can testify to our spirits of things that are true. Etc.

As I have told you before, I was once talking with a protestant minister. He was giving me that foolish drivel that the God head was three different individuals but only one person, so large that he or they filled the whole universe yet so small he or they could dwell in our hearts. I then quoted to him Acts 1:9-11 “and when he had spoken these things, (40 days after the resurrection) while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfast toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Now notice that he had appeared to them over the past 40 days at least 8 times as recorded. And as they were gathered together in a closed room. He entered! “And as they spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, why are ye troubled? And why do thots arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have, and when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of broiled fish and an honey comb.

And he took it, and did eat before them. Luke 24: 36-43

How much more real could a man be. They hear him, see him, feel him and watch him eat substantial food.

Now I said to this learned man: “ He then went outside and started down the road to Bethany, his disciples all around him and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.”

Luke 24:50-51

so I asked, “ what happened after the clouds hid him? He definitely had a body of flesh and bones but he is supposed to fill all space with out body parts and passions. Tell me what

happened next?”

Why said he, “why he threw it away.”

But says I, “He is to return again and very soon in his resurrected body, how’s he going to get it back?”

Then he shocked me beyond understanding by actually saying the following words: “ He will say Presto- change- o and have his body back.

Well it was obvious that the poor guy was quite a few bricks short of having a full load so I just turned and walked away.)

Where was reason, where were the scriptures, where was good sense?

Now you and I are our best witnesses. We must at some time not far distant stand and testify in our behalf. We must affirm that we knew about Jesus that we believed him and that we have done the few little things that he has asked us to do.

If we need a second witness, to whom shall we turn or will the Book of Life kept in heaven have such a complete record that it and our word will be sufficient. Use your reason. Be prepared!

Again use your reason and consider this life how brief and how short it is. Let us reason together, of our 150 plus descendants percentage wise not many will live into their 80s. Three score and 10 (70) is still the allotted life of man.

So we take about 1/3 of our life learning how to support ourselves which we work at for another 1/3 which makes 60-65 years old and maybe have 10+ more years. Then what? Please, please give it serious thought and use your reasoning power. Don’t count on living as long as your Grandpa (96) I see a great many people in my work and in the past two or three years I don’t remember meeting anyone in their nineties.

If I sound like life is gloomy and we are doomed I don’t mean to. Life is terrific! Every morning after a good nights rest, and I sleep well. I wake up and spend a few minutes in meditation and planning the day. The first thing I do is make up my mind to have a happy day. Sure I’ve got accumulated aches and pains and can hardly walk. But that is all part of the plan.

BE HAPPY!

We’re prone to think if I only had this or that or him or her I could be happy. NOT SO!

Happiness is within and I CHOOSE to be happy and I’m hoping that you will too that we might rejoice together forevermore. Grandma here we come!

All my love,

Dad, Grandpa, brother, uncle etc

Richard Pratt