Memo #123 (72 to go)

December 1, 2010 (written end of 2008)

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt

Re: Our Personal life in a distressed world

The next memo or two was sparked by rereading the story of Heleman and his two thousand and sixty stripling warriors. In as much as war will continue to multiply upon the earth until the Savior comes, and he will come in the midst of the largest, most intense, most destructive of wars that this earth has known. The death toll of that terror will be one third of the people then living. The suffering of the survivors will be beyond the tongue of man to describe, and when I think that my family must live in those dreadful times, I want to leave them with the assurance that all will be well thru following the “Eternal commanding Officer” of Heaven. I will attempt to do this by refreshing our minds with some excerpts of past wars and battles.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael (Adam) and his angels (us) fought against the dragon (Satan) and the dragon fought and his angels.

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethern is cast down, ...AND THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelations 12:7-11

Note: this war in heaven was not a killing war for it was a war between spirits, who cannot die. The defending forces were led by Michael also known as the archangel who in mortal life became known as Adam. The opposing leader, Lucifer also known by several other names had also been born a spirit son to our Heavenly Parents not long after the birth of their first born, Jesus, who volunteered to be our Savior from death of the mortal body and from the sins of the world if we comply with a few simple instructions. Satan was also a spirit of high renoun for he was given the title, “Son of the Morning” meaning he was born as a spirit in the beginning of us all. And apparently was given considerable authority but like the scripture says: “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen” (D&C 121:39-40) ~ therefore Lucifer lost everything.

But notice by the succeeding verses how the Savior received all things and since then has offered all things to every man and every woman that follows him. LISTEN! “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and with out guile~

Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; that he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith,

and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever. D&C 121:41-56

Note: This is how the Savior governs. This is one of my favorite of all the scriptures; I memorized it years ago probably back on the Cashmere Farm and frequently quote it to myself. And notice the final reward promised is the last lines of verse 46, “And thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

And this shall be your reward in the army of God as you help to defeat the enemy of all righteousness. There are some great conflicts yet to be waged. Briefly, Satan has yet to be bound which will take place soon at the coming of our commanding officer who will then usher in the millennium, a thousand years of peace. But at the end of that peace Satan will be loosed again for a short period. “For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season. And then cometh the end of the earth. D&C 43:31

At the end of the millennium he shall be loosed for a little season, that he may gather together his armies.

“And Michael, the seventh angel even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven.

And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his armies.

And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his armies shall be cast away into their own place, (Hell) that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all.

For Michael shall fight their battles, and shall overcome him who seeketh the throne of him who sitteth upon the throne, even the Lamb. This is the glory of God, and the sanctified, (US) and they shall not anymore see death.” D&C 88:114-116

After Adam and Eve had chosen mortal life they were visited of God and taught concerning their new life in a mortal world. It must of been a hectic time as they needed to provide for themselves a home and the necessities of life with out the benefit of a “Wendy’s” or “McDonald’s”. And of course the babies started arriving. No hospitals, no doctors, no nurses, not even a midwife.

“And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.”

And Eve, his wife heard all these things and was glad, saying: “were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.”

And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and daughters.” Moses 5:10-12

And of course Satan came among their children and taught them not to believe it and from that time forth the children loved Satan more than God and men became carnal, sensual, and devilish. But as many as believed in God, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as

many as believed not, should be dammed.

By this time the first one hundred years from the Fall must have past and they would have had many hundreds if not thousands of posterity and apparently all were a disappointment to them.

And then they had a new born son and called him Cain, which meant “we have gotten a man from the Lord.” I suppose that they figured by starting young they would have a chance to raise a “missionary worthy son”. But twas not to be. And Eve conceived again and bare his brother Abel and hit the jack pot. Abel was everything a good boy should be.

And Cain introduced murder into the world by killing his own brother. And from that time to the present death by violence has swept millions upon millions off the world individually and collectively as nations destroy each other in the guise of legalized murder. In written history, twenty one know civilizations have passed into extinction. All have followed the same course.

Some twenty or thirty memos back I listed the five causes of this terrible genocide. I think they are worth repeating here. They are: “TRAPD” the world is trapped in the clutches of Satan and are currently rushing toward being the twenty second civilization to destroy itself. The five letters, “TRAPD”, stand for the following:

T = Taxation, no people have lasted more than forty years after their taxation exceeded 40% of the national gross income. R = Religion, the decline and fall of religion always precedes the demise of a people. A = Armaments or war. Trying to police the world is self destructive. The USA currently has over 700 military bases world wide and can’t control the murder of two million people annually at home. Thru abortion and gang related street murders. P = Pleasure = excessive love of it destroys all who seek after it. D = Divorce = the breakdown of the home. More than 70% of delinquent children come from such homes. Divorce is always the result of one or both parties breaking the commandments of God. And I hate to admit it but men are most often the culprits.

But from the beginning the gospel (means Good news) was preached being declared by ANGELS sent forth from the presence of God and by his OWN VOICE and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. And this is how it is always taught and will continue to be until the judgement day.

When Adam and Eve were 130 years old they begat a son and named him Seth. Seth, looked so much like his father that they could only be told apart by the differences in age. And he replaced righteous Abel whom Cain had murdered as the Priesthood heir of Adam.

“And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man’s hand was against his own brother in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.” Moses 6:15

When Adam was 682 years old (he lived 930 years) a great, great, great, great, grandson was born and named Enoch. At the age of 65 Enoch was called on a mission.

The people didn’t know it and perhaps Enoch didn’t know that the Lord was trying to prepare his rebellious children for the destruction of the flood. (Enoch was the father of Methuselah who died the year of the flood at the age of 969 years the oldest age recorded.)

And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness...and it came to pass that he built a city that was called...Zion. And in process of time Zion was taken up into heaven.

“And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord and the earth trembled and the mountains

fled, even according to his command and the rivers of water were turned out of their course... and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, ... there came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off...and from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people and they dwelt in righteousness.” Moses 7:13-16

“And Enoch saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: “Wo, Wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth.” and he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in

his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and Satan looked up and laughed and his angels rejoiced” Moses 7:25-26

And Enoch saw angels descending out of heaven who came to those who believed and the were caught up to join his city of Zion.

And God looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept, and Enoch asked the Lord why was he so unhappy and the Lord said to Enoch. “Behold these thy brethren and I gave unto them a commandment to love one another and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold they are without affection, and they hate their own blood...and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is turned against them.

In all the other worlds there had not been so great wickedness as among these thy brethren. Wherefore should not the heavens weep seeing that these shall suffer?

And then he adds, as a heart broken Father, these that perish in the flood, a prison have I prepared for them. And that which I have chosen, even Jesus Christ, shall plead before me. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; in as much as they will repent in the day that my chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment. Moses 7:39

REMEMBER not one soul needed to drown in the flood. And not one soul needs to be destroyed in the fire that will cleanse the earth for the second time. God, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are asking us to choose the plan of happiness!

When Enoch was four hundred thirty years old. He and the obedient in the land of Zion were taken up with their buildings and a good sized chunk of this earth.

Some of the righteous however were left to continue to warn the people, any that accepted the gospel and repented of their sins were caught up to join Zion.

Methuselah the son of Enoch was one that remained and died the year of the flood. His son Lamech was the father of Noah and Noah was born five years after Zion left. Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came. Three of his sons, Japheth and Shem were born of the same mother. Ham was from a different mother. Which mother was with Noah on the Ark we don’t know.

What happened to the rest of his family? They were either caught up with Zion or drowned in the flood. We only have a tidbit of information concerning some of his granddaughters.

And the Lord said unto Noah; the daughters of thy sons have sold themselves; because they have married among the wicked. So they would have drowned also.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 5:5

the earth also was corrupt before God. And the earth was filled with violence...I will destroy them with the earth. Ibid 13

only eight souls were saved by water but how many were saved with Zion we do not know. But again I repeat not one soul needed to perish then or NOW. And those that drowned because of their lack of love and acts of violence in their prison condition are being taught the gospel and thru their suffering will come to repentance and be eternally saved in one of the lower degrees of glory.

All I have written here is true. Believe it and be safe as the earth faces its final cleansing by fire and war. The scriptures are true. The Lord lives and His plan is real!

I Love YOU ALL!

Dad, Grandpa etc.

Richard Marden Pratt

Memo #122

November 1, 2010

To: My Beloved family & friends

From: Dad, grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt

Re: Immortality and Eternal Life

It is for us to be righteous, that we may be wise and understand; for none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand, and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.

Such thoughts as God coming down, angels descending from heaven and returning again, holy men having visions is all too much for their scientific minds to understand. How can a God who is ethereal and who fills the immensity of space, or a God who is merely a thought dwelling in the human mind, come down from heaven and return again? Of course their God could do no such thing; but the God of Israel could and did! It is written: “and the Lord came down in a pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you. I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth and not in dark speeches.”

This is an age of faith and the power of God should be greatly increased, but to the contrary it is diminished and men boast in their own strength; yet we see every day the greatest of miracles the airplane, the voice out of the air the picture on TV. There are thousands of miracles performed everyday, wonders that would astound our grandfathers, (I’m one of them). These miracles are as great as turning water into wine raising the dead or anything else.

The Lord informed Moses that his work and his glory are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

It is God’s great pleasure in fact it is his very life that man may prove himself obedient to the divine laws which govern his Celestial Kingdom and by doing so obtain a fulness of joy.

This mortal life is a probationary state allotted to man to prove him to see if thru the experiences obtained here he will abide in the laws and commandments which pertain to exaltation.

The exaltation to the celestial kingdom is so great that the Father is fully justified in making it dependent upon strict obedience to all of his commandments. The Celestial Kingdom is a kingdom of perfection. All who enter there must be thoroughly tried and proved and become perfect to inherit it. Every law governing it must be obeyed. There can be no opposition to divine law, nor could any one receiving this reward have any desire to change or disagree with anything prevailing there, for these laws are perfect. As well may a man in the mortal world object to the law of gravity or any of the other fixed laws of nature, as to object to the laws of the Celestial Kingdom. They have been tried, proved and are eternal. This being the fact there can be nothing but peace and joy in that kingdom.

Exalted beings, because they have proved themselves by obedience to every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, will become perfect and be like him, and as heirs will become Gods themselves.

The Lord most emphatically has declared that it is impossible for man to become like God without the Priesthood and obedience to his commandments. Man has the power to know all things, to become perfect and be bathed in light, knowledge and wisdom, if he will only humble himself and walk in the light and truth. The man who refuses and lives bound within his own wisdom can never attain to these great blessings of exaltation and progression.

There are a great many wise men and women too in our midst who are too wise to be taught; therefore, they must die in their ignorance, and in the resurrection they will find their mistake. Many seal up the door to heaven by saying, “ so far God may reveal and I will believe, but I will accept no more.”

There is throughout the Christian world the prevailing thought that heaven where the righteous will go is some place far off on some glorious sphere which is the home of our Eternal Father. He revealed to Abraham that his home is near to Kolob, the great governing star of our universe. The heaven to which the righteous will go who dwell upon this earth, will be right here upon this earth, for the Lord said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. The meek are those who have kept his commandments and have never been permitted to inherit much of the earth during the six thousand years that it has been ruled by man since the fall of Adam.

When this celestialized earth comes, then only those of the Celestial Kingdom will inherit it. Those who have lived a Terrestrial law will be assigned to a Terrestrial kingdom on some other globe. Those who have lived a Telestial law will have to go to a telestial sphere suited to their condition. Where these worlds are the Lord has not revealed to us, however they are spheres now being prepared for them. Justice demands that every man and woman shall receive a reward according to his works. Those who do not attain to eternal life, which is to become sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, will receive the gift of immortality. Immortality means that they will live forever.

In the Celestial Kingdom, those who receive the exaltation will remain husbands and wives. The family organization will not be broken and will endure forever and they will have eternal increase.

The question is frequently asked: if men and women live singly in the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms, then what will prevent them from living promiscuously? The Lord has given us the answer to that question. They will be quickened by different kinds of bodies. Bodies that are not capable of performing the functions of marriage. They will have lost this privilege forever. The privilege of having a family of having children will be lost to them forever because they have proven to God and to themselves that they are not capable of parenthood. They will have proven their inability or unwillingness to be responsible parents.

So the Lord in his great mercy does for all men just the best that he can or just the best that they will allow Him to do for them.

The Terrestrial Kingdom will be inhabited by those who have lived good moral lives, who have been honest, honorable and just, but who would not receive the Gospel and its covenants. The Telestial kingdom will be the place for the wicked, those “who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and make a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth, these are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of the Almighty God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; when he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have over come and have trodden the wire-press alone even the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.”

So the Lord in his great mercy does for all men and women the best that he can. Even the wicked after they pay the price, and they will have to pay a dreadful price, will be placed in a kingdom where they can be made as happy as circumstances will permit. Through their intense suffering while they wait for the resurrection at the end of the earths temporal existence, they will finally have learned to be obedient to law, for this will be a requirement in each of the kingdoms, but where God and Christ are they cannot come worlds without end.

In the Terrestrial and Telestial kingdoms, there will be no marriage, hence no continuation of the lives, for they remain in these kingdoms separately and singly through all eternity. This the Lord calls “the deaths” because there is no increase, there are no children.

Can a person after eons of time progress to a higher kingdom? The answer is NO! For the simple reason, at the resurrection the body one receives as their eternal body will be adapted to live in the glory for which it is prepared.

At this time our mortal body lives in the element called air. When it is resurrected it will be adapted to live in the element to which it has been prepared. Example the element of the Celestial glory is likened to fire. And if we are not resurrected a Celestial body, worlds without end will we ever receive a new resurrection and a body that can live in that element.

We do not know what the elements of the two lower kingdoms will be like, but each will be different. Those of the Telestial kingdom for all eternity must live in their element. Those of the Terrestrial many live in their element and the Telestail element, those in the Celestial element can live anywhere, go anywhere and do all things. This world in its resurrected Celestialized state will be their home.

The two lower kingdoms will each live on their globe separate from the Celestail. The Celestial will be this earth after its death, resurrection and celestialization. The globes for the lower kingdoms are being prepared for them. I wouldn’t be surprised that some of our sister planets aren’t being prepared for those eternal kingdoms.

An easy way to understand these two lower kingdoms is to think of them as a children’s playpen. The mother can place the toddler in the pen and go about her house hold chores knowing that the baby is safe.

So if you don’t want to live in a playpen eternally, prove yourself dependable, reliable and faithful. And all eternity is yours and it couldn’t be any other way.

I have run a lot of crews in my life. In harvesting fruit, packing and shipping it there would be up to two hundred. The first two weeks of the season would always be hectic as you hired and fired until you had f reliable crew. Its not much different than what our Heavenly Father is doing as He preparers His eternal crew. His standards are easy, fair, just but exacting. Accept joyfully, serve faithfully, and become as He and our Mother in Heaven are. Who can ask better than that?

So the Lord does for all men and women, just the best that they will let him do. Survey your own life for your eternal life will be much like it, now is the time to make changes, not after you have received a resurrected body that can never be traded in for a better one.

I hope you have enjoyed these memos on the book titled, “Man - His Origin and Destiny” by President Joseph Fielding Smith. I have pretty well quoted him all the way. They are mostly his words and insight. I testify they are true and will lead the believer to that eternal shore of bliss and happiness.

Wow, what a plan of happiness our Heavenly parents have for us and they want us

to be successful even giving us a Savior even our elder brother, Jesus Christ. Do your best to live the plan. And be ready to receive all that the Father has to give. I love you all so very much. Let’s work to be there together.

My love always,

Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt

remember you can share these memos with any you care to at:

http://www.prattmemos.blogspot.com

Be ready Utah is a plan to be safe put out by the Utah Department of Health.

THIS is what is says:

You cannot plan when a disaster occurs or who you’ll be with. You can only plan to be prepared.

Disaster can strike Utah communities at any time and without warning, catching you unprepared. Often, the least prepared are those upon whom we must rely to assist others. If you’re not prepared when a disaster occurs, your mind will be focused on the welfare of your family or the condition of your home, not on the critical job that you may be expected to perform at work. Now is the time to prepare for community emergencies, not when you’re faced with difficult decision. This is a simple guide and it is a minium and easy to follow.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

A simple guide to the nine essential items to help you shelter-in-place in the event of an emergency.

1. WATER bottled water one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

2. FOOD nonperishable food. A supply to last 3-5 days per person. ROTATE often.

3. CLOTHES collect a change of clothes and footwear per person. Consider packing blankets

4. MEDICATIONS you take daily along with a FIRST AIDE KIT.

5. FLASHLIGHT keep a bright flashlight in case there is not electric power.

6. CAN OPENER

7. RADIO a battery-powered radio for listening to news and weather. & BATTRIES!

8. HYGIENE ITEMS Just the basics like soap, toilet paper and toothbrush and feminine needs.

What YOU can do:

Make a family emergency plan. Choose an out-of-state contact. Pick two meeting places, close-by and one that’s out of the neighborhood. Consider special needs for family members and pets.

Know the emergency plans for your children’s schools. Record important telephone numbers.

Assemble an emergency kit. Become CERT - Trained. Community information line is 2-1-1.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies! Yummy, Good!

1 large can pumpkin

1 lemon cake mix

1 carrot cake mix

1 bag chocolate chips

Mix the pumpkin and 2 cake mixes together and then stir in the chocolate chips

Bake at 375* for 12 minutes ( SERIOUSLY 4 INGREDIENTS! Easy to do and great to eat!)

Memo #121

To: My Beloved Family & Friends

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt

Re: a variety of subjects

October 1, 2010

The fall and infinite atonement is beyond the scope of the critics. As to the believers it is best stated by the Savior saying to Martha: “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

“She saith unto him, yea, Lord: I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:25-27

Every member should have the same assurance that Martha had. It is their privilege to know that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, and is the resurrection and the life. It is likewise their privilege to know that Adam fell and brought death into the world. The resurrection is a demonstrated fact. And by faith we know that the atonement of Jesus Christ came because of the fall.

It is impossible for the worldly minded to understand the reason for the fall and likewise understand the necessity for the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is true that not all the purposes of our eternal Father have been revealed to man; there are some things that have to be received by faith; but these great truths have been made known and we have the assurance that thru the sacrifice made on the cross all mankind and every other creature, even the earth itself, are redeemed from death and shall receive the resurrection and be restored to immortal life. Men receive assurance and knowledge due to their faithfulness and adherence to the commandments of Jesus Christ. Those who reject their Redeemer and refuse to keep his commandments cannot know and comprehend these eternal truths.

Naturally the Lord cannot reveal the mysteries of his kingdom to the scoffer, neither can he to the member of the church who is not faithful. If a man does not exercise faith why should he have the revelations concerning the kingdom of God revealed unto him. They cannot understand them because they are “fallen” man, and without the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit, they are as the Lord expressed it, “carnal, sensual and devilish.” When the disciples asked the Savior why he spoke in parables, he answered: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Luke 8:10

Of course, a man who believes that man has developed from lower forms of life, and by gradual development after an enormous length of time evolved from fish to reptile and then to ape, can never understand the fall of man and the atonement. These truths are mysteries to him and only contempt and abuse do they receive from him.

For example, as one carnal minded critic said: “But no Adam, no Fall; no Fall no atonement, no atonement, no Savior. Accepting evidence, how can we have a fall? When did man fall; was it before he ceased to be a monkey, or after? Was it when he was a tree man or later? Was it in the stone age, or the Bronze age, or in the age of iron? And if there never was a fall, why should there be any atonement?”

You can see from the above quotation the big problem that faces those who cannot or will not give up the total improbability of evolution for it is totally opposed to the truths of the gospel.

“And the Savior cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living

creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.

Because everything is to be restored at the resurrection it then becomes necessary for us to take a view of creation as it rolled in purity from the hand of its creator; and if we can discover the true state in which it then existed, and understand the changes that have taken place since then, we shall be able to understand what is to be restored; and thus our minds being prepared we shall be looking for the very things which will come...after the creation God pronounced all the creation very good. From this we learn that there were neither deserts, barren places, stagnant swamps, rough, broken, ragged hills, nor vast mountains covered with eternal snows; and no part of it was located in the frigid zones...or everlasting chains of ice.

But the whole earth was probably one vast plain, or interspersed with gently rising hills and sloping vales, well calculated for cultivation; (like our central plains area, especially the state of Ohio, all very beautiful and usable) while its climate was delightfully varied with moderate changes of heat and cold, of wet and dry...all for the good of man, animal, fowl or creeping thing; while from the flowery plain or spicy grove, sweet odors were wafted on every breeze and all the vast creation of animated beings breathed naught but health, peace, and joy...with shouts of joy; neither a sign nor a groan was heard, throughout the vast expanse; neither was there sorrow, tears, pain weeping, sickness, nor neath, neither contentions, wars, nor bloodshed; but peace crowned the seasons as they rolled, and life, joy, and love reigned over all his works.”

(From The Voice of Warning by Parley P. Pratt page 86)

With the Fall of Adam all this had to change to make way for mortality. For apparently there was no other way. Had there been a way of lesser pain and grief surely our Father would have used it.

How far the flood may have contributed, to produce the various changes as to the division of the earth into broken fragments, islands and continents, mountains and valleys, we have not been informed... but after the flood in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided while the great curses which have fallen upon different portions, because of the wickedness of men, will account for the stagnant swamps, the sunken lakes, the dead seas and great deserts.

After, as an individual, we pass thru this world of opposites in all things such as joy and sorrow, health and sickness, have our spirit body clothed in a physical one, there must needs be a Savior. And God our Eternal Father has provided one. He has many titles such as, “The First Born” this would be in the world of Spirits, the “Only Begotten” in the world of flesh and “Our Redeemer”. He is also called “Father”, which is a little confusing but not when it is explained that he is the spiritual or foster Father of all those who believe in Him, His and our Father and the Holy Ghost. (Three separate beings making up the Godhead)

Our next question then is the Historicity of Jesus. I have already covered this in a previous memo so will simply state that the Historicity of our Redeemer is the most attested fact in history. Even his enemies admit that he lived, was crucified and resurrected three days after.

And in the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints we have a second witness that cannot be disputed that is very plain in bearing testimony of the reality of our Lord, his mission, crucifixion and resurrection.

For as Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon declared (and there are many others) “and now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him; this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him, that He lives!

For we saw him, and through him, and of Him, worlds are and were created, and the

inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” This testimony has gone forth unto all the world. There are thousands who know it is true for they too have had witness borne in upon their souls. There are thousands who believe in the promise of the Lord, “that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments shall see my face and know that I am; and that I an the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Doctrine & Covenants 93:1-2

The story of the Flood is one of the events recorded in the Bible that has met with contempt and ridicule by the wise and prudent of Isaiah’s prediction in these modern days of worldly learning. Even some members of the church reject the flood outright or say that it was just a local flood down the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

There are others in the church who reject the story of the flood entirely on the ground that it could not be an act of God; for he is a “kind Father” and a “a father even a normal, earthly father, could not command such wholesale slaughter.”

Haven’t they read the scriptures of how the pre flood prophets warned and re-warned the people of the flood for over 600 years before it took place, how those who believed were taken off the earth and after the prophets had finished their warnings that angels came down from heaven and “caught up” any that would believe. Not one soul needed to be drowned neither need one soul be burned at the coming of the Lord when he cleanses the earth with fire. Unhappily the majority of the people on earth at that time will suffer that horrifying fate.

For the Lord, himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the Archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive shall be caught up into heaven to meet the Lord in the air and thus shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:18- but this will not take place until all have been warned. This is going on right now as 60,000 missionaries cover the earth crying, “ repent ye, repent ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.”

Some say that a large ship couldn’t begin to hold a sample of all the different animals on the earth. I won’t take time to show how it is not only possible but that it did happen. And who are they that make such complaints. By what authority can they say that God couldn’t do this. No man has the knowledge, much less the authority to say that all the original pairs of animals and birds could not be placed in the Ark! The word of the Lord says that they were placed there, and thru the providence of God were distributed over all the face of the earth after the flood.

Another criticism of the universal flood is supposed to be indisputable. This is that there is not enough water in the oceans, rivers and lakes plus what may be stored in the atmosphere and in the earth to rise and cover the mountains, the account of the flood and from whence the water came is but briefly stated. We have no extensive details. The story is as follows.

“In the sixth hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Genesis 11:7 In as much as two thirds of the earth is currently covered with water and the deepest depths of water is as much as the highest mountain peaks there is no reason the Lord couldn’t so manage that amount of water to cover the whole earth. As the days of Noah were, so shall also be the coming of the Son of Man. JS Matthew 1:41

And it was the Son of Man, (tho I prefer to call him the Son of God), who said it. Baptized with water in the days of Noah, the earth will yet be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

Be Not afraid but be believing!!!

I LOVE you, Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt

WITH THANKSGIVING COMING UP HERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS DAD WOULD APPROVE OF:

One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy. The Lord said: “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?” (D&C 88:33). The Apostle Paul described our day to Timothy when he wrote that in the last days “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Tim. 3:2). These sins are fellow travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them....A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well‑being. But there is a truism associated with all types of human strength: “Use it or lose it.” When not used, muscles weaken, skills deteriorate, and faith disappears....Gratitude is not only an expression of faith; it is a saving principle. The Lord has said, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (D&C 59:21). It is clear to me from this scripture that to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7) is more than a social courtesy; it is a binding commandment.

“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19). (James E. Faust as a member of the Quorum of the twelve in 1993)

Steamed pudding (Grandma Adaline Pratt’s recipe) (this is 2/3 the original ingredients but makes a large pudding!)

2 cups carrots grated

2 cups spuds grated

2 cups sugar

2 cups raisins

1 1/3 cups shortening melted

4 eggs

1 cup flour

1 tsp soda

1 scant tsp salt

2 tsp each: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves

1 ½ cups chopped walnuts

stir all together. Pour in well greased pyrex or double boiler with a lid on. Steam for 1 hour. Will test done like a cake.

Use lemon sauce or caramel sauce.

Best served in Mom’s cut glass dishes!

You can do this ahead in quart jars and fill wide mouth jars half full follow your pressure canner for potatoes and it saves well.

Memo #120 (75 to go)

September 1, 2010 (written Feb. 2009)

To: My Beloved Family & Friends

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard M Pratt

Re: The Creation

The first great errors made by these researchers is in relation to the age of the earth. Evolution demands great periods of time for its purpose and in the imagination of their hearts have chosen a time far beyond the knowledge and power of research to fathom.

The ancient ancestors of the African savage...in the third generation from Adam, were musicians, and made harps and organs and were workers in brass and iron.

“Jubal was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ...and Tubal-Cain was an instructor of every artifice in brass and iron.” Genesis 4:21-22.

(These men, descendants of Cain and therefore black were only three generations removed from Adam who would have been their great-grandfather) We discover, thus, that men were intelligent from the beginning.

“And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works neither to my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:38-39

But there is another thing to be considered, are the wicked to receive this earth as an inheritance? Not; for Jesus did not say, blessed are the wicked for they shall inherit the earth; this promise was made only to the meek. Who are the meek: None but those who receive the same ordinances the earth has received, and be baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost, as this earth will be when Jesus comes to reign upon it a thousand years; and be clothed upon with the glory of God, as the earth will be; and after they have died as the earth will die, they will have to be resurrected, as the earth will be resurrected, and then receive their inheritance upon it.”

Orson Pratt, J. Of D. 1:293

it is your right under these conditions to know the truth which makes us free. You cannot be a true member of the Church and reject Jesus Christ. You cannot be a faithful member and reject the scriptures ~ Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price

for these are the standards of our faith. If you accept them you cannot accept organic evolution for they are diametrically opposed to each other.

1. Worlds without number have been created.

2. They have been created as habitations for the children of God.

3. The great work and glory of our Father in Heaven is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

4. Inhabitants of other worlds are begotten sons and daughters of God.

5. When one earth passes away to its exaltation another comes.

6. The making of earths is a glorious work which has been carried on eternally.

The above being true then does it not appear to you that it is a foolish and ridiculous notion that when God created this earth he had to begin with a speck of protoplasm, and take millions if not billions of years to bring conditions to pass by which his sons and daughters might obtain bodies made in his image? Why not the shorter route and transplant them from another earth as we are taught in the scriptures.

Also be it remembered, and all who accept the Gospel should remember it, every creature is eternal. Evolutionists do not believe in the existence of spirit, for man or animal, but we, as

members of the church do. The Lord has revealed it.

Another thing I wish to say. A man cannot serve God and mammon. Organic evolution is destructive of faith in God. It is rebellion against him. Those who accept this pernicious doctrine cannot consistently believe in the fall of Adam. If they do not believe in the fall of Adam they cannot believe in Jesus Christ, for if Adam had not transgressed the law under which he was placed on this earth, there would have been no occasion for a redemption. How could Adam be redeemed from something that never happened.

Their theories are not compatible with faith in the God of the scriptures. They consistently have to reject the Son ship of Jesus Christ. They deny the resurrection of man and even of Jesus Christ. Many of them say they honor him as a teacher, a wonderful advocate of truth, but they cannot receive him as the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Therefore, I appeal to all people everywhere, turn away from these destructive teachings, for if you tamper with them they will eventually destroy your soul.

The bible reveals in several passages the pre-existence of man in the spirit. “And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth...and I, the Lord God, had created ALL the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air.” Moses 3: 5 The spirit is not created at birth, but is eternal. “These evolutionists; these mighty men of renown, like those mentioned in the days before the flood, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown, had one great defect, their wickedness was great, and the imagination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.” Any man, no matter how renowned he becomes who endeavors to destroy faith in God, in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world and the Savior of mankind, the only Begotten Son of God is a wicked man. I care not how well he may be received and honored by his fellow men, if he takes a course of that kind, which will tend to lead admiring persons away from the worship of the true God, Elohim and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and will ridicule the sacred writings of the scriptures is a wicked man. I repeat the greatest crime of all is to destroy faith in God and in the living, unchangeable saving principles of the Gospel.” page 317

Interestingly, allowing five generations to each one hundred years which is a generation every twenty years we, today are only three hundred generations from Adam and Eve or they are about our 300 great grandparents. Doesn’t seem so long ago does it? The Book of Mormon is a second witness that Adam and Eve existed and testifies with the Bible as does the Pearl of Great Price that they were the beginning of man on this planet some 6,000 years ago and were the first flesh on the earth.

Three yeas previous to the death of Adam, he called all his righteous descendants to the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman and there bestowed upon them his last blessing...and the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel. (Arch means first and Michael means who is like God.)

Michael is first mentioned in Daniel but not identified.

Then we read, “before man was placed on the earth, there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels... and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him...and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” Revelations 12:7-11

Adam not only stands at the head ruling over his posterity as a prince unto them forever; but also he has been appointed to hold the keys of salvation for the benefit of the people of all the world who will truly repent and receive the gospel, and this great honor is bestowed upon him to act under the direction of Jesus Christ who is the only Begotten Son of God and the holy one of Israel...the day will come when we will have to face this first man who has been crowned with honor to stand next to Jesus Christ holding the keys of salvation; and you will not pass through the gates into that kingdom without his consent.

The Father of Jesus is our Father also, Jesus himself taught this truth, when he instructed his disciples how to pray: “Our Father which art in Heaven” Matthew 6:9

Jesus however is the Firstborn among all the sons of God ~ The first begotten in the Sprit, and the only Begotten in the flesh. He is our elder brother, and we, like him are in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.

“God created man in his own image.” this is just as true of the spirit as it is of the body, which is only the clothing of the spirit, its compliment; the two together constitute the soul of man. The spirit of man is in the form of man, and the spirits of all creatures are in the likeness of their bodies.

Man, by searching, cannot find out God. Never unaided, will he discover the truth about the beginning of human life. The Lord must reveal himself, or remain unrevealed; and the same is true of the facts relating to the origin of Adams race, God alone can reveal them. Some of these facts, however, are already known, and what has been made known it is our duty to receive and retain.

God formed every plant that grows and every animal that breaths, each after its own kind, spiritually and temporally “that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal and that which is temporal in ;the likeness of that which is spiritual.

Some members of the church who are readily disturbed by the philosophies and theories taught in the colleges and it is difficult for them to see that these doctrines are false. Many of the theories are proclaimed with such positive finality that those weak in the faith are confused or perhaps inclined to accept the deductions of these teachers and think that the revelations must be wrong. This is a step towards apostasy. As the Lord declared, we cannot serve two masters. We cannot accept the hypotheses of science which are in conflict with that which is here set forth in clearness at the same time, they are diametrically opposite to each other.

Therefore it seems part of wisdom to present more testimony than is obtainable in the direct word of the Lord, therefore I shall proceed to present some of the writings of others of the church who were schooled under the Prophet Joseph Smith. Here is a quote from Brigham Young: “It is a true saying of the Saviors...He came for the express purpose of dividing the righteous from the wicked. We see this principle verified from days of old. It was demonstrated in the very commencement of the peopling of the earth. How soon an opposition was introduced in the morning of creation. When righteousness was proclaimed, when truth was revealed, when the light and knowledge of eternity shone with lustrous beauty upon Adam and his children. Cain must rise up and slay his brother.”

How did Adam and Eve sin: did they come out in direct opposition to God? No. They transgressed a command of the Lord, and thru this transgression sin came into the world...then came the curse upon our mother earth, and it came upon the creeping things, upon the grain, the fish, and upon all things pertaining to this earth. Thank you, thank you, to our first parents, Thank you. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. The scriptures are true. Be true to these God given principles. I suggest reading the selections from Moses in the Pearl of Great Price this is a small book of only 27 pages. It details the creation beautifully.

I love you each and everyone

Dad, Grandpa etc

Richard Marden Pratt

The following was written to the great grandsons in 2008. I’m sure it applies to us all. Enjoy

To: all my great grandsons December 25, 2008

From: Your Great Grandfather, Richard Marden Pratt

You don’t think I know you. But I do. True, I’ve only seen you a few times in this life but we were intimately acquainted prior to this life when there was war in heaven and Michael (Adam) and his angels (us) fought against the dragon (Satan) and his angels. And we cast them out of heaven. And we overcame them by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony! (That’s us). We cast them here upon the earth that in the mortal flesh we might be tried and tested, for there must needs be opposition in all things.

And the devil was wroth with the church, and went to make war with its members, which keep the commandments of God, And have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12

That war, started in our Heavenly Home, is now raging on earth to its final conclusion prior to the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In that pre earth war it appears that we out numbered the devils by two to one. And if we look just at numbers that is true. But notice that those who were effective in casting out the Satanic hosts had two things going for them that the bulk of the two thirds did not have and so there participation in that eviction was minimal and not of much effect. Those two things were

1. The blood of the Lamb, meaning the Power of the Holy Priesthood to act in his name. And

2. Our Testimony. For with that Christ given power and our obedience we could overcome all things.

For in Alma we read that we “were called and prepared from the foundation of the earth, that we chose good over evil and because of our faith (in the Spirit world) being prepared from the foundation of the world we were called in the Spirit World, ordained High Priests and with this power were able to do all things that would bring to pass the great work of our Heavenly Father. Alma ch. 13

We are also told that we received the title of “Israel”. Deut: 32:7-8 ~ Acts 17: 24-27. “Israel” means a Prince or Princess of God the Eternal Father. And with that title, by obedience, we may become as God is. The same thing can be said of each of us as was said unto the prophet Jeremiah, “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Mer. 1:4-5

Not only were we chosen “Israelites” before we were mortal but we are also of the leading tribe of the twelve tribes who is Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph was given a double portion and from his twin sons came the two tribes Ephraim and Mannasah.

My Patriarchal blessing says, “Thou art a pure Ephraimite.” therefore you too are “Ephraim” and like Jeremiah you were chosen before you were born “to be a prophet unto the nations.”

As the oldest brother, then, we have certain privileges and rights and also a great responsibility. That responsibility consists of preparing our less active, less believing brothers and sisters for the second coming of our Lord and King even Jesus Christ.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain (and many of you will be) shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1 Thess. 4:16-18

The army of God needs each one of us desperately to save all of our brothers and sisters that will listen and we will do it by our testimony and thru the blood of Jesus Christ.

You have only a brief period of time from age 19 - 26 to enlist for two years. Two years of the hardest but most important work you may ever do. If you are in this age range please go down to the enlistment (Bishop’s) office and sign up now. You will be forever grateful that you did. We must have all our brothers and sisters, living and dead prepared. Most of them will not listen and their fate will be like that described in my Patriarchal Blessing, “Thou shalt go forth to meet the Savior at his coming, thou shalt witness the destruction of the wicked as they are consumed by fire. Thy heart shall cry out in lamentations over them.” but I will know that I did my best to warn and teach them.

I have filled four missions for a total of six years and two months at my own expense and wish I could go again and I soon will receive, with my wife, a fifth call when I step thru the veil called death. I hope to be able to call again on the same people who rejected us here until every soul, save the few sons of perdition, will be saved in some degree of glory.

And the Lord makes this promise unto all who follow him to victory. “He that receiveth me receiveth my Father, and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom, therefore all that my Father Hath shall be given unto him.” That means we become as he is, we become Gods. D&C 84: 33-45

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world and then shall the end come. Matt. 24:14

Be sure not to cheat yourself out of this great experience. In my missions I’ve experienced nearly every kind of miracle promised those who believe, raising of the dead, casting out evil spirits, speaking in tongues, healing the sick.

But the one that stands out most in my mind is the need I had for 10,000 concrete blocks. My nearest source was three months away in Australia. The next morning, after asking in prayer, a large crate stood in front of our shack. It contained a cement block making machine, fresh from three months away Australia. Wow! You plus the Lord can do all things. See you at the enlistment office.

I love you my dear grandsons! Go forth to spread the gospel.

My love always,

your great grandfather Richard Marden Pratt

So here I sit this beautiful Christmas morning full of love for each of you. You are full of promise! Keep the faith!

Memo #119

August 1, 2010

To: My Beloved family and Friends

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt

Re: The Hypothesis of Organic Evolution

The word “hypothesis” is used by the scientists for the word “guess” and unless and until the hypothesis is proven it (Guess) remains just that, “a guess” and often an unprovable guess at the best.

Chapters 7-11 from page 130-258 are a detailed description of the “Guess” that is man made concerning the organic evolution of man. Because it is so asinine I am going to cover it in

this one memo.

“This brings us to the discussion of what I believe to be the most pernicious doctrine ever entering the mind of man: the theory (hypothesis or guess) that man evolved from the lower forms of life.” How can life come from where there is no life? Every living thing has come from a living thing. Every creature, microbe, or mammoth or man must trace back, and back and back. And there the difficulty arose. If spontaneous generation of life cannot be created, how could it be possible several millions or billions of years ago?

And even a greater hurdle to these wild speculations is not just one or more but everything had to evolve in pairs, male and female. This all just happened by chance??? How nutty a person must be to believe such trivia.

At the last count there is nearly one million species of plants - MALE AND FEMALE and about one half million animals - MALE AND FEMALE. And more species continue to be discovered.

“My dear friends, cannot you see how utterly foolish it all is? Why is it that thousands of intelligent looking human beings are willing to accept these stupid teachings? Frankly it is because Satan has deceived them and they love darkness rather than light.” (The above is from the book page 138 and I whole heartedly agree with it.)

To show how these followers of Satan are being deceived just read on page 155 the embarrassing situation to these fables. After outlining the so called four stages of mans development, 1. Old stone age, 2. New stone age. 3. Bronze age, 4. Iron age, and an attempt to show man in these so called developmental stages by exhibiting bits and pieces of bones titled, “Neanderthal, Cro-magna etc. all came to a head about 1910 when the final clinching (so the scientists said) evidence was the discovery of the “Piltdown man.”

Bits and pieces of bone of each of these so called prehistoric men had been arranged on display in the British Museum of Natural History.

On November 21, 1953 World news papers were headed with, “London’s Face Red on Oldest Skull.” a keeper in the British museum of Natural History shame facedly took from its case of honor the supposed skull of a primitive man which for forty years had been called the oldest ever found in Europe. Scientists disclosed Saturday that someone had made a monkey out of them. After a new test with modern techniques thy declared the skull an elaborate hoax. Someone, never found, had planted in a gravel pit near Piltdown England a piece of a human skull, a couple of molar teeth and a bit of jaw bone from an ape all cleverly aged with acid to look very old. It was immediately hushed up and is not now mentioned.

The fact remains that all the so called “men” have all been manufactured from a few scattered fragments of bones with no certain evidence that these fragments were even parts of the same skeletal remains.

Yet all of these wild guesses are taught in our public schools from kindergarten to post graduate work as FACTS.

If the doctrine of organic evolution were based on truth, there would be no need to search the world over for the “missing links”. The world would be full of them. They would be walking our streets in their various stages of development. The hypothesis (Remember it means wild guess) would find support on every foot of the earths surface.

Let no one think, that all scientists and all professors believe these foolish doctrines. There are thousands of professors and highly educated men who denounce these theories most vehemently. But they are not listened too.

It is much like the current, foolish “guess” called “global warming” it cannot be proven, and never will be proven and many thousands of reliable, learned men are continually pointing out the absurdity of it all. But they are not listened to and will not find them mentioned in current news. (I intend to write a memo on it when I finish this review. For its every bit as insane as the Hypothesis of Organic evolution. DON’T BELIEVE IT!”

Nothing exists by its own necessity, and nothing by chance. Some superior power is the source of physical matter and of physical laws.

The so called evolution of the horse is the most ridiculous story of them all. The horse has, so called gone through twelve stages of development beginning three million years ago. According to this ridiculous story the horse has developed form a small animal no larger than a rat thru the many geological ages; from a small five-toed creature to the magnificent animal it is today. (Rubbish!)

The diagram is purely artificial and the story is purely fictitious, but it serves its purpose well in deceiving innocent children and gullible people.

“This is the rubbish palmed off on the innocent and promulgated by the cunning, crafty, designing men bent on destroying the Bible order of creation.”

One of the criticisms used against the authenticity of the Book of Mormon one hundred years ago was its declaration that the Nephites found on this continent (about 600 BC) many useful animals as follows.

“And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise (America) ...the cow and the ox, and the ass and the HORSE.” 1 Nephi 18:25 (Also Elephants) Ether 9:19

in my early school years nearly 85 years ago. We were taught that horses were first brought to the Americas by the Spaniards. And that our current horses are descendants of them. Now horse skeletons are found all over the place antedating the Spaniards. Particularly is this true of the La Brea tar pools at Los Angeles where perfectly preserved skeletons of horses, elephants, lions and others dating long before the Spaniards are found.

There is not and cannot be, any compromise between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the theories of evolution. Were evolution true, there could be no remission of sin. In fact there could be no sin.

Now as to the so called Stone-age man. Yes they existed and still do in some of the remote areas of the world such as the deep jungles of Brazil, the Fuegians at the tip of South America, the jungles of Borneo and other places.

But the so called scientists have got it backward. “Stone age man” is man on the way down not up. They are the remnants of a high civilization that through apostasy from the truth have descended to the benighted stage they are now found in. Yet taken as babies and raised in modern culture they are as intelligent and capable as any of us. Which has been demonstrated many times.

The Bible and Evolution represent two absolutely diverse, alien, and hostile realms of thought. No logical mind will even try to dwell in both at the same time. Some of us are not logical, but in the long run logic has a wonderful way of asserting itself. If the Bible does not kill evolution, evolution will kill the Bible; and the choice between the two is big with doom. In short evolution is not a scientific theory or explanation in any true sense of the word, but an unverified hypothesis (Guess) which has apparent strengths but falls to pieces under any really searching examination. First rate biologists do exist who knowing all that their science can say upon this subject, still flatly disbelieve in evolution.

One of the greatest evidences of creation is the human body. We will begin with the skull and the bones of the head. The skull is composed of a number of bones knit together which makes the bony covering for the brain. There are openings in certain places that were not placed there by chance. These are openings for the use of the eyes and nose, and mouth in the front and for the ears on each side. These holes are placed there symmetrically for the protection and beneficial use of these parts. There are also other openings for nerves, each placed in its proper position according to the need. The brain is placed in the large cavity of the skull for protection. The brain is the power house for the entire body. The brain is the seat of power for the nervous system. The mind is not the brain. The mind is in the spirit which inhabits the body, or the source from which comes our thinking, our love of knowledge, our power to know and to understand. It is the life, for the spirit is life and is eternal and when the spirit leaves the body, the body is dead. It may appear the same, it may weigh the same, to all appearances it has lost nothing of material substance; but from that moment the various materials of which it is composed begin to separate and decompose, the real you, the intelligent part, the part that made it think and exercise its intelligence, has departed.

The author goes on to analyze each of the skeleton parts and showing how impossible it would be for all these marvelous pieces could happen by chance. Only an intelligence could have engineered it. And then when we consider that every species had to be built in pairs, male and female and complement each other one begins to stand in awe that an intelligence could exist smart enough to accomplish it.

Why then do other wise intelligent people, teach, preach and practice these absurdities. The answer is very clear in the scriptures. I’ll just list two there are many.

“We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority (or learning) as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.” D & C 121:39

These men are governed by three great carnal satanical drives as is illustrated in the devils temptations to Christ after his forty days of fasting.

“Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew chapter 4.

The three temptations were: 1. Turn this stone to bread, 2. Cast thyself down from the temple pinnacle (a drop of 300 or 400 feet) 3. Worship me and I’ll give you the whole world.

(1. Appetites satisfied, 2. Famous, 3.Riches and power.) Appetite, fame, riches and power are the

motivation of most men. What must we do to guard against it happening in our own lives and in our children’s lives? I gave the formula for ourselves two or three memos back.

(Inserted from memo #115: What then can we do to protect ourselves? The first and most obvious step is to get out of debt if at all possible! Avoid looking to government for handouts or future security. Don’t look to “Big Brother” to take care of us thru price controls, rent controls, guaranteed jobs and wages. Remember the greatest helping hands you will ever get are on the ends of your arms! Second: Have something to eat stored away. This is a must!

Any government powerful enough to give the people all they want is also powerful enough to take from the people all that they have.

Third: above all don’t forget your PRAYERS and learn to hear the whisperings of the Spirit and OBEY them! Finally: the very least we can do is keep the commandments, pay an honest tithe and keep saying our prayers and reading the scriptures daily.

Our son Stephen is spending countless hours and money in public speaking. He is acting as a voice of warning to become prepared. And to be centered in Jesus Christ.

I’m trying to do my part through these memos as my lack of strength no longer allows me to do much more. Become prepared in every needful thing and be Christ centered. We will win! I pray for you daily!

back to memo #119

There are three possibilities as to our children. 1. Home teach thru the formative years, the first five to eight grades. And several of you are doing this. 2. Consider private or charter schools but investigate carefully. There are many good ones but not all are good. 3. If your children attend public schools, protect them with a daily examination to find out what they are being taught and then with love and wisdom and a prayerful heart teach them the truth. Let the school be a help to what you are teaching them at home. Let the home be the center of the best teaching! Protect them with the tools of truth. Be actively engaged in the things your children are involved in and lead the way.

Then, even after all we can do they must still choose for themselves. Scary isn’t it? But God will bless you that you will succeed in your personal life and in your family as you turn your will over to him. Seek him, come to know him and feel the peace he can bring into your homes.

My sincere prayers are for your success. We were sent here to succeed and we can if we keep on trying! Be humble, be prayerful and trust in the word of the Lord.

Dad repeats this often!

above all don’t forget your PRAYERS and learn to hear the whisperings of the Spirit and OBEY them! Finally: the very least we can do is keep the commandments, pay an honest tithe and keep saying our prayers and reading the scriptures daily.

My love always,

Dad, Grandpa etc

Richard Marden Pratt

Memo #118 (77 to go)

Date written: February 28, 2008

Sent: July 1,2010

To: My Beloved Family & Friends

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt

Re: The idea of a God without “body, parts, or passions,” is not more absurd or inconsistent than that popular doctrine, that all things were created from nonentity or in other words, that something originated from nothing.

“It is a self evident truth, which will not admit of argument, that nothing remains nothing. Nonentity is the negative of all existence. This negative possesses no property or element upon which the energies of creative power can operate.” ( The Essential Parley P. Pratt page 193)

“Self-righteous learned men ridicule the thought that an exalted man, in whose form all men are created is in very deed the Almighty ruler of the universe. They ridicule the Holy Scriptures. They poke fun at the prophets who proclaim it, and who have testified that they have seen him, conversed with him and have received his commandments. No! All of this is too childish for these great men. It is our duty therefore, to show by evidence, that cannot be gainsaid, that God the Father lives; that Jesus Christ is his only begotten Son, and was born into this world in the express image of his Father.

Now let us present the evidence of God from scripture and from personal manifestations. In the first chapter of Genesis we read that God created man in his own image. Our scientific evolutionists say that this and all else in Genesis regarding the creation was taken from the Assyrian-Babylonian civilization. This is NOT true. The writings in Genesis go back to the beginning long before there were Assyrians and Babylonians and Egyptians. We Latter-day Saints should be extremely thankful for the revelations the Lord has given us. We have learned, contrary to the prevailing notion of the scholars, that Adam had a perfect language, his children were taught, “And a book of remembrance was kept, in which was recorded, in the language of Adam. And by them, their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. Enoch kept a record. The Lord revealed to him in the language of Adam the history of this world from its beginning to its end. Moses also had a similar revelation. These records kept in the days of Adam and Enoch, were preserved and were given into the hands of Abraham, and were preserved by him, so that he had a knowledge of the creation as it was kept, without question, in the language of Adam. By Abraham they were preserved, so it is a ridiculous fabrication, that the knowledge given in Genesis is a poorly constructed account of Babylonian mythology. These things were also revealed to Moses.

In the scriptures there are numerous accounts of the Lord revealing himself in person to his servants the prophets. He appeared to Enoch. He appeared to Abraham. He appeared to Jacob. He appeared to Moses face to face. He spoke to Isaiah, and many others.

Matthew records: “That Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him...and when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending ... and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven.....and upon this rock (revelation) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man and the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

NOTE: These are but a few of the scriptures which testify of the Godhead and the roles played by the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost in the creation and salvation of man.

From the doctrines of the scientific men, we see that they not only make their attack upon the fall of Adam, but upon the atonement of Jesus Christ. They condemn the Bible and go out of their way to destroy it, and thus destroy all that is sacred to every believer in the atoning blood of our Redeemer. They speak the truth in saying that one of us must give way. Their doctrines may prevail temporally during this benighted age when wickedness covers the earth like a flood, but the day is near at hand when all these man-made doctrines shall come to naught and shall pass away, for the Redeemer of this world has declared it. For the Latter-day Saints and all other good people who devoutly believe in the mission of Jesus Christ, there is but one course to pursue, and that is to remain humbly and prayerfully true to our convictions. THE great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at our doors. (Chapter 5 The Doctrine of God)

We have examined, very briefly the ancient accounts of the Godhead and the gospel. Now we will move to the Latter-days. As Peter says, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we have made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but

were eyewitnesses of his majesty. And the voice which came from heaven, we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

The other apostles testified that he hath in the last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

There is no doctrine in the Bible more plainly taught than the doctrines of the anthropomorphic nature(means “as man is now God once was and as God is now man my become.”) of both the Father and the Son and their separate personages. It is also written that God created man, male and female, after his won image and in his own likeness, created he them. It is an astounding thing that from the days of Athanasians (325 BC) and the great council at Nice, the true doctrine concerning the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, has been lost to the Christian world, both Catholic and Protestant.

Fourteen year old Joseph Smith said: “At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is ask of God...it was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of 1820...I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.....I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.....I was seized upon by some power which entirely over came me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered round me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction - not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in my being

(NOTE: I, Grandpa, had this same kind of experience with Satan. It is real, it is terrible.)

-just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

It no sooner appeared, than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other -“This is my Beloved Son. Hear him.”

No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects were right and which I should join.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power there of.....”

So we have the direct testimony of Joseph Smith that he had seen the Father and the Son, on a beautiful day, when the sun was shining brightly, the brightness of these personages outshone the brightness of the sun.

If he were wrong, how easy it should have been for these learned ministers of religion to challenge his statement and invite him to go to the scriptures and endeavor to show him that he was in error about his vision and that it according to the Bible, could not be true! Some of them tried it, but to their great consternation and discomfiture they invariably found that they were wrong and he was right. When they discovered their plight instead of humbly acknowledging their error and accepting the truth, they became all the more bitter towards him and sought more intensely his destruction. You, who may be in doubt, go to your scriptures and see for yourselves.

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness; and saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever.

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: THAT HE LIVES! FOR WE SAW HIM, EVEN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.

That by him, and thru him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”

Is it not strange that the Christian denominations refuse to accept the truth and return to the doctrines of our Redeemer, which again have been declared to them by the voice of the Almighty thru the testimonies of his servants the Prophets. But would rather hug to their bosoms the out-worn creed of the Athanasians?

Is it not just as strange that the scientist will not believe. Why is it that men will not humble themselves and in faith and prayer seek the truth from the divine source of truth? We can know for our selves as we ask our Heavenly Father through his son Jesus Christ in Prayer if these things are true. Please build your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They love each of us and want our success.

All my love forever,

Dad, Grandpa, brother etc.

Richard Marden Pratt

Being this is July and we celebrate freedom I thought you’d enjoy a story from Parley P Pratt and maybe you would want to make a little flag with your families. My Brother Steve made us one years ago and we enjoy flying it on the 4^th of July.

The Year was 1839 Parley P Pratt and some others had been imprisoned on false charges in Missouri for 8 months and 4 days, deprived of the sweetness of liberty. Orson Pratt and some of the other saints not in prison had a vision that a way would be made for the freedom of their loved ones and went to the prison to visit. The plans for escape matured and on the 4^th of July 1839 while the town was in full celebration of the American Jubilee this is what happened (page 245 of Parley’s autobiography) little did the people know these great and courageous men were actually declaring their true intentions to the towns people.

The builders of our nation have always shown courage also the founders of our great church. Were it not for men like this we would not live in a free land and we could not enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel. So in my heritage I have an extra little flag to wave these are Parley P Pratt’s words about it.

Parley P Pratt’s Liberty Flag autobiography Parley P Pratt page 245-6

“I here by appoint unto my children and my children’s children, in their generations and nations forever, that the 4^th day of July be observed by them as a day of feasting, thanksgiving, and processions, with music and with joy, not only as the birthday of American liberty, but as a day of deliverance to their father. And when the stars and stripes of our national banner are unfurled to the breeze of honor of that day, let a small flag be also unfurled to wave in triumph. Let it consist of the half of a shirt, with an eagle and the word “liberty” rudely formed on the same by stripes of red cloth, and when they look upon it, let them remember who suffered for liberty and truth, and to win and perpetuate the blessings they enjoy.

And should the cause of liberty and equal rights ever require their actions in the battle field, let this rude flag be the standard which shall lead them to victory or to death. And whenever it is unfurled in the cause of right and freedom. I now leave my blessing upon it in the name of Jesus Christ, and say that it shall never be dishonored, but shall always prevail till the rod of oppression shall cease from the earth, and peace and truth shall spread and extend their dominion without end.”

Journal of Discourses Vol. VIII page173 6 Dec. 1846

“Imprisonment and Escape of Parley P Pratt, during the persecution in Missouri, 1838"

It’s up to us to perpetuate the blessings of liberty for which the builders of the nation sacrificed that our children will enjoy the special feelings found only in America.

Thanks Steve for our flag and for your teaching us about liberty! We love you brother!