Memo #43 (Written December 1, 2003)

To: Those I Love

From: Grandpa Pratt

Re: Christmas

This will be the fourth Christmas since my sweetheart passed into the better world. And my only hope of ever seeing and being with her again is solely based on the fact that 2000 years ago a baby was born, the Son of God and a mortal mother. Because of His mother he was mortal and could die and having the Father of us all as his Father he could raise from the grave, break the bands of death and open the way for all his brothers and sisters to do the same and through their obedience heir with him all that the Father has to give. And through obedience the faithful “are no more servants, but a son (daughter); and if a son (daughter) then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:7

It is totally impossible for the mortal mind to grasp the grandeur, the power the fame, the riches, the joy that will result to the obedient. And perhaps a loving Father has ruled it so. Thus the great majority, the disobedient, will never realize what they have lost and will find a measure of joy eternally in their resurrection and consignment to a Terrestrial or Telestial Kingdom where though limited and restricted, without family they may continue eternally to enjoy the embers and ashes of what they might of had as co-heirs to Eternal Life.

Jesus was in the beginning. He was the first born of our Heavenly Parents. He was entrusted by them to be the creator of the Heavens and our earth and innumerable other earths and as Lord of Lords and King of Kings to teach the inhabitants thereof the Good news (Gospel) that earth life, brief though it is, still it is a mighty step in our everlasting happiness. “And our whole purpose in life, the very reason for our mortal probation, is to enable us to create for ourselves eternal family units patterned after the family of God Our Father. Those who so obtain will have eternal life, and it is the very glory of God to lead his children to this high state.” Bruce R McConkie

this great event then has been trumpeted from the beginning long before this world was and with this world beginning with Adam and Eve “and thus the Gospel began to be preached from the beginning, being declared by the holy angels sent forth from the presence of God.” Moses 5:58

It is the message of all the old Testament prophets and the very story of the mortal Christ and his apostles and is attested to currently by the living prophet and apostles all crying repent ye, repent ye and receive the Son of God. 

May you all do so and have the merriest of all Christmases.

I love each one of you!  Grandpa Pratt

We choose to finish our Christmas message with excerpts from Grandma’s journal pages  

12 - 13 she suggests that there were 5 younger before her. Noreen then was the baby and the year would have been 1925 Grandma would have been 12 years old so enjoy through her eyes a Christmas even of 78 years ago.

12/2/2015

Sorry I didn't retype the pages here from my Mom's book they are so very good I hope you will dig out your copy or ask someone to send them to you. VERY fun Christmas memories. We wish all of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love,

Rose

Memo #42 (Written November 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I Love

Re: The Reality of God

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 This opening verse in the Old Testament is verified by the Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 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 

These two scriptures, and there are many more, are enough to verify the natural law which is: “there is no creation without a creator.” The purpose of this memo then is to become acquainted with those Supreme beings the creators of all things. They are identified in the scriptures as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. The word God is a title extended to all who earn it. 

“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.” D & C 130:22-23 

The scriptures also state :This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 “Eternal Life” is a term meaning a quality of life, the kind of life Gods enjoy. Every soul will live forever but only those who know God will have Eternal life. They will live like God, they will be like God in fact they may become Gods in their own right. The secret is to know God and Jesus Christ!

But, “This is eternal lives ~ to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my LAW.” D & C 132:24

Now comes the shocker from Matthew, “NO MAN knoweth the SON, BUT THE FATHER; Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and HE TO WHOM SO EVER  

THE SON WILL REVEAL HIM.” Matthew 11:27 

Now comes the puzzle, if knowing God the Father and God the Son can only come by revelation and revelation of God’s law can only be had thru the Holy Ghost and THROUGH PROPHETS and John, of Peter James and John was the last of the prophets chosen by Christ. Then no one since that time (about 98 B.C.) Can ever hope to receive Eternal Life. UNLESS there are again living prophets upon the earth who can teach all who will listen to the LAW OF GOD and this is to know God. Meaning if we know his LAW and obey it and covenant (make an oath) to keep it we will be able to go back into his presence with all our family WHO will do the same and enjoy all the blessings that the Gods enjoy. And there is no other way we can do it.

Thankfully the ancient prophets give us the following wonderful news. I will only use a few and will start with Amos saying, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 But he also tells us this startling news, “Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD.”

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the North even to the East, they shall run to and fro to seek THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND SHALL NOT FIND IT. Amos 8:11-12

Now we must decide when this prophecy would be filled. Starting with Adam to Noah their were ten great Patriarchs or Prophets. So God the Father saw to it that all pre - flood dwellers on the earth could hear the Prophets.

Noah lived thru the flood 350 years and Abraham was born about the time of Noah’s death and prophets continued on the earth to Malachi about 400 B. C. With Christs birth, life, and mission prophets were again on the earth. 

Note: During the 400 years interval between Malachi and Christ there were prophets on the Americas teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the resurrected Lord appeared to some of them. But by 400 A.D. even these prophets had been martyred and from that day until 1820 A.D. there were no prophets and this would have been the time Amos prophesied of a famine in the land of hearing the word of God. 

Indeed Isaiah, speaking of the “Dark ages”he says in Chapter 24:1-6 (I will only record verses 5 and 6 but encourage you to read them all.) 5: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because THEY HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE LAWS, CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, BROKEN THE EVERLASTING COVENANT. 6: Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth (the curse of disobedience)and they that dwell therein are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

Here we are plainly told that the world has turned completely away from God and Isaiah says they will be burned and the earth cleansed. This word “burned” dates when his prophecy will be fulfilled and this is at the Second Coming of Christ, which great event is imminent. And Matthew adds to all our hope a great deal more when he writes, “And again this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 Or the destruction of the wicked which is the end of the world. 

Having digressed for a moment, I will now return to the title of this memo. “The Reality of God.” There are a great many records in the Old and New Testaments of actual appearances of either the Father or the Son or Both and I will now refer to a few. Most of these are of the Son but I will not try to identify which is which for as the Savior told Phillip, “if yea have seen me ye have seen the Father.” they look alike, think alike, and act alike even as they are asking all true followers of Christ to do.

And as the Savior said in that great prayer recorded in John 17:20-23 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

And the glory which thou gavest them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

Read the second and third chapters of the Book of Genesis and we find that after God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden that God met with them face to face and gave instructions and offered them a choice for God does not force himself on anyone. The choice was to remain in the garden forever under the following conditions: “all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end; and THEY WOULD HAVE HAD NO CHILDREN; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.” 2 Nephi 2:22-23 

The other choice: was to achieve mortality by eating the forbidden fruit suffering all the pain and joys of a mortal life then going thru a process we call death and a chance to declare themselves as followers of Christ or the Devil. Christ the Savior would make it possible for all his followers to receive forgiveness of their sins by faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost and thru obedience come back into the presence of God in a resurrected perfected body, all provided by the Savior, Jesus Christ as directed by the Father. (I will enlarge on this in a later memo but now I must continue to reveal the reality of Gods as they appeared to ancient prophets.)

“And Enoch (7th generation after Adam) walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. Genesis 5:24

Jacob declared, “I have seen God face to face.” Genesis 32:30

God chose Abraham, because of his faith and works, and Abrahams descendants (Israel) to be a blessing to all nations until the end of time. Genesis ch. 12-25

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” Exodus 33:11 and in the same chapter apparently at a later occurrence, Moses had done something displeasing to God. And Moses said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”

And the Lord answered: thou canst not see my face: for there shall no (unrighteous) man see me and live.

But the Lord relented somewhat saying, “while my glory (face) passeth by, I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand. And thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:18-23

in this short paper I can’t begin to cover all the appearances of God to man so I’ll skip ahead to Isaiah.

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon, a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1 and he also records, “also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom will I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me Isaiah 6:8 

and in 1st Kings 9:1-9 we read a very interesting account of the Lord appearing to Solomon on two different occasions the first visitation being at the dedication of the Temple, the second a little later. And the Lord promised Solomon that by continued obedience Israel would remain forever and their kings would be descendants of Solomon. But Solomon fell and so did Israel to their common destruction. (But Israel will be gathered, all 12 tribes in the last days, as evidence the Jews currently returning to Jerusalem. The other tribes will soon appear. The Tribe of Ephraim is strongly dominant in our Caucasian members.

Now let us turn to the Book of Revelation 1:10-20 John is speaking, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day ...I heard a great voice behind me... I turned to see the voice...I saw one like unto the Son...” and then he, John, tries to give a description of God but what an impossible task.

Well there are so many more appearances testifying to God’s reality through his appearances that I am tempted to write a book about them. But for now I will suffice with one more and that is the great happening at the baptism of Christ, Matthews account, for both the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost were manifest.

“And Jesus 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 (Holy Ghost) descending like a dove and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from Heaven saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I

am well pleased.’ Matthew 3:16-17 

Because they crucified the Lord and killed the Apostles and destroyed the church. The world suffered terribly over a 1000 years aptly named by historians as the “Dark Ages.” (Approximately 475 -1475 AD) now the world has entered the final stages of its mortal existence but not before living Prophets reveal to the people the secrets of God as promised by ancient Amos.

After the Savior’s resurrection he continued to minster to his desciples over a period of 40 days and on the final day as he gave his last instructions they were traveling from Jerusalem to Bethany.

“While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: (angels) 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.”Acts 1:9-11

I bear witness that Jesus has returned again, called prophets and apostles, restored his church and is preparing the world for his appearance to all the world and the world will be cleansed with fire and all who will not hearken will be burned as declared by Isaiah and others. 

“O, that I were an angel and could have the wish of my heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! 

Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.” Alma 29:1-2

I love you,

Dad, Grandpa etc Richard M. Pratt

Memo #39 (Written August 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I Love

Re: Charity

The last two memos have been on Faith and Hope. Those who develop Faith in Jesus Christ and God, hope in a better and eternal world. This develops into a passion to share our faith and hope with all others that they two may rejoice. This yearning desire is called charity and the prophet Moroni defines charity:

 “ as the pure love of Christ. And whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with them....pray that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” (Moroni 7:47-48)

The prophet Alma expresses the urge of true charity in the hearts of those who have it in the following words: “ O that I were an angel and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people.”

“Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder repentance and the plan of redemption. That they should repent and COME UNTO OUR GOD, THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE MORE SORROW UPON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH.”

(Alma 29:1-2)

Think of it: there would be no sorrow in all the earth if all man would develop with in themselves faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, hope in his promises and a charity for all mankind which is the pure love of Christ.

Not only would crimes of violence cease, but wars also. Which would empty prisons, do away with courts and police, greatly minimize disease, eliminate broken homes and peace and tranquility would fill the earth. All because the welfare of our neighbor would supersede our own.

And with this love we would become so aware of our own physical body which is the Temple of God. That we would cease to defile it with substances which weaken, impair and destroy it. We would eat properly and not to excess. Exercise and tone the muscles and rest sufficiently each day to keep our body tuned as a good mechanic tunes a car. And then as the prophet Brigham Young says the length of mortal life would increase generation by generation until we could even attain to the length of life of pre flood patriarchs who really did live into their tenth century. 

I love Paul’s dissertation on charity as found in the 13 chapter of First Corinthians and will explain a few of the special aspects of charity as he explains them.

He starts out by stating, “no matter how good we are, or think we are, if we have no charity we are but a loud noise and of no value. Even if we have faith to move mountains and have no charity ~ WE ARE AS NOTHING.

Even if we feed the poor (the worlds idea of charity) and have no compassion for our neighbor, WE ARE NOTHING.

      Charity suffereth long, no matter that  the world despitefully uses them. Or as the Savior cried out on that awful cross, (speaking of the Roman Soldiers carrying out the execution) 

“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Charity is being kind, returning good for evil. And above all one with charity does not envy but rather rejoices in the good things happening to others.

Charity is to be meek and humble and not blowing ones own horn. 

Charity rejoices in truth, beareth all things, believeth all things hopeth all things and endureth all things. 

Or as our 13th article of faith reads: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing GOOD TO ALL MEN; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul ~we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy, we seek after these things.”

The Savior said: “Love you enemies, do good to them that hate you”...and if someone holds a grudge against you, you go to him and apologize and make it right with him. 

In the world we think it should be the other way around. But it never works that way. Those who have something against you seldom if ever try to make it right. We see it so often in families where two brothers or others go for years with angry feelings and unhappiness.

A few years ago, not many, a man hated me. I couldn’t think of anything I had done to offend him and even thought  it was silly of him to detest me so. Then I read the Savior’s words again, YOU GO TO THEM ~ I swallowed my pride and did. I apologized even tho I had done him no wrong. He was astonished, the hate left, I had won a friend.

Yes it works, or in Paul’s words “charity never faileth” I was so glad I did when I found his obituary in the paper a few weeks later.

Life is too short to carry a grudge even real or imagined. And the grudge carrier always suffers the most by far. And most grudges, as was my friends, are more imagined than real.

Let us have love for one another especially with in our family and that includes all of you that we might live long and happily upon this beautiful God given earth.

I love you!

                                          Dad, grandpa etc

Russell Kearl (Grandma Adaline’s brother) gave me the following:

CARING A GRUDGE IS A LOSER’S GAME. It is the ultimate frustration because it leaves you more pain than you had in the first place. Recall the pain of being wronged, the hurt of being stung, cheated, demeaned. Doesn’t the memory of it fuel the fire of fury again? Do you feel that hurt each time your memory lights on the people who did you wrong? Your own memory becomes a videotape within your soul that plays unending reruns of your old rendezvous with pain. Is this fair to yourself ~ this wretched justice of not forgiving?

The only way to heal the pain that will not heal itself is to forgive the person who hurt you. Forgiving heals your memory as you change your memory’s vision. When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free ~ YOURSELF, (~Forgive and Forget ~ Harper and Row)

The following quotes were given to me by Susann Rowbury:

On this day

Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter to someone who misses you. Encourage a youth who has lost faith. Keep a promise. Forget an old grudge. Examine your demands of others and vow to reduce them. Fight for a principle. Express your gratitude. Overcome an old fear. Take two minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature. Tell someone you love them. Tell them again and again and again.

Those who choose the right are given more choices. Those who choose wrong have their choices made for them. (BettyAnne Gillette)

Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just stand there.

A problem not worth praying about isn’t worth worrying about.

The only one who can limit your growth, your learning and your unfolding potential is you.

Without the assistance of that divine being...I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.

(Abraham Lincoln)

There is a destiny that makes us brothers. None goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.

If you could see the person that God intends for you to become, you would rise up and never be the same again!

Upon our shoulders rest the responsibility to teach the wold that God’s way is the only way to find peace, joy and happiness. (M. Russell Ballard)

The best investment I know of is charity, you get your principal back immediately and draw a dividend every time you think of it.

Uncle Russell Kearl sent me this one: (Your Name by Robert Louis Stevenson)

You got it from your father,

it was all he had to give.

So it’s yours to use and cherish, 

for as long as you may live.

If you lose the watch he gave you,

it can always be replaced.

But a black mark on your name, son,

can never be erased.

It was clean the day you took it.

And a worthy name to bare,

when he got it from his father,

there was no dishonor there.

So you make sure you guard it wisely,

after all is said and done.

You’ll be glad the name is spotless,

when you give it to your son. 

Memo #38 (Written July 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I Love

Re: HOPE!

July 13th marks the third anniversary of my sweet wife’s death. If I had no hope of soon being with her, I would be of all men the most miserable. And to be with her implies in every relationship of husband and wife eternally. And so it is that hope is the second principle of the gospel, faith being the first as was discussed in the last memo.

Faith without hope is dead! Where there is no faith in Christ, there is also no hope.

So what do those who have faith in Christ hope for? Faith and hope being inseparable.

Faith in Christ is to know him and to know that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. To know, that without him there is nothing for he is not only our creator, by divine investiture of power from the Father, but is also the creator of all things and has promised those who have faith in him to also hope that all that the Father has shall be given to the faithful.

These then are the things that the faithful shall hope for, and the following list is far from being all inclusive:

First: Because Christ was resurrected I, too will come forth from the grave clothed upon with immortality, which means I can never die again. But more than that the resurrected body will be perfected and restored to what it might have been in our prime which peaks in this life at about 25 years of age. And those born with abnormalities of any kind will have them removed. There will be no diseases of any kind. Doctors will not be needed nor health care in any way.

Second: Shortly following this exciting event of resurrection I will be summoned to appear before the pleasing bar of God. Or as Moroni records: “I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead, Amen” Moroni 10:34 (Note: “The Great Jehovah” is none other than Jesus Christ.” We will stand before him, every soul, and give an accounting of our mortal lives and receive our eternal reward. For our God has appointed this great judgmental power to his first born son, because of his willingness and total obedience. 

And the Father and the Son have set up the following criteria for judgement:

“Whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priestoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their callings, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. (resurrection.)

They become the sons and daughters of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord. For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me. 

And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father.

And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Fathers kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood....

And now I give unto you a commandment TO BEWARE concerning YOURSELVES, to give diligent heed to the words of ETERNAL LIFE.

For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. 

For the word of the Lord is Truth. And whatsoever is truth is light. And whatsoever is light is spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ.

And the Spirit giveth light to EVERY MAN (AND WOMAN) that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man (and woman) through the world that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

And everyone that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit COMETH UNTO GOD, even the Father. ( D & C 84:33-47)

Third: Having the resurrection and successfully passing the judgement bar, what will be my next hope?

Why to inherit a portion of this earth’s surface, which has been renewed by death and resurrection of the earth itself. For as the Savior said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”  (Matthew 5:5) When shall the meek inherit the earth? After all who have lived on the earth and the earth itself have passed through the changes of death and the resurrection. Who are the meek? Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and God as their Father.

Fourth: Having inherited a portion of this earth the meek then shall look forward to a fulness of joy.

A fullness of joy is only possible by four requisites: “Eternal life, eternal love, eternal peace and eternal wealth. These four principles are co-dependent upon each other.

With the fear of death removed via the resurrection and as it is not good for man to be alone there must needs be an eternal love or union of the sexes. Neither of these can be achieved without eternal peace - no longer will man be torn from his family and sent off to war and all its attending horrors.

But with life, love, and peace assured a fulness of joy cannot be attained in poverty. So those who inherit the earth will be assured of an estate sufficiently large to adequately support their ever expanding family.

“In short, eternal man, in possession of eternal worlds in all their variety and fulness, will eat, drink, think, converse, associate, assemble, disperse, go, come,  possess, improve, love and enjoy. He will increase in riches, knowledge, power, might and majesty, and dominion, in worlds without end.

Eternal gold, silver, precious stones and other precious material would be useful in erection and furnishing of mansions and of public and private dwellings.

These edifices would constitute eternal cities, gardens, groves, walks, rivulets, fountains, flowers and fruits would beautify and adorn the landscape, please the eye, the taste, the smell and thus contribute gladness to the heart of man.

With this view of the subject, what man would be so base, so groveling, so blind to his own interest as to neglect those duties, self denials, sacrifices that are necessary in order to secure a part in the first resurrection, and a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory in that life which never ends.” (Excerpts from Parley P. Pratt’s “Key to the Science of Theology”

 pages 35-38)

Remember: BE AWARE OF YOURSELF. “We are our own worst enemy and will not be able to lay blame on anyone else for our missing the boat.” 

Go forward filled with faith and hope and prepare for the wonderful things that can be ours from our loving Heavenly Father.

I love you,

Grandpa Pratt

Memo #37 (Written June 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I Love

Re: FAITH

“Gospel” is from the Greek and means, “The good news”. And what is the good news? That God is, and without him we wouldn’t be for there can be no creation without a creator. For as the great prophet Lehi taught, “If there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.” (2 Nephi 2:13) Then he continues, “for there is a God and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act (us) and things to be acted upon.” (Our environment)

Our Father in Heaven is the actual father of our spirits and our Mother in heaven birthed our spirit bodies there. After a thorough schooling there we had to be sent away for further education and to gain a physical body which was to become the eternal home for our spirit and has to pass thru the change we call death and resurrection.

Jesus has passed thru all these stations and is a resurrected being like his (and our) Father. Our Father taught us the gospel in our spirit existence and that by going thru the same pattern as He and the Son could become like they are and enjoy “Eternal Lives” or family.” this joyful message is the “Gospel or good news.” and the first principle of the Gospel is FAITH, “ FOR WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.”

If faith, then, is so vitally important each one of us had better examine ourselves and determine if we have it. And if we haven’t got faith then we had better find out how to get it and strengthen it so that we ultimately will have sufficient faith to overcome the world’s temptations, which are Satan’s temptations and be prepared to enter back into the presence of God and eternally enjoy all that he has to give. 

Paul teaches that, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (Heb. 11:1) Another prophet , Moroni, teaches that “faith is a hope in unseen things that are true.” Moroni continues, “wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” (Ether 12:6) Notice that after the trial of our faith we receive a witness of unseen things that are true.

Our nation from the beginning has been called a “Christian Nation” although it has been greatly diluted the past 20 - 30 years by a great influx of non-Christian peoples. However, ask any of the so called Christians, “Do you believe there is a God?” and they will answer “yes”. So faith, then, starts with believing, but believing without action is dead and of no value. For as James says, “thou believest that there is one God; THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE AND TREMBLE.” (James 2:19) faith then is to ACT upon our beliefs! 

Faith, to have the power to save, must then be based on TRUTH. FOR THERE CAN BE NO POWER UNTO SALVATION IF OUR FAITH IS BASED ON THAT WHICH IS NOT TRUE.  So then we need to carefully check our beliefs and be sure they are true. And then act upon our beliefs find out what we must do to please God AND DO IT! THIS IS FAITH!

Or as Paul teaches: “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?and 

how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?.... that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?”

The prophet Joseph Smith states, “that there are three things necessary in order that any intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto eternal life and salvation.

1. The IDEA THAT GOD ACTUALLY EXISTS!

2. A correct idea of His character, perfections and attributes.

3. An actual knowledge that the course of life which we are pursuing is according to his  will.

For without an acquaintance of these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive.” (His third lecture on Faith)

So then who is God? He is our Father.

Who is Jesus Christ? He is our older or oldest brother. For as the Bible amply teaches, he is the first born of all spirits. And is empowered by the Father to be our Savior the author of our salvation. Jesus also carries the title of God, or God the Son.  

It is impossible for a person to be saved in ignorance. For he must believe that God is and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

When the Savior shall appear (and that will be soon) we shall see that he is a man like ourselves. (D. & C. 130:1)

Remember that 40 days after his resurrection, having appeared at least 10 times to his disciples, He had insisted that they feel him so that they would know that he was real and had also eaten food and drink; He then led them out of Jerusalem and a short distance thereafter, “He was taken up and the clouds received him out of their sight and as he was caught up two angels appeared in shinning white apparel and said, “ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus which is taken up form you into heaven SHALL SO COME AGAIN AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.” (Acts 1:9-11)

Also remember, “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (D.&C. 13022)

What shall I do to inherit the kingdom of God?

“There is a special sense of urgency infusing itself into many Church members everywhere that says, quietly, but insistently - this is the time for us to choose! It is not just that God will insist that we choose for our own sake, but that those who depend upon us, or use us as a reference point, need and deserve to know which way we are going. It is no good posing as a lifeguard if one is a non-swimmer. It is no good being a guide if one leaves his post and wanders with the multitude in search of another way, ‘for there is not an other way,’ especially at a time when there is a sharper and sharper divergence in the way of the world and the straight and narrow way. The disciple must not only stand in ‘holy places’ but on holy issues and ‘not be moved.’

“In short, the events of our time and spiritual decay in the world have produced for us the equivalent situation faced by many of the disciples who followed Jesus. They followed him unto he began to preach the ‘hard sayings’  - the doctrines that really demand not only belief, but performance; doctrines which would distinguish them from their contemporary society. The Lord wants us to put some distance - behaviorally - between ourselves and the world, not because we

love mankind less, but precisely because we do love them. It is for the world’s sake the we must sanctify ourselves. When Jesus’ followers faced their moment of truth, John records, ‘From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,’ Jesus turned to the remainder and queried them, ‘will ye also go away?'

"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou are that Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6: 66-67)

God lives! Believe and act upon that belief! 

I LOVE you, DAD, GRANDPA ETC 

David Pratt (the youngest brother to Richard) sent a wonderful letter. We will include major excerpts here. It was written May 1, 2003. He and his wife Beverly are serving a mission at the genealogy building in Salt Lake.

Dear Family,

I want to share some of the things I have learned about our family while serving on this mission. I will address my brothers and sisters so that you who are one or two generations removed from us will need to add some “greats” to the stated relationships.

Two of our great grand parents, Thomas Callister and Helen Mar Clark, met and fell in love in a tailor’s shop in Nauvoo. He had learned the trade of a tailor in Great Britain. She was an orphan at 15 when her mother Elizabeth died in the Nauvoo area in March 1845. Elizabeth Town Clark Morse received her patriarchal blessing in 1844. At that time, the patriarch declared, “thou hast passed thru many scenes of affliction and sorrow,” but the Lord would deliver her, “and thy children shall be there to assist thee.”

After her mother’s death, Helen apparently went to live with the family of John Smith, a cousin of the Prophet Joseph, who owned the tailor’s shop. Her job was to make button holes. Thomas felt obligated to ask their boss for her hand in marriage. At this point a scenario like Jacob’s quest in the Bible to marry Rachel unfolded. John Smith asked Thomas to marry his own daughter, Caroline, first before he could marry Helen. Thomas agreed but only had to wait some 3 months instead of seven years to also marry Helen at the end of 1845 when she was 16 years old. Our grandfather on the Pratt side, Nephi, was born in Nauvoo in Jan. Of 1846.

The Callisters and most of the Pratt family spent over a year at Winter Quarters and missed the first wagon train to Utah due to sickness on the part of the Callisters and the fact that Parley was on another mission to Great Britain with his friend and fellow apostle, John Taylor. They all determined to cross the plains in the second wagon train led by John Van Cott, Parley’s cousin and a member of the seven presidents of the 70. Parley’s horses were all gone when he returned to Winter Quarters. As they got out on the prairie he spotted some wild horses that John Taylor rounded up for him.

Caroline Callister lost her eight-month old son Thomas who is buried at Winter Quarters. She was too ill to attend the burial and had to lie in a wagon as they passed the grave. Helen held her up in the wagon so that Caroline could have “her first and last look at the little grave.” 

After arriving in Salt Lake, Parley took up his residence in a home just across the street from the south gate on Temple Square, approximately where the Crossroads Mall now stands. Orson lived on the northwest corner of the same block where there is now a hotel. The Callisters were about two blocks north of them where Thomas became bishop of the 17th ward in 1855. (Mom, Bev and I lived in that same ward in the early 1960s and even then the ward boundaries still included Temple Square.) In 1861, Brigham Young sent the Callisters south where Thomas first served as the bishop of Fillmore and then the as the first stake president. All together, he served some 14 years as bishop of the two wards, then 8 years as stake president. He ended his years as the stake patriarch. Not to be outdone, Helen was Relief Society President in Fillmore for 25 years. 

In 1870 Brigham Young sent 24-year old Nephi Pratt to Fillmore to manage the local tithing office. Such offices were necessary in the days when most paid their tithing in kind: produce, animals, wool, etc. Life on the Mormon frontier was sweetened by music, both choral singing and dancing. The local stake that Thomas Callister presided over was particularly proud of their choir. So much so that a history of the area printed much later featured the choir with individual photos of the director, organist, the organ, and each section of the choir. There is a photo of Nephi Pratt at around 30 years of age. He was a tenor and was joined in that section by his future brother-in-law, Clark Callister. I had no idea that such a photo existed and always pictured him as an old man. Nephi Pratt married Sarah (known as Sadie) Melissa Callister in April of 1880. At the end of that same year the choir gathered at the home of her ailing father to serenade him. Thomas died on my future birthday, December 1, 1880......

Memo #36 (Written May 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I love

Re: Spiritual Preparation

As pointed out in the last memo physical preparation consists of food, shelter and clothing which at the best will prolong mortal life but for a moment in the eternal scheme of things. The spirit obviously while in this body doesn’t need physical clothing and shelter but only food, spiritual food. What is spiritual food? And why is it so very important to our eternal happiness?

God is the source of all life both physical and spiritual and the spirit is the life of the physical body which is so obvious for when the spirit leaves the flesh in the change called death the physical immediately begins to return to the dust from whence it came. Only to be reactivated in the resurrection by the return of the spirit.

God then is the power plant that like an electric generator sends this life generating force thru out all space. To use this life giving source one must be plugged into it. For this is the only source of spiritual food. And without it the spirit in our body literally becomes emaciated and faint and sickens however it can never entirely die but in its poor condition when placed back in the resurrected flesh can only enjoy eternally only a portion of that which a healthy well fed spirit can.

Spiritual food then is to do the will of God not because that’s what he wants, although he does because he wants his children to be happy, but because it is the only way we can have a fullness of joy. And the will of God the Father is to accept Jesus Christ by believing on him and having faith (active belief) that he is indeed our Creator and Savior.

Who is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.....They become the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood, receive me saith the Lord; for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; (of which I am one) Please believe me! And 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.  (D. & C. 84:33-38) And here is the best definition of spiritual food given by God himself:...Give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For YOU shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. (D. & C. 84: 43-44)

(Incidentally when one does the above they can cease to worry about the flesh for all things necessary for its well being will be provided)

Not automatically, but by your hard work with faith in Christ the needs of this life will flow unto you. Example: we were married May 19, 1934 in the worst year of the awful depression which began in September 1929 and didn’t end until Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941.

The day after our marriage date we had the clothes we were wearing no job, no education, no future but we did have $.35 cents and a loving family. We spent the 35 cents for a bag of oranges, a great luxury, so we could start with nothing. And 13 years later we owned, free and clear a beautiful ranch a mile and one half long in the beautiful cascade mountains of Central Washington. It had two sets of buildings and the ranch was stocked with the animals of the day. But we didn’t do it, yes we worked hard but so did our neighbors. But we were blessed with one money making opportunity after another, some of the details are listed in my auto biography which most of you have a copy of.

     God is no respecter of persons and wishes to sustain all his children spiritually and physically, but He will only do it for those who plug into the source of power which emanates only from him. Any other course will ultimately fail.

Any other course leads to disaster as is witnessed by the daily news. God doesn’t cause war, men cause war! There would be no war or any other violence if all obeyed Him. Neither would there be fires, earthquakes, storms, droughts, famines and other natural disasters or awful plagues and sickness. How does one become infected with the dreaded HIV viruses? It certainly isn’t God’s fault. But man chooses his destiny and receives what he deserves.

Back in 1831 God, a loving Father, said: “Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto the ends of the earth, that all that will hear may hear. Prepare ye prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh.” And notice the next words: “I the Lord, KNOWING the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth (caused by their failing to plug into the source of all life thus weakening their spirit) called upon my servant Joseph Smith, and spake unto him from heaven and gave him commandments, and also commandments to others THAT they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets... I the Lord am willing to make these things  known unto all flesh. For I am no respecter of persons and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh;...when peace shall be taken from the earth and the devil shall have power over his own dominion (Now) and also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst and shall come down in judgement upon the world. Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” (Please read Doctrine and Covenants section 1)

What does the Lord require of us then? “Behold, the Lord requireth the HEART and a WILLING MIND; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these LAST DAYS.”

One last scripture of the many thousands: “For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, (meaning eternal families), and few there be that find it, BECAUSE YE RECEIVE ME NOT IN THE WORLD NEITHER DO YE KNOW ME.

BUT if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.

This is Eternal Lives (FAMILY) to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye therefore, my LAW D. & C. 132:22-24

I have answered the two questions given at the beginning: Spiritual food is to accept Jesus willingly and plug into the only source of life.

And its importance is that in no other way can we have eternal life which is forever families. 

I plead with you, if you have not yet done this: DO IT NOW!

Faith in Jesus Christ (means act) repentance of sin, Baptism by immersion by an authorized Priesthood holder and then receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and walk by every word proceeding from the mouth of God. Then shall ye be spiritually prepared and ready to receive all that the Father has to give.

I love you, 

Dad, Grandpa, friend etc.

With May 19th (1934) the wedding anniversary of Richard and Adaline coming up We 

thought it would be fun for you to re read the dating and courtship of Adaline and Richard. They

both wrote of this in their books, Dad’s starts on page 74 second paragraph and goes to page 78.In Mom’s book see page 45 “Whisper of Romance” through page 46. Note grandma was always 

proud of how their posterity was growing and so I did some figuring and this is how it stacks up in2003: 6 children plus 37 grandchildren plus 82 great grandchildren with 2 more expected this yearadd it all together and you have 127 descendants for this wonderful couple. Note what a 

handsome young couple they are in their wedding picture. Try the following recipe, It was one Mom liked to make for special occasions. Matrimony Cake 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup butter 1 tsp. Soda 3/4 tsp. Salt 2 cups oatmeal 2 cups flour crumble these ingredients together. make a filling of: 1 lb. Dates (chopped) 1 cup sugar 1 cup hot water slowly boil until it thickens and then place in a layer over half of the dry mixture in a 9 x 13 inch 

cake pan. Top with remaining dry mixture. Brown in oven at 350* for about 15 to 20 minutes. Cut and serve in bars. YUMMY! Once upon a time, five thousand men along with women and children walked out of the city and 

gathered on a hillside to listen to the Son of God, and they grew hungry and weak. Quiz time: Q. What does Jesus want to do when people are hungry and weak? A. Feed them. Unfortunately, Jesus didn’t have any food. Neither did his disciples. In fact, they only found one boy (a Boy Scout, no doubt) who had come prepared, and he had only five barley loaves and two small fishes. The disciples pointed out the obvious problem: “What are they among so many?” Do you ever feel this way? After all, you are only one. You only have 24 hours in a day. You only have a limited amount of love in your heart. And there are so very very many hungry people 

surrounding you! What are your talents and your love among so many? Quiz time: Q. How does Jesus most often feed the hungry and weak? A. Through others. He magnifies whatever possessions and talents individuals like you and me 

are willing to share. The obedient disciples brought Jesus the few loaves and fishes even though they did not 

understand what Jesus would do with them. Jesus blessed them. He brake them. He sent his 

disciples to distribute them to the multitude. Over 5,000 people ate and were filled. Twelve 

baskets were taken up extra! What loaves do you possess? What small fishes? Do you believe that the Son of God can 

multiply them and feed multitudes of hungry souls? (Hint He can!) Start out with small multitudesif you choose, but PLEASE share your heart with the world around you. Sacrifice is not easy, but every little bit counts. If a few loaves and fishes can feed multitudes. 

Then a few kind words and smiles can feed a crowd, and a few hugs and moments of listening

with a compassionate heart can feed and fill a weak and hungry soul! If you open your heart wideenough to let the Love of God flow through it, you will experience the inexpressible joy of love 

and service. The night following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus walked on water, by 

following His example, you will walk on air. Please accept this invitation to join our Savior’s Secret Service. If you love Him, Feed His SheepFeed His Lambs! Join by following these three simple rules: 1. Do secret acts of service. Use your talents in any way you can. Pray that the Lord will multiply your efforts. Pray that the Lord will multiply the efforts of other secret agents. 2. Invite anyone you think might be interested to join. Service is more fun with a friend. 3. NEVER give up or quit serving. May God bless you. May He hear all your secret prayers and reward you openly. May He grant 

you peace and fill your heart with His love. You are special and valuable and wonderful! Have a 

splendid week! Standards for the Strength of Youth (This is in the front of the girls personal progress books as well as other places.)The first Presidency has established guidelines for your daily decisions. 

Choosing to live these standards brings joy and helps qualify you for temple blessings....

commit to live them. As you do this your example will strengthen your family and those with 

whom you associate... Agency and Accountability: Choose righteousness and happiness, no 

matter what your circumstances. Take responsibility for the choices you make. Develop your 

abilities and talents, and use them for good. Avoid idleness and be willing to work hard. 

Gratitude Have a spirit of gratitude in all you do and say. Thank God for your blessings, and 

express appreciation to others who help you. Education: Prepare to be an influence for good in 

the world. Obtain an education, and be enthusiastic about learning. Family: Do your part to build a happy home. Honor your parents, and strengthen your relationships with your brothers and 

sisters. Friends: Choose friends who share your high standards. Treat everyone with kindness 

and respect. Invite friends of other faiths to church activities. Reach out to new converts and 

those who are less active. Dress and appearance: Dress modestly to show respect for God and yourself.... Entertainment and the Media: Choose uplifting entertainment. Avoid anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Commit to keeping God’s standards. Music and Dancing: Listen to music that helps you draw closer to Heavenly Father..... Language: 

Use language that uplifts, encourages, and compliments others. Use the names of God and 

Jesus Christ with reverence and respect. Do not use profane, vulgar, or crude language or 

gestures.....Plan activities that help you remain close to the Spirit of the Lord....keep yourself 

sexually pure...Repentance: Through the Savior’s Atonement, you can receive forgiveness and 

be cleansed from your sins when you repent...Honesty: Be honest with yourself, others and the 

Lord. Do not rationalize that dishonesty is right. Sabbath Day: Use the Sabbath to worship the 

Lord, attend church, draw closer to your family and help others...Physical Health: Keep the wordof wisdom...service: serve others....Go forward with faith be true to the Lord and to His Church. Regularly pray in private and read the scriptures. Keep your covenants and listen to the 

whispering of the Spirit. The Lord will help you meet your trials and challenges. We are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and he loves us! Obey his ways and be 

happy!