Memo #34 (Written March 1, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I love

Re: The Worlds present chronological Point in Time:

I will begin by quoting the closing paragraph of memo 32: “So as we approach the end many great and terrible things will happen in rapid succession. Those prepared shall have no fear but should rejoice. What a great time to live and have some foreknowledge of the great plan of redemption.”

President Hinckley has placed new emphasis on missionary work, raising the standards and insisting that only worthy young men WITH TESTIMONIES of the divinity of this great work will now be called. And as Elder Ballard states, “Church members have a remarkable message of startling truth that is needed in the world today....future missionaries must study and appreciate the gospel’s message, then learn how to share it with others in clear and simple terms.”

This new stress on warning the world caused me to reread and read again the 24th chapter of Matthew as found in the “Pearl of Great Price”. In this version the prophet rearranged the New Testament 24th chapter of Matthew in chronological order. No meaning is lost or changed but it is simply easier to understand. So I call your attention to it and you can plainly see where the world is chronologically as to the second coming of the Lord!

Notice that there are three divisions in the time sequence. Verses 1 - 21 concluded with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. and answered the disciples first question as to when that would happen. Then they asked two other questions: “What is the sign of thy coming?” “And the end of the world or the destruction of the wicked, which is the end of the world?”

The answer to the second question, “What is the sign of thy coming?” is answered in verses 22-30 and covers the early history of the restoration of the gospel down to the present.

Verse 22 says in part: “For in those days there shall also arise false Christs and false prophets...that if possible they shall deceive the very elect.” I will briefly mention two.

In 1842, a George Miller, a self-professed prophet, stated emphatically that Christ would appear at such and such a date in 1842 and that all that believed him would dispose of their worldly goods and with him ascend a certain high hill to meet the Savior. A considerable following did so. Dressed in white they spent a cold and miserable night on the hill top and in trying to return to their homes in the morning were for the most part repulsed by those to whom they had given their worldly goods.

Miller then declared that he had made a miscalculation and set a new date but with few followers and the same disappointment as before.

There have been false Christs and false prophets reported in the past 150 years from Australia to Europe and the Americas. I will only relate one more.

In New York in the 1930s a black man claimed to be Jesus Christ and had come to burn the world and salvation would come only to those who sent him their tithing. So many contributed that in a short time he was a very wealthy man and just disappeared, I suppose to enjoy his ill-gotten gains.

I was on my first mission at the time and met two elderly widows who regularly contributed. When asked why, they replied, “we’re not taking any chances.” Of course if they had known their scriptures they would not have been deceived.

Describing this past century verses 23-30 warns; “and you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.” The theme continues... the Saints are to be gathered (they have been and are) more wars, nation against nation...famines and pestilences, and earthquakes...iniquity shall abound. All of this has and is happening.

Now we come to the answer to the third question: “The Second coming in power and the destruction of the wicked.”

Starting with verse 31: “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, or the destruction of the wicked.”  THIS IS THE POINT WE ARE NOW AT! This new missionary thrust will finish reaching those who have not yet heard the warning cry.

And verse 32: and again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet be fulfilled. The first abomination of desolation was the slaughter of 1,100,000 Jews, few prisoners were taken, men, women, and children were killed indiscriminately at Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 

Or as the Book Of Revelation tells us. The combined world armies of two hundred million (the current number of all armed forces) will engage in such a terror that one third of the world’s population will be killed. “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Revelations 9:18-21

This third world war will end with a world wide assault on Jerusalem. And as the Old Testament Prophet Joel said: will end with all nations attacking the Jews. This supports the quote in the previous paragraph from the Revelation of John.

Joel continues: “a fire devoureth before them and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind a desolate wilderness, yea and nothing shall escape them.” Joel 2:3

God does not send wars upon the nations. They bring the wars upon themselves by turning away from God and casting him out of their collective and National lives as per the present conditions in the United States. No nation or world of nations can long remain at peace that turn their back on God. So the final result will be an all destroying third world war. And those who escape the war will be incinerated as the earth is cleansed by fire. EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED. 

When will this all happen? Back to Matthew 24:34 “Verily, I say unto you this GENERATION, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled.”

As Isaiah prophesied: “the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants there of because they have transgressed the law, changed the ordinances and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the earth is burned and few men left. 

Conclusion: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” D & C 38:30.

“Be of good cheer. And do not fear, for I the Lord am with you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am and that I am to come.” D & C 68:6     NEXT MONTHS MEMO: Preparation!

Love,

Dad, grandpa etc (Richard Marden Pratt)

Dawn wrote a poem that Dad sent out with this memo. It is a tribute to our Mom. 

I Am Mother 

I am cheerful and courageous,

Meeting each oxygen-tethered, blind day with appreciation

To our Father in Heaven for the many blessings He gives me,

Positive of Hope in Christ.

I Wonder: Is my own mother,

Now long since passed beyond the veil, standing near?

I like to imagine her, Rose Marie Enders Kearl,

Standing across the room, her melted-chocolate eyes

Gleaming approval on her daughter.

I imagine I hear her name -

Gently whispered, like the lingering fragrance her name implies,

Reminding me of the flower garden she so lovingly nurtured-

Like she did us, her eleven children.

I see her turn. She smiles.

She reaches for Pa’s hand. They are young, like I once was.

I want to join them. I feel impatient for that day,

Yet hesitant to let go of my own title “Mother”

To become “daughter” again.

But I must be cheerful and courageous.

Meeting each oxygen-tethered, blind day with appreciation

To our Father in Heaven for the many blessings He gives me,

Positive of Hope in Christ.

I shut my eyes and pretend that Final Day is come.

I feel Ma and Pa’s arms enclose my bony stooped shoulders

Like a Cashmere wrap. I feel renewed. Warmed. Strengthened.

I yearn to go with them. But I worry about Richard, my soul mate.

He is yet vital while I wither. I cry! Bereft. Incomplete without him.

I refuse to imagine our “Apartness”.

I must be cheerful and courageous,

Meeting each oxygen-tethered, blind day with appreciation

To our Father in Heaven for the many blessings He gives me,

Positive of Hope in Christ.

I understand the Day will come.

We are born to die! To die and then go on to greater things. 

I say life on Earth is just the beginning of our Father’s wonderful Plan.

I dream of our Forever Family. Six out of Six. United. Progressing. 

One Heart. One Mind. For Eternity.

I try to impart to these Dear Ones the WORD,

The wisdom I have won in my 80+decades. I hope they listen!

I pray to God they listen, they strive. What more honor could I ask?

I also hope to be able to endure myself. With Nobleness. With Dignity.

I am cheerful and courageous,

greeting each oxygen-tethered, blind day patiently with appreciation:

Thanks to our Father for the many blessings He gives me!

Thanks be for Certainty. Love. Hope. For my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am Adaline Kearl Pratt, a Daughter of God...................

(a tribute to my own lovely Mother– born September19, 1913 * died July 13, 2000).

By Dawn Pratt Taylor written February 2003

Memo #33 (Written February 2, 2003)

From: Richard Pratt

To: Those I Love

Re: I Belong

Yes, I belong and so do you. We can not get away from it. And we shouldn't want to for when we try to convince ourselves we don’t belong we become a “loner, miserable, sickly both body and soul and doomed to not only an early mortal death but also unhappiness and misery in the world to come until we discover that we really do belong.

First of all we belong to a family, the family of god and in mortality to the family that makes our mortal life possible. We start mortality as a son or daughter and as we advance in years we become a brother or sister, cousin, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle and if we go full circle a mother and a father and on and on.

Then we belong in so many other ways to all people. We belong to our city, our state and to our country no matter where we live. In my grade school days, the day always started by singing, “My Country Tis of Thee”, all four verses and then we pledged allegiance to the flag. The feeling of belonging, called Patriotism was so strong that I would cry, not sobbing, but just tears of joy running down my face because I belonged. My class mates would do the same. 

I loved the extended family system in the islands. The oldest couple lived in the center home and all others around them. They soon formed their own village.

Two young men, working on the school compound at $3.00 a day had me promise not to give them a single dollar as they were saving for their missions. They needed $240.00 each before they could go. In the poverty stricken country of Kiribati that was a lot of money, but they had to have that much before the church would furnish the rest. Yet they came to me one day in tears and asked for $5.00. Having promised not to give them any until they reached their goal, I asked why and what they needed it for.

Their answer, “Family member died, family needs money.”

I tried to find out how they were related to the deceased person. They didn’t know for they don’t try to categorize into cousins etc. it’s just all family. I finally figured out that they were third cousins which is not “family” here.

“The law of family worship” by Elder McConkie states in part: “All things center in the family, and the family is the center of all things. Salvation is a family affair and consists of the family unit in eternity. God himself is exalted and omnipotent because he is a Father, and his kingdoms and dominions are composed of his children over whom he rules in equity and justice forever. The whole system of salvation, of revelation, of religion, of worship ~ all that comes from Deity for the benefit of man ~ is tied into a divine patriarchal system. If any of us gain the fulness of reward in our Father’s kingdom, it will be because we enter into family relationships that are eternal in nature; it will be because we have perfected our own patriarchal family units. These concepts are part of the very foundation upon which true religion rests.

True worship is a family affair. God deals with and through families, righteous families, faithful families, families who will believe and obey. The whole object and end of true religion is to enable a man to become ~ through celestial marriage ~ an eternal father in his own right, and to enable a woman to become an eternal mother. It is thus inevitable ~ it could not be otherwise ~ that God, who is our Father deals with chosen and favored families in making his 

mind and purposes known to mortals.” 

How, then, do we become a part of that eternal family? Remember that mortality is a time of testing to see if each of us will accept Jesus as our Savior and live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. To do less than this will find us eternally cut off from our family or as the prophets say, “we will have neither root (ancestors) nor branch (descendants).

Remember “there is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated. And WHEN WE OBTAIN ANY BLESSING FROM GOD, IT IS BY OBEDIENCE TO THAT LAW UPON WHICH IT IS PREDICATED.” Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-21

“A man must marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, (in a temple) by him who is ... appointed unto this power and the keys of the priesthood...and they shall inherit thrones, dominions, kingdoms etc.” Doctrine and Covenants 132: 19 and verse 20 continues, “then shall they be Gods, because they have no end (their family increases eternally)...then shall they be Gods, because they have all power...verily, verily I say unto you, EXCEPT YE ABIDE MY LAW YE CANNOT ATTAIN TO THIS GLORY. 

“If a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by my word... they are not bound by my law when they are out of the world. Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage. (They do not belong) 

They are appointed angels... and are servants to those who are worthy of celestial families. For these angles did not ABIDE MY LAW. Therefore they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation in their saved condition eternally and are not Gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.

Notice this next one: If a man and a woman decide to live together without the formality of a wedding and they make a covenant with each other to meet and continue their romance after this life. It cannot be done. When they are out of this world, they cannot come together there because the angels and the Gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass. For they have not obeyed my law. For my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God. 

I know a very fine man, who maintained that God, being a God of LOVE would certainly not separate, after death, a husband and wife who loved each other. His reasoning was very faulty because God is also a just God and justice decrees that we obey the law to get the blessing and a loving couple who have not complied with the law of eternal marriage will not be able to come together after this life. As mentioned in the previous paragraph they will not be able to pass the angels who guard the way to exaltation which is eternal families.

So who ever you are, where ever you are, if you want to belong obey the law and it shall be done!

Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and your only hope. For without Him there is nothing. For he (Jesus) has said: “ He that receiveth my servants receiveth 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. And this is according to my law. 

I LOVE you,

Dad, Grandpa etc.

DAD INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING FROM MOM'S JOURNAL WITH THIS MEMO!

Excerpts from Adaline Kearl Pratt’s journal of 1970 -1972

August 16th 1970:

Sunday evening the 16th we were given a farewell at Sacrament meeting. Richard and I spoke. My talk followed a song by Dawn and two of her Tabernacle Choir friends. I started the talk with “It takes a heap of living in a house to make it home” and told about family and how we had really found the 8th ward and Provo home. Then ended my about 12 minute talk with the scripture: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.”

Then Richard talked and continued on about the home and family paying me the nicest tribute that I have ever had. Then he had me stand next to him and with his arm around my shoulders bore our testimony as one.

“We are as one! We work together. Our love has continued to grow as the years have progressed. We are proud of each other and of what the other one has done and is doing. We have a strong testimony and a great love for our Heavenly Parents and their children. Our great desire for our family is that they will love and serve the Lord that their lives will be blessed with the richness of His spirit.”

September 19, 1970 my birthday

The neighbor boys brought me cards and presents. The Bishopric sent a card and a family nearby sent me a gift... the remembrances most of which were a surprise since I was new here. The best remembrance was from my husband. A card and candy with love. Then Sunday evening Gibb and Sheryl and Roger and Rose Marie phoned to wish me a happy birthday. They no sooner hung up until Kay and Vern phoned. Carolyn and her family sent a gift and card, and earlier Steve and Gae sent a tape and card, and Dawn and Nelson a card and gift. So all in all it was really nice to be remembered by all of our wonderful family. And today I received a card and letter from Mother, Noreen, Mint and Jack.

Sunday October 4, 1970

was mother’s birthday. I am thankful to have had such a very fine and choice mother. We went to church where I taught a group of Lamanite girls while Richard taught the priesthood. In the afternoon sister Shelly came over. Later Elder Olsen came down from the mission home and brought a tape recorder playing a tape that Steve and Gae had sent us. It was nice. Everyone sounded just like they were in the room with us.

Wednesday the 7th

President Tingey gave Richard and I a nice compliment today when he was in the office awaiting a call. We were talking about mission presidents etc and their work etc. he said, “your husband would make a wonderful M. Pres. And you would be a good mission Mother. You both have the right kind of abilities.” I doubt if we’ll ever be called but it was nice to have him think us worthy. After work I dropped Pres. Tingey off at the airport where he flew to SLC for a mission Pres. Seminar. None of the M Home cars were there to take him out. So I did my good deed for the day! Ha!

Letter from my husband...dated Oct. 25, 1970 (from this letter we only included 3 paragraphs)

The void I feel when you are gone increases each time we are separated. I feel more keenly that our days are numbered and that we will soon be temporarily separated by the grim reaper. This will be the worst time of life.

I doubt if it matters who goes first. I am sure that the one who goes will be as anxiously waiting to be reunited as the one who stays. I love you more than I can tell. Only the gospel means more to me, and yet how do you separate the two? Without you the gospel would have little meaning and without the gospel, eternal separation from you would make life unbearable. How grand to know that we two are one through all the eternities. Thank you for being my wife.

Enjoy our kids. I love them next to you and am so proud of them all including their kids and spouses. My love for my family (as you well know) surpasses by far any and all other emotions and is the greatest thrill of life. They truly are my reason for living. May we all always be worthy to freely go and come to see each other.

Until Thursday then, all my love, Richard

October 23, 1970

I left Holbrook at 3 PM and arrived at Provo 5:20 AM. I slept most of the night so it was a painless way to make a journey. However, I missed the sights which I did enjoy on our homeward journey to Holbrook. I visited with Sheryl and Gibb, Carolyn and Family, Rose Marie and family and Dawn and Family. Carolyn, Rose Marie and I went to SLC and had dinner and did some genealogy. I was able to help Sheryl with the new baby girl who is really a doll with its dimples and black hair. I stayed at Rose’s and Roger’s nights. Dad drove up to Provo on the 29th to join me for the next few days. We did some good family visiting and had a Halloween party at Carolyn’s Saturday evening. ThenSunday evening we were the speakers at the Sacrament meeting. We told about our experiences in Arizona with the Lamanites and our visits to Hopi land. The family got together afterwards.

Saturday December 19th

We arose early and left Holbrook for Provo, Utah. After a successful drive we arrived in Provo by evening and went to Rose and Roger’s who were decorating a big Christmas tree. The next 2 weeks were greatly enjoyed by visiting our families in Provo area. Richard also did some work on Dawn and Nelson’s house and spent several days at Carolyn’s working with Steve finishing up the small bathroom with built-ins shower etc. we came home feeling good after seeing each family progressing in faith and works. We are proud of our family and glad to see it grow and strengthen. All but Kay and Vern and family were there. And they plan to come to AZ for a visit soon. This we anticipate.  

Sunday Feb. 7, 1971

We went to Sunday school then testimony and sacrament meeting followed. We fasted and had special prayers to ask for an answer to a problem that has been bothering us of late. We wonder if we should stay in Holbrook next year or to return home to Provo. There is so much need here for good Seminary teachers. Richard is very good. The kids love him and he changes lives. His BYU rating is that of a “Master Teacher”’ one of the top 10% of teachers in the Church System. He could also teach in Provo, Utah, and we could live there where most of our married children live and where we own our home. Our desire is to find out what the Lord would have us do. Here I contribute to working in the S W Indian Mission Home helping keep records, along with other home and church duties.

Mother’s day 1971....has been different than any previous year because we are away from our children and grandchildren. But I have felt peace and happiness in spirit knowing that they were where they were and that they were doing that which we could feel proud.

January 30, 1978

Even at this late date my heart is warmed when I think of our experiences in the Arizona desert. They were rich and rewarding. We grew in faith, had many rich and exciting experiences and made a host of good friends. And Richard did a work there that will long be remembered. Just this week we received a letter from Holbrook Stake President Williams, thanking us once again (after 7 years!) For the good influence we had on the youth and people of Holbrook. It was gratifying.

And once again we felt sure that the Lord had guided us to the desert to bless us along with the people there. It was a sacrifice to leave our home and family but we are taught that sacrifice brings forth blessings, and maybe our family even did some growing by our being away.

(Mom always made home and relationships beautiful. To read in her journals was to ‘hear’ Mother’s voice again.) 

To close this month’s memo here are the words to a primary song:

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. I know who I am. I know God’s plan. I’ll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. I’ll honor his name. I’ll do what is right. I’ll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.

With Grandpa and Grandma leading the way....teaching us how to trust and obey! We Belong! 

Memo #32 (Written January 1, 2003)

To: Those I love From: R. M. Pratt

Re: The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

Thinking that my life was nearing its end, I published my autobiography titled, “Excerpts from Life and Adventures of Richard Marden Pratt” in the year of our Lord 1988. I was then very old at age 76. Now fifteen years later and having my 91st birthday March 14th it seems like I will continue in the flesh forever.

So with 10 journals to draw from I will attempt to write an addendum or second volume. As I am going through my journals for this period I came across this entry dated Sunday December 22, 1991. A new thought impressed itself upon my mind as I taught the “Second Coming” to my Sunday School class. This is it: It is now occurring. For it is an on going thing. 

The Bible testifies that it will be a series of visits, at least five in number and spreading over a considerable period of time.

We are prone to think, when the subject is mentioned, that this final coming in “Power and Glory” that will cleanse the earth with fire, bind Satan so that he has no more power upon the hearts of people and Christ will rule personally on the earth at the Second coming! But that is just the finale.

That final coming will be disastrous to all who are unprepared and Isaiah says of that day: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse (disobedience) devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: THEREFORE THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH ARE BURNED. AND FEW MEN LEFT. 

Isaiah 24: 5-6

The prophets also inform us that “there will be time NO longer.” Meaning that there is no longer time to prepare by obedience to God’s law, which is eternal law for that glorious coming. 

The obedient at that time will escape the burning as Paul tells us by the following: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead, in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 

Death by fire for the disobedient is not that dreadful. Many people die by fire everyday. The dreadful part is to be removed from mortal life into the spirit world to meet their Maker with a very guilty conscience.

However, our and their loving Heavenly Father is acting in love, and shocked to their senses, in their suffering they will listen and obey and finally be prepared after 1000 years of misery for a resurrection and an assignment to a glorious place but far inferior to what the willingly obedient will receive. Paul likens or compares it to the sun, moon and stars. The sun being obviously the most desirable, the moon next and the stars final. It appears that most will inherit a glory like the stars for as they are innumerable so also will they be who failed to prepare for the second coming.

Now lets start at the beginning of the Second Coming. The disciples of Christ hoped that it would come in their day. But most of the New Testament writers wrote that their must come a “falling away, a great apostasy, a total corruption of the church of Jesus Christ as he founded it.

By the end of the first century A.D. Jesus and all his disciples had been martyred except John and he disappeared shortly thereafter. His final writings being his three Epistles. In the New Testament they should follow not precede his book of Revelations. This has been amply proven by non-LDS Bible students.

We don’t know exactly when God withdrew his authority from the earth but the year 325 A.D.  Made it final when a pagan king, Constantine informed the church leaders that he was now the head of the church and using this as a political maneuver unified his kingdom. The so-called church from that date on ceased to be persecuted and became the persecutors and the whole world sank into about 1000 years of terror called by historians the dark ages. Daniel prophesied of this. (Ch. 9-12)

Touted as the greatest of all inventions, the invention of printing about 1456 began the conditioning of the world by God for the return of His Son and the restoration of His church.

In the Second Coming, the first appearance of Jesus Christ was He and the Father appearing to a fourteen year old boy, Joseph Smith, in a grove of trees in the spring of 1820. After this vision, all other recorded visitations to the prophet Joseph were verified by a second witness.

This first vision was clearly defined in Acts 1: 9-11 The resurrected Savior after forty days instructions and ten recorded visits in his final visit is walking with them from Jerusalem to Bethany some two miles away. “And when he had spoken these things, 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; 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.”

The last Old Testament prophet Malachi prophesied, “The Lord shall come suddenly to his temple,” which he did in the newly constructed temple at Kirtland, Ohio, the first recorded temple upon the face of the earth since the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 A.D.

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery said, “We saw the Lord...” This was April 3, 1836 the week after its dedication. They were also visited at this time by other former prophets including Elias, Elijah, and Moses and received from them and the Savior authority and instructions as to the organization of the church and the preparing and warning the world of its cleansing by fire. Which warning if obeyed would not have one soul burned just as not one soul would have been destroyed in the flood if they had listened. But some people will not listen so they must take the consequences. I hope all you who are reading this will listen! 

There have been and will be other comings as Jesus prepares for the final one. I will only have space to mention a few more.

There will be a great leadership meeting in the Valley of Adam-on-diahman in northern Missouri. Daniel 7:22; 10:14, 12:1-13 

Then he will descend and stand on the Mount of Olives at the end of the 3 ½ year battle of Armageddon and rescue his people, the Jews. The first resurrection will also take place at this time and the living Saints and resurrected Saints will be caught up into the air to ever be with God. Many scriptures indicate that the burning or coming in Power will be several years after this for the Jews will be seven years cleaning up the mess left by the battle of Armageddon.

So as we approach the end many great and terrible things will happen in rapid succession. Those prepared should have no fear but should rejoice! What a great time to live and have some foreknowledge of the great plan of redemption! Prepare and look forward to the coming of the Savior!   Happy New Year! Love, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle etc. 

(Richard Marden Pratt)

Sketch 16 - From David Pratt

FAMILY HISTORY OF PRATT/SHIRK LINES

SKETCH 16: Family Discipline

Dad’s usual discipline was to speak to each child privately in a firm but kind voice.  I have never forgotten a time when I was about 5 years old.  It was a hectic Sunday morning in our home in Wenatchee.  We all scurried about to get ready to go to church.  I felt put upon and informed Mom that I was not going to church.  I retreated up the stairs and sat down on the step just in front of Anne’s bedroom door.  It was dark and I was determined to sulk.  My big old Dad climbed the stairs, sat down beside me and put his arms around me.  I knew that he loved me and that he would not force me to go, but that he would be disappointed if I did not go to church.  I have been going ever since.

My two brothers, Richard and Leroy, learned early that they could not outrun Dad.  We three brothers all agreed that there was one line we could not cross.  Dad would not tolerate our sassing, or as we would say today, the verbal abuse of our mother and his sweetheart.  Here is Leroy’s version in his own words of how he learned that lesson:

“When I was about eight years old, our family lived on a farm in Central Washington State.  We were twenty miles from town, the only road a single dirt track.

“My best friend, George Goodwin, lived over the mountain about five miles away.  One day he came to visit.  He rode a horse which we tied up at the corral.  We were having a great time down behind the apple packing shed practicing our ‘cussing.’  The only problem was my little sister Ann kept begging to play with us.  I realize now that she must have been a lonely little girl, but being big boys, we kept chasing her away.  She would run to the house crying and tell mother her troubles.

“Finally, mom came out on the porch, called me, and said, ‘Oh son, let her play with you.’

“In an effort to prove to my friend what a big man I was, I said, ‘Oh go to hell, mom.’  Then the whole world fell on me.  I thought dad was out in the north forty, but it turned out he was just around the corner, and here he came.  He looked as big as a battleship under a full head of steam, and carried a stick that looked as big as a baseball bat.  He grabbed me and got my full attention with that stick.  After he had properly impressed me about how unwise it was to curse my mother, he threw the stick away, sat down and took me in his arms.  I saw that he was weeping, and he said, ‘Son, I love your mother so much, I just can’t bear to see her abused as you have just done.’

“The pain of the stick soon left me, but the pain in my heart from my father’s voice has remained with me to this day.

“I was never rude to my beloved mother again.  I look forward to the day when I step through the veil called death, and find my dear parents waiting for me to escort me to that God who gave me life.”

Sketch 15 - From David Pratt

My Brother Leroy

Grandpa Pete gave each of my brothers when they turned six a complete cowboy outfit including chaps and spurs. Richard also received his own horse, a mare named Molly.  Richard’s future as a cowboy was assured until Leroy came along to spoil it.

When Leroy was about 5 years old and Richard was 12 going on 13, Mom put an end to Richard riding off alone.  Perhaps in desperation to have a little peace, Mom insisted that Leroy be allowed to ride behind Richard.  Richard had a twofold dilemma.  Not only was little brother hanging onto him but Molly had to stop periodically to nurse her colt.  No cowboy worth his salt should have to put up with such goings-on!  How was he going to resolve the problem without hurting Mom?  After a few stops for the colt’s sake, a bright idea came to Richard.  Says he, “Leroy, you will never be a cowboy without a horse of your own.  The next time Molly stops to nurse her colt, all you have to do is slide off Molly and on to her colt and you will have your own horse.”

Leroy thought that was a great idea, but the moment he landed on the colt, he was promptly thrown into the dirt.  With typical Pratt enthusiasm, Richard jumped off of his horse, dusted Leroy off, and declared: “Leroy, you almost had him!  That was a great ride, let’s try it again.”  This went on for six or seven times until poor little Leroy had rivers of mud on his face where the tears had coursed down his cheeks through the dirt.  But both brothers persevered and both finally achieved their goals.     

Thereafter, the two boys would ride off happily, and as soon as they were out of sight, Leroy would transfer to his horse.  When the right time arrived, Dad announced to the family that it was time to break in the new horse.  The two boys followed him to the corral and watched anxiously as Dad put a saddle on Leroy’s horse and stepped gingerly into the saddle.  When Dad came into supper, he exclaimed: “Mother, I just don’t understand it.  That was the easiest horse I have ever broken!”  The two brothers made a pact to never tell Dad why they were all such great cowboys.

Leroy left for the Navy a few months after I was born.  My earliest memories of him are his coming home to Crescent Street in Wenatchee on leave.  He would borrow Bob Burris’ car and carry me off to the Colockum, usually singing something like “I want a paper doll to call my own.”  He instilled a love in me for family, sagebrush landscape (although mine was flat and not as hilly), meadowlarks, the flag and country; but I suspect the corny sense of humor is genetic.  I obviously had a case of hero worship as I collected the stamps of the USS Tuscaloosa from his letters and avidly followed the voyages of the USS Coral Sea.  I came close to joining the Navy the year Dad died, but somehow knew that Leroy would have advised me against it.

We spent a day together in New York City when I was 16.  Leroy made it extra special by introducing a spiritual element.  Our spiritual ties increased in the early 1960s as he would stay with Bev and me as he came for General Conferences as a young bishop.  We three brothers preached together at our mother’s funeral in 1964.  Perhaps the crowning events were in 1974 and 1975.  I was having a particularly difficult time while we were living in Lincoln, Neb.  I longed for a blessing from my brother Richard, whom I considered to be the natural patriarch of our family.  I had a dream where I asked Richard if it would be all right for Leroy to stand in his place.  In the meantime, Leroy told Cecelia that he felt prompted to travel to Nebraska to visit his brother David, and just showed up at our door unannounced to bless me.  The next year I was able to travel to Virginia and bless them.  Cecelia was promised that she would be protected by the priesthood until her appointed time to leave this life, which she would know.  In Leroy’s blessing, we felt an overwhelming sense of the presence of our earthly father.