Memo #44 (Written January 1, 2004)

To: Those I Love

From: Grandpa Pratt

Re: Heavenly Father’s Work & Glory

Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face and God said: “Worlds without number have I created; and also I created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, Which is mine Only Begotten.....and there is no end to my works.....for behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1: 32-39

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” 

Exodus 35:11

“Behold, the Lord God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.” Deuteronomy 5:24

Moses is pointing out that righteous men have talked to God face to face and have not perished. And he also declares that the very purpose and goal of God’s existence is to bring to pass eternal joy and happiness for his children. But it has to be done his way, not because he is a dictator but because he is a kind, merciful and loving father who sacrifices his personal desires to elevating all his sons and daughters that will accept his only begotten in the flesh as their Savior. The heavens and the earth and the myriads of twinkling orbs in the evening sky are not there by chance but by choice. They are created and the creation continues onward to make a place for every child of God. Or as the hymn so aptly says:

“If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye. And then continue onward with that same speed to fly, 

Do you think that you could ever, thru all eternity, find out the generation where Gods began to be?

Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend? Or view the last creation, Where Gods and matter end? 

Me thinks the Spirit whispers, No man has found pure space, Nor seen the outside curtains where nothing has a place.

The works of God continue, and worlds and lives abound; Improvement and progression have one eternal round.

There is no end to matter, there is no end to space there is no end to spirit, there is no end to race.”

And I am a child of God and so are you and every other soul who lives on this and the countless other worlds and he has no favorites or putting it another way each of us can be his favorite for the following reasons:

Jesus is his first born and therefore the legal heir to all that our father has and he repeatedly calls him, “My dearly Beloved.” BUT all other sons and daughters who will follow Jesus are also equally loved and HEIR equally with Jesus ALL that the Father has. Isn’t this fantastic?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

     Now listen to the Saviors own words: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

I marvel that no two people are alike. We each have our traits, gifts, talents etc. and by obedience to Heavenly principles we are each so very unique. Therefore each one is as if they were an only child. And each in his individuality can bless the lives and honor our Heavenly Father as no one else can and that can make each of us a favorite Son or Daughter.

“I am a child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God, and so my needs are great; help me to understand his words before it grows to late.

I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store; If I but learn to do his will I’ll live with him once more.”

“This earth also all other earths must undergo a variety of changes in their progress toward perfection. A new heaven and a new earth are promised by the prophets. Or in other words, the planetary systems are to be changed, purified, refined, exalted, and glorified in the similitude of the resurrection, by which means all physical evil or imperfection will be done away.

Our mortal body must pass away and be changed so as to be adapted to a wider and more glorious sphere of locomotion, action and enjoyment.

When this planet, as all other planets, on which man dwells has conceived, brought forth, and nourished the number of tabernacles ASSIGNED to it in the beginning, by infinite wisdom it must be acted upon by a process. The purifying elements, such as fire, must needs be employed to bring it thru a refinement, a purification, a change commensurate with that which had before taken place in the mortal bodies of its inhabitants. Thus renovated, it is adapted to Resurrected man.” (Adapted from P. P. Pratts ~ Destiny of the Universe)

This refining process then in which man and planet are purified must follow a set schedule and so it is and because God does nothing without revealing his plans thru his prophets we, his children, have ample warning and instructions as to how and when we can prepare and be ready for each different stage of the purifying process of God’s creations. We can either rejoice because we are prepared or we can weep and wail as the consequences of unpreparedness sweep over us.

In the book of Revelation beginning with chapter 5 John is shown a book, the book has seven sections, each section contains Gods plans for the earth and its inhabitants for 1000 years beginning with the fall of Adam and Eve. This awesome event took place as near as can be figured in 4004 B.C. We are now in the year 2004 A.D. or 6008 years have passed since the beginning of mortal time.

We then have witnessed via history and revelation the finishing of the first six planning periods and are now in the eighth year of the seventh period. Each period of a 1000 years. Is called millennium. This seventh millennium, just starting, is the most exciting and fraught with the most danger of all the others put together. 

Christ is to return to the earth sometime in the early days of this period of time, restore it to its paradisiacal glory and reign personally upon the earth.

But the restoration includes much violence for it has taken much violence to bring the 

earth to its present corrupt stage including Noah’s flood and terrible acts of nature, earthquakes, floods, storms etc. all this must be reversed and then a final cleansing by fire and the earth will be a fit habitation for the Savior and all those who by obedience will heir equally with him. 

How to recognize the signs, which are all around us and be prepared and ready to meet the Savior will be the theme of the next several memos.

“And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of man shall come.”

Thanks to all of you for your Christmas cards and goodies. I’ve enjoyed them immensely! I’m surrounded by the cute pictures of my posterity.  By the way in December I received a wonderful phone call telling me I have my first great great grandchild! (This would be Carolyn’s first great grandchild!) This makes 127 descendants! With the 128th due in May! It’s wonderful to see my family growing. Thanks for remembering me.

I LOVE YOU,

Grandpa Pratt

PS May you all have joy, love, and peace in this new year! Happy New Year! Dad / Grandpa etc.

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