Memo #116

May 1, 2010 (written Feb. 25, 2008) Dad worked the last couple of years of his life studying and writing for our learning and benefit! It is a special privilege to be entrusted to put these out monthly. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. In so many ways he is still helping us grow!

Re: 13^th article of Faith

From: Richard M. Pratt

“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 praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” 13^th Article of Faith

What a wonderful world we would be living in if this was the universal code and it will be when the Lord reigns personally upon the earth. And may that day be soon is my daily prayer. The day of his second coming was laid in the great plan of Heaven before the earth was, so there is no use praying for the day to be hastened, it will come on the appointed day.

Remember that the Lamanite prophet Samuel gave the wicked Nephites a sign of the birth of Jesus by prophesying that, “there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh (be born) there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.”

“Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there was no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; there fore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; never the less the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.” (Remember this sign was to be given here in America signaling the birth of Jesus in Jerusalem)

Heleman 14: 3-4

“Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.....but it came to pass that the words of the prophets were fulfilled. For behold at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.....and it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew it was the day that the Lord should be born.” 3 Nephi 1:1-19

but we don’t live in that wonderful world yet and must endure the wickedness of the present world. So let us follow the admonition of Paul. Lets start with the first word, “HONEST” What a joy to live in a world where everyone was honest. I can’t remember the many times dishonest people have taken advantage of me not the exact amount of money but it would run well in excess of fifty thousand dollars and a half dozen or more of people. Two of them I forgave the debt and cancelled it, but all the rest were totally dishonest. In fact one man said, “sue me, I never pay my debts in full, how do you think I got rich.” well we sued him and sure enough he won. When we heard he and the judge calling each other by their first names we knew we were lost and we were sure of it when they went out to lunch together.

And these crooks were not all men. I had a little 75 year old woman do about the same as the man listed above. She said, “take me to court, can you imagine what chance big rough old you has against me a cute little o ld widow.”

~ 2 ~

I just walked away in disgust for truly I didn’t have a chance of collecting.

yet I would rather lose all the money than to think some where in that group was an individual who would not have been saved had I kept the money.

An honest man is a true man and can be trusted with your very life. Such a man was my own father. As a small boy I learned this valuable lesson and he was not even aware of it. In the early spring when I was about eight years old, Dad needed money badly so he sold his first cutting of alfalfa hay for ten dollars per ton to be picked up in the field by the buyer when it was cut and cured.

The buyer gave Dad a $5.00 per ton deposit. Two months later the hay was ready to be hauled away. In the meantime the price of hay had doubled to twenty dollars a ton.

The buyer came to haul the hay away and fully expected to pay the increased price. There had been no papers signed, only Dad’s word and a handshake.

The buyer was willing to pay the increased price but MY DAD SAID, “NO WE MADE A DEAL AND I INTEND TO KEEP IT.” Boy what a lesson that was to a small boy and I’ve always tried to emulate my Dad! IT FEELS GOOD TO BE HONEST!

An honest person is a true person they can be depended upon. Both their words and actions are as solid as the mountain stone. An honest man is chaste. He shuns all things that are unclean and impure. An honest man is benevolent, always aiding those in dire circumstances paying an honest tithing and contributing to the other programs of the church that is helping their fellow beings.

I am constantly deluged as you are by mail and phone for charitable contributions. It would be utterly impossible to help them all. One time, long ago, I was looking at a picture of a starving little child and supposedly that child could be saved by as little as fifteen dollars a month. Then these thoughts went through my mind. Most of these commercial “do gooders” take from fifty to ninety percent of your money for management. I thought there must be a better way. And then I thought of my monthly tithing and offerings. Besides tithing which of course is ten percent, there are seven other categories that one can help in. And with the church 100% goes to the needy one. I”m going to list them. And the LDS Church reaches out into all areas of distress in the world.

1. Fast Offering - The equivalent of two meals per month. That’s a minum. And every cent goes to the hungry. So I could increase my Fast offering.

2. Ward Missionary - every cent goes to the missionary- I saw how this works when we were in the islands. The young men wanted to serve missions but had nothing. The church would finance ninety percent of their mission but never 100 percent. So I contrived ways to help those young men make that ten percent. And as soon as they had it saved the church paid the rest. They had found by sad experience that unless the missionary sacrificed a little, they were not effective missionaries.

3. General Missionary fund - if your ward is not sponsoring a missionary, a contribution to the general fund is always welcome.

4. Book of Mormon - suppling to those who can’t afford them.

5. Humanitarian Aid - where ever needed in the world regardless of race, color or creed the Church responds to disasters with supplies and help.

6. Temple construction - The only church in the world that has a saving program for the living and the dead.

~ 3 ~

7. Perpetual Education Fund - This is one of my personal favorites as I hear success stories of

returning missionaries being aided to qualify for a well paying job that would otherwise never be possible. The educational loan is then paid back for another to go to school!

And we believe in doing good to all men regardless of race, color or creed. I had a touching incident happen to me in Moses Lake, Washington about a half a hundred years ago. As I was driving on the busy highway out of town ahead I could see a man trotting as fast as he could carrying a lunch pail. Several cars passed him, but I stopped. He hurriedly got in, saying as he did so, “My car wouldn’t start. And if I don’t get to my job on time I’ll be fired!” He told me where the job was another two or three miles down the road and off to the side a mile or two.

We made it. He got out came around to my side, opened the door and kissed, yes kissed my dirty old work boots, not once but two or three times. I never saw him again, but his thankfulness was so touching I wanted to cry. Oh! Yes and he was black.

Paul says, “We believe all things (that are true) to believe in things that are not true is not just a waste of time, it is much worse than that. Much of what the world believes today is false. And no matter how faithful they are in their beliefs in untruths it will not only not save them but may well lead to their destruction.

Example: as quoted earlier in this memo. “The wicked did not believe the “day-night-day” of bright light that would signify the birth of Jesus in far away Jerusalem. But it happened and of course “scared the living day lights out of them.

So if we will just believe “all things about the Father and the Son, that they are resurrected, glorified men who are trying to lead us into all truth and that the Holy Ghost as the revelator will testify to us of these truths then all other truths are believable and as Paul says. Because of this fundamental belief about God, “we can HOPE all things.” Knowing that our hopes will be justified we can then rest assured with a good conscious that we are doing all things needed to assure our peace and happiness here on earth and in the life following. Such a person is then free from the sorrows of this world so far as they affect them although of course they still sorrow for those who have not yet arrived at a belief of all things.

We have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. And we are going to pass through many trials before long that will try our faith to the limit. But we must never, no never give up! And all will be well.“And when I think of God, his Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing he bled and died to take away my sin.” Keep focused on Jesus Christ!

As I look back over my long life and the things I have endured, and they have been many. Yet now that its about over it really doesn’t seem important. The important thing is that everything I have endured has been educational and I have no regrets unless it is like that great patriot of the Revolutionary war, Nathan Hale as the British prepared to hang him, said: “I regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” Except in my case I would say: “I regret that I have but one life to give to my country, my family and my God.”

If there is anything virtuous, let us seek after it. Let us shun all that is unclean and is destroying the lives of those who indulge in them. I’m thinking of x rated movies and TV programs. I”m thinking of pornographic literature of all the poisons of mind, spirit and body that is ensnaring the unwary. Shun all such as if it were the very poison of hell for truly it is.

Seek after that which is lovely and of good report and praiseworthy. Above all be so living your personal life that the sick, the weary, the discouraged, the lonely and the abused may ~ 4 ~

look to you as an island of refuge in a world beset on its own speedy demise.

It’s such a thrill to be your father, grandpa, uncle, brother, friend or whatever. Let us rejoice together now and always.

My Love,

Dad, Grandpa etc.

Richard Marden Pratt

Mom’s Pink Jell-O fluff (Adaline Pratt’s by Rose Marie Pratt Rowbury)

put a can of canned milk in the fridge as well as a can of equal size crushed pineapple the night before you plan to make this.

1 large package red jell-O

make this with a tiny bit less water than called for and let set up tell “jiggley” in a large bowl.

Crush graham crackers, add 1/4 cup sugar, ½ cube butter and mix well. Put this in the bottom of a large cake pan. Set aside about a 1/4 cup to garnish the top of the finished fluff.

Beat the canned milk like whip cream, add ½ cup sugar and 1 tsp vanilla.

Put 1 T lemon juice in jell-o, fold in the whipped milk, stir in the can of crushed pineapple and pour this mixture over the graham cracker crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the top to garnish and set in fridge for 4 hours. This should set up just like mom’s did and served in her glass dishes bring a fond memory or two.

A mother is someone who knows all our needs, hopes and our dreams and desires.

With a genuine interest in all that we do, someone who guides and inspires.

The heart of my mother is full of compassion, is generous, kind and forgiving.

The smile of my mother is loving and tender, and adds so much gladness to living.

My mother is someone with infinite patience, who soothes all my troubles away.

My mother has limitless faith in we her children and loves us day after day.

My mother made a home out of a house by being there and using talents and thoughtful, sweet actions.

My mother is warm, understanding and gentle.

My mother is full of wisdom, strength, loveliness, and grace.

My mother is well read and shares bits of this learning well with others.

My mother shares all that is hers joyfully.

My mother takes pride in her husband, children and home.

My mother radiates beauty. She has a gentle tone to her voice.

My mother is a wonderful grandmother too. She is always thinking of one of them and seeing to their needs.

My mother has always kept her priorities in order.

My mother is an influence for great good on all whom she comes in contact with.

My mother has a quick mind for ideas and can see ways of making things beautifully.

My mother shares her sincere testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. She lives a life of dedication to these sacred beliefs.

If mothers were rated from one to ten, my mom would be much more she’d be at least a 15!

Happy Mother’s day!

Love,

Roger, Rose and tribe ((Written in poster form and mom saved this all these years. Probably written 30 years ago before we had a computer! In cleaning out the house from Dad’s passing we have found things they treasured. May 12^th, 2009)) May 9^th is Mother’s Day honor motherhood that day.

Memo #115

April 1, 2010 (written Feb. 2009) April 1^st marks Dad’s 1 year passing

From: Richard Marden Pratt

Re: Article of Faith #12

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. Article of faith #12

“Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land. Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign and subdue all enemies under his feet.” Doctrine and Covenants 58:21-22

“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.”

“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience (religion) the right and control of property and the protection of life. “ Doctrine and Covenants 134:1-2

Let me try and rephrase that: We believe that governments are instituted by God for mans benefit and that man should obey the same regardless of the type or system of government. But government has three basic duties: 1. To insure freedom of religion so long as it does not infringe upon the worship rights of others. 2. The right to own and control property. 3. And the protection of life.

Why is the right to own and control property so vital? Because a man literally trades part of his time or life for it. It is part of his very soul. And most, if not all governments infringe upon this right in every thing from light taxation to confiscation.

Any governing power or control beyond these three rights is infringing on mans personal liberty. Now notice this next verse: “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgements are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.” D&C 134:5

“We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws and relief afforded.” D&C 134:11

Our government right now is tottering on the brink of no return. The Constitution is being paid lip service only. The Declaration of independence is scorned.

I have just finished reading “The Supremacists” by Phyllis Schlafly. She is one of the giants fighting for our freedoms. She is currently 82 years old, a wife, mother of six and has written a newsletter since 1967. She is heard daily on 460 radio stations and on and on. Has lectured or debated on more than five hundred college campuses and was named the Illinois Mother of the year in 1992. She heads Eagle Forum and Concerned Women for America. They do much good in the cause of family and liberty!

Here is just one of the horrible things she reports. We are allowing the courts to rule us. And here is how it is done spearheaded by ACLU.

The ACLU and other left-wing groups are able to use these lawsuits as a source of income. Many of the lawsuits are actually funded by the taxpayers because a federal law awards attorneys fees if they win the case. The fees collected can be staggering.

The organizations that sued to remove the Ten Commandments form the Alabama State Judicial Building, collected $540,000 (½ million plus!) In attorney’s fees and expenses in 2004 from ALABAMA taxpayers.

Kentucky taxpayers handed over $121,500 to pay the ACLU for its action against the Ten Commandments display outside its state capital, and $50,000 for the same offense in Georgia.

The ACLU profited enormously, collecting $790,000.00 plus $160,000 court costs (that’s 1 million!) As a result of its suit to deny the Boy Scouts of America the use of San Diego’s Balboa Park for a summer camp. A City facility the Scouts had used since 1915. The ACLU argued that the Boy Scouts must be designated a “religious organization” because it refuses to accept homosexual scoutmasters and because the Scouts use an oath, “to do my duty to God and My country.” And all it would take to stop this assault on our liberty and tax dollars is a simple majority vote in congress according to Mrs. Schlafly. Her book is 235 pages long ~ I suggest you read it.

We may still give lip service to the checks and balances of our constitutional republic, but the phrase is now quite hollow, the checks and balances are gone! The Constitution has become but a piece of paper that, instead of protecting men’s liberties against encroaching government, is now a source of phrases to be “interpreted” in such a way as to grant new and novel powers to government. Instead of a TRUE REPUBLIC with limited political power, we have been brought to a DEMOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP similar to those in Latin America where one man, although he carries the pleasing title of President and is elected to office by majority vote, nevertheless has almost unlimited political power during his period of office. Some people may feel that this development is both healthy and necessary to deal effectively with other dictatorships around the world; some may feel that it is a betrayal of the American Revolution (and it is) and a frightful step backward in political development; but no one can deny that it has happened. (“An Enemy Hath Done This” by President Ezra Taft Benson page 266)

We are no longer a true Republic with limited political power. We are now a “democratic dictatorship” and this form of wicked government is taking over our fantastic country and we are now engaged in several wars in which we are trying to enforce this dictatorship on others. No wonder they are fighting us so hard and no wonder that we nationally are under such a blight ourselves.

“Decisions of the Supreme Court have undermined the forces of law and order and, more than any other single cause, are directly responsible for the nations soaring crime rate.

Almost everyone recognizes that something is wrong with the Supreme Court. One does not have to be a constitutional lawyer to sense it. The modern Supreme Court had tipped the scales of justice in favor of the rights of criminals at the expense of the rights of law-abiding citizens who are the victims of those criminals.”

It is not the criminals, actual or potential that need a neuropathic hospital; it is the people who slobber over them in an effort to find excuses for their crime.” Ibid 263

Another warning: you and I sustain one man on this earth as God’s mouth piece

President David O McKay (1964) one of the greatest seers who has ever walked this earth. “We do not need a prophet ~ We have one ~ What we desperately need is a listening ear.”

Should it be a concern to us when the mouthpiece of the Lord keeps constantly and consistently raising his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom as he has over the years? There are two unrighteous ways to deal with his prophetic words of warning: you can fight them or ignore them. Either course will bring you disaster in the long run.

HEAR HIS WORDS: “No greater responsibility rests upon members of the church, upon all citizens of this Republic (not democracy) and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the constitution of the United States.

As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the “side” in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare or will they heed the counsel of the prophet of the Lord.

No matter what you call it communism, socialism or the WELFARE STATE ~ our freedom is sacrificed.

We believe the gospel is the greatest thing in the world; why then do we not force people to join the church if they are not smart enough to see it on their own? BECAUSE THIS IS SATAN’S WAY, NOT THE LORD’S PLAN. The Lord uses persuasion and love.”( free agency, or the right to make ones own choices) Ibid 273-274

Today two mighty forces are battling for supremacy of the world. The destiny of mankind is in the balance. It is a question of God and liberty or Atheism and slavery.

Those forces are known and have been designated by different terms throughout the ages.

“In the beginning” they were Satan on the one hand, and Christ on the other.

In Joshua’s time they were called “Gods of the Amorites,” on one hand, and “the Lord” on the other. In these days, they are called “domination by the state,” on one hand, “personal liberty,” on the other hand; communism on one hand, free agency on the other. Ibid -274

No one is likely to destroy America but Americans! In America, only the federal government can increase the money supply. Only government can create inflation.

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

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

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

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

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

My love always,

Dad, Grandpa, brother, friend

Richard Marden Pratt

Grandmother’s apron

by Adaline Kearl Pratt

Grandmother’s apron was of dark calico

purposely made so the dirt wouldn’t show,

full gathered skirt on a band wide,

and a large pocket on the left side.

Her best one was white, with a dainty lace trim,

for quiltings, and ragbees, and calling on friends.

She looked neat in her apron. No sweetness she lacked

in her dainty white apron with bow in the back.

But the everyday apron that she wore so much,

trimmed with bright color of rick rack or such,

was really a part of her. Through heat or frost;

without that apron she really felt lost.

We tell of that apron ~ its various abuses ~

its values, its needs, and its hundreds of uses.

She busied herself, never forsaking

the frying, the roasting, the boiling and baking,

Experiences past, though painful, had told her,

“Remove the hot pot with the handy pot holder.

At meal time she was lucky, if able

to protect the food which was placed on the table,

for quicker than you could ever surmise,

with a flip of her apron, she shooed away flies.

For a better conveyance, you couldn’t ask it,

lifting her apron she made a nice basket.

“Chick-chick-chick-chick” ~ she tossed cracked corn

to her hungry flock early each morn.

Woe to the chickens that scratched in her garden.

Grandma was stern as an old prison warden.

She flapped and she flipped her apron so hard

the hens all went sqawking back to the yard.

Egg gathering time was a pleasure,

each egg a welcome treasure.

So into her apron with eager zest

she gathered the eggs from every nest.

Then lifting her apron up to her hips

she gathers a load of kindling chips

for the stove in the kitchen is big and slow

and without a good starter the fire won’t go.

Summer found her often in the garden hoeing weeds

protecting tiny vegetables to insure the family’s needs.

And now and then she rested, as time would allow

to wipe the perspiration from her weary brow.

A grandchild skins a bony knee

and runs to gran for sympathy

banished are the childish fears

when she wipes away the falling tears.

And if one day there came a stranger

the children always thought of danger

then they would leave their play and race

to feel secure in the hiding place.

Company sighted down the lane.

Plainly seen through the window pane,

rushing fast as she is able

she dusts the chairs and the dining table.

And as she speeds her parting guests

she stands in the door and talks with zest

of friends and crops and the chilly weather

she looks down the valley at the neighboring

farms and wraps her apron around her arms.

And when day is done and evening brings

the hour to untie the apron strings,

weary and worn and feeling her age

she tenderly covered the canary cage.

Memo #114

March 1, 2010 (written Feb 2009)

From: Richard M. Pratt

Re: Article of faith #11

“We claim the privilege of worshiping almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” Article of faith #11

We might add that we also claim the privilege of not worshiping any God but just living life the way we want too. One big problem to this is if we choose not to worship God then we have placed ourselves in the clutches of Satan. There are only the two powers in all eternity. And to be ensnared by Satan is to become like Cain, the son of Adam and Eve.

Cain, because he persisted in doing as he pleased, became so ensnared in the traps of Satan that he was completely in the clutches of the Devil.

However Cain did gain one privilege by accepting Satan’s offering. Because Cain had a physical body he had more power than Satan and Satan needed that power to further his destructive plans for the earth and its inhabitants.

And the Lord said unto Cain: “Why art thou wroth? Why is thy countenance fallen?”

“If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee, and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments I will deliver thee up, and it shall be done unto thee according to his desire. And thou shalt rule over him; and from this time forth thou shalt be called Perdition; for thou wast also before the world. And it shall be said in time to come ~ that these abominations are had from Cain; for he rejected the greater counsel which was had from God; and this is a cursing which I will put upon thee, except thou repent.” Moses 5:22-25

Not to belabor Cain further, except to point out that because he chose to follow Satan completely, he introduced murder into the earth by killing his brother Able. And then it says that Cain married one of his brothers daughters, and they loved Satan more than God.

Because man is free to choose and Cain chose to follow Satan, it is a sin unto death, for it brings a spiritual banishment ~ the second death ~ by which those who partake of it are denied the presence of God and are consigned to dwell with the devil and his angels throughout eternity.

All who partake of this the greatest of sins, sell themselves as did Cain to Lucifer. They learn to hate the truth with an eternal hatred. And they learn to love wickedness. They reach a condition where they will not and cannot repent. The spirit of murder fills their hearts and they would, fi they had the power, crucify our Lord again, which they virtually do by fighting his work and seeking to destroy it and his prophets.

How fortunate it is that in the mercy of God there will be comparatively few who will partake of this awful misery and eternal darkness. (Doctrines of Salvation Vol. 1 pages 48-49)

Because we seldom use our power to reason we think that Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve, which is not so. For they soon, after the death of Abel, had another son born to replace Abel as their heir in righteousness. And definitely states that Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born. Cain and Abel then were born when Adam and Eve were somewhere around 100 years old. So they had been having children for about 100 years before Cain and Abel’s births.

Now I’m nearly a 100 years old and we only had six children yet our descendants are

~ 2 ~

approaching 200. Then Adam and Eve would have had several times that many before Cain, Abel and Seth came along.

In fact after they were driven out of the Garden of Eden the record says: “And from that time forth, Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth. And from that time forth, the sons and daughters of Adam began to divide two and two in the land, and to till the land, and to tend flocks, and they also begat sons and daughters.” (Read Moses Chapter 5)

Although we allow all men to worship or not to worship according to the dictates of their own wills, yet it is also our “bounden” duty to teach all people the truth about God that they therefore may make and intelligent choice if they choose right principles they are guided along the path to eventual exaltation in the presence of God.

Adam and Eve followed this injunction and attempted to teach their children as follows: “And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying; believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual and devilish.” Moses 5:12-13

But not all, for as Adam and Eve’s family grew also grew their experiences in teaching the truth to their posterity.

“And thus the gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by Holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Note the same way that it is always taught. The same way it is being taught today. Those people who don’t hear it in this life, and there are many millions of such who live and die without having heard the “Good News” shall have it taught to them in the world o f spirits while awaiting the resurrection. No one will be judged until they have had the truth taught them. But you and I do not fit in this category. We are hearing it now and our eternal future depends on whether we accept it or not.

Now notice this next unfolding of Adam’s family. “And then began these men to call upon the name of the Lord, and the Lord blessed them;

and a book of remembrance was kept, in which was recorded in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration.

And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. (Note: yet we are taught in our schools today that our ancestors were cavemen who didn’t even have a spoken language at first, and that it took millions of years to evolve into modern educated idiots. Maybe idiot is to harsh use a different word if you judge it best.)

“And a genealogy was kept of the children of God. And this was the book of generations of Adam, sayig: in the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God.

And Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image and called his name Seth.

And the days of Adam, were eight hundred years after he begat Seth (So Adam lived 930 years after ejected from the Garden of Eden) and he begat many sons and daughters.”Moses 6:9-11

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And this is the genealogy of the sons of Adam, who was the son of God, with whom God, himself conversed.

And they were preachers of righteousness, and spake and prophesied, and called upon all men, everywhere, to repent; and faith was taught unto the children of men. Moses 6:23-24

YES, we accord all men the same privilege to worship who they will or not to worship at all. But even this is a form of worship for such a one is enrolled in the ranks of Satan whether they know it or not. And as Christ laid down his life for each of us it then belongs to us to lay down our life for our brother.

Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam lived his 365 years on the earth, won many converts then he, his followers, and the land they dwelt on was taken away from this earth while Adam was still mortal.

And Enoch says: “and I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he talked with me: Look, and I will show unto thee the world for the space of many generations.” Moses 7:4-5

The Lord was preparing the earth for its baptism, the earth is a living thing and had to have this cleansing ordinance just as individuals do ~NO ONE NEEDED TO DIE in the process. It was Enoch’s mission to save all who would listen.

And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, but as a whole whey would not listen. And from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them (as there always will be among those who accept the doctrine of hate taught by Satan and reject the doctrine of Love as taught by the Lord.)

And after Enoch had gleaned the world and his people had been removed there from, angels descended out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and the Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion (or Enoch’s city) and it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept;

Moses 7:27-28

And why did he weep? Because they had chosen Satan now they had to pay the price, death by drowning.

I’ve drowned three times. It’s not a bad death. Unless it is attended by the realization that this drowning was the aftermath of wrong choices.

And great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve.

Then came the prophet Noah to make the final gleaning of all who would follow the Lord, the rest following Satan to be removed from the earth.

Have you ever wondered about Noah’s family? Japheth was born when Noah was 450 years old (what happened to all his kids born before then. I suspect some were caught up with Enoch’s people, the unfaithful were drowned. Eight years after Japheth, Shem was born (our ancestors) of the same mother as Japheth and when Noah was 500 years old Ham was born. The only inkling of what happened to the rest of Noah’s family is found in Moses 7:14-15. There we learn that his grand daughters had married the sons of men (sons of men means, wicked men) and they will not hearken unto my voice. So they drowned.

Now we are preparing for the earth to receive the Holy Ghost or cleansing by fire. Will it be real? Of course for the Lord does nothing save he revealeth it to his servants the Prophets.

“And it shall be, with the people, so with the priest...the land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled...the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have

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transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance (baptism etc) broken the everlasting covenant (the gospel)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 23:1-6

Our first job then is to worship God with all our heart, might and mind and soul and allow all people the same privilege but trying to teach them the true way that they need not suffer, for not one soul needs to perish in the cleansing of the earth.

God Bless You all forever!

All my love,

Dad, Grandpa, brother, uncle etc. (Richard M. Pratt)

DEAR FAMILY,

Here is a precious letter I re‑discovered, written by my dear parents. It sounds almost

like a patriarchal blessing in it's beautiful prophetic wording. Perhaps these words of

comfort from our faithful ancestors, will give guidance and encouragement to you.

Carolyn

1967

"DEAR CAROLYN

IN ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS AND WISHES YOU CAME TO US. NOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS WE FIND OURSELVES PRAYING AND WISHING AGAIN. THESE PRAYERS WILL ALSO BE HEARD AND WE WILL ALL FIND THAT 'AFTER THE TRIAL COMES THE BLESSING.' WE WILL ALL COME FORTH WITH MORE LOVE, COMPASSION AND HOPE AND A FULLER SENSE OF VALUES.

THE DAY YOU WERE BORN, YOU DECIDED TO COME 8 DAYS EARLY, ANXIOUS TO GET THIS LIFE STARTED. YOU HAD KNOWN THAT LIFE WOULDN'T ALWAYS BE EASY, BUT IN SPITE OF THIS, YOU DESIRED IT AND CHOSE TO COME TO EARTH, GET A BODY AND PROVE YOURSELF. EACH OF US HAVE TO BE PROVEN AT SOME TIME TO FIND OUR REAL WORTH.

IT ISN'T ALWAYS THE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE IN LIFE BUT HOW WE MEET THEM AND SUCCEED. SOMETIMES THE ROAD IS LONGER AND HARDER FOR ONE THAN ANOTHER, BUT ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND A 'DIAMOND IS MADE AND BEAUTIFIED WITH PRESSURE AND CUTTING AWAY.'

YOU, TOO, ARE BEING SHAPED AND FITTED AND WILL YET FULFILL MANY GREAT AND IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE HERE UPON THE EARTH. BE PATIENT AND FAITHFUL, LEARNING AND DOING THE WILL OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER. LIVE EACH DAY, AS IT COMES ALONG, TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY AND YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE AND SUCCEED IN YOUR LIFE'S MISSION.

OUR LOVE,

MOTHER AND FATHER