February 1, 2011
To: All I Love
From: Dad, Grandpa etc Richard Pratt
Re: Personal Life in a distressed world
One of the most serious mistakes of mankind has been to assume that they were chosen and accepted of God just simply because of their illustrious ancestors. The righteousness of parents can never save their children. The children must be righteous on their own account or they will be treated like anyone else. (W. Cleon Skousen pg. 3)
After Abraham and Lot separated so they would have more room for their large herds of stock. Lot chose to move into the city of Sodom on the south shore of the Dead Sea. It was not dead at this time but was a tropical paradise stretching out many miles of rich soil and prosperous cities. Then the area was invaded and Lot and his family were taken captive and carried off with their wealth. When Abraham heard of it he quickly called all his herders in, leaving their wives and children tending their flocks. He was able to muster in 318 men of his own camp and followed in hot pursuit. They defeated the spoilers rescued the prisoners and loot and returned home safely. The only military action ever taken by Abraham that we know of.
Later the whole Dead Sea valley was wiped out and turned into a dead sea and barren desert. Only Lot and two daughters escaped.
We’ll jump forward five hundred years to the days of Moses leading Israel in a 40 year camp out in the desert East of the promised land. They had many encounters with the locals but one that is interesting was the Mideanites.
Moses was commanded to destroy them for they were completely immersed in sin and there was no hope of their repentance. Why Moses chose an army of only twelve thousand Israelites is not known. But he called for one thousand from each tribe while the total manpower was in the neighborhood of six hundred thousand. We don’t know the size of the Mideanites but they were numerous.
The Israelites were commanded to destroy all human life except for little girls who were not old enough to have been defiled. These were to be scattered throughout the twelve tribes and raised as Israelites.
When the war ended. The home coming army brought thirty two thousand little girls and babies which alone indicates a good sized enemy.
Moses then asked for a count to be taken of the men, expecting many to be dead or missing. The count was taken and the officers reported: “Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge and there lacketh not one man of us.”
(This happened nearly 1500 years before Heleman and his stripling warriors.)
Even though you are familiar with Goliath and David. Let me give a few details. This is about 500 years after Moses.
First to Goliath’s size. The Bible reports that he was six cubits and a span high. Using the smallest size given of a cubit which is eighteen inches and six inches for a span. He stood about nine feet tall. I saw a man eight feet six inches tall and my eyes were looking right at his belt buckle. This man I saw was in good physical shape, not fat at all, and weighed a little over four hundred pounds.
Goliath was clad in armor that weighed 156 pounds with a big brass helmet on his head.
David was just average size and only sixteen or seventeen years old. First they clothed him in King Sauls armor. Saul was bigger than most Israelites by head and shoulders. Poor little David couldn’t even walk. He cried “take it off!” Dressed just in his tunic or regular clothing he charged down to meet Goliath. It would have been similar to charging a modern day tank minus machine guns. As he crossed the brook separating them he picked up five round smooth stones about the size of a small chicken egg and slipped them into his pouch.
As he approached the giant, he cried, “you come to me with sword and spear but I come to you in the name of Israel’s God.” then he placed one of the stones in his sling twirled it over his head till it got to maximum speed and let the rock go. It struck the giant just below his helmet and sank into his head. Not having a sword then David ran over and climbed on the unconscious or dead giant, pulled out the giants sword and cut off his head.
The Philistine army was devastated, threw down their weapons and ran for home with the Israelites in hot pursuit. Killing many of the enemy before they reached the safety of their walled cities.
Now the rest of the story. It’s all in the Bible. Don’t know why its never told as part of the encounter.
Goliath had four sons, apparently as large and mean as he was and they grew up and spent the next forty years trying to avenge their Fathers death by killing David. They didn’t succeed but look it up and read it. Look in First Samuel.
As I mentioned before there are two main reasons for dying when fighting for righteousness. One: that man has lived his allotted life. or Two: he dies as a witness against the wickedness that has killed him. Neither will lose their reward but will receive the victor’s crown.
Now to Helaman and his stripling warriors. That seemed to indicate that they were from fourteen to eighteen years of age and you of course, remember that these young men were taking the place of their fathers who had covenanted with the Lord never to kill again and had buried their weapons of war in testament thereof. But when the Nephites were about to be destroyed these men considered breaking their covenant with God. They were persuaded not to by their young sons saying, “We never made that covenant so are free to fight and they asked the prophet Helaman to lead them. (Note: He would have to have been considerably younger than our modern prophets.)
When they approached their first battle Helaman said to them. “ Therefore what say ye, my sons, will you go against them to battle.” and they answered: “Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone, therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives, yea they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”
In the next battle Helaman reported: “My little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death unto all those who opposed them. And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
Yea they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe ~ that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they put their trust in God continually.”
Helaman chapter 57
“And the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain. But behold they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty where with God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes and his judgements, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.” Alma 58
And this is the last we hear of these young men although the war continues on.
However it is recorded that many righteous people were killed and the report of their death is stated thusly; “Do ye suppose that, because so many of your brethren have been killed it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain; for I say unto you, there are many who have fallen by the sword; and behold it is to your condemnation; for the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgement may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.” Alma 60:12-13
When the Savior was being crucified at Jerusalem terrible destruction took place in the Americas by tempests, fires, earthquakes, whirlwinds and physical upheavals. Most of the people are destroyed and darkness covered the land for three days and nights. Many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth and the inhabitants there of were slain, and the places were left desolate... and the quaking of the earth...and it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the earth...and there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. 3 Nephi 14-22
“And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of the land crying: “Wo, Wo, Wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen.” Ibid 9:1-2
“And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
“Oh all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not
now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
Yea verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold my arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me, behold I am Jesus Christ. 3 Nephi 9
and it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away.
And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved...soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) he did truly manifest himself unto them (in the Americas)
and now it came to pass that there was a great multitude (about 2500) gathered together, of the people of Nephi round about the temple which was in the land of Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another and were showing one another the great and marvelous change which had taken place. And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death...
(Three times they heard the voice before they realized it was coming from heaven) casting their eyes up they heard a voice saying, “behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name hear ye him.” And they saw a man descending out of heaven and he came down and stood in the midst of them. And he stretched forth his hand and spoke to them, saying: “Behold I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the earth.” And then he invited them all to come unto him and examine and feel the wounds in his body that they would know for sure that HE was indeed the Son of God.
3 Nephi 11
Then he arranged for their baptism saying, “ whoso believeth in me, and is baptized shall be saved, and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.” Ch. 11
I hope you will all open to 3rd Nephi at your first free moment and read it in its entirety and thrill with it as I do and then reread it.
After teaching them all day ~ wow, what a missionary!~ “There came a cloud and overshadowed the multitude that they could not see Jesus. And while they were overshadowed he departed from them, and ascended into heaven. And the disciples saw and did bear record that he ascended again into heaven.” 3 Nephi 18 & 19
“And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children and did return to his own home.”
Note: in all the destruction that had taken place the homes of the survivors were still intact.
He then appeared the next day and apparently spent the entire day teaching and loving them. Please read for yourselves for it is a facsimile of things soon to come for Jesus Christ will come again just as he has promised.
My love always,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Memo #124
To: My Beloved family and friends
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt
Re: Our Personal life in a distressed world (continued)
You see, the righteous are protected until they have finished their allotted time on the earth. President Spencer W. Kimball said; that we all have an allotted time to live in this mortal life and that the obedient may not lengthen theirs much while the disobedient shorten theirs a great deal.
This is certainly true in my own life. So many times my life has been on the line and it has been preserved by a miracle. While all the male friends of my youth (we were the only LDS) have been dead for fifty years or more, mostly from defiling their bodies with the poisons of the mortal world. Two or three women still survive and we exchange letters two or three times a year. The young ladies of those early days did not smoke or drink so they have lasted longer.
Now I’m going to start with the aftermath of Noah’s flood and describe some of the events in which the Lord protected and saved individuals, groups of people, and whole armies. For as the scriptures say, “not even a sparrow falls to the ground that God is not aware of it. And if you are privileged to have God speak to you or an angel, they will always call you by your first name. I know, I have heard it. In his description of the First Vision the prophet says, “and I saw two men standing in the light above my head, and one pointing to the other, and calling me by name said, “Joseph” this is my beloved Son hear him.”
As the time of the flood approached the allotted animals came and entered the ark and Noah, 600 years old, Japheth 150 years old, Shem 142 years old and Ham 100 years old and their wives, a total of eight entered the Ark. Here is an interesting note, “and they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded them: “AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN.”
WHY DID THE Lord shut them in? Where did those non-believes outside of the ark suddenly become BELIEVERS? Where did they immediately run to?
Some of these now-believers would have headed for the only safe place, you guessed it. THE ARK. Some would have been family.
As they beat on the side of the ark and cried, let us in, let us in. The parental and friendly love of those inside would be to open the door and let them in. But God closed the door and it took nearly a year before Noah and sons figured out the combination and finally opened the door.
By this time the ark had sailed half way round the world and finally came aground on the top of Mt Ararat. Genesis 8:4 Altitude over 16,000 feet. (Kings Peak the highest in Utah is 13,568 feet. Piolets start putting the oxygen at 13,000 feet.
Mt. Ararat is on the Turkish, Russian border between the Black and Caspian Sea at the headwaters of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Naturally as the occupants, man and beast evacuated the Ark they would have gone down stream to a warmer clime, the Mesopotamia Valley which means the land between two rivers. There we find the remains of mans earliest settlements. And it is assumed that if there was a garden of Eden it would have been in that area. Of course they deny that the flood ever happened. The destructive power of water is unbelievable and all signs of the civilization existing before the flood was washed away and or buried.
There is much more I could write about this perhaps I’ll come back to it in a later memo.
The four families exited the Ark and being the only occupants of the cleansed earth they no doubt stayed together in peace and love, and harmony. Until the babies started coming. The first recorded birth is Arpharad born two years after the flood. He was probably not the first. Genesis chapter 10 gives the names of the male babies born to the three sons or at least part of them and we learn that Japheth was the father of the Gentiles (means all people who are not part of Israel) Ham, whose wife was black of course became the head of the Negroids, Shem named one of his sons Eber from which comes the Hebrews and us. And by these were the nations begun after the flood. “And the whole earth was of one language and one speech.” Genesis 11:1
all was serene, peace and happiness. Yes? No! About the third or fourth generation came a man named Nimrod a grandson of Ham and therefore black. In the Bible he is called a “mighty hunter.” but from other sources such as Josephus we learn that Noah lived to see his descendants reestablish the wicked abominations of the pre-flood period. No doubt Noah labored against these degenerate trends with the last vestige of vigor left in his aging body. Perhaps that is why Nimrod and many of the people journeyed from the East (the Tigris River) and came over to the Euphrates River Valley called Shinar, Where they would not have to listen to Noah and his sons preaching to them. The wicked always prefer working in the dark.
The Jewish historians write that Nimrod began to be mighty in sin, a murder of innocent men and a rebel before the Lord. In another place they say: “He was mighty in hunting and in sin before God, for he was a hunter of the children of men.”
He built a mighty city with the Euphrates River running thru it. The city was fifteen miles square with an avenue every mile both directions the whole surrounded by a rock wall 300 feet high. It was considered invincible. One of the areas inside the city was devoted to building the Tower of Babel, a gigantic structure one quarter of a mile at the base and six hundred forty feet high. The city was later captured in one day and destroyed. But to this day “Babylon” stands as a sign of wickedness and we are constantly reminded to “Come out of Babylon.”
So with in two hundred years after the flood (Noah had 150 years yet to live) the cleansed earth was again drowning in the cess pool of its own making. Human sacrifices, heathen idolatry, imperialistic conquest and institutionalized immorality characterized civilization. Once again the race was corrupting its way upon the earth. It was as tho the majority of humanity had become like a lethal swamp filled with decay and stagnation.
But there were islands of righteousness throughout the people, as the Lord, thru the Priesthood provided areas of safety for the faithful.
Such was the ancient city of Salem later to become Jerusalem. Ruled over by a righteous king, a man named Melckizedek. Because of his influence all the subjects of h is kingdom accepted and lived the gospel. And the power of the Priesthood which is the power of God became known as the Melchizedek Priesthood. Previously it had been called “The Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God.” but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, the church in ancient days, called the priesthood after Melchizedek.
King David in the Bible spoke of the Savior as “A Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” Psalms 110:4
Abraham visited Salem and payed tithing to the church via Melchizedek.
But a few years later when he took his son, Isaac up on Mt. Salem to sacrifice him to the Lord there was only bare rocks at the site. The city and its people had been translated to join the city of Enoch that had enjoyed the same release from this wicked world.
And when we are inquiring about the origin of heathen religions. They did not originate or evolve as the teachers teach. THEY WERE PROMOTED by evil men who were trying to destroy God. Idolatrus practices did not come into existence until long after true religion had been revealed from heaven. Heathen worship was set up by defiant and rebellious men. Heathen philosophy was brewed up in the dark minds of men who had apostatized from the truth and had set about to destroy the gospel which was had from the beginning. So again the learned men have it backwards, even as they do on the origin of man. Stone age men are not on their way up, they are on the way down having apostatized from it. So religion did not evolve; but false religion has been and is still being promoted by the wicked.
So the Lord sent a new prophet to earth to try and save his children. Named Abram which the Lord later changed his name to Abraham, meaning the “Father of the Faithful.”
Abraham was born in the ancient city of “Ur” about 150 miles downstream from wicked Babylon in the year 2000 B.C. exactly half way between the Fall of Adam and the birth of Jesus Christ. It was also the death date of Noah even tho Abraham was ten generations later. The evil Nimrod had just died, wicked Babylon was flourishing. Mankind was doomed again or so it seemed to be hanging on one man, Abraham. And then that thread was about to be broken for his idolatress father Terah took his teenage son to the priest to be offered as a human sacrifice. Just prior three sisters had been murdered on the bloody alter because they would not surrender their virginity to the evil priests. Surprisingly only the innocent and the pure were qualified to be sacrifices. Babies were used and were placed in the red-hot arms of a stove shaped like a man with out stretched arms on which the screaming child would be placed and fortunately were roasted to a crisp instantly.
Older victims like the three sisters and Abraham were stripped, laid on their backs and stretched legs and arms secured. The priest then delivered some type of prayer raised the sacrificial knife, plunged it into the abdomen ripped the victim in half and reached in, grabbed the beating heart, ripped it out still beating, and held it aloft to the cheering of the congregation.
Now I’ve hesitated to write such a gruesome account but feel that you need to know how low people can descend and how rapidly.
From the “First Two Thousand Years” by W. Cleon Skousen. (A personal friend)
But the Lord had other plans for that evil Priest and for righteous Abraham. For as the knife was raised an angel appeared and the Priest was struck dead. Abraham was freed and went on his life long mission of establishing the truth or the True God in the World.
Illustrating the point that I am trying to make. “Have NO FEAR in the service of the TRUE GOD.” Those that he allows to be murdered such as the three sisters will stand as witnesses at the judgement day against that wicked generation and will secure their eternal place in the Celestial Kingdom of our God.
While Abram became known as the father of the faithful, and lived to one hundred seventy five - a ripe old age by then as the Lord shortened the longevity from near one thousand years until five hundred years after Abraham the life of man was shortened to three score (60) and ten or 70 years and to eighty it says if they were strong. With all of our modern medicine few live beyond that age.
The Lord said to Abraham, “I will bless thee above measure; “and Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and gold.
Third: “I will...make thy name great among all nations. Today Abraham is honored by all the Christian nations , all of the Muhammadans, and by the millions of Jews. Altogether about one-half of the earths population honors the name of Abraham. In time all the rest will honor him also.
(Ibid 278) But that is not all. He was promised that as many as receive the gospel shall be accounted thy seed. (Although half the world profess Abraham as their father, only a few have accepted the true gospel as taught by Abraham. But they all will before the Judgement day.
Abraham was further told. “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee. The lord has always promised to bless those who aid his servants. As Jesus said: “He that receiveth you, receiveth me.”
Abraham was further promised. “I give unto thee a promise that this right (of the Priesthood) shall continue in thee.” Only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have the least idea what the “Melchizedek Priesthood is.” and many of them do not comprehend its full meaning or enjoy its full blessings. The next two or three memos will have some examples.
He was told, “In thy seed after thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel.” the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings, even of life eternal.
Abraham continued to live in that area until he was sixty two years old. He had married his niece, his brothers daughter, Sarai,(NOTE: like Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai’s name was changed by the Lord to, Sarah. Try looking her up in the Bible Dictionary.) marrying close relatives was a common practice in those days. By this time he had become very wealthy and owned many thousands of cattle and sheep.
The Lord commanded him to move and that he would be led to a choice land that would be given to him and his righteous descendants forever. He left Haran going Northward up the river taking his possessions and family and “All the souls that he had won in Haran.” and we know from later information that his party and family numbered over one thousand souls.
We haven’t time nor is it my purpose to follow Abraham further. They must have traveled very slowly, perhaps only three or four miles a day as they grazed the livestock forward.
Watch for the next memo in which I hope to illustrate some of the miracles in the lives of our military and others who have OBEYED GOD.
My love always,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
I thought you might be interested in Dad’s Priesthood line of authority.
Richard M. Pratt was ordained an Elder by William R. Sloan who was ordained by Heber S. Allen who was ordained by Apostle Teasdale who was ordained by Brigham Young who was ordained by Joseph Smith who was ordained by Peter, James and John who were ordained by Jesus Christ.
As we set our goals for the new year let us center our homes and thoughts in Jesus Christ, We will be led to be kinder, more loving, more thoughtful. Indeed we will put on the whole armor of God, becoming as he is. The more we embrace these goals the more we will want to share what we have found. Just like our wonderful parents dedicated their lives to being Christ like. Wow they were well read and Wow did they ever live what they believed. They really set a great example for us to follow.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is JOY! It is PEACE! It is PURE! HE LIVES! We can let our spirits become prepared in every needful thing and when we are prepared the storms of life will not have power over us to weigh us down. Happy New Year. God bless us everyone!
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt
Re: Our Personal life in a distressed world (continued)
You see, the righteous are protected until they have finished their allotted time on the earth. President Spencer W. Kimball said; that we all have an allotted time to live in this mortal life and that the obedient may not lengthen theirs much while the disobedient shorten theirs a great deal.
This is certainly true in my own life. So many times my life has been on the line and it has been preserved by a miracle. While all the male friends of my youth (we were the only LDS) have been dead for fifty years or more, mostly from defiling their bodies with the poisons of the mortal world. Two or three women still survive and we exchange letters two or three times a year. The young ladies of those early days did not smoke or drink so they have lasted longer.
Now I’m going to start with the aftermath of Noah’s flood and describe some of the events in which the Lord protected and saved individuals, groups of people, and whole armies. For as the scriptures say, “not even a sparrow falls to the ground that God is not aware of it. And if you are privileged to have God speak to you or an angel, they will always call you by your first name. I know, I have heard it. In his description of the First Vision the prophet says, “and I saw two men standing in the light above my head, and one pointing to the other, and calling me by name said, “Joseph” this is my beloved Son hear him.”
As the time of the flood approached the allotted animals came and entered the ark and Noah, 600 years old, Japheth 150 years old, Shem 142 years old and Ham 100 years old and their wives, a total of eight entered the Ark. Here is an interesting note, “and they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded them: “AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN.”
WHY DID THE Lord shut them in? Where did those non-believes outside of the ark suddenly become BELIEVERS? Where did they immediately run to?
Some of these now-believers would have headed for the only safe place, you guessed it. THE ARK. Some would have been family.
As they beat on the side of the ark and cried, let us in, let us in. The parental and friendly love of those inside would be to open the door and let them in. But God closed the door and it took nearly a year before Noah and sons figured out the combination and finally opened the door.
By this time the ark had sailed half way round the world and finally came aground on the top of Mt Ararat. Genesis 8:4 Altitude over 16,000 feet. (Kings Peak the highest in Utah is 13,568 feet. Piolets start putting the oxygen at 13,000 feet.
Mt. Ararat is on the Turkish, Russian border between the Black and Caspian Sea at the headwaters of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Naturally as the occupants, man and beast evacuated the Ark they would have gone down stream to a warmer clime, the Mesopotamia Valley which means the land between two rivers. There we find the remains of mans earliest settlements. And it is assumed that if there was a garden of Eden it would have been in that area. Of course they deny that the flood ever happened. The destructive power of water is unbelievable and all signs of the civilization existing before the flood was washed away and or buried.
There is much more I could write about this perhaps I’ll come back to it in a later memo.
The four families exited the Ark and being the only occupants of the cleansed earth they no doubt stayed together in peace and love, and harmony. Until the babies started coming. The first recorded birth is Arpharad born two years after the flood. He was probably not the first. Genesis chapter 10 gives the names of the male babies born to the three sons or at least part of them and we learn that Japheth was the father of the Gentiles (means all people who are not part of Israel) Ham, whose wife was black of course became the head of the Negroids, Shem named one of his sons Eber from which comes the Hebrews and us. And by these were the nations begun after the flood. “And the whole earth was of one language and one speech.” Genesis 11:1
all was serene, peace and happiness. Yes? No! About the third or fourth generation came a man named Nimrod a grandson of Ham and therefore black. In the Bible he is called a “mighty hunter.” but from other sources such as Josephus we learn that Noah lived to see his descendants reestablish the wicked abominations of the pre-flood period. No doubt Noah labored against these degenerate trends with the last vestige of vigor left in his aging body. Perhaps that is why Nimrod and many of the people journeyed from the East (the Tigris River) and came over to the Euphrates River Valley called Shinar, Where they would not have to listen to Noah and his sons preaching to them. The wicked always prefer working in the dark.
The Jewish historians write that Nimrod began to be mighty in sin, a murder of innocent men and a rebel before the Lord. In another place they say: “He was mighty in hunting and in sin before God, for he was a hunter of the children of men.”
He built a mighty city with the Euphrates River running thru it. The city was fifteen miles square with an avenue every mile both directions the whole surrounded by a rock wall 300 feet high. It was considered invincible. One of the areas inside the city was devoted to building the Tower of Babel, a gigantic structure one quarter of a mile at the base and six hundred forty feet high. The city was later captured in one day and destroyed. But to this day “Babylon” stands as a sign of wickedness and we are constantly reminded to “Come out of Babylon.”
So with in two hundred years after the flood (Noah had 150 years yet to live) the cleansed earth was again drowning in the cess pool of its own making. Human sacrifices, heathen idolatry, imperialistic conquest and institutionalized immorality characterized civilization. Once again the race was corrupting its way upon the earth. It was as tho the majority of humanity had become like a lethal swamp filled with decay and stagnation.
But there were islands of righteousness throughout the people, as the Lord, thru the Priesthood provided areas of safety for the faithful.
Such was the ancient city of Salem later to become Jerusalem. Ruled over by a righteous king, a man named Melckizedek. Because of his influence all the subjects of h is kingdom accepted and lived the gospel. And the power of the Priesthood which is the power of God became known as the Melchizedek Priesthood. Previously it had been called “The Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God.” but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, the church in ancient days, called the priesthood after Melchizedek.
King David in the Bible spoke of the Savior as “A Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” Psalms 110:4
Abraham visited Salem and payed tithing to the church via Melchizedek.
But a few years later when he took his son, Isaac up on Mt. Salem to sacrifice him to the Lord there was only bare rocks at the site. The city and its people had been translated to join the city of Enoch that had enjoyed the same release from this wicked world.
And when we are inquiring about the origin of heathen religions. They did not originate or evolve as the teachers teach. THEY WERE PROMOTED by evil men who were trying to destroy God. Idolatrus practices did not come into existence until long after true religion had been revealed from heaven. Heathen worship was set up by defiant and rebellious men. Heathen philosophy was brewed up in the dark minds of men who had apostatized from the truth and had set about to destroy the gospel which was had from the beginning. So again the learned men have it backwards, even as they do on the origin of man. Stone age men are not on their way up, they are on the way down having apostatized from it. So religion did not evolve; but false religion has been and is still being promoted by the wicked.
So the Lord sent a new prophet to earth to try and save his children. Named Abram which the Lord later changed his name to Abraham, meaning the “Father of the Faithful.”
Abraham was born in the ancient city of “Ur” about 150 miles downstream from wicked Babylon in the year 2000 B.C. exactly half way between the Fall of Adam and the birth of Jesus Christ. It was also the death date of Noah even tho Abraham was ten generations later. The evil Nimrod had just died, wicked Babylon was flourishing. Mankind was doomed again or so it seemed to be hanging on one man, Abraham. And then that thread was about to be broken for his idolatress father Terah took his teenage son to the priest to be offered as a human sacrifice. Just prior three sisters had been murdered on the bloody alter because they would not surrender their virginity to the evil priests. Surprisingly only the innocent and the pure were qualified to be sacrifices. Babies were used and were placed in the red-hot arms of a stove shaped like a man with out stretched arms on which the screaming child would be placed and fortunately were roasted to a crisp instantly.
Older victims like the three sisters and Abraham were stripped, laid on their backs and stretched legs and arms secured. The priest then delivered some type of prayer raised the sacrificial knife, plunged it into the abdomen ripped the victim in half and reached in, grabbed the beating heart, ripped it out still beating, and held it aloft to the cheering of the congregation.
Now I’ve hesitated to write such a gruesome account but feel that you need to know how low people can descend and how rapidly.
From the “First Two Thousand Years” by W. Cleon Skousen. (A personal friend)
But the Lord had other plans for that evil Priest and for righteous Abraham. For as the knife was raised an angel appeared and the Priest was struck dead. Abraham was freed and went on his life long mission of establishing the truth or the True God in the World.
Illustrating the point that I am trying to make. “Have NO FEAR in the service of the TRUE GOD.” Those that he allows to be murdered such as the three sisters will stand as witnesses at the judgement day against that wicked generation and will secure their eternal place in the Celestial Kingdom of our God.
While Abram became known as the father of the faithful, and lived to one hundred seventy five - a ripe old age by then as the Lord shortened the longevity from near one thousand years until five hundred years after Abraham the life of man was shortened to three score (60) and ten or 70 years and to eighty it says if they were strong. With all of our modern medicine few live beyond that age.
The Lord said to Abraham, “I will bless thee above measure; “and Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and gold.
Third: “I will...make thy name great among all nations. Today Abraham is honored by all the Christian nations , all of the Muhammadans, and by the millions of Jews. Altogether about one-half of the earths population honors the name of Abraham. In time all the rest will honor him also.
(Ibid 278) But that is not all. He was promised that as many as receive the gospel shall be accounted thy seed. (Although half the world profess Abraham as their father, only a few have accepted the true gospel as taught by Abraham. But they all will before the Judgement day.
Abraham was further told. “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee. The lord has always promised to bless those who aid his servants. As Jesus said: “He that receiveth you, receiveth me.”
Abraham was further promised. “I give unto thee a promise that this right (of the Priesthood) shall continue in thee.” Only the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have the least idea what the “Melchizedek Priesthood is.” and many of them do not comprehend its full meaning or enjoy its full blessings. The next two or three memos will have some examples.
He was told, “In thy seed after thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel.” the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings, even of life eternal.
Abraham continued to live in that area until he was sixty two years old. He had married his niece, his brothers daughter, Sarai,(NOTE: like Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Sarai’s name was changed by the Lord to, Sarah. Try looking her up in the Bible Dictionary.) marrying close relatives was a common practice in those days. By this time he had become very wealthy and owned many thousands of cattle and sheep.
The Lord commanded him to move and that he would be led to a choice land that would be given to him and his righteous descendants forever. He left Haran going Northward up the river taking his possessions and family and “All the souls that he had won in Haran.” and we know from later information that his party and family numbered over one thousand souls.
We haven’t time nor is it my purpose to follow Abraham further. They must have traveled very slowly, perhaps only three or four miles a day as they grazed the livestock forward.
Watch for the next memo in which I hope to illustrate some of the miracles in the lives of our military and others who have OBEYED GOD.
My love always,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
I thought you might be interested in Dad’s Priesthood line of authority.
Richard M. Pratt was ordained an Elder by William R. Sloan who was ordained by Heber S. Allen who was ordained by Apostle Teasdale who was ordained by Brigham Young who was ordained by Joseph Smith who was ordained by Peter, James and John who were ordained by Jesus Christ.
As we set our goals for the new year let us center our homes and thoughts in Jesus Christ, We will be led to be kinder, more loving, more thoughtful. Indeed we will put on the whole armor of God, becoming as he is. The more we embrace these goals the more we will want to share what we have found. Just like our wonderful parents dedicated their lives to being Christ like. Wow they were well read and Wow did they ever live what they believed. They really set a great example for us to follow.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is JOY! It is PEACE! It is PURE! HE LIVES! We can let our spirits become prepared in every needful thing and when we are prepared the storms of life will not have power over us to weigh us down. Happy New Year. God bless us everyone!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Memo #123 (72 to go)
December 1, 2010 (written end of 2008)
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
Re: Our Personal life in a distressed world
The next memo or two was sparked by rereading the story of Heleman and his two thousand and sixty stripling warriors. In as much as war will continue to multiply upon the earth until the Savior comes, and he will come in the midst of the largest, most intense, most destructive of wars that this earth has known. The death toll of that terror will be one third of the people then living. The suffering of the survivors will be beyond the tongue of man to describe, and when I think that my family must live in those dreadful times, I want to leave them with the assurance that all will be well thru following the “Eternal commanding Officer” of Heaven. I will attempt to do this by refreshing our minds with some excerpts of past wars and battles.
“And there was war in heaven: Michael (Adam) and his angels (us) fought against the dragon (Satan) and the dragon fought and his angels.
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethern is cast down, ...AND THEY OVERCAME HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelations 12:7-11
Note: this war in heaven was not a killing war for it was a war between spirits, who cannot die. The defending forces were led by Michael also known as the archangel who in mortal life became known as Adam. The opposing leader, Lucifer also known by several other names had also been born a spirit son to our Heavenly Parents not long after the birth of their first born, Jesus, who volunteered to be our Savior from death of the mortal body and from the sins of the world if we comply with a few simple instructions. Satan was also a spirit of high renoun for he was given the title, “Son of the Morning” meaning he was born as a spirit in the beginning of us all. And apparently was given considerable authority but like the scripture says: “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen” (D&C 121:39-40) ~ therefore Lucifer lost everything.
But notice by the succeeding verses how the Savior received all things and since then has offered all things to every man and every woman that follows him. LISTEN! “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the Priesthood, only by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and with out guile~
Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; that he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith,
and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever. D&C 121:41-56
Note: This is how the Savior governs. This is one of my favorite of all the scriptures; I memorized it years ago probably back on the Cashmere Farm and frequently quote it to myself. And notice the final reward promised is the last lines of verse 46, “And thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”
And this shall be your reward in the army of God as you help to defeat the enemy of all righteousness. There are some great conflicts yet to be waged. Briefly, Satan has yet to be bound which will take place soon at the coming of our commanding officer who will then usher in the millennium, a thousand years of peace. But at the end of that peace Satan will be loosed again for a short period. “For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season. And then cometh the end of the earth. D&C 43:31
At the end of the millennium he shall be loosed for a little season, that he may gather together his armies.
“And Michael, the seventh angel even the archangel, shall gather together his armies, even the hosts of heaven.
And the devil shall gather together his armies; even the hosts of hell, and shall come up to battle against Michael and his armies.
And then cometh the battle of the great God; and the devil and his armies shall be cast away into their own place, (Hell) that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all.
For Michael shall fight their battles, and shall overcome him who seeketh the throne of him who sitteth upon the throne, even the Lamb. This is the glory of God, and the sanctified, (US) and they shall not anymore see death.” D&C 88:114-116
After Adam and Eve had chosen mortal life they were visited of God and taught concerning their new life in a mortal world. It must of been a hectic time as they needed to provide for themselves a home and the necessities of life with out the benefit of a “Wendy’s” or “McDonald’s”. And of course the babies started arriving. No hospitals, no doctors, no nurses, not even a midwife.
“And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.”
And Eve, his wife heard all these things and was glad, saying: “were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.”
And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and daughters.” Moses 5:10-12
And of course Satan came among their children and taught them not to believe it and from that time forth the children loved Satan more than God and men became carnal, sensual, and devilish. But as many as believed in God, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as
many as believed not, should be dammed.
By this time the first one hundred years from the Fall must have past and they would have had many hundreds if not thousands of posterity and apparently all were a disappointment to them.
And then they had a new born son and called him Cain, which meant “we have gotten a man from the Lord.” I suppose that they figured by starting young they would have a chance to raise a “missionary worthy son”. But twas not to be. And Eve conceived again and bare his brother Abel and hit the jack pot. Abel was everything a good boy should be.
And Cain introduced murder into the world by killing his own brother. And from that time to the present death by violence has swept millions upon millions off the world individually and collectively as nations destroy each other in the guise of legalized murder. In written history, twenty one know civilizations have passed into extinction. All have followed the same course.
Some twenty or thirty memos back I listed the five causes of this terrible genocide. I think they are worth repeating here. They are: “TRAPD” the world is trapped in the clutches of Satan and are currently rushing toward being the twenty second civilization to destroy itself. The five letters, “TRAPD”, stand for the following:
T = Taxation, no people have lasted more than forty years after their taxation exceeded 40% of the national gross income. R = Religion, the decline and fall of religion always precedes the demise of a people. A = Armaments or war. Trying to police the world is self destructive. The USA currently has over 700 military bases world wide and can’t control the murder of two million people annually at home. Thru abortion and gang related street murders. P = Pleasure = excessive love of it destroys all who seek after it. D = Divorce = the breakdown of the home. More than 70% of delinquent children come from such homes. Divorce is always the result of one or both parties breaking the commandments of God. And I hate to admit it but men are most often the culprits.
But from the beginning the gospel (means Good news) was preached being declared by ANGELS sent forth from the presence of God and by his OWN VOICE and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. And this is how it is always taught and will continue to be until the judgement day.
When Adam and Eve were 130 years old they begat a son and named him Seth. Seth, looked so much like his father that they could only be told apart by the differences in age. And he replaced righteous Abel whom Cain had murdered as the Priesthood heir of Adam.
“And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man’s hand was against his own brother in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power.” Moses 6:15
When Adam was 682 years old (he lived 930 years) a great, great, great, great, grandson was born and named Enoch. At the age of 65 Enoch was called on a mission.
The people didn’t know it and perhaps Enoch didn’t know that the Lord was trying to prepare his rebellious children for the destruction of the flood. (Enoch was the father of Methuselah who died the year of the flood at the age of 969 years the oldest age recorded.)
And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness...and it came to pass that he built a city that was called...Zion. And in process of time Zion was taken up into heaven.
“And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord and the earth trembled and the mountains
fled, even according to his command and the rivers of water were turned out of their course... and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, ... there came up a land out of the depth of the sea, and so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off...and from that time forth there were wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people and they dwelt in righteousness.” Moses 7:13-16
“And Enoch saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: “Wo, Wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth.” and he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in
his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and Satan looked up and laughed and his angels rejoiced” Moses 7:25-26
And Enoch saw angels descending out of heaven who came to those who believed and the were caught up to join his city of Zion.
And God looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept, and Enoch asked the Lord why was he so unhappy and the Lord said to Enoch. “Behold these thy brethren and I gave unto them a commandment to love one another and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold they are without affection, and they hate their own blood...and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is turned against them.
In all the other worlds there had not been so great wickedness as among these thy brethren. Wherefore should not the heavens weep seeing that these shall suffer?
And then he adds, as a heart broken Father, these that perish in the flood, a prison have I prepared for them. And that which I have chosen, even Jesus Christ, shall plead before me. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; in as much as they will repent in the day that my chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment. Moses 7:39
REMEMBER not one soul needed to drown in the flood. And not one soul needs to be destroyed in the fire that will cleanse the earth for the second time. God, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are asking us to choose the plan of happiness!
When Enoch was four hundred thirty years old. He and the obedient in the land of Zion were taken up with their buildings and a good sized chunk of this earth.
Some of the righteous however were left to continue to warn the people, any that accepted the gospel and repented of their sins were caught up to join Zion.
Methuselah the son of Enoch was one that remained and died the year of the flood. His son Lamech was the father of Noah and Noah was born five years after Zion left. Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came. Three of his sons, Japheth and Shem were born of the same mother. Ham was from a different mother. Which mother was with Noah on the Ark we don’t know.
What happened to the rest of his family? They were either caught up with Zion or drowned in the flood. We only have a tidbit of information concerning some of his granddaughters.
And the Lord said unto Noah; the daughters of thy sons have sold themselves; because they have married among the wicked. So they would have drowned also.
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 5:5
the earth also was corrupt before God. And the earth was filled with violence...I will destroy them with the earth. Ibid 13
only eight souls were saved by water but how many were saved with Zion we do not know. But again I repeat not one soul needed to perish then or NOW. And those that drowned because of their lack of love and acts of violence in their prison condition are being taught the gospel and thru their suffering will come to repentance and be eternally saved in one of the lower degrees of glory.
All I have written here is true. Believe it and be safe as the earth faces its final cleansing by fire and war. The scriptures are true. The Lord lives and His plan is real!
I Love YOU ALL!
Dad, Grandpa etc.
Richard Marden Pratt
Monday, November 1, 2010
Memo #122
November 1, 2010
To: My Beloved family & friends
From: Dad, grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
Re: Immortality and Eternal Life
It is for us to be righteous, that we may be wise and understand; for none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand, and they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.
Such thoughts as God coming down, angels descending from heaven and returning again, holy men having visions is all too much for their scientific minds to understand. How can a God who is ethereal and who fills the immensity of space, or a God who is merely a thought dwelling in the human mind, come down from heaven and return again? Of course their God could do no such thing; but the God of Israel could and did! It is written: “and the Lord came down in a pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you. I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth and not in dark speeches.”
This is an age of faith and the power of God should be greatly increased, but to the contrary it is diminished and men boast in their own strength; yet we see every day the greatest of miracles the airplane, the voice out of the air the picture on TV. There are thousands of miracles performed everyday, wonders that would astound our grandfathers, (I’m one of them). These miracles are as great as turning water into wine raising the dead or anything else.
The Lord informed Moses that his work and his glory are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
It is God’s great pleasure in fact it is his very life that man may prove himself obedient to the divine laws which govern his Celestial Kingdom and by doing so obtain a fulness of joy.
This mortal life is a probationary state allotted to man to prove him to see if thru the experiences obtained here he will abide in the laws and commandments which pertain to exaltation.
The exaltation to the celestial kingdom is so great that the Father is fully justified in making it dependent upon strict obedience to all of his commandments. The Celestial Kingdom is a kingdom of perfection. All who enter there must be thoroughly tried and proved and become perfect to inherit it. Every law governing it must be obeyed. There can be no opposition to divine law, nor could any one receiving this reward have any desire to change or disagree with anything prevailing there, for these laws are perfect. As well may a man in the mortal world object to the law of gravity or any of the other fixed laws of nature, as to object to the laws of the Celestial Kingdom. They have been tried, proved and are eternal. This being the fact there can be nothing but peace and joy in that kingdom.
Exalted beings, because they have proved themselves by obedience to every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, will become perfect and be like him, and as heirs will become Gods themselves.
The Lord most emphatically has declared that it is impossible for man to become like God without the Priesthood and obedience to his commandments. Man has the power to know all things, to become perfect and be bathed in light, knowledge and wisdom, if he will only humble himself and walk in the light and truth. The man who refuses and lives bound within his own wisdom can never attain to these great blessings of exaltation and progression.
There are a great many wise men and women too in our midst who are too wise to be taught; therefore, they must die in their ignorance, and in the resurrection they will find their mistake. Many seal up the door to heaven by saying, “ so far God may reveal and I will believe, but I will accept no more.”
There is throughout the Christian world the prevailing thought that heaven where the righteous will go is some place far off on some glorious sphere which is the home of our Eternal Father. He revealed to Abraham that his home is near to Kolob, the great governing star of our universe. The heaven to which the righteous will go who dwell upon this earth, will be right here upon this earth, for the Lord said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. The meek are those who have kept his commandments and have never been permitted to inherit much of the earth during the six thousand years that it has been ruled by man since the fall of Adam.
When this celestialized earth comes, then only those of the Celestial Kingdom will inherit it. Those who have lived a Terrestrial law will be assigned to a Terrestrial kingdom on some other globe. Those who have lived a Telestial law will have to go to a telestial sphere suited to their condition. Where these worlds are the Lord has not revealed to us, however they are spheres now being prepared for them. Justice demands that every man and woman shall receive a reward according to his works. Those who do not attain to eternal life, which is to become sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, will receive the gift of immortality. Immortality means that they will live forever.
In the Celestial Kingdom, those who receive the exaltation will remain husbands and wives. The family organization will not be broken and will endure forever and they will have eternal increase.
The question is frequently asked: if men and women live singly in the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms, then what will prevent them from living promiscuously? The Lord has given us the answer to that question. They will be quickened by different kinds of bodies. Bodies that are not capable of performing the functions of marriage. They will have lost this privilege forever. The privilege of having a family of having children will be lost to them forever because they have proven to God and to themselves that they are not capable of parenthood. They will have proven their inability or unwillingness to be responsible parents.
So the Lord in his great mercy does for all men just the best that he can or just the best that they will allow Him to do for them.
The Terrestrial Kingdom will be inhabited by those who have lived good moral lives, who have been honest, honorable and just, but who would not receive the Gospel and its covenants. The Telestial kingdom will be the place for the wicked, those “who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and make a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth, these are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of the Almighty God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; when he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have over come and have trodden the wire-press alone even the wine press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.”
So the Lord in his great mercy does for all men and women the best that he can. Even the wicked after they pay the price, and they will have to pay a dreadful price, will be placed in a kingdom where they can be made as happy as circumstances will permit. Through their intense suffering while they wait for the resurrection at the end of the earths temporal existence, they will finally have learned to be obedient to law, for this will be a requirement in each of the kingdoms, but where God and Christ are they cannot come worlds without end.
In the Terrestrial and Telestial kingdoms, there will be no marriage, hence no continuation of the lives, for they remain in these kingdoms separately and singly through all eternity. This the Lord calls “the deaths” because there is no increase, there are no children.
Can a person after eons of time progress to a higher kingdom? The answer is NO! For the simple reason, at the resurrection the body one receives as their eternal body will be adapted to live in the glory for which it is prepared.
At this time our mortal body lives in the element called air. When it is resurrected it will be adapted to live in the element to which it has been prepared. Example the element of the Celestial glory is likened to fire. And if we are not resurrected a Celestial body, worlds without end will we ever receive a new resurrection and a body that can live in that element.
We do not know what the elements of the two lower kingdoms will be like, but each will be different. Those of the Telestial kingdom for all eternity must live in their element. Those of the Terrestrial many live in their element and the Telestail element, those in the Celestial element can live anywhere, go anywhere and do all things. This world in its resurrected Celestialized state will be their home.
The two lower kingdoms will each live on their globe separate from the Celestail. The Celestial will be this earth after its death, resurrection and celestialization. The globes for the lower kingdoms are being prepared for them. I wouldn’t be surprised that some of our sister planets aren’t being prepared for those eternal kingdoms.
An easy way to understand these two lower kingdoms is to think of them as a children’s playpen. The mother can place the toddler in the pen and go about her house hold chores knowing that the baby is safe.
So if you don’t want to live in a playpen eternally, prove yourself dependable, reliable and faithful. And all eternity is yours and it couldn’t be any other way.
I have run a lot of crews in my life. In harvesting fruit, packing and shipping it there would be up to two hundred. The first two weeks of the season would always be hectic as you hired and fired until you had f reliable crew. Its not much different than what our Heavenly Father is doing as He preparers His eternal crew. His standards are easy, fair, just but exacting. Accept joyfully, serve faithfully, and become as He and our Mother in Heaven are. Who can ask better than that?
So the Lord does for all men and women, just the best that they will let him do. Survey your own life for your eternal life will be much like it, now is the time to make changes, not after you have received a resurrected body that can never be traded in for a better one.
I hope you have enjoyed these memos on the book titled, “Man - His Origin and Destiny” by President Joseph Fielding Smith. I have pretty well quoted him all the way. They are mostly his words and insight. I testify they are true and will lead the believer to that eternal shore of bliss and happiness.
Wow, what a plan of happiness our Heavenly parents have for us and they want us
to be successful even giving us a Savior even our elder brother, Jesus Christ. Do your best to live the plan. And be ready to receive all that the Father has to give. I love you all so very much. Let’s work to be there together.
My love always,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
remember you can share these memos with any you care to at:
http://www.prattmemos.blogspot.com
Be ready Utah is a plan to be safe put out by the Utah Department of Health.
THIS is what is says:
You cannot plan when a disaster occurs or who you’ll be with. You can only plan to be prepared.
Disaster can strike Utah communities at any time and without warning, catching you unprepared. Often, the least prepared are those upon whom we must rely to assist others. If you’re not prepared when a disaster occurs, your mind will be focused on the welfare of your family or the condition of your home, not on the critical job that you may be expected to perform at work. Now is the time to prepare for community emergencies, not when you’re faced with difficult decision. This is a simple guide and it is a minium and easy to follow.
YOU CAN DO THIS!
A simple guide to the nine essential items to help you shelter-in-place in the event of an emergency.
1. WATER bottled water one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
2. FOOD nonperishable food. A supply to last 3-5 days per person. ROTATE often.
3. CLOTHES collect a change of clothes and footwear per person. Consider packing blankets
4. MEDICATIONS you take daily along with a FIRST AIDE KIT.
5. FLASHLIGHT keep a bright flashlight in case there is not electric power.
6. CAN OPENER
7. RADIO a battery-powered radio for listening to news and weather. & BATTRIES!
8. HYGIENE ITEMS Just the basics like soap, toilet paper and toothbrush and feminine needs.
What YOU can do:
Make a family emergency plan. Choose an out-of-state contact. Pick two meeting places, close-by and one that’s out of the neighborhood. Consider special needs for family members and pets.
Know the emergency plans for your children’s schools. Record important telephone numbers.
Assemble an emergency kit. Become CERT - Trained. Community information line is 2-1-1.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies! Yummy, Good!
1 large can pumpkin
1 lemon cake mix
1 carrot cake mix
1 bag chocolate chips
Mix the pumpkin and 2 cake mixes together and then stir in the chocolate chips
Bake at 375* for 12 minutes ( SERIOUSLY 4 INGREDIENTS! Easy to do and great to eat!)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Memo #121
To: My Beloved Family & Friends
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt
Re: a variety of subjects
October 1, 2010
The fall and infinite atonement is beyond the scope of the critics. As to the believers it is best stated by the Savior saying to Martha: “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
“She saith unto him, yea, Lord: I believe that thou are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:25-27
Every member should have the same assurance that Martha had. It is their privilege to know that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God, and is the resurrection and the life. It is likewise their privilege to know that Adam fell and brought death into the world. The resurrection is a demonstrated fact. And by faith we know that the atonement of Jesus Christ came because of the fall.
It is impossible for the worldly minded to understand the reason for the fall and likewise understand the necessity for the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is true that not all the purposes of our eternal Father have been revealed to man; there are some things that have to be received by faith; but these great truths have been made known and we have the assurance that thru the sacrifice made on the cross all mankind and every other creature, even the earth itself, are redeemed from death and shall receive the resurrection and be restored to immortal life. Men receive assurance and knowledge due to their faithfulness and adherence to the commandments of Jesus Christ. Those who reject their Redeemer and refuse to keep his commandments cannot know and comprehend these eternal truths.
Naturally the Lord cannot reveal the mysteries of his kingdom to the scoffer, neither can he to the member of the church who is not faithful. If a man does not exercise faith why should he have the revelations concerning the kingdom of God revealed unto him. They cannot understand them because they are “fallen” man, and without the enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit, they are as the Lord expressed it, “carnal, sensual and devilish.” When the disciples asked the Savior why he spoke in parables, he answered: “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Luke 8:10
Of course, a man who believes that man has developed from lower forms of life, and by gradual development after an enormous length of time evolved from fish to reptile and then to ape, can never understand the fall of man and the atonement. These truths are mysteries to him and only contempt and abuse do they receive from him.
For example, as one carnal minded critic said: “But no Adam, no Fall; no Fall no atonement, no atonement, no Savior. Accepting evidence, how can we have a fall? When did man fall; was it before he ceased to be a monkey, or after? Was it when he was a tree man or later? Was it in the stone age, or the Bronze age, or in the age of iron? And if there never was a fall, why should there be any atonement?”
You can see from the above quotation the big problem that faces those who cannot or will not give up the total improbability of evolution for it is totally opposed to the truths of the gospel.
“And the Savior cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living
creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
Because everything is to be restored at the resurrection it then becomes necessary for us to take a view of creation as it rolled in purity from the hand of its creator; and if we can discover the true state in which it then existed, and understand the changes that have taken place since then, we shall be able to understand what is to be restored; and thus our minds being prepared we shall be looking for the very things which will come...after the creation God pronounced all the creation very good. From this we learn that there were neither deserts, barren places, stagnant swamps, rough, broken, ragged hills, nor vast mountains covered with eternal snows; and no part of it was located in the frigid zones...or everlasting chains of ice.
But the whole earth was probably one vast plain, or interspersed with gently rising hills and sloping vales, well calculated for cultivation; (like our central plains area, especially the state of Ohio, all very beautiful and usable) while its climate was delightfully varied with moderate changes of heat and cold, of wet and dry...all for the good of man, animal, fowl or creeping thing; while from the flowery plain or spicy grove, sweet odors were wafted on every breeze and all the vast creation of animated beings breathed naught but health, peace, and joy...with shouts of joy; neither a sign nor a groan was heard, throughout the vast expanse; neither was there sorrow, tears, pain weeping, sickness, nor neath, neither contentions, wars, nor bloodshed; but peace crowned the seasons as they rolled, and life, joy, and love reigned over all his works.”
(From The Voice of Warning by Parley P. Pratt page 86)
With the Fall of Adam all this had to change to make way for mortality. For apparently there was no other way. Had there been a way of lesser pain and grief surely our Father would have used it.
How far the flood may have contributed, to produce the various changes as to the division of the earth into broken fragments, islands and continents, mountains and valleys, we have not been informed... but after the flood in the days of Peleg, the earth was divided while the great curses which have fallen upon different portions, because of the wickedness of men, will account for the stagnant swamps, the sunken lakes, the dead seas and great deserts.
After, as an individual, we pass thru this world of opposites in all things such as joy and sorrow, health and sickness, have our spirit body clothed in a physical one, there must needs be a Savior. And God our Eternal Father has provided one. He has many titles such as, “The First Born” this would be in the world of Spirits, the “Only Begotten” in the world of flesh and “Our Redeemer”. He is also called “Father”, which is a little confusing but not when it is explained that he is the spiritual or foster Father of all those who believe in Him, His and our Father and the Holy Ghost. (Three separate beings making up the Godhead)
Our next question then is the Historicity of Jesus. I have already covered this in a previous memo so will simply state that the Historicity of our Redeemer is the most attested fact in history. Even his enemies admit that he lived, was crucified and resurrected three days after.
And in the church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints we have a second witness that cannot be disputed that is very plain in bearing testimony of the reality of our Lord, his mission, crucifixion and resurrection.
For as Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon declared (and there are many others) “and now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him; this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him, that He lives!
For we saw him, and through him, and of Him, worlds are and were created, and the
inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” This testimony has gone forth unto all the world. There are thousands who know it is true for they too have had witness borne in upon their souls. There are thousands who believe in the promise of the Lord, “that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments shall see my face and know that I am; and that I an the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Doctrine & Covenants 93:1-2
The story of the Flood is one of the events recorded in the Bible that has met with contempt and ridicule by the wise and prudent of Isaiah’s prediction in these modern days of worldly learning. Even some members of the church reject the flood outright or say that it was just a local flood down the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.
There are others in the church who reject the story of the flood entirely on the ground that it could not be an act of God; for he is a “kind Father” and a “a father even a normal, earthly father, could not command such wholesale slaughter.”
Haven’t they read the scriptures of how the pre flood prophets warned and re-warned the people of the flood for over 600 years before it took place, how those who believed were taken off the earth and after the prophets had finished their warnings that angels came down from heaven and “caught up” any that would believe. Not one soul needed to be drowned neither need one soul be burned at the coming of the Lord when he cleanses the earth with fire. Unhappily the majority of the people on earth at that time will suffer that horrifying fate.
For the Lord, himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the Archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive shall be caught up into heaven to meet the Lord in the air and thus shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18- but this will not take place until all have been warned. This is going on right now as 60,000 missionaries cover the earth crying, “ repent ye, repent ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.”
Some say that a large ship couldn’t begin to hold a sample of all the different animals on the earth. I won’t take time to show how it is not only possible but that it did happen. And who are they that make such complaints. By what authority can they say that God couldn’t do this. No man has the knowledge, much less the authority to say that all the original pairs of animals and birds could not be placed in the Ark! The word of the Lord says that they were placed there, and thru the providence of God were distributed over all the face of the earth after the flood.
Another criticism of the universal flood is supposed to be indisputable. This is that there is not enough water in the oceans, rivers and lakes plus what may be stored in the atmosphere and in the earth to rise and cover the mountains, the account of the flood and from whence the water came is but briefly stated. We have no extensive details. The story is as follows.
“In the sixth hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Genesis 11:7 In as much as two thirds of the earth is currently covered with water and the deepest depths of water is as much as the highest mountain peaks there is no reason the Lord couldn’t so manage that amount of water to cover the whole earth. As the days of Noah were, so shall also be the coming of the Son of Man. JS Matthew 1:41
And it was the Son of Man, (tho I prefer to call him the Son of God), who said it. Baptized with water in the days of Noah, the earth will yet be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Be Not afraid but be believing!!!
I LOVE you, Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt
WITH THANKSGIVING COMING UP HERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS DAD WOULD APPROVE OF:
One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy. The Lord said: “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?” (D&C 88:33). The Apostle Paul described our day to Timothy when he wrote that in the last days “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Tim. 3:2). These sins are fellow travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them....A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well‑being. But there is a truism associated with all types of human strength: “Use it or lose it.” When not used, muscles weaken, skills deteriorate, and faith disappears....Gratitude is not only an expression of faith; it is a saving principle. The Lord has said, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (D&C 59:21). It is clear to me from this scripture that to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7) is more than a social courtesy; it is a binding commandment.
“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19). (James E. Faust as a member of the Quorum of the twelve in 1993)
Steamed pudding (Grandma Adaline Pratt’s recipe) (this is 2/3 the original ingredients but makes a large pudding!)
2 cups carrots grated
2 cups spuds grated
2 cups sugar
2 cups raisins
1 1/3 cups shortening melted
4 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1 scant tsp salt
2 tsp each: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves
1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
stir all together. Pour in well greased pyrex or double boiler with a lid on. Steam for 1 hour. Will test done like a cake.
Use lemon sauce or caramel sauce.
Best served in Mom’s cut glass dishes!
You can do this ahead in quart jars and fill wide mouth jars half full follow your pressure canner for potatoes and it saves well.
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