Memo #106

July 1, 2009

Re: 7^th Article of Faith

From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard M. Pratt

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.

We could add to that the casting out of evil spirits. They are very real but the Priesthood may remove them. I had an experience in my current ward house back when I was Bishop in 1963-1970.

One Sunday morning the Bishopric had finished their early Sunday morning preparations for the day and were just ready to leave the office to start sacrament meeting.

Suddenly the office door was violently flung open and a very agitated brother appeared, panting for breath, he gasped, “Come quickly!” and darted out the door. We followed of course. Must have made a queer sight, four old men running as fast as they could North on 5^th East for about a block. All huffing and puffing like steam engines.

He reached his home’s door, wide open, we following thru the house into the bedroom. Here his twenty two year old son-in-law, a slight built man, not more than 135 pounds was laying on the bed; this wasn’t so strange except his 200 pound mother-in-law was sitting on top of his middle trying to keep him on the bed. This wasn’t too strange except only his head and heals were touching the bed and his body was arched upwards with his mother-in-law trying to push him back down.

He was administered to through the power of the Priesthood, and at the amen he instantly relaxed and became conscious of those around him. The mother-in-law removed herself, he sat up in bed and very excitedly said, pointing at the wall, “There he goes, there he goes! There he just went thru the wall!” we had to take his word for it as we saw nothing which is not unusual in such cases.

I could fill the rest of these four pages with like tales but there are too many other more exciting things to write about.

In my long life and extensive church service I have witnessed just about every type of miracle mentioned except, “raising of the dead.” but in as much as only a handful of such has been recorded not many have had this privilege.

Remember that miracles follow after conversion, a reward, so to speak, for obeying and living the gospel.

Sign seekers are usually not converted by some miracle no matter how great it might be, or if converted, they soon fall back into their old sinful life.

My life has been one of miracles. My family are not noted for longevity yet my Patriarchal blessing and another blessing promised that my life would be prolonged upon the earth. At 96 this has surely been fulfilled. I hesitate to tell about these for fear that it might sound like boasting. Yet I feel that I should briefly mention some of them that the glory and praise may reflect upon the power of God. For it is nothing that I did for I am as weak and mortal as a man could be. Here are some excerpts from the first few pages of my auto-biography Vol. II

“Thy life will be prolonged upon the earth and whether in the spirit body or mortal body. I know not but thou shalt go out to meet the Savior at his coming and shall see the wicked as they are burned as stubble. Thy heart shall cry out in lamentations over them.” Patriarchal blessing 1928. The Patriarch was a total stranger and I was fifteen years old.

In being set apart for a mission, the Stake President prophesied, “You will be strong and the youthful vigor which you now manifest (68 years old) will be renewed and renewed, and renewed, for the Lord has need of you, and he will use you all the days of your life until that sweet death which shall come to you shall actually be at your beck and call and you shall desire to enter the kingdom and it shall be granted you. Until that time you are to be engaged in the work of the ministry.” still quoting from my journal, “Now twenty years later, November 16, 2002, all has been fulfilled except, sweet death to come at my call. But I still have a work to do to get every member of our large and expanding family sealed into the family and obeying the law that will keep us together eternally.”

No these promises of long life are especially remarkable when I review my past and the many close calls I have had with death. Looking back 96 years I can come up with more than a life saving miracle per year. Many more.

This baby is dead pronounced the doctor as he handed my blue, lifeless body to the mid-wife and my grandmother. While he turned back to try and staunch the bleeding that was rapidly taking my mother away.

But grandma wasn’t about to let her first born grandchild perish and using mid-wife magic she finally got me breathing.

I spent the early years of my life far removed from doctors on an isolated ranch in central Washington. We knew nothing of sanitation. Our drinking water was dipped from the creek which ran thru everyone’s corral. We lived “fur” down the stream. Our water was potent in deed.

When we got sick or hurt, we lived or died. My 9 year old sister died of appendicitis. I was then 13.

Cuts that would take many stitches were wrapped up tight and the victim went back to work. I can show several scars. To take a bath was a struggle and happened infrequently. Although in our own home it was a Saturday night ritual, most Saturdays. But when the temperature ranged 20-30 degrees below zero with a strong North wind, taking a bath was not very high on the list,

Water in our semi-arid grazing land was always a sought after luxury. One would ride miles out of ones way to drink at a spring of water only to find it dried up until there would only be a seep which filled the two inch deep cow tracks and that cupful of water was swarming with marine life. One flopped down on one’s belly, closed his teeth tight and sucked up every drop, usually taking two or three cow-tracks full to satisfy one’s thirst.

One hot afternoon riding up a small creek, so terribly thirsty, I was finally forced to drink from the creek which resembled a bog, thick as mush. A few hundred feet upstream I came upon a herd of wild hogs rooting and wallowing in the water.

Flies, flies, flies, we had a super abundance of flies.

With no refrigeration food poisoning was a constant threat.

Bed bugs and ticks were a blight. How did we survive, I don’t know! Except the God of us all was watching over us. We didn’t seem to get sick much and soon recovered when we did, except for my sister.

Well I survived those days only to have my life repeatedly threatened with violence from man, beasts, nature and machines. I will mention only a few that my 96 year old memory can recall. But no details, except for two, however some are detailed in my autobiography Vol. I

I’ve heard the gifts of tongues several times and it is so natural that you are not even aware that it’s going on. Several times in the Gilbert Islands, I experienced it. I would forget to stop for the translator until suddenly I would remember and turn to him to give the translation to the people. His answer would be, “I don’t need to translate, they understand perfectly.”

But a choice experience happened right here in our home. A 30 year old lady, just arrived from her home land spoke no English was brought to our house. She was from Vietnam , she knew nothing of the gospel and had not even heard of Jesus Christ. I gave the first lesson thru a translator when she came back for the second lesson she had no need for a translator and the only time he was used was when I needed to know what she was saying. It wasn’t long until she spoke excellent English, married and had three sons and was a Relief Society President in Ogden, UT.

The story I’m going to tell now is so unbelievable that I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t lived it.

The “creek” was having a picnic on the banks of the mighty Columbia River, only three other rivers in the world are larger. At our picnic site where the Colockum Creek entered the river it was at least half mile wide of roaring tumbling water.

A sudden treacherous undertow drew me out into the main stream. My Dad and Uncle Lawrence Folsom hastened to my rescue. Neither were strong swimmers and no one had ever been known to swim across the river at that point.

Soon they were in trouble as they alternated trying to hold my now unconscious body up. On a small sandbar at the creeks mouth four men sat on a log and watched. My diminutive Aunt Daisy, about 125 pounds, begged the men to do something.

Their answer, “sorry lady their “goners” we’re not going to join them.” then she spotted a large tree complete with roots and branches partly buried in the sand probably washed down from Canada.

She ran to the men and begged them to launch the tree into the stream with the hopes somehow it would reach us. They laughed at her and pointed out there was no way that tree was going to find us out in that raging torrent.

MIRACLE #1. She launched it herself. MIRACLE #2. Like an arrow shot from a bow it came straight to us. The exhausted men were able to secure me between some of the limbs and clinging to the same for support the three bounced on down the river.

While on that tiny beach where there had been no sigh of a boat, MIRACLE #3. Suddenly there was a small two man rowboat with one set of oars. Again the men were appealed to, please just one of you get in that boat and go get them, more derisive laughter.

Just then two boys walked up, 15 year old Beryl Goodwin and a stranger about the same age. They immediately launched the boat and with little or no experience pointed it our way. MIRACLE # 4, again as tho self propelled it darted across the waves right to us now about half mile downstream and the sound of the Wanapum rapids a mile below which would have drowned us all.

I was soon transferred to the boat and Dad and Uncle Lawrence clung to the sides as inexperienced Beryl headed for shore. Where I was revived and after a bit we were able to walk back the mile or so to the picnic which ended for sure and everyone went home.

Another time, a mad bull charged me, his head low, nose tucked down, horns straight out about belt buckle level and he’s roaring like a lion.

As he passed my horse he just made a sideswipe with one horn, ripped the whole side of the horse open and his insides fell outside onto the ground.

Making me very angry, I charged the charging bull with a pitchfork held like a bayonet.

We met at the fence of woven wire between us. The tines of the fork smacked him right between

the eyes. A mighty roar and shake of his massive head ripped out the fence and it and the pitch fork went sailing out into the wild blue yonder.

His horns were right at my belly. Only I wasn’t there. Some unseen power, that I call the Spirit of the Lord, picked me up and carried me about a hundred feet away and deposited me on top of a 15 foot high stack of hay. I had no sensation of being moved. I faced disembowelment and a split second later I’m out of harms way. Only the POWER OF GOD could have done it.

The bull was frantically running around trying to figure where I had gone. It was as if he was saying, “Where did he go? I had him dead center, what happened?”

Then I was changed back to reality hearing my five and three year old daughters playing on the other side of the haystack.

Something had to be done quick, the bull looked the other way, I slid off the stack, opened a corral gate and bellowed at him. He charged me again, I side stepped and slammed the gate. Took the girls to the house, got my rifle, led that poor horse about half mile away, dragging his insides and put him out of his misery. Came back to the corral and the bull was dead.

Another time, It was at this same site that I was “feeding” the hay thru a chopper, a series of belts, wheels, and sharp knives. I don’t know what happened, it happened so fast. But the machinery grabbed the front of my clothes and in a flash snatched them off my body, splitting my heavy coat, shirt and underwear right down the back. And left me shivering with only pants on.

At the age of twenty and again at twenty five I was the victim in an attempted murder, because I was a Mormon. Miraculously I survived, tho some blood was shed, not all of it was mine. Logs have rolled over me. A large bob-sled load of hay tipped over with me beneath. At least five times I have escaped from the fangs of rattlesnakes. Scorpions have stung me more than once, a four inch long centipede stung me and made me very sick for two weeks, stung over fifty times on the head and face by black mud wasps. It should have killed me. Stung many times by honey bees and wasps, escaped from a rabid rabbit, a mad dog leaped for my throat. At least five times I’ve been saved from the horns of wild bulls.

As a carpenter and commercial fruit picker I have fallen from a height of ten feet or more innumerable times. Fifty percent of falls from that height are fatal and the rest have broken bones, I’ve never had a broken bone.

Revelations, healings, visions, I haven’t even mentioned, but have had many experiences with them also.

The point is, the gifts spoken of in the 7^th article of faith are real. We have a loving Heavenly Father whom we can put our trust in and we can be blessed by the gifts mentioned.

All my love,

Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Pratt

Next month, look forward to article of faith #8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Memo #105

Memo #106

June 1, 2009

From: Richard Marden Pratt (Yes, Dad prepared this before his death! With many more to come)

Re: We Believe Article of Faith #6

“We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, that is, Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers evangelists, etc.”

How could it be otherwise and still be the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for HE changeth not!

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God;

and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles & Prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone:

In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God. Thru the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22

Jesus Christ then being the chief corner stone holds all Priesthood which, He can and does mete out to worthy men in order to fulfill all the work needed to save each soul. “Even Jesus, made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 6:20

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14

Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. Hebrews 5:8-10

From the scriptures just quoted from Hebrews we find that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of the church, His Church and that he is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

“To the man Melchizedek goes the honor of having his name used to identify the Holy Priesthood after the order of the Son of God; thus enabling men to avoid the too frequent repetition of the name of deity.” D&C 107:2-4 Of all God’s ancient High Priests none were greater. Melchizedek was a contemporary of Abraham and to whom Abraham paid tithing. He was also King of Salem with the headquarters there of on the site of the present city of Jerusalem.

If there is no Melchizedek Priesthood on earth, the true Church is not here and the gospel of Christ is not available to men. But where the Melchizedek Priesthood is, there is the kingdom, the Church and the fullness of the gospel.

A man can do nothing for himself unless God direct him in the right way; and the Priesthood is for that purpose. (note: A man must be righteous in order to use the Priesthood! The Priesthood is the power given to man to act in the name of God.)

Through this priesthood men become joint heirs with Christ, receiving and possessing the fullness of the Father’s kingdom. “And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.”

As a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood Christ himself is the prototype in this as in all things pertaining to salvation and exaltation. As Paul explained, priests of the Aaronic order receive their calls “without an oath.” But Jesus received his Priesthood anointment with an oath by Him that said unto Him; the Lord swear and will not repent, “Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Those who, are priests forever, are priests of the Most High after the order of Melchizedek are Gods, even the sons of God.” They have become joint heirs with Christ, having kept the same covenant and been bound by the same oath.

“For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining those two Priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom and the elect of God and also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; and he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s Kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the Priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the Priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved…and I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. (D&C 84:33-44)

The fullness of the blessings of the Priesthood are found only in the temples of God. (D&C 124:28,34,42; 127:28) These are revealed only in the temples. “Washings, anointings, endowments and the keys, are essential to enable one to secure the fullness of those blessings which have been prepared for the church of the Firstborn.

Celestial marriage is an order of the priesthood without which no one can gain the fullness of glory in the eternal worlds. In other words, Eve did not hold the Priesthood, nor does any other woman, but as an Eternal wife, sealed to a Priesthood holder in the temple of God they share equally with their husbands all that the Father has to give. And a man without a wife, sealed to him eternally, cannot receive the eternal blessings but will remain separate and single without exaltation. He is dammed, meaning his progression is permanently halted for he cannot increase by himself. Or stated another way ~ all men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the fullness of the ordinances of his kingdom: and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the fullness of that glory, if they do not lose the whole. (The man is not complete without the woman nor the woman complete without the man in the Lord.)

Unfortunately, “there are many called, but few are chosen.” That is to say, many are called to the Priesthood, but few are chosen for eternal life. (D&C 95: 5-6, 12)

“And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. (D&C 121:34-36) The forgoing are excerpts from “Mormon Doctrine” by Bruce R. McConkie pages 474-482

Priesthood then is the Power of God by which he creates, peoples, governs, and saves the works of his hands. He can be everywhere at the same time thru delegation of this power to trustworthy men. For thru the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost a Priesthood holder knows at all times the will of God and can carry it out in his area. Hence it can be said of God that he is everywhere present at all times.

After the apostles, called by Christ to administer the affairs of his church and kingdom were all killed there was no one left holding the keys to authorize a person to be ordained to any priestly office and in this manner the Lord took the priesthood from the earth. And the earth was left in darkness for more than one thousand years. There is no record left after John’s translation, the last of the apostles, until the beginning of the renaissance (means born again) of any of the Priesthood offices being performed.

John was last heard of in 98 AD. The renaissance began with Guttenberg and the printing press about 1456 AD.

Even the world acknowledges this 1500 year period as “the Dark ages” and another 400 years elapsed after Guttenberg before the world completely emerged from darkness with “an angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue and people. Saying with a loud voice give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: (Now today.) and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea and the fountains of water.” Revelations 14:6-7

And the long period of darkness ended in the spring of 1820 when God the Father and the Son appeared to 14 year old Joseph Smith, followed over the next 24 years until his murder, by a continuing stream of Heavenly messengers restoring the Priesthood and all of its ramifications.

In the days of Moses because of wickedness the greater part of the priesthood was taken from the earth and only a lesser part left. It was called Aaronic after Aaron and only he and his righteous sons and heirs could hold it. It also included the Levitical Priesthood, Aaron was of that tribe. This Priesthood is divided into four offices, deacon, teacher, priest and Bishop. All worthy males of the tribe of Levi could hold the office of Deacon and Teacher. None of the rest of the tribes held any Priesthood. This continued until the ministry of the Savior who again offered the Melchizedek priesthood to all baptized worthy males.

To receive this priesthood and all Priesthood the recipient must have hands laid on their head by authorized men and the Priesthood bestowed upon the recipient who will at that time receive the ordination as an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Which holds all the rights of that Priesthood. As an elder a man can go to the temple and receive all the blessings there of. There are other callings in the Priesthood for certain leadership obligations such as Seventy, High Priest, Apostles, Patriarchs. All of these offices in the Priesthood can be found in the New Testament.

The Aaronic Priesthood is for administration of physical things and the Melchizedek of spiritual things. The various callings of the Priesthood are organized into quorums. Each quorum is presided over by a president and two councilors. A full quorum of each office as follows:

Deacons 12-14 years of age: 12 boys

Teachers 14-16 years of age: 24 boys

Priests 16-18 years of age: 48 boys

Elders 19 & up years of age: 96 men

Seventies (adult men): 70

High Priests: (adult men) all men so ordained with in the stake boundaries.

The church is presided over by the quorum of twelve apostles. The senior member of the quorum is always the Prophet, seer, and revelator and he alone holds all the keys pertaining to all things in the church. He also has two counselors. For more detail, read section 20 of the D&C.

It is most interesting that the only other church on the face of the earth, and it is not called a church, is the Hope Indians.

My wife and I spent two years with them and their neighbors the Navajos. The Navajo reservation is the largest of all reservations. It comprises most of Northern Arizona and extends into Southern Utah and I think North Western New Mexico. About 400 miles across at its widest point. The Hopi reservation is a small area in the center of the Navajos. Currently the Navajos are our largest tribe numbering around 100,000 the Hopis one of the smaller tribes with about 5,000 people.

The Hopis are a peaceful, agricultural people. They have never been at war with the U.S.A. Their legend has it that about 1600 years ago their forefathers fleeing from some dreadful war (Nephite annihilation) would be safe if they fled westward until they came to 10 mesas (table top mountains) where they could survive until the second coming of Christ.

They found these ten tabletop mountains in Northern Arizona. The Spanish conquistadors tried and failed to overcome them. Archaeologists have dated the village of Oraibi as the oldest continuously occupied village in North America. Dating back to about 400 AD.

They have never been successfully proselyted by the Christian churches until recently, as their remnants of Christianity were far superior to all modern Christian churches.

Example: a 12 year old boy receives the priesthood and there on meets with the men in priestly functions.

All children are baptized by immersion when they are considered old enough to understand. I have seen their baptismal pool carved out of solid rock and fed by a small spring of water. They believe in eternal family and marriage and the bride and groom are dressed in white wedding clothes to take the oath of marriage.

The whole tribe participates in food storage and claim to have at least a two years supply for the entire tribe. This they do not show to others. So I took their word of it.

They practice baptism by proxy for dead ancestors. A turkey feather is used as proxy and hangs form the ceiling beams of their homes. I pointed to a feather and asked who does that represent and the answer was given immediately.

Today they are joining the church in large numbers and we expect in the near future to have most of them baptized,

We have branches of the Church in each if the 9 mesas (the 10th has been abandoned) at the foot of each Mesa is a spring of cold, clear, water which makes life possible in the desert.

On our way home on a Sunday, having been to the far end of the reservation, on church assignment, we came to the village of Polocca, and were a little late for Sacrament meeting but decided to attend spontaneously as we would have no other chance that day.

We entered the ancient building used as a chapel, dirt floors, and heard the branch President announcing the speaker for the day. He hadn’t seen me yet but he announced that Brother Pratt would now speak to them. I walked up to the stand and spoke for about thirty minutes after the meeting I asked him how he knew I was there. His answer, “I knew all week.” but said I, “I didn’t even know I’d be here. You must have had a back up speaker just in case.”

He answered, “ No, I knew that you would be here.” This is a sample of their faith. There were 96 Hopis present with us.

All My Love,

Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Pratt

Look forward to Next month’s memo on Article of Faith #7

Please share this with those whom you love. Have them find it on the: prattmemos.blogspot.com

Or feel free to copy and send it to your loved ones.

Memo #104 (87 to go to my 105th birthday)

May 1, 2009
From: Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard M. Pratt
Re: The 5th Article of Faith

“We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances there of.”
Last night a former fellow temple worker called to see if I could substitute for him. I of course had to answer no because I have been released from that calling and with the release my authority to administer the Temple Ordinances ends. I could be recalled but not likely.
“A man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances there of.” Without this policy the Kingdom of Heaven would be unorganized chaos.
If a man assumed one of the offices in the Kingdom without proper authorization chaos would result.
Example: Supposing a man here in the United States decided to appoint himself the Ambassador to England. He arrives gets off the plane, asks directions to the U. S. embassy head quarters, walks into the foyer and the front desk person asks their business. What would happen when the imposter announces that he is the new ambassador. Security would be on him within seconds and he would be escorted to an unpleasant future.
No man can assume any office in the Priesthood unless properly called by one having the authority to make the call. Then the person must be presented to the congregation for a sustaining vote. This is following the pattern in the Bible both old and New Testaments.
Moses was told by the Lord: “Thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle (portable temple) of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priests office…and thou shalt bring his sons…and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they many minister unto me in the priests office; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting Priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses according to all that the Lord commanded him.”
The Priesthood exists in two parts: the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood.
The Aaronic or lesser Priesthood takes care of and administers to the temporal needs of the church.
The Melchizedek or higher Priesthood administers to the spiritual things of the kingdom. And by its power whatsoever is sealed on earth is sealed in heaven and whatsoever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven.
Because of the failure to keep the commandments the Melchizedek Priesthood was taken from the earth with the translation of Moses. From then until Christ’s personal ministry on earth, about 1500 years later, only the Aaronic priesthood was administered to the people. Although the prophets from Joshua to Malachi, about 1100 years, continued to operate under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
When Jesus Christ came, he restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to the Jews and began to build up the church among them. However, it was lost again by apostasy and was taken from the earth once more.
It has been restored to the earth in these last days by the ministry of Peter, James, and John, who literally came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the spring of 1829 and conferred this power and authority upon them. And of course they received it on the Mt. of Transfiguration.
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses, and Elias (Elijah) talking with them. (Moses had been gone 1451 years and Elijah 875 years) and thus the Melchizedek Priesthood was again established upon the earth only to be lost again from the earth about 100 years later after all the Apostles had been killed except John.
John, of course, didn’t die but was translated like Moses to live in the flesh until the triumphal coming of Jesus (soon). The last we know of John he was a slave on the island of Patmos about 25 miles West of modern Turkey not far from Ephesus. Here John received the revelation and recorded it as the last book in the New Testament.
Shortly thereafter John just disappeared about 98 AD and thus ended any authority on earth to act in the name of God until the revelation to the boy prophet Joseph Smith 1700 years later in 1820.
So the Melchizedek Priesthood, the power to act in the name of god was taken from the earth from Moses to Christ, about 1500 years and after about 100 years it was taken away again until Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in 1829. it will never again be taken from the earth until the son’s of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. In plain English it is here to stay and will have a delegation of Priesthood holders to welcome the Savior at his coming.
“When Jesus began to be about 30 years of age, (It was illegal by Jewish law to be a minister before that age so Jesus had patiently waited ‘til then to start his ministry as he tried always to obey the law of the land.) He cometh from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thus and comest thou to me?”
“And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straight way out of the water (immersion); and lo the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Notice the law of witnesses.
John had been told previously by an angel that he would baptize the Son of God and he would know who he was by a dove landing on his shoulder representing the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost cannot come in the form of a dove as recorded because the Holy Ghost is a man but the bird was a witness and then the Father cinched it by speaking from the Heavens. Now fully prepared and authorized Jesus begins his mission by choosing twelve apostles and organizing his church.
Notice in all cases that HE chooses them and ordains them. They do not choose him. No record is given at this point of his having received the priesthood but there is no doubt that he has it as manifest by the continuing stream of miracles he performs.
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease among the people.
And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had palsy; AND HE HEALED THEM.” And here is an interesting item: “and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, BECAUSE THEY KNEW HIM.”
Then he called the twelve men who were to be his apostles and the head of the kingdom of God which He was founding.
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the son of man am?”
“And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist (John had his head cut off six months earlier!) Some Elias and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (who were long dead or translated)
“He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
So Peter was the first of the twelve to receive the testimony by the Holy Ghost that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
And here is another interesting truth. Peter is told that flesh and blood hadn’t revealed it unto him but it had come from God the Father. And upon this great truth, REVELATION, and the Savior calls it a rock ~ therefore the Savior is saying that upon the ROCK OF REVELATION he will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Some think that the antecedent here is Peter and it would then read, “upon Peter I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against Peter.”
Use your power to REASON again ~ Revelation is the rock as clearly stated and hell cannot prevail against it.
But Peter ~ hell did prevail against him and he was crucified about 66 B.C. at Rome. Several of the prophets out lived him and continued to guide the church by revelation in fact the Book of Revelations written by John was received and written about thirty years after the death of Peter.
Peter ~ a fantastic man ~ requested that he be crucified upside down because he had betrayed the Savior three times. I don’t know how much truth there is in that as we only have it from legend but it sounds like that great prophet.
Shortly after this Jesus takes Peter, James, and John upon a high mountain where they had the thrilling experience of being transfigured and the record says of the Son that his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light. “And be hold a voice out of the cloud which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
Moses and Elijah appeared unto them and conveyed the keys (authority) of the gathering of Israel and the power to seal on earth and it would be sealed in heaven. Which is the power or authority to bind from Adam and Eve to the last child born to this earth in one perpetual continuous family so far as the faithful are concerned.
This Jesus clearly taught the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, saying, “Master, Moses said, if a man die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother; likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all, the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her.”
NOTE: the Sadducees are trying to trap the Savior so that they could accuse him of blaspheme which carried the death penalty. They were hoping he would designate one of the seven as her eternal husband (but on to devilish tricks.) He gave them the truth. Saying where you are all going there is neither marriage nor given in marriage . He knew that it would be useless to try to give them the law of Celestial marriage for they wouldn’t believe it.
Then he gave an answer that they clearly understood (although we don’t get its meaning.)
Said he; “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” God is not the God of the dead but of the living…and they were astonished at his doctrine.
What they were hearing was: the three patriarchs, though dead for 2000 years are living but you are dead and have no God.
Unauthorized ministrations in priestly functions are not only invalid but also grievously sinful.
In his dealing with mankind God recognizes and honors the Priesthood established by his direction; and countenances no unauthorized assumption of authority.
None but those who are duly authorized to teach can be regarded as TRUE expounders of the word of God. “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron.” And Aaron was called thru Moses unto whom the Lord revealed his will in the matter. This authority to act in the name of the Lord is given to those only who are chosen of God; it is not to be had for the asking of it; it is not to be bought with gold. We read of Simon, the sorcerer, who coveted the power possessed by the apostles: he offered them money saying, “give me this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost.” But Peter answered him with righteous indignation: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God
May be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter; for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”
No one may officiate in any ordinances of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints unless he has been ordained to the particular order or office of the Priesthood by those possessing the authority to do so.
Thus no man receives the Priesthood except under the hands of one who holds that Priesthood himself; that one MUST have obtained it from others previously
commissioned and so every bearer of the Priesthood can trace his authority to the hands of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, who received his ordination under the hands of the apostles Peter, James and John and they had been ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.
And I so testify, knowing that it is true. In the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ Amen.

All my love,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Marden Pratt


As most of you know our dear father Richard Marden Pratt passed away on April 1, 2009 and his funeral was April 6, 2009. He was released from the temple in December and has studied and written with great faith that we all would benefit from his wisdom and knowledge. His hope is that we stay true to the faith and add to our faith. He has given me strict instructions to send out the memos on the blog site once a month. There are 88 yet to come out! He was and is truly an amazing man!


This will be the last printed mailing for those of you who can access the blog!

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Dad wants us to keep close to the gospel of Jesus Christ. His desire is for us to build our faith and testimony and to be an eternal family. He is even now a missionary with his memos and he would love for you to share these with all you know.

Contact Rose @ randrflower@msn.com

Obituary

http://ads.heraldextra.com/articles/2009/04/03/obituaries/341098.txt

Memo #103 (88 to go to my 105th birthday)

April 1, 2009
To: All I Love
From: Grandpa Richard Pratt
Re: The Greatest Missionary

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3
In the beginning when our Heavenly Parents had reached the status of being “God” and they became God the same way that you and I may be come God. Their first-born was a son. Because of His obedience, total and complete to his parents, he achieved the status of God while yet a spirit and was authorized by his father to be in charge of all the creations of our Father. In modern terms, “He is the superintendent of construction of all our Father has.” Also, under his Father and our Father, He is in charge not only of construction but the perfecting and eternal life of all that is created including the eternal lives of the rest of God’s family of which you and I are a part. Not only are we also sons and daughters but thru obedience may become as they are ~ Gods. What a fantastic future!
This creation started so long ago and has continued till now. And will continue into the eternities, that man, mortal man, cannot count them. ALL CREATED, governed and saved by our oldest brother even Jesus Christ.
Though He had reached the status of Godhood the creator of all the worlds and those that live on them, he would still have to go thru a state of mortality, as you and I and prove himself in the flesh, make important decisions as faith, baptism, though he had no sin but in order to fulfill all righteousness to be an example to us all he fulfilled and was obedient to ALL law. Gave up his mortal life voluntarily and came forth three days later as the resurrected fully obedient son of our heavenly parents. Even to the fulfilling of a three-year mission and that is what I want to talk about now.
I can understand his leaving his Heavenly home, comforts, and status to gain a body and fulfill the other gospel requirements but to serve a mission! How could he do it? And there is only one answer ~ TO BE COMPLETELY OBEDIENT and to rescue all that would follow him into the waters of baptism. Did the Savior of us all perform baptisms? Why that is the crowning joy of missionary service. A missionary is not fulfilled until he has had his first baptism.
And the Savior said to his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him DENY himself (the pleasures of the world) and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24
“Now after John was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” Mark 1:14
“And after these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; AND THERE HE TARRIED WITH THEM, AND BAPTIZED.” John 3:22
“When therefore the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. JST. 4:1
NOTE: In the King James translation it reads: “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more than John.” John 4:1 ~ and that is correct.
Then in verse 2 some ancient unbelieving scribe inserted in parentheses (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples)
YES JESUS ALSO BAPTIZED even more than John the Baptist.
Can you imagine in your church membership records what it would be like to show you were baptized by the Lord Jesus Christ? Well many were!
Now the baptismal words used today as I remember them are: “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen”
He would probably or might have said: “Having been commissioned by my Father, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of myself, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen” Interesting to think about!
Is there baptism anymore valid than your own? NO because the Lord has said, “Whether by my own voice or THE VOICE OF MY SERVANTS IT IS THE SAME.”
Why did the Lord wait until he was thirty years old to go on his mission? Because, that was Jewish law. And he ALWAYS obeyed the law unless it was contrary to the law of God. The Jewish law stated that age before a man could qualify to be a rabbi (teacher of God)
An interesting side light. The scripture reads, “When he came to be about thirty years old.” Remember the average family did not have a calendar as we do today. This was driven home to me in the islands. They couldn’t afford a calendar and apparently none were available. So time was reckoned by “ABOUT” about 9 in the morning because they didn’t have clocks and watches, meant sometime before the sun reached its zenith overhead.
One day I was working with a native and I was losing track myself. I asked him what day of the week it was. He looked at me rather blankly and then responded with, “what month is this?”
One day I was invited to come speak to a congregation of Non-members on another island. I was told the meeting would start about nine in the morning. We, mother and I were the only ones there other than our host. About ten o clock the first started showing up. I asked the host what the problem was. He answered, “No Clocks!” we finally got the meeting started about 11:00 AM with 29 present. And we soon had a branch there.
So the Savior filled the requirements to be a rabbi, a teacher, and a missionary when he became ABOUT thirty years old. And served about three years before his death.
Incidentally, he served without purse or script. As did the early elders in our time. In fact my first mission was such. I don’t remember having as much as fifty cents. We were fed and given a bed by the people. It was common courtesy to look to the needs of others.
The Savior was asked, “Where do you live?” He answered the foxes have dens, and the birds have nests but I haven’t a place to lay my head. I could say the same thing of my first mission. And we got along fine but in today’s delinquent world the missionaries would not receive consideration for their needs. So we no longer as a church practice “without purse or script.”
I have filled four missions totaling six years and two months and have participated in 400 plus baptisms. Probably our most rewarding conversions were Dan and Zuk Grey and their children in Tama or Toledo, Iowa. They now live in Seattle and are active ~ both children are temple married and Andy filled a mission. Dan and Zuk receive this memo and I express my love and appreciation to them by their making that mission worth while. Thank you Dan and Zuk!
Now back to the greatest missionary of us all and oh how gladly we should follow him and assist him until every soul is saved to some degree of glory. For every ear must hear the
glad news before He comes to claim his own. The total population to live upon the earth from Adam till the end is quesstimated at 80,000,000,000 (80 billion) that great missionary is not going to stop until every soul is converted.
He said to his disciples in Jerusalem; “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be dammed.” Mark 16:14-15
“Dammed” means to be stopped. They can not go any further down the stream of salvation until the “dam” is removed by faith, repentance and BAPTISM.
The Savior didn’t even rest the three days his body laid in the grave for his spirit went to the world of spirits and there from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers (missionaries) clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, “even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.” D & C 138:30
When this fantastic Savior of ours came forth in his resurrected body he spent the next 40 days in eight separate, recorded meetings with his disciples preparing and authorizing them to go into All the world and teach the gospel and baptize them that believe.
“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel. (Angels)
Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:9-11
And he has now returned as promised and this I know for a surety. And has given the command again for the last time in this dying world. And it can best be summed up in the prophet’s words, “EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY.” And these memos are my last feeble effort, not having much strength left to influence all I can to accept and if they have already accepted to strengthen each of us to be true and faithful that we might be like a beacon on a hill. But most particularly is that call to young men who only have a small window of time to enjoy this great blessing from the age of 19 – 26. After that, unless called to be a mission president a man cannot go on a mission until his last dependant has left home and then only if he is married and they go as a couple.
The world is dying. The people are perishing never has there been a greater need for our young men to go out and literally rescue souls. The fact that convert baptisms are running around one third of a million a year shows that the field is ripe and ready to harvest. But there isn’t much time left. For the hour and day of the cleansing of the earth was set in the beginning and when that day comes the earth will be cleansed with fire. People are silently crying out for help. We must not fail them. Oh that I could go again, but this is the best I can do for now.
Any young man approaching missionary age who may perchance read this who feel that for some sin, real or imagined are therefore not planning on a mission, get rid of it. Go to your Bishop he is there to help you be free of eternal regrets. And go on a mission. You will rejoice forevermore. For if you don’t one of two things will happen. One you will be forever regretful that you failed to go or two you will drop out of the church. Please, PLEASE do not face either of these.
Let us all join our Savior in this mighty work of saving ours and his brothers and sisters from the sure and certain fate that otherwise awaits them.
I was drowning one dark night in the turbulent Wenatchee River. I was about 18 years old, fully dressed with heavy boots, all my fishing tackle and a large number of fish. As I made, what I thought was my last gasp, my feet touched bottom. But just before that I would have given everything in this world for a helping hand and that is the way your converts will feel about you. You are that helping hand!
Over fifty years after my first baptism of a mother with three little girls under the age of eight up in the state of Washington, I was visiting, as the Bishop, sick ward members in the current Provo hospital. I passed an open door and a feeble voice called out, “Elder Pratt!” It was that mother, now at the close of her life. What a joyful reunion for both of us and her report still warms my soul and made all my missionary efforts worthwhile. All had stayed faithful. The three girls were temple married, each had several children, and all the boys had filled missions. And as near as she could remember about 50 people were now members of the church because of that one baptism 50 years earlier and it never stops. This is what is called, in the scripture, “being a Savior on Mt. Zion.”
And I now close this memo, wishing my choicest blessings upon each of you as if you and I were the only people on earth. May you especially be blessed to believe! Believe that I know what I am writing about. Believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for he certainly knows and testifies of the Father and all the blessings relating to all of us who believe. Especially believe that there is more so much more than just the pleasures of the world.
Finally some parting words from the great prophet Moroni, the lonely survivor of several million people.
“Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in CHRIST, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth…go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be dammed;
…These signs shall follow them that believe… in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues;…they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”
BUT MOST IMPORTANT, “whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing unto him will I CONFIRM ALL MY WORDS, EVEN UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.
Note: I have experienced or witnessed all the above many times. “Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old and come unto the LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.” (Mormon 9:21-27)
I know these things to be true! And may you know too that we may rejoice together forever with our Lord and Savior even Jesus Christ.
All My love,
Dad, Grandpa, brother etc.
Richard Marden Pratt

(Just a side note from Rose. My sweet Father’s health is not good. Sheryl and Gibb are sleeping at his house nights. All of us are taking turns to comfort and fill Dad’s needs. We have some sweet folks from Hospice helping us too. It is wonderful to me to know that Heavenly Father has a plan and that we are seeing our sweet Patriarch taking the next step in his eternal journey. He has worked hard to have memos for you continuing on and he hopes you will all learn and grow from what he is trying to share. He has an abiding love of our Savior and for his gospel and an abiding love for each one of us. Love, Rose