Memo #109

October 1, 2009

Re: Article of Faith #10

From: Dad, Grandpa, etc. Richard Marden Pratt

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten Tribes; that Zion (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

Boy! What a mouthful, I doubt I can cover it in less than two memos after all, thousands of pages have been written on the subject. Let me start by breaking it down into its several categories.

1. “The literal gathering of Israel.” all the tribes, not the Jews only, who are now gathering, but all the tribes and they have been scattered world wide and perhaps, like the people of Enoch, the main body could also be abiding the time of their return on a portion of this earth now out in space. Time will soon tell.

2. “Restoration of the ten tribes.” they were last heard of about 721 B.C. So far as I know our church is the only group of people now living on earth who know anything about them or have any knowledge of their return and the world could care less. So this will be very interesting to develop.

3. “That Zion, (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent .”

(this is a total No NO, to the world and they wouldn’t even believe it if they were watching it happen.)

4. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth. Volumes and volumes have been written of this and the world has many different ideas to its meaning, mostly false.

5. The earth will be renewed and receive its Paradisiacal Glory. To this the worlds response is, “What are you talking about?”

So we will start with number 1. “ the literal gathering of Israel.” Who were they and who are they? The name first appears in the Old Testament in Genesis 32:28 there is recorded a fantastic experience of Jacob, grandson of Abraham and the father of twelve sons by four wives who became the heads of the original twelve tribes who passed from slavery to the most powerful nation in the then known world. Some changes were made over the next four hundred years finally winding up as thirteen tribes but still known as twelve. I will point these out as the tale continues.

Jacob was spending the night alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Gen. 32:24 and the man said, “let me go, for the day breaketh”. And he (Jacob) said, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

And the man said, “What is thy name.” And he said, “ Jacob.”

And he said, “thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed... and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

So the name means Prince or as applied to his female descendants, Princess. And as a prince or princess may become what? A KING , a QUEEN and or GOD and GODDESS. The name also means Jacobs descendants and in another sense Israel means the true believer in Christ as explained by Paul in Romans 10:1; 11:7

The name Israel is therefore variously used to denote 1. The man Jacob, 2. Literal descendants of Jacob, and 3. The true believers in Christ regardless of their lineage or geographical location. Bible dictionary.

All others are Gentiles which means, “other people” or not God’s people.

God and Goddess is just another way of saying Good King, Good Queen.

You temple goers, notice the wording in the endowment or initiatory the next time you attend.

But Israel began long before that naming event. Israel began before the world was as the following scriptures testify. Israel was known in the preexistence.

In Moses farewell talk to Israel, “Remember the days of old, (before earth life) consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Deut. 32: 7-8

The number of Israelites was known before the world was and God therefore knew how big to build it to accommodate them.

In Acts we read, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before (the earth was) appointed, and the bounds of their habtitation.

And Abraham was explicitly given an inheritance for his Israelite descendants with Jerusalem as capital and stretching North and East to cover what is today called the near East.

An area larger than the U.S.A. Today it is mostly desert but will be returned to a fertile state when the Lord comes and the earth is renewed and receives its Glory.

Also that land grant includes North and South America. Together they include the choicest lands on earth. However, when the earth is renewed and terrestrialized it will be even more choice.

We conclude, therefore, that there must have been a division of the spirits of men in the spirit world, and those who were appointed to be the children of Israel were separated and prepared for a special inheritance. (Doc. of Salvations 59)

Jacob was born about 1856 B.C. If Israelites are his descendants and they are designated as Princes and Princesses, then what about all who lived prior to Jacob. Remember that another definition of Israel = True Believer in Jesus Christ.

“And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the Archangel.

And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: 'I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee and thou art a prince over them forever.'" D.&C. 107:54-55

Then it appears that Jacob was a link between those who lived prior to the flood and those who followed after. Or a new dispensation of the gospel.

Father Adam then is designated by the Lord as a “Prince”, the “Arc (first) Angel,”

“The first flesh” on this earth, he was not subject to death when first put in the garden. His spirit could not be separated from his body unless and until he violated the law that would bring death. And the Lord provided the law so it could happen. Because in our present mortal state it is absolutely necessary to our exaltation.

If Adam had not brought death into the world, he would have remained in the Garden of Eden forever. Eve would have been cast out and they would have been eternally separated.

Did Adam and Eve come out in direct opposition to God? NO and a double NO! NO! Eve was deceived but Adam knowingly broke the law that would further the plan of our Father for all his children.

Not to eat of the forbidden fruit was the only law God has ever given in which he added, “Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself.” in other words God said, I’m leaving the choice up to you but I want you to know the consequences if you do and if you don’t.

Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jarred, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. D&C107:53

One wonders why fifty year old righteous Lamach, the son of Methuselah is not mentioned as being at this great conference, that is all we can do is “wonder” until we receive the Book of Enoch in which the records of that time will be revealed.

And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him; I have set thee at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou are a prince over them forever. D&C107:55

And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, not withstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation. vs. 56

So as we talk of the gathering of Israel, we are not only talking about those who have descended from Jacob but also of those who extend back in time to Adam and Eve.

After Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden it must have been a very interesting

time for them indeed. They had to create or find a place of shelter and food would have been a challenge. Apparently they were temporarily fixed for clothes. Hope they made some home videos. They will surely be interesting to watch.

We don’t know which direction they went or how far but eventually they made their home in the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman (means the place where Adam lived) This is about fifty miles Northward from Independence, Jackson County, Missouri where the Garden of Eden was located.

As already mentioned, there it was that the great conference was held three years before Adam’s death. And now we look forward to a second council being held prior to the Lord appearing to the world in Adam-ondi-Ahman.

Adam and all Priesthood leaders from Adam down to the present will be there. Surely the corresponding sisters will also be present. The world will not know of it. The bulk of the church may not know of it.

How do we know that it hasn’t already happened? The only indication we have is that the general authorities still speak of it as being yet in the future.

At this conference of all conferences all keys, powers and jurisdictions will be returned to the Savior, who will be presiding, Adam of course will conduct.

Now there is nothing written, but I can’t help but think that Adam will stand and say something like this: “My brothers and sisters we have concluded the purpose of this grand conference and it is now proposed that all who can sustain Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords, King of Kings and our Savior and Eternal Ruler please make it manifest by the uplifted hand.” Oh! Wow!

Will a negative vote be called for? Of course. But don’t expect any hands to be raised.

Then officially, shortly thereafter will transpire that glorious moment. “When the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Arch-angel, and trumpets blaring. The resurrection will take place of those prepared and the living saints together with them will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

The Lord will then officially reign upon the earth as has been promised from the beginning.

So Israel will triumph and those who have stayed true and faithful from Adam to the present will rejoice together forevermore. The judgement will take place at the end of the millennium. The earth will die and be resurrected and will be prepared for the “meek” who will inherit it forever.

But the ten tribes still have a mission to preform and I will go into that in more detail next memo.

A note on current Adam-ondi-Ahman. When Mother and I returned from our Iowa mission we visited this beautiful site. It is a lovely valley thru which a small river flows. At that time the church had purchased 1800 acres, including the site of the remains of an alter built by Adam on which to offer sacrifices. They had missionaries stationed there including my cousin Max and Marge Folsom.

Their mission was to restore the valley to its original condition. Old buildings, fences, dead trees etc were being removed. The natural forest pruned and new trees planted. About 600 acres of level land was being farmed by a local farmer who had to keep it “show place” perfect. And would likely be the site of this great gathering.

Now a funny little incident. Joseph Smith pronounced a small pile of rocks as the remains of an alter built by Adam. Our bus driver pointed it out to us. And while looking around every so often a souvenir seeker would approach the pile snatch up a small rock and put it in his pocket until the bus driver saw it. Then he announced that the originals were long gone but the obliging farmer as he cleared rocks from his field dumped them there. Needless to say several pockets were emptied.

So again this is what we believe and it is true. You are watching it happen.

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ten Tribes; that Zion (or the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”

It’s exciting to study the scriptures and words of the prophets seeing how much has been fulfilled and knowing that the rest will be fulfilled.

I love you my dear family and know we can be an eternal family.

With all my love,

Dad, Grandpa, brother, etc.

Richard Marden Pratt

Memo #108

September 1, 2009

From: Grandpa, Richard Pratt

Re: Article of Faith #9

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Article of Faith #9)

By faith we accept the principal, “That God knows all things.” Therefore, there is nothing that he doesn’t know. That then would suggest that there is no true inventor. An inventor supposedly creates something because it hadn’t existed before.

True it hadn’t existed here before, but all the elements needed for its development, all the ideas all the thoughts had always existed. The inventor by his diligence had it revealed to him. Therefore so called inventors are really prophets who by applying themselves had revealed to them the thoughts, ideas etc. that would bring into being that which he or she was trying to discover.

To understand spiritual things, a person must have spiritual discernment, that is, guidance by the Holy Ghost.

President Smith said; “we must, in the eternities, reach the time, when we will know all things. We must know, mathematics, science and all things else we can never receive a fulfillment of the promise given; as man is now God once was and as God is now man may become. We must learn all things by learning, by study and by faith.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that in the Paradisaical glory we will be able by faith to learn more in five minutes than we learned here in a life time. So that will help considerably. And the more obedient a person is the more faith they will develop and the faster they will learn.

In D & C 132:37 we read, Abraham, and Isaac and also Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded. They have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones and are not angels but are Gods.

We know Abraham was born 2000 BC followed of course by his son and grandson. We know that they would have been resurrected 2000 years later following the resurrection of the Savior and 1800 years later the Prophet made the above declaration. So sometime in that 3800 years these three great prophets had mastered all knowledge. How? By faith (revelation) work and study. By constant obedience in all things. Seems like a remarkably short time but it must be so.

On the other hand, looking back 96 years, I read not long ago that an estimated 90% of all inventions have been invented (I say discovered) in my life time.

Yes, railroads had been invented but you had to live by a railroad track. Our own fastest vehicle transportation was what we called a light buggy powered by a fast trotting team of small mules. Capacity 2-4 people. Naturally the less people the faster and longer the team could travel. It took them five hours to travel from our ranch to the big city (about 5000 people). That’s four miles per hour.

My Grandpa Peterson was a hunter for the first railroad to cross the South Western states. Because of no refrigeration he would kill only what the crew could eat in one day. All he had to do was shoot the animal, bleed it out, plant a small flag beside it and hope that the butchering crew and wagon would find it. One day he shot eleven elk. That would surely feed several hundred men. Gives one some idea of how many men it took to inch the tracks ever Westward. He also killed many antelope and I can remember the Head of one in Grandpa’s living room which he said was the largest one he had ever seen. It surely had long horns. Grandpa was born about 1877 March 19^th .

Thomas A. Edison is rated as one of the greatest technical geniuses who ever lived. Yet he had no formal education and at age 12 was working on the rail road. By the end of his 84 years he had taken out 1200 patents. Born 1847, died 1931. He employed hundreds of people and his inventions have been rated in the billions of dollars.

He worked on the principle I earlier discussed, the invention he was working on was already “out there” he just had to discover it.

On the light bulb, he tried over 700 times before succeeding. His men wanted him to quit saying that it was not possible and his 700^th+ experiment proved it was.

He answered, “No,” they just prove 700 ways that won’t work. And continued, soon making the break thru that we now take for granted in lighting our homes.

It’s hard to believe that after the civil war in 1865 and sometime before the end of the century the government was considering closing the patent office, the argument being that all the inventions had been made. And now they are coming faster and faster if you can think of it, you can do it.

For thus sayeth the Lord ~ “I, the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto he end.

Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.

And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining unto my kingdom.

Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will ~ yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.” D&C 76:5-10

I would like to go back to the beginning of the above quotation and clarify or attempt to clarify the meaning of the word, “FEAR” as used in the phrase. “I, the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who “FEAR” me.

Like so many words, a word can have two or even more meanings even two opposite meanings. This is the case with the word, “FEAR”

Care should be taken to distinguish between two different uses of this word. The “Fear of the Lord” is frequently spoken of as part of man’s duty. To me it is a yearning desire to do everything I can, to keep every commandment and to obey every law that issues forth from his throne and to tremble and fear that I might do something to displease him. In short using “the Fear of the Lord” this way is to love him and everything that emanates from him with such a fervency that to do anything else would fill me with fear or as the Bible Dictionary states, “in such passages fear is equivalent to reverence, awe, worship and is therefore an essential part of the attitude of mind in which we ought to stand toward the All holy God. On the other hand fear is spoken of as something unworthy of a child of God, something that , “perfect love casteth out.” (1 John 4:18)

Or to remember my small boyhood stage, I loved my earthly Father with such a fervor that to gain his disfavor and correcting love was a fearful thing even tho he was kind and loving in his corrections and mild in punishment. I feared to displease him because I loved him so. This kind of fear, then could be labeled, “Godly or goodly fear.” and is almost diametrically opposed to that awful fear felt by the wicked as expressed by Mormon, “My people with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they wait to receive them. Mormon 6:7

Sin destroys that feeling of confidence God’s child should feel in a loving Father and produces instead, a feeling of shame and guilt. Ever since the Fall, God has been teaching men NOT TO FEAR, but with penitenance to ask forgiveness in full confidence of receiving it.

These God delights to honor and great shall be their reward and eternal their glory. Even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven. For by my spirit will I enlighten them and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will. ~ yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man. D& C 76:5-10 (YES, I have quoted this twice purposefully to emphasize it! Let the heart be full of reverential fear to God and all that pertains to His greatness and your joy will be full and eternal!)

Every person who is sufficiently faithful has the categorical promise that God himself will appear to him. “Verily, thus saith the Lord: it shall come to pass 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. (D&C 93:1) this has reference to the personnel appearance of God to mortal beings. (D&C 67:10-14) Many righteous persons have complied with the law of faith involved and received this promised revelation (Ether 3:19) Mormon Doctrine pages 644-645

Two thousand years B.C. a prophet designated as the Brother of Jared had a remarkable face to face confrontation with Jesus who at that time was a spirit for he still had 2000 years to wait to receive his mortal body. I love this account.

The prophet had molten from rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord saying.... “therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness;...that we may have light while we shall cross the sea”....behold the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear...and the Lord said unto him: “arise, why hast thou fallen?”

And he saith unto the Lord; “I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

And the Lord said unto him: “because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest more than this?”

And he answered: “Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me”....behold the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: “Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people, behold I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, (since the flood, for he had shown himself to many men prior to the flood, but this is not more than 100 years since that deluge.) For never (since the flood) has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after my own image? Yea, even all men were created after my own image.

Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my Spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.

And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites..(read about Jared’s brother in Ether in the Book of Mormon Ch. 1-12 great reading!)

And of course all the appearances to the prophets in the Old Testaments would have been his spirit body. Let me mention two.

1. “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, (portable temple) the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the Tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshiped, every man in his tent door.

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

Exodus 33:9-11

2. “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.

And they saw the God of Israel:(Jesus) and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. Exodus 24:9-11

(Moses was about 400 years after the brother of Jared and still 1500 years before Christ’s mortal birth.

But Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob also saw God and or Jesus Christ and they were between the Brother of Jared and Moses.

And there are many more. Read the Old Testament you’ll love it IF you persist!

Remember. “What ever principal of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life thru his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.”

D&C 130:18-19

My Love always,

Dad, Grandpa, Richard Pratt

(Written February 12, 2009)

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Memo #107

August 1, 2009
Re: 8th Article of Faith
From: Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard M. Pratt

“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.”
Out tracting one day Mother and I knocked on a door in the small town of Tama, Iowa. We were pleasantly greeted and taken into an inner room, obviously an office and library. The lady announced the mans name and title indicating that he was the minister of one of the local churches.
He was a small, slight built man of about sixty. He greeted us politely, asked a few questions then suddenly stood up and clutched to his bony chest a large Bible reminding me of a shield, said, “This is my book and I believe everything taught therein.” Being dismissed we left.
He was certainly revealing his lack of knowledge for any student of languages and translations are the first to admit that its impossible to translate to another language no matter how careful the translators are and not lose some of the original meaning or even change it.
A few years ago Protestant students of the New Testament claimed they could verify 50,000 mistakes in its four hundred pages. Many were trivial and would not necessarily change the meaning but others seriously alter meaning and content. Example: “No man hath see God at any time.” John 1:18 that would surely bury the Mormon church, If it were true. But the thought is reversed in John 6:46 “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with men who saw God, heard him, and even had his hand laid on their shoulder.
When we say the Book of Mormon is the word of God. We are talking about a translation of ancient records carefully prepared by prophets that it might be translated correctly by a modern Prophet.
But even Joseph Smith had some problems. Example the phrase, “and it came to pass” appears so many times that Mark Twain claimed if it was left out there wouldn’t be a Book of Mormon. Well of course he was wrong.
But the Prophet explains it this way that the original that he was translating from had a phrase, often beginning a new thought, that there was no English equivalent therefore he adapted, “and it came to pass.”
I understand the German translation of the Book of Mormon drops the phrase entirely and in it’s place uses [ ] brackets with no words. My own German copy is this way.
There are also around 100 words in that ancient Egyptian reformed language that has no English equivalent. Two that I remember are the names of domesticated animals called cummons and curaloms. We haven’t the least idea what they were or how they looked.
Still the Book of Mormon is translated correctly so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly taught and the testimony of the Godhead is plainly defined.
However, when the Book of Mormon is translated from the English, to another language we believe it as far as it is translated correctly.
I personally know and count as a good friend THE (Tay) Van Nguyen. (Tay Van Win) the translator of the Book of Mormon into Vietnamese. “The” was the first president of the branch of the church in Vietnam, and here in Provo where the Branch moved when Vietnam was
defeated. At his release I was called as the branch President and “The” served as my clerk.
One of our fellow members, “Do” (Dough) a brilliant man who graduated from the Texan school that trained pilots with the highest grades ever. Always read the Book of Mormon in English for said he too much is lost and changed in the translation.
Here is even a better example. The first translation of the Book of Mormon from English to Kiribati (Key-ri-bess) began in the kitchen of our grass shack in the islands.
Here were two of the main problems, the translator encountered. Incidentally he wasn’t even a member of the church but had excellent command of both languages.
Our alphabet of course has 26 letters. Theirs has only half that, 13. We have 42 sounds, they only have 15.
Our name Pratt transliterated comes out “Brat” (pronounced just like that of a naughty kid) they have no “P” nor the sound there of. I understand that we are recognized in Kiribati today (30 years later) as the founding parents and our name Brat is displayed in a public place.
The Book of Mormon is another Testament to the Old and New Testament and the Old and New Testament prophecy of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to testify as legally stated by God that all things will be established in the mouths of two or more witnesses.
There are several prophecies in the Old Testament referring to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. I will just use one from each record.
The New Testament first. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth (obviously the gospel was not on the earth, hence the need to restore it.) and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.
Revelations 14:6-7
the hour of his judgement, is now as recognized by all Bible students regardless of belief and creed. And the angel is a multiple of Heavenly beings. Who have appeared in the last two hundred years beginning with the Father and the Son to the boy Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove in 1820.
Now move to Isaiah who lived a century or two later than David and Goliath. Chapter 29
the first four verses identify the time when his prophecy will be filled. In verse seven he
prophecies that all the nations will fight against Ariel (Jerusalem) and shall be destroyed. (happening today)
in verse 10 he prophecies of the gross apostasy that would cover the earth in these last times, saying, “the Lord hath poured our upon them the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.”
Then he talks of the Book that shall come out of the ground, part of it will be sealed. And of course we know the story of Martin Harris taking the Book of Mormon to New York City. Actually just a portion for the translation was far from complete.
And the Lord even gives Isaiah the words that Professor Charles Anthon would use when Martin Harris visited him asking to read them and he answered, “I cannot for it is sealed.”
“And the book is delivered to him that is not learned (Joseph Smith) saying, read this, I pray thee, and he saith I am not learned.”
The Lord goes on to say in as much as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, (NOW) even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid....
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. (THAT’s Now)
Briefly how we got the bible: the word “bible” comes from the Greek “biblio” and means a collection or library of books.
The Old Testament we have today consists of scriptures current among the Jews of Palestine in our Lord’s day, and received on that account is its entirety by the Christian churches.
The books of the Old Testament are drawn from a national litoratine extending over many centuries and were written almost entirely in Hebrew, while the books of the New Testament are the work of a single generation and were written in Greek.
the Old covenant is the law that was given to Moses or the lesser laws because the people wouldn’t or couldn’t live the higher law. But don’t be too hard on them they are your ancestors and were just emerging from two hundred years of brutal slavery.
The New Covenant is the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the title Old Testament is a misnomer since all the prophets beginning with Adam, had the fullness of the gospel of Christ. With its ordinances and blessings.
When the Savior came in the meridian of time, he restored the gospel to the Jews in Palestine, since they had strayed, even from the law of Moses. It was a new covenant to them. Thus we have the record called the Old and the New Testaments.
The Bible used by most non-Catholic churches today has 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament such as the King James version.
If we had only Hebrew manuscripts we might conclude that the text of the Old Testament has been the same always and everywhere. Unfortunately this is not so.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, some of which are believed to be as early as the second century B.C. give evidence that the Old Testament text was corrupted at least by that time. Bible Dictionary pg. 622-623
Now the definition of Scripture: “Scripture is the words of holy men (and women) of God who spoke when moved upon by the Holy Ghost.” Scripture, then, is the word of the Lord.
Scripture is always in harmony with the former utterances of the prophets as it will be with future prophets.
In the early days of the church, by uplifted hands, certain scriptures were adopted by which all so called scripture may be measured and we call these “The Standard Works” of the church. Any utterances that are not in harmony with “The Standard Works” are not scripture.
We actually find four parts in “The Standard Works” plus THE CURRENT WORDS of the living Prophet and or prophets.
“The Standard Works” are, 1. The Holy Bible (King James version), 2. The Book of Mormon, 3.The Doctrine and Covenants, 4.The Pearl of Great Price which includes the 13 articles of Faith, a brief history of the coming forth of the church, The Book of Moses which has 8 chapters corresponding to the first 7 chapters of Genesis and excerpts from the writings of the Prophet Abraham. Also Joseph Smith ~ Matthew, which is an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1831: Matthew 23;39 and chapter 24.
The current words of the Living Prophets are found in the monthly church publications
and primarily “The Ensign”. Also letters are sent frequently to be read in wards and stakes from
the presidency of the Church. (LDS.org is a great place to learn!)
Also, each member of the church who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost is entitled, yea expected, to receive revelation for their own personal guidance and the guidance of those they are responsible for. One way we obtain this guidance is through prayer.
Hence a Bishop should receive revelation for administering the ward, Relief Society President for their jurisdiction, parents for their family etc. etc. but always they must be validated by “The Standard” or they are not revelations form God.
Revelations may and should come to the individual member to warn, instruct, advise, guide, lead, comfort, heal and just about anything else that can be imagined. We as individual members miss many blessings for the simple reason that we do not ask. Heavenly Father is so desirous of blessing His children and he does all the time. But he often withholds blessings simply because we do not ask.
While building in the Islands I fell from a roof, about 12 feet, and was injured so seriously that I could not get up. I had just sent the workers home and it was Saturday afternoon about 5:30 PM. I had to crawl to our home some 100 yards away. I spent a sleepless, pain ridden night and begging the Lord to heal me Monday morning for no work happened if I wasn’t on the job and we had a serious deadline to meet.
Late Sunday night I finally fell asleep from exhaustion and awoke straight up at 6:00 AM. I felt so good that I didn’t want to move for fear the pain would return. But I had to get on the job, so I swung out of bed, stood up and no sign of pain. I was completely whole again.
Then I thought, “why wasn’t I healed yesterday when I hurt so badly?” and a voice spoke in my mind saying, “you didn’t ask to be healed until Monday morning.”
Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. When Mother washed my back that night, she said my entire back was black and blue, but there was no more pain then or ever from that injury. We met our deadline, finishing the 14 buildings the night before we were to leave to return home. The next morning I got up at daylight, before anyone was around, and dressed of course, and walked out where there had just been jungle, now gone, and two neat rows of 14 buildings stood in its place.
Boy was I proud of myself and as I walked up the street I nearly dislocated my elbow patting myself on the back and repeating to myself over and over again, “Look what I did, look what I did.” when very distinctly a voice spoke, saying to me, “My son, you didn’t do this, I did it, you were just my agent.” Wow! The best compliment I’ve ever had.
What about the pains, griefs, sorrows, crippling diseases etc. of this life? Laugh at them, rejoice they are for our good and we each have our individual burdens according to the plan of a loving Father. Do I ache and pain? Sure do! Right at this moment I am suffering from gout in the little finger of my left hand. I’ve had it bad for about ten days. Sometimes it gets in the knuckle of the big toe on my right foot. It’s very crippling and exceedingly painful. Don’t sleep much at night. But oh how I can emphasize with gout sufferers. It’s nothing to the shakes, quakes and stumbling and bumbling of advanced age. Hope you live to experience it.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39 in my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. John 14:2-3 Sans (without) gout, old age, bad backs or whatever your affliction is.
What a glorious time to live. My probation will soon be over, Hallelujah!! Praise God forever more.
Love you all,
Dad, Grandpa etc. Richard Pratt

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.