The Great Orson Pratt
Background Information on Doctrine and Covenants 34
Doctrine and Covenants 34 is the Lord’s revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith to Orson Pratt. This revelation was received on November 4, 1830 in Fayette, New York in the Peter Whitmer Sr. home. Orson was only nineteen years old at the time, and he had been converted to the Lord and baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ when he first heard the preaching of the Restored Gospel by his older brother, Parley P. Pratt six weeks before this revelation was received.
Who was Orson Pratt?
Orson Pratt was born in Hartford, New York. He was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his brother Parley in September 1830. That December he was ordained an elder and appointed to serve a mission to Colesville, New York. In 1831, he moved to Kirtland, Ohio. After being called by revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 52:26; 75:13; 103:40), he subsequently served missions to Missouri, to the eastern United States (twice), to Upper Canada, and to Great Britain.
In 1834 Orson Pratt participated in the Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri. The following year, he was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In 1836 he married Sarah Marinda Bates. In August 1842, while living in Nauvoo, Illinois, Pratt was excommunicated from the Church, but the following January he was rebaptized and reordained to his former office in the Quorum of the Twelve.
Pratt was a member of the Brigham Young pioneer company when the Saints migrated to Utah in 1847 (see Doctrine and Covenants 136:13). He presided over the Church in Great Britain from 1848 to 1849 and from 1856 to 1857. In 1874, he was appointed Church historian. He was integral to the revisions resulting in the 1876 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
References in the Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 34, 52, 75, 103, 124, 136
Additional Information
Biographical facts and sources, The Joseph Smith Papers
Saints, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth
Revelations In Context
The story of Orson Pratt’s conversion to Christ and his mission call is remarkable. In some ways Orson Pratt reminds me of the young Joseph Smith because he was earnest, inquisitive, and concerned about the welfare of his soul and preparing for the life to come. During years of poverty and earnest prayer, Orson was eventually led to the Prophet Joseph Smith through the instrumentality of his older brother Parley.
Orson Pratt sought the will of the Lord for many years until his older brother Parley, who had recently discovered, read, and gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon, visited him in September 1830. Parley had recently been converted to Christ and baptized into His Restored Church, and he was eager to share the message of the Restored Gospel with his family. In his Autobiography, Parley noted that his parents believed in part, but his brother Orson “a youth of nineteen years, received it with all his heart.”
What else do we know about Orson Pratt? In his journal, Orson Pratt recounted the story of his conversion to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ:
From the age of ten to nineteen I saw much of the world, and was tossed about without any permanent abiding place; but through the grace of God, I was kept from many of the evils to which young people are exposed; the early impressions of morality and religion instilled into my mind by my parents, always remained with me; and I often felt a great anxiety to be prepared for a future state; but never commenced, in real earnest, to seek after the Lord, until the autumn of 1829. I then began to pray very fervently, repenting of every sin. In the silent shades of night, while others were slumbering upon their pillows, I often retired to some secret place in the lonely fields or solitary wilderness, and bowed before the Lord, and prayed for hours with a broken heart and contrite spirit; this was my comfort and delight. The greatest desire of my heart was for the Lord to manifest His will concerning me. I continued to pray in this fervent manner until September, 1830, at which time two Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, came into the neighborhood, one of which was my brother Parley. They held several meetings which I attended.
Being convinced of the divine authenticity of the doctrine they taught, I was baptized September 19, 1830. This was my birthday, being nineteen years old. I was the only person in the country who received and obeyed the message. Shortly after my baptism the Elders left.
In October, 1830, I traveled westward over two hundred miles to see Joseph Smith, the Prophet. I found him in Fayette, Seneca County, N.Y. residing at the house of Mr. [Peter] Whitmer. I soon became intimately acquainted with this good man, and also with the witnesses of the Book of Mormon. By my request, on the 4th of Nov., the Prophet Joseph inquired of the Lord for me, and received the revelation published in the Doctrine and Covenants [D&C 34].
On the 1st day of December, 1830, I was confirmed and in accordance with the word of the Lord, I was ordained an Elder under the hands of the Prophet. My first mission was to Colesville, Broome County, N.Y., where I commenced to open my mouth in public meetings, and teach the things of God, as the Holy Ghost gave me utterance (Journals, pp. 8-10). - Milton V. Backman, Jr. and Richard O. Cowan, Joseph Smith and the Doctrine and Covenants, pp. 41-42
This is the entry on Pratt, Orson in Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr.’s Doctrine & Covenants Encyclopedia:
The earliest mention of Orson Pratt in the Doctrine and Covenants came only six weeks after he was baptized a member of the Church by his brother, Parley. In this revelation the Lord said, “You are my son” and are “called of me to preach my gospel” (D&C 34:3, 5). he was called as one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and is later mentioned as a member of this body (D&C 124:129). His name appears in the final section of the Doctrine and Covenants as one who is called upon to organize a pioneer company (D&C 136:13).
A full listing of his missionary journeys would occupy much space, for he was constantly responding to the charge given him by the Lord in 1830 to “preach my gospel.” He crossed the Atlantic Ocean sixteen times in his missionary labors. He had a keen intellect, being much interested in mathematics and astronomy. While crossing the plains with the pioneers, Orson took astronomical and other scientific observations to determine the latitude and longitude of the most prominent places. He published several scientific books and pamphlets, including, “Cubic and Biquadratic Equations,” and at the time of his death was working on a manuscript titled “On the Differential Calculus, Containing Original Principles.”
He was no less a writer in the realm of religion; his prolific pen produced numerous tracts, articles, and books which explained and defended the principles of the kingdom of God. He served as the Church Recorder and Historian from 1874 until his death on October 3, 1881. His service in the Quorum of the Twelve ran from his ordination in the spring of 1835 until his death on October 3, 1881. However, there was an almost six-month period in which he did not serve, which caused a reordering of his status in Apostolic seniority. (CA 1978:106.)
The Deseret News eulogized him as follows: “Orson Pratt was truly an Apostle of the Lord. Full of integrity, firm as a rock to his convictions, true to his brethren and to his God, earnest and zealous in defense and proclamation of the truth, ever ready to bear testimony to the latter-day work, he had a mind stored with scripture, ancient and modern, was an eloquent speaker, a powerful minister, a logical and convincing writer, an honest man and a great soul who reached out after eternal things, grasped them with the gift of inspiration, and brought them down to the level and comprehension of the common mind. Thousands have been brought into the Church through his preaching in many lands, thousands more by his writings. He set but little store on the wealth of this world, but he has laid up treasures in heaven which will make him eternally rich.” (Jenson 1:87-91.)
That is a great tribute! That is an example worthy of admiration, esteem, and emulation. Not long ago in an LDS sacrament meeting I noticed that one of my friends was reading a book by Orson Pratt called The Seer. (See also here, here, and here) Apparently it is a controversial book that was originally published as a periodical, and it contains explanations and justifications for polygamy. Not only that, but it contains other controversial subjects such as Christ’s marriages and polygamy, Heavenly Mother, the kind of fluid that flows in the veins of Gods, the incubation period for pregnant Gods, the kind of foods that Gods eat, and so forth. Strangely, Brigham Young once banned the book even though he commissioned Orson Pratt to write it. The more I learn about this book, the more I want to read it! It sounds fascinating. I love Parley P. Pratt’s writings, and it sounds like Parley’s little brother possessed similar intellectual and literary gifts.
In his book The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Lyndon W. Cook provides more background for better understanding D&C 34:
Date. 4 November 1830.
Place. Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
Historical Note. Section 34 was received for Orson Pratt, a talented, well-known Mormon personality. Orson was converted to the Church in September 1830 by his brother, Parley P. Pratt. Remembering the occasion, Parley wrote that members of his immediate family only partially believed his message of the Restoration, but, said he, “my brother Orson, a youth of nineteen years, received it with all his heart.”
In October 1830 Orson traveled over two hundred miles to see the Prophet Joseph Smith who was residing at Fayette. He reported that he left a “farming occupation in the eastern part of the State of New York” to visit the place where the Church was organized. Orson recalled that it was in Father Peter Whitmer’s chamber where section 34 was received: “Written from the mouth of the Prophet by John Whitmer, one of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon.”
Publication Note. Section 34 was first published as chapter 34 in the Book of Commandments in 1833. (The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 49)
The authors of the LDS Come Follow Me manual observe that Orson’s call to serve, as well as the calls of other newly baptized converts, contains an important lesson for each one of us:
Parley P. Pratt had been a member of the Church for about a month when he was called “into the wilderness” to preach the gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 32:2). Thomas B. Marsh had been a member for even less time than that when he was told, “The hour of your mission is come” (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3). Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, and many others had likewise barely been baptized when their mission calls came. Perhaps there’s a lesson in this pattern for us today: if you know enough to accept the restored gospel by baptism, you know enough to share it with others. Of course, we always want to increase our gospel knowledge, but God has never hesitated to call upon the “unlearned” to preach His gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13). In fact, He invites all of us, “Open your mouth to declare my gospel” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:5). And we do that best not through our own wisdom and experience but “by the power of [the] Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:13).
See also “The Faith and Fall of Thomas Marsh,” “Ezra Thayer: From Skeptic to Believer,” “Orson Pratt’s Call to Serve,” in Revelations in Context, 54–69.
Revelations in Context contains even more detailed background information of the events leading up to and following this revelation to Orson Pratt:
After a journey of more than 200 miles, Orson Pratt arrived at the home of Peter Whitmer Sr., where Joseph Smith then resided. He there met Joseph and learned that his brother Parley had been called by revelation to “go forth unto the Lamanites, to proclaim glad tidings of great joy unto them.”6 Orson, still anxious to know the Lord’s will for him, asked Joseph “whether he could not ascertain what his mission was.”7 Was there a revelation for him as there had been for his brother?
Joseph Smith invited Orson Pratt and John Whitmer upstairs into the chamber where Joseph had recently completed the translation of the Book of Mormon.8 In this more private space, Joseph asked Orson if he would be willing to write the revelation down as he spoke it. “Being then young and timid and feeling his unworthiness,” Orson asked if John Whitmer might act as scribe in his place. Joseph Smith agreed and “produced a small stone called a seer stone, and putting it into a Hat soon commenced speaking.”9
In the revelation, the Lord commended Orson for his faith and called him to the ministry: “Blessed are ye because ye have believed & more blessed are ye because ye are called of me to Preach my Gospel.”10 Orson Pratt later described his feelings upon hearing the Lord speak to him through Joseph: “I thought that was a very great and important calling, and I felt altogether incompetent unless the Lord qualified me by his Spirit.”11
On December 1, Joseph Smith ordained him an elder, and Orson immediately made preparations to embark. Though the revelation had not specified where he should go, it was decided he should preach in Colesville, New York.12 Orson was relying on this promise in the revelation: “Lift up thy voice & spare not for the Lord God hath spoken therefore Prophecy & it shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.”13 He later reflected, “I thought to myself, that unless the Lord shall pour out his Spirit upon me more fully than anything I ever yet have experienced, I never can perform these duties acceptably in his sight.”14
Carrying a letter of introduction signed by Joseph Smith,15 Orson arrived in Colesville, where he obediently “commenced to open [his] mouth in public meetings, and teach the things of God as the Holy Ghost gave [him] utterance.” The small branch of the Church in Colesville received him warmly,16 and he returned to Fayette later that month.
Pratt confessed that he “felt oftentimes to tremble and shrink, for fear [he] never should be able to fulfill and accomplish so great a work.”17 However, the revelation made the Lord’s will clear to him, and he went on to serve as a missionary and Apostle for more than 60 years in response to that call.
Orson Pratt is one of the most fascinating and controversial characters in LDS Church history. His other written works include An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions (1842) (see also here), Absurdities of Immaterialism (1849), Cubic and Biquadratic Equations (1866), Key to the Universe (1866), and The Bible and Polygamy (1870).[6] He fathered 45 children through 10 different wives, and thus made this Wikipedia list of people with the most children.
In D&C 34 the Lord revealed, among other things, that the faithful become the sons of God through the Atonement, that the preaching of the gospel prepares the way for the Second Coming, and that prophecy comes by the power of the Holy Ghost:
My son Orson, hearken and hear and behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer;
The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;
And blessed are you because you have believed;
And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel—
To lift up your voice as with the sound of a trump, both long and loud, and cry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation, preparing the way of the Lord for his second coming.
For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, the time is soon at hand that I shall come in a cloud with power and great glory.
And it shall be a great day at the time of my coming, for all nations shall tremble.
But before that great day shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood; and the stars shall refuse their shining, and some shall fall, and great destructions await the wicked.
Wherefore, lift up your voice and spare not, for the Lord God hath spoken; therefore prophesy, and it shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And if you are faithful, behold, I am with you until I come—
And verily, verily, I say unto you, I come quickly. I am your Lord and your Redeemer. Even so. Amen. (D&C 34:1-12)
Great!
This is true.
I will examine and expound upon these verses with the help of the Smith and Sjodahl commentary in the next post.