The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt (ePub)

Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857) was an early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement and one of the original Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving from 1835 until his death. Born in Burlington, New York, Pratt was a key figure in early Mormonism, participating in its seminal events and theological developments. An intrepid missionary, he propagated the faith extensively in the United States, Canada, and the British Isles. Pratt's literary contributions to Mormon literature and doctrine are significant. His book, 'The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt' (published posthumously in 1874), stands out not only as a document of personal faith and testimony but also as a valuable historical account of the early Church and its members' experiences. The autobiography offers insights into the spiritual and pioneering life of this prominent and dynamic figure and allows readers a glimpse of the religio-historical landscape of the time. Pratt's narrative style, combining both the didactic and the anecdotal, reflects a distinctively 19th-century Protestant American ethos, underscored by his personal conversion experience, missionary zeal, and the adversities he navigated as a religious reformer. His writing is also recognized for its clarity and vigor, attributes that have ensured its lasting significance in Latter-day Saint history and its resonance with contemporary audiences seeking to understand the religious movements of early America. Pratt's tragic death, martyred for his beliefs in Arkansas, further enshrined his legacy as a pivotal and enduring figure in Mormon history.