Deseret News | Reader comments: Exhumation begins for Parley Pratt

Reader comments
Exhumation begins for Parley Pratt

Kathi Izatt | 10:16 a.m. April 22, 2008

Congratulations, Bob. Glad you were able to gain permission and will make the move. Best to you!

Pratt Fan | 11:26 a.m. April 22, 2008

Glad to see that he can come to Utah - I would love to have my family visit his new resting place when it is complete. Such a great man and leader.

Arkansas is a weird place | 1:12 p.m. April 22, 2008

Isn't it strange that the family has to go to court when the Church owns the cemetery. The consent of the family and the property owner should be enough, but the really strange thing is that after they are already under court order to only dig up the remains of their ancestor, they have to go back to court to get additional permission if their initial survey turns out to be wrong. It's too bad that Arkansans are not so concerned about protecting the rights of Mormons.

Comments continue below

MK | 2:10 p.m. April 22, 2008

Parley Pratt is truly one of my all time heros! If you haven't read his autobiography, do it. He was a man of God who stayed true to his convictions to the end. He traveled the world to spread the message of the restored gospel. God Bless him!

MK, I agree | 2:30 p.m. April 22, 2008

I read his autobiography, too. Before that, I didn't know much about him. What an amazing person! He was totally dedicated to the Lord, and to the building up of the Kingdom. He was loyal to his leaders until the end, making many sacrifices. I also learned where Parley's Canyon got its name. Never made the connection before. He was a man of many talents and abilities. I hope they are able to bring him home, and that this coffin is the right one so that it can be taken care of quickly.

Parley's Statue | 3:10 p.m. April 22, 2008

At the corner of 2100 South and 2300 East, next to the Albertson's and at the beginning of Parley's Way, there is a statue of Parley surveying the canyon.

Fredd | 3:18 p.m. April 22, 2008

Did he write his autobiography before or after he was killed?

I don't feel comfortable... | 3:29 p.m. April 22, 2008

I don't feel comfortable with PPP, but this is true of BY and HCK and others as well. As I have studied about the "martrydom" of PPP I learned that it was a simple act of a jealous husband killing the man who his wife ran off with. Hector McClean MAY have been a drunk, abusive husband (he is not here to defend himself and has many detractors who want him to be that way to justify PPP's actions in taking his wife Elenor), but his actions as seen today would appear to be a crime committed by a husband jealous of his wife running off with some other man. A bit story in the "Local" secton of the newspaper. Glorifying Mr. Pratt without knowing anything concerning his murder simply shows that we are not being curious, not trying to find out the truth. I honestly don't know why our history is so full of these kinds of "holes", but it SEEMS like somebody wants us only to think one way and see only what they want us to see. It does not take a huge investment of time to find out the truth.

Re: Fredddd | 3:33 p.m. April 22, 2008

You'll just have to read it to find out.

Did you know | 3:52 p.m. April 22, 2008

Did you know that Parley's Canyon was a toll road? Bro Pratt graded the trail and charged folks to use it. It was better than the alternative (Emigration Canyon). We don't think much about the days before the State Road Commission.
My favorite Pratt-ism? Stu boy! Take him!

Fredd | 4:31 p.m. April 22, 2008

Who worte it? I'll look it up on Amazon.

To Fredd | 5:42 p.m. April 22, 2008

Elder Pratt wrote it. He kept journals, and wrote memoirs, and wrote his life history before he died. Obviously, others have compiled all these histories and journals and memoirs into the completed product, complete with over 700 end notes and references to research for further information. It is a fascinating book, and gives much insight into events that took place in the early days of the Church. If you will read it with an open mind, you can learn much from it. He was unwaveringly dedicated to the Lord, and to His Church. I admire his courage and committment. You can find the book at DeseretBook.com or at one of thei stores.

HistoryRepeatsItself | 6:39 p.m. April 22, 2008

Polygamy has been tearing apart families for well over 150 years. Elder Pratt's lack of self control in marrying an already married woman - another man's wife ultimately triggered the events that would cause all Mormons to hang their heads in shame - the Mountain Meadows Massacre. When you take your kids to visit Elder Pratt's new digs in Utah, remember to teach them that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The wives and children of the FLDS are only the latest victims.

Divorced | 7:07 p.m. April 22, 2008

Eleanor McClean had left her husband and divorced him before she married Parley. Their marriage and the Mountain Meadows Massacre are not related, just coincidental in that those people were from Arkansas.

Re:HistoryRepeatsItself | 7:39 p.m. April 22, 2008

Learn the facts my friend, and it is also wonderful to know the lifestyle of "Plural Marriage" lived correctly could be such a blessing one would gladly leave a monogomous relationship in order to be a 12th wife of an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ rather than be wife of an abusive husband, if that was the case? We don't know all the facts of the FLDS "Compound" but I bet many of the children and wives were very fullfilled and treated with love and respect as the Lord would have wanted it. The abuse is surely in the minority! A few bad apples always spoil the whole bushel! Please Learn the facts and don't judge others without the reality of the situation. Parley P. Pratt was a very righteous man, dedicated to the Lord and His restored gospel upon the earth in the latter-days.

Curious | 7:54 p.m. April 22, 2008

Who's paying for this?

bilbo | 8:11 p.m. April 22, 2008

I heard the above poster, "HistoryyRepeatsItself" DONATED enough money to cover all exhumation and relocation costs.
sounds just like "historyrepeatsitself" once more.
history can repeat itself when you don't understand history in the first place!

Interesting | 8:32 p.m. April 22, 2008

I wonder if they will even find his body or has it been resurrected? If it is still there then it means either one of two things: 1. He wasn't righteous enough to have resurrected yet or 2. The idea of resurrection is just a silly myth. Either way LDS folks will have a lot of explaining to do!

Great Great Grandson | 9:45 p.m. April 22, 2008

In regards to the person that inquired about the permission required by the state of Arkansas, it has other people buried in the area and the state wishes to ensure that the wrong remains are not exhumed.
If any of you would like more information feel free to google the Jared Pratt family association and visit the website to get a glimpse of the amount of work that has gone into this decision, paid for by donations.
May God bless the memory of my Great Great Grandpa forever, one of the greatest missionaries to ever walk the earth and be a witness to testify of Jesus Christ and His life, His Church and His resurrection.

Bro. P. Pratt | 10:43 p.m. April 22, 2008

to: Historyrepeatsitself

Those were not nice words you wrote. The Mountain Meadows massacre was a result of the Mormons being taunted and threatened by Arkansas & Missourian Mobs. Elder Parley Pratt had been murdered which made all the Mormons throughout the Utah territory feel extreme fear for their lives. So some reacted out of fear for their families. Their is no proof that the Mormons took the first shot. I always heard that some Arkansas had hidden guns and started fighting and taunting the Mormons which lead to their killings. It's very sad, but it was the wild west, and those kind of things happened back then.

Let the dead bury the dead! | 12:27 a.m. April 23, 2008

Here we go again. Digging up not only the past but a serial polygamist!!!

RE: Bro. P. Pratt 10:43 | 12:58 a.m. April 23, 2008

That is the worst apologist drivel that I have ever heard regarding MMM. Iï¿½m saddened and amazed. Please study your history before you post rumor. The members of the Fancher party were murdered execution style. There are absolutely no excuses. The Church has been working closely with the descendants of the victims and does not in any way defend the actions of the perpetrators. I could recommend several authors on the subject. Start with Will Bagley. A new book by Walker, Turley and Leonard is scheduled to be released in August.

Dennis | 1:12 a.m. April 23, 2008

Does anyone know who the four wives are? I've yet to see this information anywhere. I'm curious if my great-great-great grandmother (Belinda Marden) is one of them.

To Interesting:

You obviously do not understand LDS doctrine on the resurrection. Pratt, if righteous, would be resurrected at (or immediately after) the Second Coming of Christ. So no worries there.

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