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Pratt, Orson, 1811-1881

 Person

Biography

Orson Pratt (1811-1881) was a religious leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints soon after it was founded.

Orson Pratt was born in New York in 1811. He was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his brother, Parley P. Pratt. Orson was baptized in 1830 and became a member of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served two missions in the British Isles and also aided in establishing missionary work in Austria. He was excommunicated for a brief period in 1842 due to a disagreement with the prophet Joseph Smith about polygamy, but he was re-baptized soon after and again joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He migrated west with Brigham Young and the rest of the members of the Church after Joseph Smith's death.

Citation:
Wikipedia, via WWW, April 5, 2021 (Orson Pratt born in New York in 1811; Introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by his brother, Parley P. Pratt; Baptized in 1830 and became a member of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served two missions in the British Isles and also aided in establishing missionary work in Austria; Excommunicated for a brief period in 1842 due to a disagreement with the prophet Joseph Smith about polygamy, re-baptized soon after and again joined the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Migrated west with Brigham Young and the rest of the members of the Church after Joseph Smith's death.)

Found in 12 Collections and/or Records:

Joshua Reuben Clark papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1715
Scope and Contents

Collection contains diaries, correspondence, genealogical records, newspapers clippings, photographs, diary transcriptions, and digital images on optical media.

Dates: 1861-1978

Harvey Fletcher correspondence relating to the naming of the Eyring Science Center

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233618518]
Identifier: UA 504
Scope and Contents

Includes guest lists, invitiations, program, and correspondence concerning the naming of the Science Center, lecture halls, and laboratories. Also includes correspondence from the family organizations representing Frederick Buss, Franklin West, Carl Eyring, John Widtsoe, Orson Pratt, Wayne B. Hales, and Charles E. Maw.

Dates: 1954

Orson Pratt correspondence

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230308527]
Identifier: MSS SC 1065
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of two letters. One, dated 30 April 1857, was sent to "my dear wife Juliaett" from Orson and deals with family matters. The other, dated 26 Jan. 1851, was written by Louisa P. Pratt (wife of Orson) to "dear cousin Jane." This missive was written while Louisa was with Orson on a mission to the Tahitian Islands. It describes the island of Tapai in that group and gives an account of missionary activities there.

Dates: 1851-1857

Orson Pratt letter to Lucy Mack Smith

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321280]
Identifier: MSS SC 2288
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a handwritten letter dated 16 Jan. 1854 and addressed to Lucy Mack Smith (1775-1856), mother of the Joseph Smith (1805-1844) who was the first president of the Mormon Church. Pratt writes from Washington, DC and informs Smith that he has purchased some manuscripts and refers to his attempts to get a book published relating to the Mormons.

Dates: 1854 January 16

Orson Pratt letter

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 738
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter dated 1 March 1878. Pratt sketches his biography, his baptism into the Mormon Church, and his travels on behalf of the church. He describes his contributions to science, mathematics, and church history. The last page of the letter details the growth of "Zion" and the destruction of the world.

Dates: 1878 March 1

Orson Pratt letter to Brigham Young

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197233287132]
Identifier: Vault MSS 183
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, dated 4 Sept. 1845, and addressed to Brigham Young, the second president of the Mormon Church. Pratt writes from New York City describing the contition of the Mormon Church in the eastern United States. The item was published in the Brigham Young University Friends of the Library Series.

Dates: 1845 September 4

Orson Pratt letter to Nathaniel H. Felt

 Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Vault MSS 213
Scope and Contents

Handwritten and signed letter, dated December 11, 1866, and addressed to Nathaniel H. Felt from Orson Pratt. Pratt writes concerning the mission for the Church in Great Britain.

Dates: 1866 December 11

Orson Pratt papers and postcard

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230237494]
Identifier: MSS SC 716
Scope and Contents

Handwritten letter to Nelson Pratt concerning the immigration of the Mormon pioneers to Ohio and Utah and the welfare of the Parley and Orson Pratt families. Also includes a handwritten postcard from Milando Pratt to Nelson Pratt concerning the death of Orson Pratt.

Dates: 1861, 1881

Katharine Smith Salisbury correspondence

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230321272]
Identifier: MSS SC 2287
Scope and Contents

Photocopies of handwritten letters and typed copies of correspondence. Salisbury writes to the Mormon Church leaders Brigham Young (1801-1877), Orson Pratt (1811-1881), and John Taylor (1808-1887) requesting funds. One letter in the collection is from Brigham Young. Two of the items were written by Salisbury to her "Dear Sister" (probably her sister-in-law, Samantha) in 1853 and 1854 lamenting the death of a family member, "Jenkins."

Dates: 1853-1879

George Albert Smith letter

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2012
Scope and Contents

One handwritten letter. The item is addressed to Orson Pratt (1811-1881), Mormon apostle and Utah politician, and is about the potential incorporation of the city of Corinne, Utah.

Dates: 1870

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