History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

PARLEY PRATT. 73
practice? Had I lived and believed in the days of
the apostles, and had so desired, they would have
said, 'Repent, be baptized, and receive the holy ghost.'
The scriptures are the same now as then; why should
not results be the same?" In the absence of anything
better, he joined the baptists, and was immersed; but
he was not satisfied. In 1829 Sidney Rigdon, of
whom more hereafter, preached in his neighborhood;
he heard him and was refreshed. It was the ancient
gospel revived—repentance, baptism, the gift of the
holy ghost. And yet there was something lacking
the authority to minister; the power which should
accompany the form of apostleship. At length he and
others, who had heard Rigdon, organized a society on
the basis of his teachings, and Parley began to preach.
The spirit working in him finally compelled him to
abandon his farm and go forth to meet his destiny,
he knew not whither. In this frame of mind he wandered
eastward, and while his family were visiting
friends, he came upon the book of Mormon and Hyrum
Smith. Now did his soul find rest. Here was
inspiration and revelation as of old; here was a new
dispensation with attendant signs and miracles.
As he left Smith's house the following morning,
having an appointment to preach some thirty miles
distant, Hyrum gave him a copy of the sacred book.
Travelling on foot, and stopping now and then to rest,
he read at intervals, and found to his great joy that
soon after his ascension Christ had appeared in his
glorified body to the remnant of the tribe of Joseph
in America, that he had administered in person to the
ten lost tribes, that the gospel had been revealed and
written among nations unknown to the apostles, and
that thus preserved it had escaped the corruptions of
the great and abominable church.
Returning to Smith's house, Parley demanded of
Hyrum baptism. They went to Whitmer's, where
they were warmly welcomed by a little branch of the
church there assembled. The new convert was bap-
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