Orson Pratt letter to Brigham Young.
To Prest. B. Young and Counsel:
Dear Brethren, circumstances seem to urge upon me, the necessity of making some explanations in relation to the affair of last evening, and stating to you some of the true causes which led me to make the remarks which I did to P. P. Pratt." [Orson Pratt then claims that during the past three years Parley had circulated falsehoods about Orson's family, accused Sarah of being an apostate, of speaking evil against the church, against Parley directly, and of influencing Parley's wife against him, all of which Orson declares is false. In the face of these accusations Orson and his wife had held their peace:] "And yet with all these provocations where is there a person that ever heard either of us say the least disrespectful word concerning him or his family? That person cannot be found. His own conduct or that of his wife towards one another is nothing that concerns me or my wife. And consequently we have not meddled with it in any way, shape or manner. As an individual I care nothing about their conduct if he will let me and my family alone." [Orson then continues by making an accusation of adultery against Parley. Apparently these feelings had been festering in Orson's mind since he took over the presidency of the Eastern Saints from Parley in the fall of 1845] "With all the light and knowledge that he has received concerning the law of the priesthood and with all the counsels that he has received from our quorum, if he feels at liberty to go into the city of New York or elsewhere and seduce girls or females and sleep and have connexion with them contrary to the law of God, and the sacred counsels of his brethren, it is something that does not concern me as an individual. And if my quorum and the church can fellowship him, I shall find no fault with him, but leave it between him, the church, and God. ... All these things, however despicable, we could have borne without uttering one syllable to any person living. But when it comes to that, that my wife cannot come into this holy & consecrated temple to enjoy the meetings and society of the saints, without being attacked by his false accusations and hellish lies, and that too, in the presence of a large assembly, I feel as though it was too much to be borne. Where is there a person, that was present last evening, that heard my wife say the least thing against him or his family; I am bold to say that you may question every one then present in the temple and you cannot find one that will say that she uttered the most distant hint or insinuation against him. And yet she was accused by him, before that respectable company, in the most impudent and malicious manner of whispering against him all over the temple. Under these circumstances, brethren, I verily supposed that I had a perfect right to say a few words in defense of my much injured family. I therefore accused him of false accusations and lying. It was my belief at that time, that there was no place nor circumstances, in heaven, on earth, or in hell, too sacred to defend the cause of my innocent family when they were publicly attacked in so unjust and insulting manner. Which of you, brethren, would have suffered any man to attack, abuse, and insult your wife in so shameful a manner & not opened his mouth? Would any of you have borne it with the same patience and with as few words as I did? If I had, especially without the least cause, insulted any of your families in so disgraceful a manner I should have been very thankful if I escaped without getting my head broke. And I never would have voted to turn one of you out of meeting... under the same circumstances.
Now with regard to confession; After I learned that it was my duty to stand and hear my family abused in the highest degree without the least provocation, and yet not open my mouth in her defense, I immediately confessed my fault to the counsel, but my confession was rejected. Now brethren, I stand ready and willing to make any further confessions to the council, necessary to my restoration from banishment to the enjoyment of your meetings, which you in your wisdom may dictate. By the decision of last evening I cannot consider myself entitled to take any part in any meetings of that sacred nature until such times as you shall dictate. And as I frankly & freely confessed the thing pointed out by the Prest. as being wrong, namely "The opening of my mouth." And as I know of nothing else which the counsel require me to confess, I can but remain in my banishment until the council shall reveal their will concerning me which I pledge myself to abide let it be what it will.
Brethren I have freely poured out my complaints before you, and boldly say that you are the only persons to whom I have stated my grievances, and to you I look for counsel and again pledge myself to abide the same. . . whatever else you shall require I will do it if possible.
With feelings of the most profound respect and unlimited confidence I subscribe myself your much injured though patient brother,
Orson Pratt."
[The Orson Pratt Journals, by E. J. Watson, 1975; p. 495-497; CHO Brigham Young papers, MS/d/1234/Box 43/Fd 23)]
No comments:
Post a Comment