The life of Parley P. Pratt is inextricably linked with the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Terryl L. Givens and Matthew J. Grow shed additional light on Pratt’s life and his influence on the early history of the LDS Church in their new biography, “Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism.” The contents of the book, along with a recent lecture by the authors at Benchmark Books in Salt Lake City, provide answers to many questions about Pratt, including the following:

Pratt revered Joseph as a prophet of God. He “enjoyed Smith’s intimate association at a number of periods in his life, including their initial confinement together in Missouri.” He soaked in the Prophet's teachings and friendship.

In certain instances, Pratt may have taken doctrines taught by the Prophet and proceeded to teach or expand upon them. In other instances, Pratt may have shared his thoughts with Joseph, “who later embraced them and confirmed them.”

One example relates to the doctrine of theosis that teaches men and women can become like God. Joseph taught this principle in his famous King Follett Sermon, and yet “you find that in Parley’s writings several years before you find it in Joseph’s writings.”

While it is sometimes difficult to pin down the precise origin of various doctrines, “it certainly seems that Parley … very much influenced the development of early Mormon theology.”

This source is officially owned by the Mormon church.

From the article: What was the influence of Pratt on early Mormon theology? Pratt had a SUBSTANTIAL INFLUENCE ON EARLY MORMON DOCTRINE... In other instances, Pratt may have shared HIS THOUGHTS with Joseph, “who LATER EMBRACED THEM AND CONFIRMED THEM.” ONE EXAMPLE RELATES TO THE DOCTRINE OF THEOSIS THAT TEACHES MEN AND WOMEN CAN like God. JOSEPH TAUGHT THIS PRINCIPLE IN HIS FAMOUS KING FOLLETT SERMON, and yet “YOU FIND THAT IN PARLEY'S WRITINGS SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE YOU FIND IT IN JOSEPH’S WRITINGS.”...“it certainly seems that Parley … very much influenced the development of early Mormon theology.”

Ah. Parley P. Pratt may have shared "HIS thoughts" -- man derived thoughts -- on the doctrine of men becoming gods. Here we have Mormon authors admitting in a Mormon-church owned publication that Smith didn't get this doctrine by direct revelation from the Mormon god...He picked it up from another man!

No wonder this Mormon teaching wasn't made public in Joseph Smith's lifetime until April, 1844, at the King Follett funeral sermon! [Note: Yes, D&C 132, revealed to Joseph's first wife May of 1843, has one reference...but this was never made public to the grassroots Mormons until 1852!] As this link shows: Smith used Lds funerals to introduce necro-baptism, 'becoming gods' [The OTHER World Series: Vanity]

Mormons like to soften becoming gods for public consumption and say "like gods" -- but this article references the King Follett sermon, which no doubt teaches that men become gods!

“...you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves…from exaltation to exaltation, until you …are able to dwell in everlasting burnings and to sit in glory, as those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.” His transition into that claim was a brash one: “I defy all the learning and wisdom and all the combined powers of earth and hell together to refute it.” (Joseph Smith, Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 4...This was also published in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, under Deseret publishing, 1938, also owned by the Mormon church)

Feel free to go to this recent link as well and comment away!

Having not read Givens' book, if I had to guess, I would guess Givens left out the key parts of THIS April 1853 message by Parley P. Pratt:

Journal of Discourses/Vol 2/Spiritual Communication [The OTHER World Series: Lds discourse w/dead]

There, Pratt taught:
* The purpose of the Mormon temple, says Parley Pratt, is that "the living" are to "hear from the dead."
* Pratt emphasized how "ONE OF THE LEADING OR FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF 'MORMON' PHILOSOPHY, viz. - 'That the living may hear from the dead' commenced thru Smith acting as a "medium." [Joseph Smith was an occultic "medium"!]

Hmm...for some reason...I just don't think that first point makes it into the Mormon PR pieces anytime they open a new temple!

Although, prior to the dedication of the San Diego temple in 1993, local Mormon families were given a packet titled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were about seven pages devoted to "true stories" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead.

See: They See Dead People? (The OTHER World Series - LDS & Temple Hauntings)

Not mentioned in your post, but Parley Pratt is Slick Willard's great great granddaddy; Jon Huntsman is his great, great, great grandson.

Parley's influence on early Mormonism was indeed enormous. According to the LDS historian Richard Van Wagoner, Parley was a door-to-door traveling salesman before he began working under Sidney Rigdon as an outreach pastor for Sidney's Christian-Baptist church in Mentor, Ohio. Parley spent huge amounts of time working the "Burned Over" region of Western New York and is believed to have introduced Rigdon to Smith. If true, then Parley is also indirectly responsible for the more "Christian like" teachings of Mormonism as well as the more occult elements, including introduction of Solomon Spaulding's story into the Book of Mormon.

Among other adventures, Parley participated in Smith's money digging venture in Salem, Massachusetts, and the Zion's Camp expedition to Missouri -- both predicted to be great triumphs by the god of Mormonism, both ending as dismal failures. Parley eventually took a harem of 12 plural wives and the last caused his death (more HERE).

Without question, he was an interesting character.

Not mentioned in your post, but Parley Pratt is Slick Willard's great great granddaddy; Jon Huntsman is his great, great, great grandson.

Indeed. (My oversight)

What's interesting is that Mitt Romney is the direct ancestor of two [count 'em two] Lds "apostles" -- both brothers Parley P. and Orson Pratt, four generations previous!

This was possible because Mitt's grandparents were cousins! (Gaskell Romney and Ann Amelia Pratt) Gaskell Romney's grandfather was Orson Pratt; Ann Pratt's grandfather was Parley P. Pratt.

Joseph Smith's nephew, a "prophet" of the Mormon church -- Joseph F. Smith, also married his cousin, a 16 yo when he was 22.

(Now you see where the fLDS got the idea of intermarriage)

For those you want to see the Pratt-Romney family line, go here: Pratt-Romney family

So what are the Goal of the Mormon teaching?

(1) A form of universalism (for all except Mormons who leave the faith):
"...we will all receive the gift of immortality and live forever in glorified resurrected bodies." (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 18) ... and then on p. 81:

"...Hell...is another name for spirit prision. This is a temporary state..."

IOW, no never-been-Mormons suffer eternal hell.

"What fundamental ideas that teaching preaches?

Non-Mormons can live anyway they want--ignore God as much as they want. Won't eternally matter. 'Cause the above doctrine coupled with the Mormon baptist for the dead doctrine means you'll get another chance in spirit prison to get a free get out of hell card!

(2) On p. 57 of that same book the Mormon leaders teach that had Adam & Even not sinner, they would have neither become parents nor eventual gods. [The obvious conclusion is that sin & obedience to Satan, giving us parenthood and godhood, was "good"...this even leads to the Mormon conclusion that sex/regeneration is sin-based]

(3) As for godhood, this leads to great pride among Mormons...not only for being the "elite" of the universe...but taking pride in actions that supposedly lead to godhood.

About becoming “gods” here it could be a symbolic language.

The Doctrine and Covenants

Section 132

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives (see History of the Church, 5:501–7). Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831.

1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives; 26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

16Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in ^amarriage; but are appointed angels in ^bheaven, which angels are ministering ^cservants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

17For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are ^aangels of God forever and ever.

18And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that ^acovenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.

19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the ^ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit ^fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s ^gBook of Life, that he shall commit no ^hmurder whereby to shed innocent ⁱblood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.

20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^call power, and the angels are subject unto them.

21Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.

22For ^astrait is the gate, and narrow the ^bway that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the ^clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.

23But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that ^awhere I am ye shall be also.

24This is ^aeternal lives—to ^bknow the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath ^csent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.

25^aBroad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the ^bdeaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they ^creceive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

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