Parley P. Pratt

Parley P. Pratt was one of the original Twelve Apostles and one of the most influential missionaries and writers in early Mormon history. Born in New York, Pratt was a religious seeker who encountered the Book of Mormon in 1830 and immediately embraced it, baptizing his brother Orson and many others.

Pratt was a gifted writer whose “Voice of Warning” (1837) became one of the most important early missionary tracts. His “Key to the Science of Theology” (1855) was an influential theological work. He also wrote hymns still used in LDS worship.

He practiced polygamy extensively, marrying 11 wives. His final marriage led to his violent death. In 1857, he married Eleanor McLean, who was legally married to Hector McLean but estranged and seeking divorce. Hector McLean tracked Pratt to Arkansas and stabbed him to death near Van Buren, making Pratt a martyr in Mormon eyes.

Pratt’s legacy includes extensive missionary work in England, Canada, and the Pacific, as well as his theological writings that shaped early Mormon thought. Several of his descendants have served as prominent church leaders, including great-great-grandson Jeffrey R. Holland (who served as an apostle until his death in 2025).