Parley P. Pratt

Parley P. Pratt

1807–1857 (50 years)

Hometown: Burlington, New York

Biography

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).

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
Brigham Young

Wives (12)

Parley P. Pratt was a polygamist with 12 wives. Note these are simultaneous marriages — married to multiple living spouses at the same time. 1 of these wives were a teenager (18 or less) at the time of marriage.

12 wives · Lifespan: 1807–1857

Thankful Halsey
1827–1837 (10 yrs)
Mary Ann Frost
1837–1857 (20 yrs)
Elizabeth Brotherton
1843–1857 (14 yrs)
Mary Wood
1844–1857 (13 yrs)
Hanna Hette Snively
1844–1857 (13 yrs)
Belinda Marden
1844–1857 (13 yrs)
Sarah Houston
1845–1857 (12 yrs)
Phoebe Elizabeth Soper
1846–1857 (11 yrs)
Martha Monks
1847–1857 (10 yrs)
Ann Agatha Walker
1847–1857 (10 yrs)
Keziah Downes
1853–1857 (4 yrs)
Eleanor Jane McComb
1855–1857 (2 yrs)
1807 (born) 1820 1833 1846 1857 (died)
Wife

30 children from 9 wives · Lifespan: 1807–1857

Thankful Halsey
1 child
Mary Ann Frost
4 children
Mary Wood
4 children
Hanna Hette Snively
3 children
Belinda Marden
5 children
Sarah Houston
4 children
Phoebe Elizabeth Soper
3 children
Martha Monks
1 child
Ann Agatha Walker
5 children
1807 (born) 1820 1833 1846 1857 (died)
Wife Child born

12 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameBornDiedMarriedHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1
Thankful Halsey Thankful Halsey
Mar 18, 1797Mar 25, 1837 Sep 9, 1827 3020101
2
Mary Ann Frost Mary Ann Frost
Jan 14, 1809Aug 24, 1891 May 14, 1837 283024
3
Elizabeth Brotherton Elizabeth Brotherton
Mar 27, 1816May 9, 1897 Jul 24, 1843 273690
4
Mary Wood Mary Wood
Jun 18, 1818Mar 5, 1898 Sep 9, 1844 2637114
5
Hanna Hette Snively Hanna Hette Snively
Oct 22, 1812Feb 21, 1898 Nov 2, 1844 323753
6
Belinda Marden Belinda Marden
Dec 24, 1820Feb 19, 1894 Nov 20, 1844 2337145
7
Sarah Houston Sarah Houston
Aug 3, 1823May 26, 1886 Oct 15, 1845 2238165
8
Phoebe Elizabeth Soper Phoebe Elizabeth Soper
Jul 8, 1823Sep 17, 1887 Feb 8, 1846 2238163
9
Martha Monks
Apr 28, 1825Feb 19, 1894 Apr 28, 1847 2240181
10
Ann Agatha Walker Ann Agatha Walker ⚠
Jun 11, 1829Jun 25, 1908 Apr 28, 1847 1740235
11
Keziah Downes Keziah Downes
May 10, 1812Jan 11, 1877 Dec 27, 1853 414650
12
Eleanor Jane McComb Eleanor Jane McComb
Dec 29, 1817Oct 24, 1874 Nov 10, 1855 3748110

Children (31)

With Thankful Halsey Thankful Halsey  (1 child)

  1. Parley Parker Pratt Jr (b. Jan 1, 1837)

With Mary Ann Frost Mary Ann Frost  (4 children)

  1. Nathan Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1838)
  2. Olivia Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1841)
  3. Susan Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1843)
  4. Moroni Llewellyn Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1844)

With Mary Wood Mary Wood  (4 children)

  1. Helaman Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1846)
  2. Cornelia Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  3. Mary Wood Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1853)
  4. Mathoni Wood Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1856)

With Hanna Hette Snively Hanna Hette Snively  (3 children)

  1. Alma Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1845)
  2. Lucy Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  3. Henrietta Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1851)

With Belinda Marden Belinda Marden  (5 children)

  1. Nephi Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1846)
  2. Belinda Marden Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  3. Abinadi Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  4. Lehi Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1851)
  5. Isabella Eleanor Marden Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1854)

With Sarah Houston Sarah Houston  (5 children)

  1. Julia Houston Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1847)
  2. Mormon Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  3. Teancum Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1851)
  4. Sarah Elizabeth Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1856)
  5. David Phillip Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1860)

With Phoebe Elizabeth Soper Phoebe Elizabeth Soper  (3 children)

  1. Mosiah Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  2. Omner Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1851)
  3. Phoebe Soper Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1853)

With Martha Monks  (1 child)

  1. Ether Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1849)

With Ann Agatha Walker Ann Agatha Walker  (5 children)

  1. Agatha Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  2. Malona Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1850)
  3. Marion Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1851)
  4. Moroni Walker Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1853)
  5. Evelyn Pratt (b. Jan 1, 1856)

Posts Related to Parley P. Pratt

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The statements emphasized that the Church practiced no marital law other than monogamy while implicitly leaving open the possibility that individuals, under direction of God’s living prophet, might do so. [Footnote: See, for example, “On Marriage,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1, 1842, 939–40; and Wilford Woodruff journal, Nov. 25, 1843, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; Parley P. Pratt, “This Number Closes the First Volume of the ‘Prophet,’” The Prophet, May 24, 1845, 2. George A. Smith explained, “Any one who will read carefully the denials, as they are termed, of plurality of wives in connection with the circumstances will see clearly that they denounce adultery, fornication, brutal lust and the teaching of plurality of wives by those who were not commanded to do so” (George A. Smith letter to Joseph Smith III, Oct. 9, 1869, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 9, 1869, Church History Library, Salt Lake City).] LDS Church Website, Gospel Topics Essays: Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo | wasmormon.org “Please excuse me taking the liberty of writing to you, but be a Brother. I am anxious for my welfare for the future and I hope to be one bye and bye... First... a coloured brother, Brother Lewis wished me to be sealed to Him. He has been dead 35 or 36 years. Can I be sealed to him? Parley P. Pratt ordained Him an Elder. When can I ever be sealed to Him? Second, can I obtain my endowments for my dead? Third, can I also be adopted in Brother Joseph Smiths the prophets family. I think you are somewhat acquainted with me. I lived in the prophets family with Emma and others, about a year, and Emma said Joseph told her to tell me I could be adopted in their family. She asked me if I should like to. I did not understand the law of adoption then, but understanding it now, can that be accomplished and when?” - Jane Elizabeth James Manning, Letter to Joseph F. Smith, Feb 7, 1890 | wasmormon.org “I feel it best to kill the Indians” “My voice is for war, exterminate them.” “I say go kill them!” “We shall have no peace until the men are killed off - Never treat an Indian as your equal.” - Parley P. Pratt, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young Extermination Order - Timpanogos, January 31, 1850 | wasmormon.org "Six plates having the appearance of Brass have lately been dug out of the mound by a gentleman in Pike Co. Illinois. They are small and filled with engravings in Egyptian language and contain the genealogy of one of the ancient Jaredites back to Ham the son of Noah. His bones were found in the same vase (made of Cement). Part of the bones were 15 ft. underground. A large number of Citizens have seen them and compared the characters with those on the Egyptian papyrus which is now in this city." - Parley P. Pratt letter of May 7, 1843 | The Ensign, August 1981, page 73 | wasmormon.org Parley P. Pratt