On 2 March of 2003, President
Hinckley, his wife, his daughter and her husband
made a detour of their own to visit the grave site. Accompanying them were
Elder M. Russell Ballard and his wife, Elder Gene R. Cook and his wife, Brother
Don H. Staheli (President Hinckley’s personal assistant), Elder Huntsman and
David Sayer. President Hinckley was dressed in a dark gray suit with a black
overcoat and gray hat. He was also carrying his cane with him.
The party had attended a
fireside in Memphis, Tennessee the night before
and were expected in New Orleans that evening for more meetings.
Two hours were all the group could squeeze into their schedule for the
visit. Elder Huntsman had brought a wreath of flowers to place at the
memorial for Elder Pratt, his great-grandfather. The wreath was made
of fresh-cut flowers with a blue ribbon hanging from the front with the words
“Parley, We Love You” printed on the front in gold letters. It was a large
wreath around 30 inches in diameter with it’s own stand.
It was fairly heavy as well.
President Hinckley asked how
tall the monument was. A couple of guesses
were made before Elder Ballard jumped up on the side of the marble box
surrounding the monument and surmised that it was around seven feet high
considering the distance from his head to the top. After reading the
inscription,
President Hinckley looked at Elder Ballard and asked to have someone read
the words to Parley's favorite hymn that is inscribed on the memorial. Elder
Ballard looked at Elder Gene R. Cook and said “Gene, would you mind
reading the words from that hymn for us?” A small hymnbook was quickly
produced from deep within someone’s coat pocket and Elder Cook read the
beautiful words to the group.
The
morning breaks, the shadows flee; Lo! Zion's standard
is unfurled! The dawning of a brighter day Majestic rises
on the world. The clouds of error disappear Before the rays
of truth divine; The glory, bursting from afar, Wide o'er the
nations soon will shine. The Gentile fullness now comes in,
And Israel's blessings are at hand; Lo! Judah's remnant,
cleans'd from sin --
After a long moment when
thoughts turned inward President Hinckley
recounted a memory he had as a young deacon serving the sacrament to
Brother George Careless, the man who had put Elder Pratt’s words to
music. He recalled how Brother Careless suffered from severe arthritis
to the point where he couldn’t open his hands up. He said they reminded
him of birds claws, but this didn’t influence the respect he, as a young boy,
had for this great man. Tears came to his eyes as he shared this sacred memory.
Elder Huntsman and Elder Ballard
then placed the wreath next to the
monument with help from Ross Eagar, Aaron, and Bryan Christiansen.
Because it was so heavy they had to poke the legs of the stand down
deep into the soil around the monument to keep it from falling over.
This was obviously a touching moment for Elder Huntsman as he talked
quite a lot about Elder Pratt. He told the group about the strength his
family had drawn as descendants of Parley P. Pratt.
While he was there President
Hinckley asked President Christiansen
to identify every tree, shrub and flower at the monument. Then he walked
around, studying every part of the memorial inside the fenced area and his
examination was minute and extensive.
Brother Staheli suggested
everyone regroup so some pictures could
be taken for the Church News and for historical purposes. As the
group was leaving someone asked the prophet if he thought Parley
was really buried there. President Hinckley pondered for a moment
then said: “I don't know.”.
Of his fellow apostle, Elder John Taylor said: "Brother
Parley -- has gone
- but has left a name and a fame that will live throughout time and and burst
forth in eternity; and in the morning of the first resurrection. when the
opening heavens shall revea1 the son of God. and he shall proclaim,
"I am the resurrection and the life," when Death shall deliver up the dead,
I expect to meet Brother Parley in the resurrection of the just."
Do we have the right place?
It doesn't matter where the mortal coil of
Parley P. Pratt is buried because members of the family and Church
don't come here to remember the particulars of Parley's death. Nor
do they come here to rail against the men that brought him low, much
less to seethe against the territory where it happened.
They come here to remember
the man who died bearing his testimony.
They come to remember the greatness of his life, his dedication and his
contributions to the world. In this spot they remember more vividly the
man who boldly testified before kings and magistrates around the world.
Members of the Church know
his spirit left here long ago. It has raced
on ahead with true missionary zeal to do the Lord's work on the other
side of the vail. But, if this is the right place then, on the morning of the
First Resurrection Parley's spirit
will be here once more to be permanently
and joyfully
reunited with the body that
served him so nobly and so well.
The end
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