Rey L. Pratt
Born: 11 October 1878
Called to First Council of the Seventy: 29 January 1925
Died: 14 April 1931
Called to First Council of the Seventy: 29 January 1925
Died: 14 April 1931
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 4
Improvement Era, June 1931, President Rey L. Pratt
Relief Society Magazine, June 1931, President Rey L. Pratt
Improvement Era, June 1931, President Rey L. Pratt
Relief Society Magazine, June 1931, President Rey L. Pratt
Jenson, Andrew. "Pratt, Rey L." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 4. pg. 348.
PRATT, Rey Lucero, president of the Mexican Mission from 1907 to 1931, was born Oct. 11, 1878, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Helaman Pratt and Emmeline Victoria Billingsley. He went with his parents to Mexico in October, 1887, and located in Juarez, where he learned Spanish from the natives. He was called on a mission in 1906, and in September, 1907, he became president of the Mexican Mission. In 1925 he was chosen as one of the First Council of Seventy. He died while acting in that capacity April 14, 1931, in a Salt Lake hospital, following an operation.
PRATT, Rey Lucero, president of the Mexican Mission from 1907 to 1931, was born Oct. 11, 1878, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Helaman Pratt and Emmeline Victoria Billingsley. He went with his parents to Mexico in October, 1887, and located in Juarez, where he learned Spanish from the natives. He was called on a mission in 1906, and in September, 1907, he became president of the Mexican Mission. In 1925 he was chosen as one of the First Council of Seventy. He died while acting in that capacity April 14, 1931, in a Salt Lake hospital, following an operation.
Ballard, Melvin J. "President Rey L. Pratt." Improvement Era. June 1931. pg. 451.
President Rey L. Pratt
By MELVIN J. BALLARD of the Council of Twelve
IN the apparent untimely passing of Elder Rey L. Pratt, member of the First Council of Seventy and president of the Mexican mission, the Church as well as his family has lost a valiant servant and a faithful husband and father. But how glorious to conclude one's earthly labors working gallantly in the harness! Highly equipped with a fine missionary spirit and with a perfect knowledge of the Spanish language, he was an invaluable asset to the Church in that particular mission field. And who can tell but that all this was but a preparation for his continued missionary labors in a larger field among the countless millions who are speaking the Spanish language in the spirit world—the only language they knew and who died without a knowledge of the truth.
We must acknowledge the hand of the Lord even in this, because to him there is no death. He is merely transferring his servant from one field of labor to another. And undoubtedly the appointment that has come to him is the most important so far in his career.
HE was faithful to the uttermost in the twenty-five years that he presided over the Mexican mission. His whole heart was in the work and his love of the Mexican people was unbounded.
Laboring as a missionary companion with the writer in South America five years ago, Elder Pratt was greatly distressed to learn of the expulsion of the missionaries from Mexico. It looked like his life's work was to be thrown away, but his joy was unbounded in discovering the fact that despite the absence of missionaries from headquarters, the Mexican Saints are just as loyal and devoted as people can be. They are conducting the missionary work, building churches, preaching the Gospel in a most effective way; and the foundation that has been laid apparently will stand forever, a monument to the labors of this devoted servant of the Lord and his associates in the work.
He has an outstanding record from the fact that he has spent all the days of his life while a seventy in the missionary field, and that covers a long period of time. He magnified his holy calling as a member of the First Council in the very finest way possible—as a missionary ever since he was called to that position.
He leaves a wife and ten children. Sister Pratt is a brave, courageous soul who has stood nobly at her post during the many periods when President Pratt has been absent from his home, and she has been eminently successful as both father and mother. The Lord will surely not desert her now.
PRESIDENT PRATT has left to the Church and to the world in his noble family worthy sons and daughters who will ever bear his name in honor.
His operation for hernia was deemed a necessity in order to make him more efficient in his work and to save him from possible danger when away from medical attention. It was thought to have been a simple operation and indeed would have been. The operation was skillfully performed. But there was a complete paralysis of the bowels following the administration of the local anesthetic. This resulted in his untimely death.
HE possessed many of the rare gifts of his illustrious father, Helaman Pratt, and grandfather, Parley P. Pratt. He had a poetic gift and has left in both English and Spanish some gems expressing his deep feelings and emotions in choice poetic language.
His many translations and writings in Spanish will live through all the years to come and be an effective instrument in the hands of missionaries among the Spanish people. He has added luster to the famous Pratt name in our Church annals and has created a place of his own in the hearts of hundreds of missionaries and thousands of Saints that will remain as long as time endures.
President Rey L. Pratt
By MELVIN J. BALLARD of the Council of Twelve
IN the apparent untimely passing of Elder Rey L. Pratt, member of the First Council of Seventy and president of the Mexican mission, the Church as well as his family has lost a valiant servant and a faithful husband and father. But how glorious to conclude one's earthly labors working gallantly in the harness! Highly equipped with a fine missionary spirit and with a perfect knowledge of the Spanish language, he was an invaluable asset to the Church in that particular mission field. And who can tell but that all this was but a preparation for his continued missionary labors in a larger field among the countless millions who are speaking the Spanish language in the spirit world—the only language they knew and who died without a knowledge of the truth.
We must acknowledge the hand of the Lord even in this, because to him there is no death. He is merely transferring his servant from one field of labor to another. And undoubtedly the appointment that has come to him is the most important so far in his career.
HE was faithful to the uttermost in the twenty-five years that he presided over the Mexican mission. His whole heart was in the work and his love of the Mexican people was unbounded.
Laboring as a missionary companion with the writer in South America five years ago, Elder Pratt was greatly distressed to learn of the expulsion of the missionaries from Mexico. It looked like his life's work was to be thrown away, but his joy was unbounded in discovering the fact that despite the absence of missionaries from headquarters, the Mexican Saints are just as loyal and devoted as people can be. They are conducting the missionary work, building churches, preaching the Gospel in a most effective way; and the foundation that has been laid apparently will stand forever, a monument to the labors of this devoted servant of the Lord and his associates in the work.
He has an outstanding record from the fact that he has spent all the days of his life while a seventy in the missionary field, and that covers a long period of time. He magnified his holy calling as a member of the First Council in the very finest way possible—as a missionary ever since he was called to that position.
He leaves a wife and ten children. Sister Pratt is a brave, courageous soul who has stood nobly at her post during the many periods when President Pratt has been absent from his home, and she has been eminently successful as both father and mother. The Lord will surely not desert her now.
PRESIDENT PRATT has left to the Church and to the world in his noble family worthy sons and daughters who will ever bear his name in honor.
His operation for hernia was deemed a necessity in order to make him more efficient in his work and to save him from possible danger when away from medical attention. It was thought to have been a simple operation and indeed would have been. The operation was skillfully performed. But there was a complete paralysis of the bowels following the administration of the local anesthetic. This resulted in his untimely death.
HE possessed many of the rare gifts of his illustrious father, Helaman Pratt, and grandfather, Parley P. Pratt. He had a poetic gift and has left in both English and Spanish some gems expressing his deep feelings and emotions in choice poetic language.
His many translations and writings in Spanish will live through all the years to come and be an effective instrument in the hands of missionaries among the Spanish people. He has added luster to the famous Pratt name in our Church annals and has created a place of his own in the hearts of hundreds of missionaries and thousands of Saints that will remain as long as time endures.
"President Rey L. Pratt." Relief Society Magazine. June 1931. pg. 364.
President Rey L. Pratt
SURELY Rey L. Pratt, who was called Home April 14, 1931, heeded the admonition, "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."[1] To his Father's service he gave his time and his wholehearted devotion.
President Pratt's service was unique and valuable. He had presided over the Mexican Mission since September, 1907, (and previously had labored as a missionary among the Mexican people, whom he loved with an unsurpassed, and so far as we know, unequalled devotion. He was a thorough student of the Spanish language and of the Mexican people and all that pertained to them. To the missionaries who labored under his direction he was a father, and all who knew him loved him.
Elder Pratt understood the gospel and his testimony of its divinity was firm and steadfast. He was a fluent speaker and thrilled his hearers with the depth of his feeling, his earnestness and his sincerity.
To his devoted wife, the mother of his thirteen children, he gave credit for his achievements. He felt that to her, more than to any one else, he owed what he had been able to accomplish in life. She so trained their children that love, honor and obedience were ever manifest in their home. Our hearts go out to Sister Pratt and her children in this great trial. May strength to bear it be given them and may all the children grow up worthy of their splendid parentage.
[1] Proverbs 23:26.
President Rey L. Pratt
SURELY Rey L. Pratt, who was called Home April 14, 1931, heeded the admonition, "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."[1] To his Father's service he gave his time and his wholehearted devotion.
President Pratt's service was unique and valuable. He had presided over the Mexican Mission since September, 1907, (and previously had labored as a missionary among the Mexican people, whom he loved with an unsurpassed, and so far as we know, unequalled devotion. He was a thorough student of the Spanish language and of the Mexican people and all that pertained to them. To the missionaries who labored under his direction he was a father, and all who knew him loved him.
Elder Pratt understood the gospel and his testimony of its divinity was firm and steadfast. He was a fluent speaker and thrilled his hearers with the depth of his feeling, his earnestness and his sincerity.
To his devoted wife, the mother of his thirteen children, he gave credit for his achievements. He felt that to her, more than to any one else, he owed what he had been able to accomplish in life. She so trained their children that love, honor and obedience were ever manifest in their home. Our hearts go out to Sister Pratt and her children in this great trial. May strength to bear it be given them and may all the children grow up worthy of their splendid parentage.
[1] Proverbs 23:26.