Conversion of Joseph Falconer Pratt (Former Christadelphian) to the Restored Gospel in the May 5, 1910 Issue of the Millennial Star

  

FROM CHRISTADELPHIANISM TO MORMONISM.

 

Raders of the Millennial Star may feel interested in the circumstances that led the writer of the present article to become a "Mormon." The gospel has been compared to the wind, "it bloweth where it listeth, and no one knoweth the sound thereof." God has so many varied ways in reaching the human heart that no two experiences are alike. "The kingdom of heaven is not entered by force"—it is foolish to say that nature's secrets can be wrested from her, she will reveal herself only to those who study her. The same principle holds good in the spiritual world. "Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." God will only reveal His will to those who wish to do His will; but all in His own good time. As the wise man has said, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." (Eccles. 3:1.)

 

I was reared in a school of religious thought that considered itself in no small degree, "the salt of the earth." The Christadelphians—Thomasites, or soul-sleepers, as they are sometimes called—is a sect which originated in America. It was founded by Dr. Thomas, a medical gentleman of considerable ability, who abandoned his profession and devoted himself to religious studies and the furtherance of the new cult. There are many points in Christadelphian teaching in remarkable harmony with "Mormonism." Indeed, so much is this the case, that the writer is acquainted with many of this sect who have joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They believe in one God. Like the Latter-day Saints, they insist that the Eternal Father is indivisible and one, that Jesus is His Son, miraculously begotten and exalted to a place at God's right hand; the Holy Spirit is the Divine influence or energy by which the Father is omnipotent and supreme. They believe man is mortal and is unconscious between death and the resurrection; there is no personal devil and no hell. They believe in baptism for the remission of sins, that Christ will come again and establish his Kingdom upon the earth and reign a thousand years, and then hand it over to the Father that God may be all in all.

 

This is a brief exposition of the creed to which I formerly subscribed. As will be observed, the nature of man, as taught by them, is in direct opposition to the generally accepted belief in human immortality. It seemed to me, as years advanced, a revolting idea that God, who is a God of love, justice and mercy should deny equality of opportunity to His children. This fact was painfully impressed upon me by sad experience. I lost a baby, and it was then that I first felt doubts arising, and experienced the poverty of a faith that could give no consolation in the hour of sorrow, for according to the gloomy tenets of Christadelphianism, there was no hope for those who died in an unbaptised state, and that death ended all. Those who have passed through the furnace of affliction best know the anguish of the human soul when death separates us from our loved ones, but who can express the agony of those who sorrow with no hope. Since that time I began to let my fancy wander freely; doubts assailed me on every side. The old beliefs were being undermined. I began to lose faith in those things that I formerly held dear and sacred. In this unsettled state I could say with George de Romanes, "The world looked cold and bare, and life was losing half its beauty and color."

 

About six years ago I made the acquaintance of the Latter-day Saints. Chance directed me to their meeting-place, and although I was pleased with what I there saw and heard, the impression was not sufficiently strong to produce any other effect. All this time I continued in fellowship with the Christadelphians, but I am afraid my religion belonged more to the head than to the heart. From my earliest years I felt interested in the occult. The phenomena of spiritualism is a fascinating thing, and as I had some power in that direction, my friends would have me to be a medium, though I denied all claims to such an unenviable position. I mention this circumstance as showing the extremes into which one can wander without God at the helm. I was like a ship without a rudder, tossed to and fro by every wind of strange doctrine, always learning yet never arriving at a knowledge of the truth. About two years ago I made the acquaintance of two elders of Israel, and after a conversation in which we exchanged views, I was delighted to find doctrines advocated which coincided in a remarkable manner with my own, and it is from that date that my conversion began. But there was much prejudice and error that stood in the way, and I battled hard and contested foot by foot the progress of truth into my soul. Like the Prophet Joseph Smith, I sent many a prayer to God to shed light on my troubled soul. What questionings of motives, what anguish of mind I suffered, what doubts and fears assailed me! The very name of "Mormonism" frightened me! What would my friends think? How could I stand before the ridicule and sneers of my associates? These were the feelings experienced by me in the transitionary period.

 

The first doctrine of the Church that appealed to my inmost nature was the immortality of the soul and the purpose of God in placing man upon this earth, though strange as it may appear. The doctrine of pre-existence did not find acceptance till some time later. But the work was begun, and I felt powerless to resist the whisperings of the still small voice. I was led to see the justice and mercy of God in giving an opportunity to all His children to hear the good news of the kingdom, "that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8: 30, 39.) The old barren belief of Christadelphianism gave place to this good news of Mormonism. Henceforth I sorrowed no longer as those who have no hope, but rejoiced in the knowledge that our absent darlings will see the Father's face and rejoice in the blessings of the everlasting gospel. I always felt the injustice of being punished for Adam's transgression, it was so unlike a God of love and justice that we should be punished for what we did not do, and so I found no difficulty in accepting the teaching of "Mormonism," welcoming it as consonant with reason, and the highest aspirations of my nature. I can but dwell briefly on those things that drew me to "Mormonism." The articles of faith presented to my mind the highest conception of God and His purposes. In many things they expressed my own sentiments; in others I had to yield a humble submission. They spoke intuitively to me, and made me a Mormon before I had realized it. I felt convinced that doctrines like these could only emanate from one source—from God: And so I rejoice in giving my testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet sent of God to usher in the last dispensation, and that among the sons of God he has secured imperishable fame. His life and character have stood the most searching criticism. The memory of an Alexander, a Cæsar or Napoleon will pass away; but the name of Joseph Smith will endure for ever for he will be known throughout all generations as a Prophet of the Most High God. Since I became a Mormon I have had some interesting experiences. My former friends stand aloof and say I am surely wrong in the mind, the victim of a delusion, and that the devil has got me in his grip. That awful word "Mormonism" is sufficient to conjure up the most fearful shapes, but I feel calmly confident. I have put my hand to the plough and by God's grace there will be no turning back. My heart is fixed, I have an anchor of the soul sure and steadfast in the everlasting gospel. "He that believeth on it will never be confounded."

 

To those who would fight against Zion and the Lord's anointed, I can say with Joshua, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve. . . ." "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15.) May the Lord give me strength to hold fast the beginning of my confidence firm unto the end, for Christ's sake. Amen.—J. Falconer Pratt. (Joseph Falconer Pratt, “From Christadelphianism to Mormonism,” The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 72, no. 18 [May 5, 1910]: 277-79; my thanks to Levi Wixom for making me aware of this article)

 

From my online searching, I discovered that the author was baptized on October 24, 1909.

 

Further Reading:

 

Listing of Articles on Christadelphian Issues

Ethan Schwartz on Exodus 15:11 teaching Monolatry

  

Today, most people think of the Bible as monotheistic. By this, they mean that YHWH is the only deity who exists. However, for biblical texts from the preexilic period, this is far from the case. A clear example is the Song of the Sea (Exod 15:1-18). Most scholars identify this passage as one of the Bible’s oldest—possibly tracing to the end of the Late Bronze Age (1600-1200 BCE). Praising YHWH for defeating Pharaoh during the exodus, the speaker declares,

 

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
(Exod 15:11)

 

The Song straightforwardly acknowledges that other gods exist. The point is not that YHWH is the only god but rather he is the best god. Scholars call this “monolatry.” (Ethan Schwartz, Unity and Disunity in Isaiah [Cascade Companions; Eugene, Oreg.: Cascade Books, 2026], 51, italics in original)

 

The First Presidential Candidate Ever Assassinated Was a Prophet

The First Presidential Candidate Ever Assassinated Was a Prophet

John Smith, Letter to Elias Smith, October 19, 1834

The following is a transcription of:

 

John Smith, Letter to Elias Smith, October 19, 1834, in Elias Smith correspondence, 1834-1839, CHL Call no.: MS 7062)

 

Kirtland Geauga Ohio October 19th 1834

 

Respected Nephew Jacob,

 

your epistle of Sept. 25 × 26 which gave us
much pleasure to hear that our relatives were all alive & in general enjoying
a good degree of health also that the Great author of all things has bestowed
His blessings upon you in that region that you get have abundance for the wants
of the people. The season here has been rather dry but crops of grain of all
my kind are very good potatoes in some localities are injured by the drought the
the first have frost did damage this fall was the 7 Sept but by it lost the
leaves of the forest were half grown the 17^th fruit trees were had fully blossomed
10<th> May
when all looked beautiful we had a frost that killed almost every green
thing that the frost laid hold on to well wither, so that for some days the air
smelt like a field where men are hanging of course we have no fruit
of note in this region but on the whole I do not think that this can be
the stone cause for the cold south west wind you speak of in your
letter notwithstanding we have abundant crops this year & I do not follow
that tomorrow will be as this day and much more abundant. Thus I have
noticed the first page of your letter in answer to the strength of it is worth
note as well as I can untill I come to where you say I called our country
the cold and barren north. I did once mention in noticing a certain
story which with foundation being to view Ezekiel's vision of the image
of jealousy, which seemed to come from the north I said the cold and barren
north because I thought that the story originated in some jealous heated
person and I called it barren because I thought much reason bore none
of the fruits of righteousness because now dear sir that I did not mean
your farm nor the country of St Lawrence for I have cultivated the
virgin in that region a number of years and had very good success—you
think more a man has the less that heigh he is for it but you think
that will answer the charge logic to me my I learned that lesson long since
for I recollect that one of old said how hardly shall they that
have riches enter into the Kingdom of God & I have observed too
that those that are the most ignorant the worst are the least concerned
about temporal things so I conclude that the ancient saying is true
you balance with some degree of learning to show that the people from
who live in countries where they are under the necessity of labouring every day
to get a living enjoy themselves much better and know much more than those who
live in more fertile & luxuriant countries this being the case for want it
not be desirable for a man who had a family of boys to choose the poorest if not
that he could find that he might that have have the most happy and
wise family perhaps on the earth this would be according to your mode
of reasoning you say that few if any have any sense. Then the people of the
who you say live in the cities of the north countries are more thankful for
inference? during war than the people of the north countries and
had they any more sense of their dependence than those who
inhabited Jerusalem the best country in the world or all the holy prophets
Jesus and the apostles dwelt at Jerusalem it was there that our Lord poured
out the gifts of the Holy spirit Spirit it was there that the most holy people lived
that ever inhabited the globe and the most wise too that we have any account
of also were and Greece produced the greatest philosophers and the wisest that
writer may mentioned in history and that in fertile countries and to best
the storys of last we will our own country the eastern and western
states have produced the greatest statesmen & the greatest warriors this you
will admit

 

No. 2

 

[No. 2]

You say you suppose that I think you are a great fellow for if you would only
change your present place of residence from one in Missouri or I do not think that
I must at once know that every man has a right to live where he pleases but you
mistake
thought I had been urging you to go to the west but I do not recollect any such
thing though you think you would like to see mount Zion in the wilderness
the north you mean that place spoken of by the proud king of Babylon or to unite
the meeting of the congregation in the sides of the north there. you do not believe
there is any such place or it would be as likely to be on one of the hills in old
England as anywhere. this may be the reason you are so well suited with your
present situation but I should think by the turn of your letter you would look
still farther north or it looks as if you are one of that sort of men that have
curious notions in your head but you say that the mormons call you a boy
as though I had some time transgressed the rule of good breeding by calling
you boys you old not rat ship means, if my age for what some
body else have done and I know that you have been taught by christian pa-
rents therefore you would honor the face of the old man Lev. 19:32.
I have been in a habit of calling my our
Brothers boys and no marvel if I should
call their sons boys you need not ask me to pardon you for calling the name of
mormons for that is the best you know. There is no guilt attached
to any one for doing the best they know in time nor Eternity when they
do as well as they know if they have not abused their privileges and not
received knowledge when it was presented to their view you say that the
things that you have seen and heard of late look like absurdities to you.
I suppose you mean the gospel which I have embraced of late so it is with
in Paul's days but we are told that their unbelief made maketh the truth of God
without effect but I tell you in the fear of God that these things are true
as the Lord lives and I would that you would search out these things
for yourself for I know that it is within your reach if you were willing
to humble yourself before the Lord as you must and every one man who
is rejecting the testimony of Jesus Christ or you cannot enter into
the Kingdom of God it is because I love you and seek your best good
that I tell you these things & beg of you not to accuse me of one of causeless
you may more but be calm and candid and act like a man of wisdom
you accuse me of not saying enlighten anything on this subject only by some
canting expression. I do not know what you mean by accusing me. This
I have never tried harder to convince with any man harder than I did with
yourself at my house at Potsdam but you know you refused to talk
at all on the subject. you spoke of men being saucy or impertinent. if I
have not meant to treat you saucy or impolite if I have I am sorry
for it I ask your pardon humbly and ask if I have treated them you thus.
You say if you had time you would write a dissertation you call it on
the absurdities of the revelations of God in these last days. I advise
you to be careful how you treat the things of God lest you be caught
in a snare but if you should write such a thing according to your
doctrine no doubt you would find some that would attach some
importance to it. is it true that those who make the greatest pre-
tentions to religion that are act up as lecturers as religious teachers
or make the greatest pretentions to religion always are the
farthest from the gospel standard. you say they always
under the same anathemas which they put upon others this is the true
is the natural the imperfection of man. I do not fully agree with you
on this point we will search the pages of sacred history this being the
standard. Enoch Noah Abraham Moses Joshua Zechariah the son
of Barachiah David Solomon Elijah Jeremiah and all the prophets
Jesus and all the Apostles these all made the greatest pretenti-
ons to Christianity that we have any account of in sacred history
together with the list of worthies mentioned by St. Paul in the 11th Ch
of Hebrews we will look at modern history a little Martin Luther John
Calvin John Knox George Fox John Wesley and a multitude of others
I might mention Mr Edwards our own countryman & many others
I might mention all these made as loud proclamations against
Errors as any that we have any account of. I presume you will want the
anathemas upon their heads which they pronounced upon the
ungodly now I think that I have found some at any rate that is to
exempt from the charge you allege against them and promptly af-
firm that no one is. I can not give you any more information a-
bout your Brothers Death. I wrote all the particulars that I could
gather to your father. I weep for your loss sincerely and cannot say
anything more or less to comfort you than I did to your father.
Since I learned that Joseph wrote to his uncle on the subject of
Jesse's death you say nothing about the receipt of his letter. I con-
clude it is not worth your notice by the turn of your letter also
Brother Sidney which I learned after I had written on the same
subject. his letter I suppose is treated with too contempt or
in the thought not worth notice or you may not have received
them. if you did you probably have got all the particulars that any
one could give and if you think they are not worth your noti-
ce you are mistaken about it. Mr Humphrey we learned no
more [illegible] we have not received a letter from George written
to George wrote to Mrs Humphreys a few days since by Mr Holley
giving her all the information I knew about the death of her
husband she probably has got the letter by this time I presume
George will answer your letter if he ever got it or shall not attempt to
solve the mystery with regard to Jesse's going to Missouri now it
you may know hereafter. you speak as tho I had heaped many
bitter anathemas upon you. you say from the state of Ohio and re-
sent as many. I was very wicked for it. I do not know what you mean
therefore I shall pass it over in silence. Jesse read a part of the letter
to me but not that part you speak of but he felt bad when he read it
but we think he had no hardness against you nor I can it be great ques-
tion that seems to burden more so much. what business any one has to
call the church of Christ the Church of the Latter Day Saints or call the chil-
dren of God saints is answer the Church of Christ is the Church of Saints
...and always was this is the reason why the apostles directed letters
his sometimes to the Church of God others to the Church of Christ & again to the
Brethren sometimes to the saints always meaning the Church of Christ.
Search the antient prophesies you will find that they never enumerate other
saints see Daniel 7–18, 22–27<th> was evidently meaning the Church of Christ
and saints or the Church of Christ now I advise you to search the scriptures wi-
th candor and prayer you will learn many things that you never
thought of before and you will not have so much reason to complain of your
benighted understanding your light would shine in darkness and
unfold to you many mysteries which seem to trouble now you much.
you will be glad to the council which you have heard and yours
will have same like a river your righteousness like an overflowing stream

 

(Address panel)

 

Mr. Elias Smith

East Stockbridge

 

Madison Co. N.Y.

 

tell Amos that the work of the Lord prospers the church increase in numbers
very fast. Paganism is giving away in this region as a spirit of inquiry prevails.
It is almost universally since the work set on and will until the saints
of the Latter Day take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom & give
I expect it. The Church of the Latter Day Saints will prosper in
spite of wicked men and devils untill it fills the whole earth and the
signs increase that follow the true that belief which confirms the
truth of the word of the Lord. the walls of the Lord's house are nearly comple-
ted. the roof will go on next week if the Lord permit. we are in usual health.
our best wishes accompany this to all friends particularly our Mother
and may the Lord give you understanding in all things that you may
have wisdom to discern between right and wrong and know righteousness

 

Elias Smith

 

No. 42

 

is the prayer of your uncle

 

John Smith

 

 

Sola Scriptura Debate Review

 

Sola Scriptura Debate Review

B. Hudson McLean on the Eucharist being a Sacrifical Meal in the Theology of 1 Corinthians

  

Though the Eucharist took the form of a congregational meal in the first-century church (for example, 1 Cor. 11:17-22), it was often interpreted as a sacrificial meal shared out among the congregation. (B. Hudson McLean, “The Place of Cults in Voluntary Associations and Christian Churches on Delos,” in Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World, ed. John S. Kloppenborg and Stephen G. Wilson [London: Routledge, 1996], 216)

 

 

For example, Paul's contrast of the Christian sacrificial meal with the sacrificial meals of the Graeco-Roman sacrifice suggests that he is describing not only a real, but superior sacrifice, in which the human-divine relationship was truly strengthened by a slaying. Just as the latter truly made the worshipers partners with demons, so the Christian sacrifice brings about an actual partnership with the Christ (1 Cor. 10:16--21). Similarly, the reference of Ignatius of Antioch to a Christian altar implies that the Eucharistic meal had sacrificial meaning: "Be careful, then, to observe a single Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and one cup of his blood that makes us one, and one altar ... " (Ignatius, Phil. 4.1-2); "Run off- all of you- to one temple of God, as it were, to one altar ... " (Ignatius, Magn. 7.2). (B. Hudson McLean, “The Place of Cults in Voluntary Associations and Christian Churches on Delos,” in Voluntary Associations in the Graeco-Roman World, ed. John S. Kloppenborg and Stephen G. Wilson [London: Routledge, 1996], 224 n. 143)

 

Erik F. Wait on Some of the Constitutive Elements of Sola Scriptura

In my debate against Kelly Powers on Sola Scriptura (June 9, 2026), I discussed some of the constitutive elements of Sola Scriptura, such as (1) the necessity of the cessation of public revealtion at the end of the New Testament era and (2) the right to private interpretation. In a recent work defending Sola Scriptura, we find the following which shows the importance of these vis-a-vis sola scriptura:

 

The final revelation of God is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh (Hebrews 1:1-2), who finally and authoritatively exegeted, explained, the Father (John 1:18). The New Testament writers were the last to write any inspired books that are to be in the canon of Scripture. Any and all claims to additional special revelation, such as The Book of Mormon or the writings of Ellen G. White, are to be rejected. (Erik F. Wait, “Because Rome Says So”: A Presuppositional Defense of Sola Scriptura [Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, 2026], 3)

 

 

Second, the doctrine of Sola Scriptura does not teach that the church has no authority to discipline or excommunicate. Sola Scriptura does teach that each and every believer may challenge the church to defend what it teaches and may, through a subsequent ecclesiastical court of appeals, seek to correct the church. (Erik F. Wait, “Because Rome Says So”: A Presuppositional Defense of Sola Scriptura [Meadville, Pa.: Christian Faith Publishing, 2026], 6)