April–June 1836

Parley’s Mission to Canada

Showing faith in the Lord’s promises

Soon after the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, many leaders of the Church went on missions to preach the gospel.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:81; 109:22–23; 112:28–29; Saints, 1:249

Parley Pratt loved sharing the gospel. But he thought he should stay home because his wife, named Thankful, was sick. They also didn’t have much money.

Saints, 1:249

Heber Kimball, Parley’s friend and one of the Apostles, came to visit. He gave Parley a blessing and said he should preach the gospel in Canada. In the blessing, Heber promised that Thankful would get better. He promised she would have a son and the Lord would help Parley get the money he needed.

Saints, 1:249–50

Thankful and Parley had been married for 10 years. They didn’t have any children. But they had faith in the Lord’s promises. Even though it would be hard to be far away from Thankful in Canada, Parley left to share the gospel.

Saints, 1:250

In Canada, Parley looked for places where he could teach people. He asked if he could teach in the churches and other buildings. Everyone said no.

Saints, 1:252–53

Then Parley met John and Leonora Taylor. They loved Jesus Christ and the Bible. John asked Parley if what he taught was different from the Bible.

Saints, 1:252–53

Parley said he taught about Jesus, prophets, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. All those things were in the Bible. John asked, “What about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon?” Parley told John that he knew the Book of Mormon was true, just like the Bible, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

Saints, 1:253

John believed what Parley said. He read the Book of Mormon and knew it was true. John and Leonora invited their friends Joseph, Mercy, and Mary Fielding and others to come hear Parley teach. Many people were baptized and joined the Church.

Saints, 1:254–55

Parley was happy, but he wanted to go home to Thankful in Kirtland. He said goodbye to his new friends in Canada. As he shook their hands, they gave him money to help him take care of his family.

Saints, 1:255–56

When Parley got home, he found that Thankful was feeling much better. Parley got more copies of the Book of Mormon and returned to Canada to keep sharing the gospel. This time, Thankful went with him.

Saints, 1:256

Soon Thankful and Parley found out that they would have a baby. They remembered the blessing that Heber had given Parley. They felt like everything the Lord had promised in that blessing was coming true.

Saints, 1:256