The Essential Parley P. Pratt – Parley Parker Pratt – 3 Stars

The Essential Parley P. Pratt – Parley Parker Pratt – 3 Stars

Title: The Essential Parley P. Pratt (Classics in Mormon Thought Series Vol. 1)

Author: Parley Parker Pratt

Publisher: Signature Books

Year: Hardcover 1990

Rating:  3 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: This book can be found occasionally on eBay, but not usually in other second hand stores like Deseret Industries (like most Signature Books).  You can buy it new on Amazon for less than $20, which is probably your best bet.  Again, like most Signature Books you won’t find this at Deseret Book either.

Review: This is Parley P. Pratt – so it is great!  But the collection itself is unnecessary.  Let me explain the basic review for the book, and then I will go into some detail. 

Parley P. Pratt is amazing!  As the original apologist for the church, he was instrumental in thinking about the restoration of the church in a universal and holistic way.  His writings were key to outlining in concise ways what the church meant to the world, and the restoration to the kingdom of god.   He is also credited in his missionary labors in large part to his writings and sermons; and through is defense of the restoration he increased the church’s credibility both within the general membership and outside – allowing the saints to have more confidence. 

To this day, Parley’s writings are still some of the most beautiful clear writings in the church.  His overall contribution can’t be overstated – and the same could be said for his brother Orson (which is a discussion for another time).

In that light, the writings contained in this book is great – and they are writings that for the most part I would recommend every member of the church should be familiar with.  With that passion for Parley, I have a hard time not giving it four stars… HOWEVER…

The book itself is ultimately not necessary.  The writings are awesome, but the compilation is not needed.  Within this book you will get a couple of chapters (out of context) from both of his critical works – A Voice of Warning (1837) and Keys to the Science of Theology (1855).  You will also get some pamphlet writings, and then his Autobiography (published in 1874).  The reality is – the chapters out of context don’t do it justice. 

If you want the essentials of Parley P. Pratt – just read  A Voice of Warning, Keys to the Science of Theology, and his Autobiography themselves.  Neither of these are remarkably long, they are easy to read, they are enjoyable and beautiful, and you will LOVE THEM.  You will get everything in this book, and then some, and come to learn and love Parley. 

In that light – I wanted to give the book 2 Stars, but I couldn’t do that to Parley – so I balanced it out to 3 Stars.

I originally got this book curious about the Essentials in Mormon Thought Series by Signature Books – but as a result of this book, I probably will skip the rest.

Suggestions:  Don’t buy this book – by the other three books.  In fact for the $20 you can get this book for – you should be able to pick up a cheap copy of all three of the suggested works of Parley and you will be wiser for it!

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I encourage you to follow this blog as I update more reviews in the coming days, weeks, months, etc.  Please feel free to also follow my YouTube page – however, I enjoy writing more than being on camera!

Review #33

Tags: Essential Parley P. Pratt, Parley Parker Pratt, 3 Stars, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley