The life of pioneer, explorer and colonizer Parley P. Pratt was filled with "wonderful, spiritual experiences because of his obedience" to God, an LDS Church general authority said at the dedication Saturday afternoon of a monument and park named in Pratt's honor.
Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve and chairman of the church's pioneer sesquicentennial celebration last year, delivered the concluding talk and offered a dedicatory prayer on the park and a statute honoring Pratt. The park is at 2100 South and 2300 East.Hundreds of people, including scores of the early-day church apostle and leader's descendants, attended the program at the beautifully land-scaped, triangular Salt Lake park.
The Parley's Park and Plaza project started out as a "lasting legacy" project of Parleys LDS Stake in 1997. But it ended up being supported by several other stakes, by private citizens, community groups and Salt Lake City officials, said Michael J. Glauser, chairman of the Big Kanyon Lasting Legacy Committee, who conducted the program.
In his remarks, Elder Ballard expressed appreciation to all who participated in working to make the park a reality. It was a project that involved not only LDS Church members but members of many other faiths and groups that provided funds for the statue and helped in numerous other ways.
The 8-foot bronze statue of Pratt - the work of well-known sculptor Ed Fraughton - stands atop a pile of huge granite boulders. The statue depicts Pratt with a compass and transit, looking toward nearby Parleys Canyon, which is named after him.
In his talk, Elder Ballard said Pratt was a "deeply religious man, which is evident by the hymns" that he wrote and which are found in the LDS hymnbook. But he said one of his most important qualities was his "absolute obedience and willingness to do whatever the Prophet Joseph Smith would ask of him."
He told of Pratt's service as a missionary to upper Canada and of the success he enjoyed in bringing people, including John Taylor, into the church. John Taylor later became the third president of the church. Elder Ballard said Pratt's life is a "significant legacy" for the Pratt family.
Another speaker, Robert J. Grow, president of the Jared Pratt Family Association, represented the more than 50,000 descendants of Jared and Charity Pratt, parents of Parley P. Pratt and his four brothers, on the program.
"I am honored to be a member of this great pioneer family. I am also especially honored to say thank you to all of you who have made this possible: to Salt Lake City officials and workers, to the five LDS stakes, to the project committee, to the sculptor and to the hundreds of contributors. We as the Pratt family thank you," Grow exclaimed.
Rick Graham, director of public services for Salt Lake City, was another speaker. He told the audience that the new facility represents the best of what can happen when citizens join forces on such a project. He strongly applauded the work of Glauser and others.
Jon Huntsman Jr., a great-great-great grandson of Pratt, termed the leader a "creative, innovative spirit - someone who had a fervent belief in serving his God and his community."
Parley P. Pratt "had the vision to create a lasting legacy for our community. He was truly someone with a true, rugged pioneer spirit."
Natalie McCullough, editor of a "Lasting Legacy" book produced for the dedication, told of the pioneer and other stories incorporated in the book. Hundreds of people submitted names of their favorite pioneer or others whose names are found in the book. The names are also carved into boulders dotting the park.
Robert A. Baird, chairman of a committee on the monument, introduced and paid tribute to Fraughton and his work on the statue, titled "Finding the Way."
Earlier, Baird said, "This project has really helped me feel the spirit of pioneering and feel a closeness with the people who developed, farmed (and were engaged in other things) in this area."