William was born in Wooster (Worcester?), Ostego, New York. William was introduced to the Church at an early date, likely by the ministrations of his younger brother Parley, the first of the family to learn of the Church and accept the Gospel. By 1834 William is listed as among those who accompanied the Prophet Joseph Smith on the expedition to Missouri known as Zions Camp. The stated purpose of this encampment was to provide relief to the saints in Zion who were suffering persecution at the hands of the Missouri mob. While that purpose was not achieved, what did occur was a sifting and refining of those who went. The next generation of Church leaders came almost exclusively from the veterans of Zions Camp.In early 1835, William was ordained a Seventy and called to take his place in the First Quorum of the Seventy, a quorum the Lord declared equal in authority to that of the First Presidency and the Twelve. In April of 1844 William is listed among those to serve a mission in New York, and on April 5 and 6 of 1845 presided at the quarterly conference held in Greenwood, Stuben County, New York. He preached several discourses there and sent a report of the conference which was published in the Times and Seasons. After the expulsion of the saints from Nauvoo Elder Pratt emigrated to Utah. (See, Grandpa Bill's GA Page)
William was born in Wooster (Worcester?), Ostego, New York. William was introduced to the Church at an early date, likely by the ministrations of his younger brother Parley, the first of the family to learn of the Church and accept the Gospel. By 1834 William is listed as among those who accompanied the Prophet Joseph Smith on the expedition to Missouri known as Zions Camp. The stated purpose of this encampment was to provide relief to the saints in Zion who were suffering persecution at the hands of the Missouri mob. While that purpose was not achieved, what did occur was a sifting and refining of those who went. The next generation of Church leaders came almost exclusively from the veterans of Zions Camp.In early 1835, William was ordained a Seventy and called to take his place in the First Quorum of the Seventy, a quorum the Lord declared equal in authority to that of the First Presidency and the Twelve. In April of 1844 William is listed among those to serve a mission in New York, and on April 5 and 6 of 1845 presided at the quarterly conference held in Greenwood, Stuben County, New York. He preached several discourses there and sent a report of the conference which was published in the Times and Seasons. After the expulsion of the saints from Nauvoo Elder Pratt emigrated to Utah. (See, Grandpa Bill's GA Page)
Family Members
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