Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Spring 7-22-2013 The Life and Thought of Mormon Apostle Parley Parker Pratt Andrew James Morse Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the History of Religion Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, and the Other Religion Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Morse, Andrew James, "The Life and Thought of Mormon Apostle Parley Parker Pratt" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1084. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.1084 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible:
[email protected]. The Life and Thought of Mormon Apostle Parley Parker Pratt by Andrew James Morse A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History Thesis Committee: David Johnson, Chair John Ott David Horowitz Natan Meir Portland State University 2013 © 2013 Andrew James Morse i ABSTRACT In 1855 Parley P. Pratt, a Mormon missionary and member of the Quorum of the Twelve, published Key to the Science of Theology . It was the culmination of over twenty years of intellectual engagement with the young religious movement of Mormonism. The book was also the first attempt by any Mormon at writing a comprehensive summary of the religion’s theological ideas. Pratt covered topics ranging from the origins of theology in ancient Judaism, the apostasy of early Christianity, the restoration of correct theology with nineteenth century Mormonism, dreams, polygamy, and communication with beings on other planets.