Enduring Principle: Grace and Generosity

Type: Multi-Part Drama

Characters:

Parley P. Pratt
John Lowry
Mother Lowry
Higbee
Violet
Gloria

Props: None

Costumes: Appropriate for 1834

Special Instructions: None

Latter Day Saint history* offers this true and powerful story (dramatized) that demonstrates how people respond to God's grace and somewhat parallels the Good Samaritan story. This can either be performed or read. If the congregation is small, most could participate in the service at different times. Characters can be doubled, except for Parley Pratt. The different parts of the drama should be presented in between the rest of the service.

Part I:

Parley P. Pratt:

My name is Parley Pratt. During October and November of 1833, my brothers and sisters in Christ and I were mobbed. We were beaten, whipped, and some killed. Over a thousand people were driven out of Jackson County, Missouri. I was completely destitute. I lost nearly everything. I was hit in the head rather severely. All my provisions for the winter were destroyed or plundered, and my grain left growing on the ground for the mob to harvest. The first day of January of 1834, we met in my house, and decided that two of the elders should be sent to Ohio, in order to counsel with President Smith and the church at Kirtland, and do something for the relief or restoration of the people the mob hurt so badly. Later, the mob burned my house and destroyed everything else I had. Because of our poverty and the bad weather, we all hesitated to go. But Lyman Wight and I decided to go. I had no clothing for the journey, no horse, saddle, bridle, money, nor any provisions to take with me or to leave with my wife who was sick most of the time because of the cruelty of people. I didn't know what to do. Everybody was poor. Almost everybody. I almost trembled just thinking about it. So I just went out and started walking. I found myself in front of John Lowry's house, thinking that perhaps he could help me. I knocked, but got no answer. So I went in.

The Healed:

John: We were sick, weren't we, mother?

Mother Lowry: You more than me, John. But I could do nothing. We both had a high fever. You were vomiting, and I could do nothing.

John: It's all right, Mother. Maybe because we were ill, God took an opportunity.

Mother Lowry: I saw him come in and sit down. He was concerned, but he could do nothing, it seemed. He just sat there and then another elder came in.

John: They administered to me and I woke up right then and I was well again! This Parley Pratt told me that he needed money and I gave him as much as I could. He then went on his way. But it was a miracle to me and the house was full of the Holy Spirit.

Mother Lowry: The healing spirit.

John: It changed my life.

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Part II:

Parley P. Pratt:

He gave me enough money for me to start my journey and to take care of my wife. I left Lowry's house and went further into the woods of the Missouri Bottoms and came to a camp of a man named Higbee. He owned some horses.

The Horse Owner:

I barely saw him walking down the road, it was so dark. Yet at first glance, it seemed as if he was surrounded by a light that I couldn't see. His clothes were rags, he had no coat, and yet he was walking outside in the January snow, and 1834 in Missouri was a hard winter. I'd heard of the attacks on the Mormons in Jackson County the November before, terrible things people do to each other. I didn't know at the time if he was one of them. I mean, he could have been a member of the mob who vowed to kill these Latter Day Saints. Maybe he was out to kill me. Didn't matter, I guess. Mind you, I would have helped anybody really. But this was different. I felt compelled. He didn't ask for anything, and I ended up giving him my best horse, old Dick. And then to top it off, I gave him my saddle too! After he left, I found myself wondering why God would let a man be so destitute, so cold and alone. Why didn't God do something? That's when I realized that God DID do something! God sent this man to me. I don't know why I did it. I reckon it was a miracle -- that God let me be a part of His miracle. It changed my life.

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Part III:

Parley P. Pratt:

This experience became more than just coincidence. It was the touch of God. All I knew to do was to thank God and bless the man and his family. The next person I encountered was Sydney Gilbert at Liberty, Missouri. His shop in Jackson County was destroyed and plundered by the mob. Fortunately, he had some fabric left, and to my surprise, some women were visiting at the time.

The Tailors:

(Talking to each other and the audience as if they were being interviewed.)

Violet: Oh, you remember, don't you, Gloria, that awful winter of 1834?

Gloria: That was a long time ago, ya know, Violet. I'm old, ya know.

Violet: Oh, don't be cranky. Of course you remember it. That nice man who we made clothes for.

Gloria: Oh yeah, yeah, we were visiting the frontier. Nice place t' visit, but won't wanna live there, ya know.

Violet: He rode up on this beautiful horse, but didn't have a coat and his clothes were nothing more than rags. I couldn't believe it!

Gloria: Couldn't believe it. Not the sharpest tack in the box, if you ask me.

Violet: Nobody's asking you, Gloria. He came right up and Mr. Gilbert took one ...

Gloria: His family was where we was stayin', don't ya know.

Violet: Mr. Gilbert took one look at him and told him to come in.

Gloria: That stranger was a looker, that's fer sure. Had a nasty cut on his forehead, as I remember.

Violet: Well, Mr. Gilbert said, "Brother, you need a new suit of clothes." It just so happened that they had saved some fabric from that awful mob. So I said ...

Gloria: I said.

Violet: We said that we'll make him a set of new clothes. Just give us his measurements and we'll get started.

Gloria: We couldn't measure him ourselves, ya know.

Violet: It wasn't appropriate, Gloria.

Gloria: Pity.

Violet: So we went to work and made him a new set of clothes.

Gloria: At least I got to make his britches.

Violet: Gloria! I don't care how old you are, you be quiet! There's people here!

Gloria: I didn't say anything!

Violet: I don't know why, but doing that never left me. It changed my life. I don't have a clue why it did, but it did. Yours, too, didn't it, Gloria?

Gloria: Yep. Changed my life.

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Part IV:

Parley P. Pratt:

To be honest with you, I was having a difficult time. I knew that God hadn't left me, but to be mobbed, beaten, and torn from my home tested my faith, at least my faith in people. When I left to prepare for the journey, I didn't know where I was going. But God placed these good people in my path to bless me. Lyman Wight was also blessed and we traveled over one thousand miles to Ohio. Faith and the blessings of God cleared up our way to accomplish what seemed impossible. There are people who will hurt and destroy, but others who will give to the point of sacrifice. I will never forget this. Never. It changed my life.

* The Board of Publication of The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Vol. 1: 1805-1835. Independence, Missouri: Herald House, 1896: 333 – 334 & 399 – 401.

© 2008 Debra Bruch