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Show Page 223 dividing your words of truth, with much wisdom in all meekness and patience...." 30 Brigham was clearly concerned about the potential impact of Orson's speculations upon the Saints; nevertheless, the mountain of tracts inundating Europe played an important role in the conversion of thousands to Mormonism. As Hawthorne noted, Orson Pratt had become "the famous Mormonite," the recognized spokesman for the cause. About this time, disaffected apostle Thomas B. Marsh returned to the fold, crediting Pratt's writings for his change of heart. "The doctrine of plurality was a great bugbear to me," Marsh told the Bowery congregation at Salt Lake, "till I got to Florence and read the works of brother Orson Pratt, and now 31 I see that it is heaven's own doctrine." Senior apostle Orson Hyde, who had always been friendly with Orson, assigned him a "masterly" technique: "The last Eastern mail...brought me a pamphlet or tract written by Elder Orson Pratt, of Liverpool...The whole matter is handled in a masterly way, free from blind obscurity, unchecked and unrestrained by fear, and untramelled by the religious or political dogmas of the age. It is the product of a clear head, of a strong heart, and of an unflinching hand. In short, it is Heaven's eternal truth." 32 Brigham Young himself was not loath to compliment Orson whenever possible - it was important to maintain the credibility of his chief apologist, regardless of the errors. In response to Marsh's comments, he praised 33 Orson's defense of polygamy as "beautiful, consistent, and exalting." Quite unaware of the little storms he caused at home, Orson continued writing. By April he had completed eight chapters of his book outlining Mormon doctrine, with Holy Spirit raising the most comment at home. His final installment, Latter Day Kingdom, summed up in glorious literalism the theology of the western Zion established in the mountains. By now, Orson was personally supervising the departure of whole shiploads of Europeans bound for Utah - not only Britishers, but Danish and Norwegian converts |