I'm sure you have heard of Orson Pratt, 19th century LDS apostle, but I'm guessing you haven't heard much about his son, Orson Jr. Here's a paragraph from a post titled "Orson Pratt, Jr., Erastus Snow, apostasy and excommunication." at the Ogden Standard-Examiner's media blog Political Surf.
Orson Jr. was a lot like his father. Like his dad, he was an intellectual man who applied reason and evidence with faith. He was also an accomplished musician, talented enough to teach at the university level. Unlike his father, though, Orson Jr. was not able to reconcile his theological doubts with his respect for reason. He became a disbeliever of Mormonism, and in a very public forum in southern Utah, where he had been a member of that area’s theological hierarchy, Orson Jr. told a large crowd that he no longer believed Joseph Smith was a prophet or that Mormonism was the true church. His discourse took place in September 1864, the same month he was excommunicated at the urging of LDS Church Apostle Erastus Snow ....
I think most of his material is pulled from Gary Bergera's Conflict in the Quorum: Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith (Signature, 1987), which the author cited in the post. I have never come across a copy yet, but it sounds like it would be worth a read.
According to the post, Orson Jr. lived a quiet life in Utah for forty years after his excommunication, dying in 1903 in Ogden.
In honor of the new Maureen Whipple biography becoming available today, I'll say that the most memorable depiction of OP JR was in the great literary classic Giant Joshua. Definitely captures the tension of being an apostate while living in the Mormon-dominated Utah frontier.
Posted by: Ben Park | May 21, 2011 at 02:59 PM
I have the book and have read about 1/3 of it. Good so far. If you're interested, it's still in print and is available on Amazon, among other places.
Posted by: Mike S | May 21, 2011 at 05:35 PM
I knew a descendent of this man. She told of the problems in their extended family and sorrowfully blamed them on this man's behavior. When a person leaves the church for whatever reason and thinks it affects only him/her that person is sadly mistaken. I have seen children who would have been so much better off had they been raised in the Church.
Posted by: Anne | May 21, 2011 at 09:24 PM
It is sad to me when people blame their worldly problems on the faith (or lack thereof) of someone in their extended family. You don't have to make them pariahs just because they don't believe the exact same way you do.
Not to mention there are PLENTY of children with "issues" who were raised in the church, and PLENTY of well-adjusted children who weren't raised in any church at all. Its so narrow-minded and judgmental to think you have the only path to righteousness.
It really has nothing to do with anything. But course, when you're an "apostate" everything gets blamed on you.
Posted by: please | May 22, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Pretty fascinating article - thanks for linking to it. I'm glad church leaders no longer teach ostracizing family members with different beliefs.
Posted by: Jonathan | May 22, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Orson's mother was involved in a sordid affair with John C Bennett and Joseph Smith Jr, while her husband (Orson snr.)was on a mission. She never forgave the church for the way she was treated and made life a misery for Orson and the children. Orson Snr. practiced polygamy so was able to move on. Her bitternes no doubt affected the children. This aspect of history is detailed at FAIR, in an article by Greg Smith.
Posted by: Terry A | May 30, 2011 at 05:24 AM