Key to the Science of Theology

‘Key to the Science of Theology’ is Parley P. Pratt's all-inclusive account of religion's impact on every aspect related to life. Pratt discusses religion, science, and the meaning of life in a passionate and concise way. Pratt's insights into the importance of religion and the presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives has lost none of its poignant luster with the passage of time.

We discover answers to all manner of questions concerning the dizzying pace of scientific advancement, and the core spiritual principles which all good Christians must cleave to in pursuit of a sublime life well-lived.

All kinds of philosophical concepts are brought to the fore by Pratt, whose learning and researches are of stunning profundity. Topics include the spiritual progress of mankind over the ages, the various attributes of the heavenly afterlife, and the origin and destiny of the universe around us.

Parley P. Pratt (1807–1857) was an American religious leader, missionary, writer, and early apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A gifted preacher and prolific author, he played a central role in the growth of the early Latter-day Saint movement. Through his missionary journeys, theological writings, and personal sacrifices, Pratt helped establish and spread the faith during some of its most challenging years. Today, he is remembered as one of the movement's most influential early leaders.

Pratt was born on April 12, 1807, in Burlington, New York. Raised in a farming family, he received little formal education but developed a deep love of reading and studying the Bible. As a young man, he became interested in the religious revival movements that swept across the United States during the early nineteenth century. His search for spiritual truth eventually led him to the Book of Mormon, which he read shortly after its publication in 1830. Convinced of its message, he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and soon became one of its most devoted missionaries.

Known for his eloquence and unwavering faith, Pratt traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Great Britain, preaching and helping establish new congregations. In 1835, he was ordained as one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Despite facing persecution, imprisonment, and repeated hardships, he remained committed to his religious calling and continued to write and teach throughout his life.

Pratt was also a talented author whose books and pamphlets explained the beliefs and doctrines of the Latter-day Saint faith. His best-known work, A Voice of Warning, first published in 1837, became one of the church's most influential missionary texts. Combining biblical interpretation with personal conviction, his writings helped introduce thousands of readers to the principles of the faith and remain historically significant within the Latter-day Saint tradition.

Parley P. Pratt died on May 13, 1857, after being fatally attacked in Arkansas while traveling on missionary and family matters. His death was widely mourned by members of his church. Today, he is remembered as a courageous missionary, thoughtful theologian, and dedicated writer whose faith, perseverance, and literary contributions left a lasting mark on the history and development of the Latter-day Saint movement.