smac97 Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 Huh. I had never heard about this: Quote The Parley P. Pratt Freedom Run Celebrates US First Amendment Freedoms The 27th annual family event in Columbia, Missouri, gives opportunity to honor historic ideals On Saturday, July 3, 2021, around 600 community members of the Columbia, Missouri, area gathered to celebrate U.S. First Amendment freedoms in this mid-Missouri city. The 27th annual run took place 182 years after Parley P. Pratt, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, escaped from jail in Columbia, Missouri, and ran for his own freedom. In 1838, Governor Lilburn Boggs called for members of the Church to leave the state or be “exterminated.” Church leaders, including the Prophet Joseph Smith, were imprisoned on false charges, but most were released by the following spring, with the exception of prominent leader Parley P. Pratt. Newell Kitchen, senior director for the event, described the history of the run, saying, “As the city was celebrating the 4th of July, they escaped, and of course [the guards] chased them and it was a race — more of a chase than a race, but it was a race. So that was the first run of the Parley P. Pratt Freedom Run, and now we continue that legacy here with the event that we’re holding today.” What a cool idea! Quote The event included an opening ceremony, a message of freedom, and a 4-mile and 1-mile run/walk. The message of freedom was given by Jeremiah Morgan, the Missouri Deputy Attorney General and an Area Seventy (regional leader) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am grateful to live in a country like this. From the "Extermination Order" against the Saints to one of the Saints being a state Deputy AG. Things can and do improve. Quote After realizing petitions for justice would be denied, Pratt planned his escape from prison. On July 4, 1839, he and two of his companions stormed the jail door while the guards were serving dinner. Pratt’s bravery and escape have come to symbolize the need for religious freedom protections and other liberties enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution. Morgan, who participated in the run after his opening address, added, “These fundamental freedoms are essential to our country, to each of us individually, that protect our right to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, our right to speak in the public square, our right to assemble peaceably.” Good points, particularly the "right to assemble peaceably." Given the spate of riots we have seen in the last while, we need to renew emphasis on this. Quote The 4-mile course passed 28 symbols of freedom in the downtown Columbia area, including the site of Parley P. Pratt’s run for freedom, Thomas Jefferson’s grave marker, the Missouri Press Association and 17 houses of faith. The start/finish line was located next to the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, Missouri, just a couple hundred feet from the spot where Pratt started his run for freedom. Matt Shawgo participated in the event for the first time. “Just the way it brings the community together has been amazing to see,” he said. “This [event] helps remind us of those who have sacrificed for us to have these freedoms.” The annual event, held in conjunction with the U.S. Independence Day observance, has become a tradition that brings together members of the community honoring First Amendment rights while promoting activity, healthy living and friendship. Good story. Thanks, -Smac
Scott Lloyd Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, smac97 said: Huh. I had never heard about this: What a cool idea! I am grateful to live in a country like this. From the "Extermination Order" against the Saints to one of the Saints being a state Deputy AG. Things can and do improve. Good points, particularly the "right to assemble peaceably." Given the spate of riots we have seen in the last while, we need to renew emphasis on this. Good story. Thanks, -Smac I recall writing about this in the past for the Church News. It’s been going on for years now. In fact, I think I’ve met Jeremiah Morgan. Added later: So I got curious and did a Google search. It turns out I HAVE met Jeremiah Morgan. This was the occasion: https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2010-06-05/small-town-has-big-place-in-lds-history-64168 Edited July 8, 2021 by Scott Lloyd
CA Steve Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 I wonder if attendees are allowed to bring more than one wife?
Kenngo1969 Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 45 minutes ago, CA Steve said: I wonder if attendees are allowed to bring more than one wife? Oh, brother.
Kenngo1969 Posted July 8, 2021 Posted July 8, 2021 9 hours ago, smac97 said: Huh. I had never heard about this: What a cool idea! I am grateful to live in a country like this. From the "Extermination Order" against the Saints to one of the Saints being a state Deputy AG. Things can and do improve. Good points, particularly the "right to assemble peaceably." Given the spate of riots we have seen in the last while, we need to renew emphasis on this. Good story. Thanks, -Smac Out of rep points, so, +1.
Calm Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, CA Steve said: I wonder if attendees are allowed to bring more than one wife? I had not known that he had broken out of jail at one time and could only think another time he could be described as on the run and it was beyond my ability to comprehend why that would be turned into celebration race. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Calm Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 Quote Morgan, who participated in the run after his opening address, added, “These fundamental freedoms are essential to our country, to each of us individually, that protect our right to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience, our right to speak in the publicsquare, our right to assemble peaceably.” While the idea is fun, I am not getting the connection between an escape from jail and protection of rights….maybe if there was a marathon of staying in jail….by escaping from jail his rights weren’t being abused.
Scott Lloyd Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Calm said: While the idea is fun, I am not getting the connection between an escape from jail and protection of rights….maybe if there was a marathon of staying in jail….by escaping from jail his rights weren’t being abused. His incarceration in the first place was in violation of his right to religious liberty. His escape from illicit imprisonment was an assertion of his right to religious freedom. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/july-4-run-honors-mormon-leader-parley-p-pratt-and-his-escape-from-jail/article_0c545ee4-2ef7-52e1-8ee5-630170c7a9c9.amp.html Edited July 9, 2021 by Scott Lloyd
CA Steve Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 13 hours ago, Calm said: While the idea is fun, I am not getting the connection between an escape from jail and protection of rights….maybe if there was a marathon of staying in jail….by escaping from jail his rights weren’t being abused. That was the reason for my comment on the number of wives one could bring, I was trying to make some sort of connection between Pratt and this event.
Scott Lloyd Posted July 9, 2021 Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, CA Steve said: That was the reason for my comment on the number of wives one could bring, I was trying to make some sort of connection between Pratt and this event. Seriously? it came across as a garden-variety potshot to me. Next time, you might try just asking a direct and reasonable question. There are accessible sources on line for learning about the life of Parley P. Pratt and the episode of his unjust imprisonment in Boone County Jail in the context of the “Missouri-Mormon War” and the issuance by Missouri Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs of the Extermination Order against the Latter-day Saints. Edited July 9, 2021 by Scott Lloyd
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