17 Facts About Rey Pratt

Rey Lucero Pratt served the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 23 years as president of its Mexican Mission and for six years as a general authority.

Rey Pratt translated LDS Church materials into Spanish, wrote magazine articles, and spoke regularly at general conference.

Rey Pratt has at times been called the father of the Mexican Mission.

When Rey was nine, the Pratts moved to Mexico to help settle Colonia Dublan, a Mormon colony in the northern state of Chihuahua.

Rey Pratt's father was settling in Mexico to escape being prosecuted by the United States federal government for practicing polygamy.

Rey Pratt grew up in Mexico, learning to appreciate its history and people.

Rey Pratt served for nearly a year under mission president Hyrum S Harris, during which time he presided over the Toluca conference for seven months.

Rey Pratt started as president of the Mexican mission in 1907.

In March 1921, Rey Pratt reopened missionary work in Mexico with eight missionaries.

Rey Pratt continued to expand the mission, opening up work in southern California in 1924 and establishing a Los Angeles branch.

Rey Pratt's duties expanded further in January 1925, when church leaders called him to be a member of the seven-man First Council of the Seventy.

Rey Pratt was surprised when the church leaders did not release him from his mission president duties, but he accepted both callings.

Rey Pratt returned from South America to find Mexico caught up in another internal war, this time over the issue of separation of church and state.

The final years of Rey Pratt's life were busy, and the constant traveling gradually wore him down.

Just after the April 1931 General Conference, Rey Pratt stayed in Salt Lake City to undergo a hernia operation.

Rey Pratt left behind his wife and ten living children.

Rey Pratt was responsible for creating a new translation of the Book of Mormon into Spanish; he translated many of the hymns of the church into Spanish.