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Show OBITUARY. We have been favored by a relative of the deceased with the following sketch of the life and labors of Elder John Parry, whose death occurred on the 16th inst. John Parry was born on the 13th of October, 1817, at Newmarket, Flintshire, North Wales. He was the son of John Parry and Mary Williams. He received some schooling in his early youth, but was placed in charge of some sheep and cows belonging to his father, when about twelve years of age. A few years afterwards he worked with his father learning the mason's trade. At the age of 18 he started out for himself and took contracts for buildings, and was very successful. Before ever hearing anything of "Mormonism" his elder brother died of brain fever; but the night before his demise he called his father and his brother John to his bedside and told them that the Lord was going to perform a mighty work upon the earth, and that they should preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to thousands of people in their native land, but he said he would not have that privilege, as he was going to die. This prediction was verified. He then asked his brother John if he would obey the request which he would make of him. His brother replied that he would. Then, said he, "take all these things from the table, one by one, and carry them into the other room." This was done, and he then requested him to bring them back again, and place them where they were at first. His brother did this without asking any questions. Then said the dying brother, "Well done, my boy, that is the way to serve the Lord; when you are called upon to do anything, do it without asking questions." In his after life he always tried to carry out the admonition of his dying brother. In the year 1844 he learned of the death of Joseph Smith the Prophet. All that he heard about him up to this time was from persons who did not know his true character, and consequently he was rather prejudiced against him. When he heard of his death a voice whispered to him, "He was a servant of God," and from that time he never entertained any bad feelings towards Joseph Smith or the Latter day Saints, although he heard but little about them until he removed to Birkenhead in 1846. During his residence there he visited Liverpool and was invited to attend a a meeting of the Latter-day Saints. After listening to the elders preach and bear testimony to the work of God, he and his father handed in their names for baptism. He and his parents were baptized on the 12th of Sept. 1848, by Elder Thos. Wilson. He was ordained an elder about the 7th of October of the same year by Apostle John Taylor. In [unreadable] in preaching, organizing branches of the church and working at his trade for his support. While laboring in the ministry he was often mobbed and persecuted, and attempts were made to take his life. On the 6th of Dec. ??, he was married to Harriet Julia Roberts. He labored in Wales until the beginning of ??, when he was released to emigrate to Zion. He took passage on a vessel bound for America, on the ?? of April. He crossed the plains with handcarts, and arrived in the valley on the ?? of October and settled in Salt Lake city. He was ordained a member of the 37th quorum of Seventies, in the fall of ??, and in April, 1856, was sent upon a mission to Great Britain. He labored diligently upon this mission for about four years. On the 7th of August, 1877, he was sent to take charge of the mason work of the Logan Temple. He therefore moved his family to that place. He superintended the building of this structure until the time of his death-on the 16th of May, 1882. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. On the 1st of August, 1880, he was set apart to preside over the High Priests quorums of Cache Stake. He leaves a wife and five children. |