By Rodolfo Acevedo, first counselor, Santiago
Chile Puente Alto Stake
Published: Saturday, Nov. 24, 1990, LDS Church
News
Commemorating the visit of Parley
P. Pratt and his wife, Phoebe, to this nation in the 1850s, a memorial plaque
has been placed at the cemetery where their infant son was buried in 1852.
Elder Pratt of the Council of the
Twelve, accompanied by his wife and Elder Rufus Allen, arrived in Chile Nov. 8,
1851. Three weeks later, on Nov. 30, Sister Pratt gave birth to a boy they
named Omner. The baby lived until Jan. 7, and was buried in a private
Valparaiso cemetery. The cemetery plaque notes that Omner Pratt was "Son
of Parley P. Pratt, Apostle of Jesus Christ and first missionary of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to South America, who dedicated this land
for the preaching of the gospel."
Local members located the
gravesite through their research. They also donated funds for the plaque, and
made arrangements for the grave marker to be placed. The register of graves is
well-preserved and the gravesite is in good condition. The Cemetery of the
Dissidents (for foreigners), as it is called, is under the care of the Union
Church.
