The founder and first Prophet of the Mormon Church, along with being the predecessor of Brigham Young, expressed his compulsion to pray for grace when encountering an attractive woman. Despite facing unpopularity during his time, Brigham Young garnered immense respect within his religion. He possessed practicality and great common sense as he led his people to settle in the Rockies. Furthermore, he oversaw the establishment of over 325 western towns, fostered the growth of railroads, stores, and factories, and facilitated the migration of numerous immigrants to Utah. Additionally, he implemented an efficient missionary system that annually attracts more than one hundred thousand new members to the Mormon church.
Young’s unpopularity can be attributed to various reasons, primarily his adherence to the Mormon belief in polygamy. According to World Book Encyclopedia, he had around fifty-five wives and fifty-six children. While Mormons are considered Christians, most Christian religions practice monogamy, leading to significant controversy in the eastern states.
Born on June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vermont, Young became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1832 after two years of studying Joseph Smith’s The Book of Mormon and reflecting upon it. In the following year, he led a group of converts to Kirtland, Ohio.
In 1835, Young quickly rose to become the second most senior member of the newly formed Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. By 1839, he became the senior member and led Smith and Mormons to Nauvoo, Illinois, offering them temporary safety from persecution. During this time, Young also went on a missionary assignment in England for a year before returning and assuming the role of main financial officer for the Mormon Church. In 1844, while campaigning for Joseph Smith’s presidential bid, Young learned about the lynching mob’s murder of Joseph Smith and his brother in Nauvoo. After a bitter struggle with rivals, Young eventually took over leadership of the church.
As the leader of the church, Young believed that Mormons needed to relocate westward due to their inability to peacefully coexist with American society. Upon assuming presidency in 1847, he dispatched a team to survey suitable land for settlement in the west and ultimately established a Mormon community near the Great Salt Lake. In 1848, Young and his followers migrated to Utah where they began cultivating land through irrigation methods and initiating public projects. Furthermore, Young actively encouraged individuals to immigrate to Utah. Following the enactment of the Utah Territorial Act in 1850, he assumed the role of the territory’s first governor; however, Buchanan later compelled him to resign from this position in 1858.
Brigham Young had conflicting aspects in his life. While he adhered to Jesus’ teachings of humility and detachment from worldly possessions, citing divine guidance, he also advocated for violence and holy warfare against non-Mormons. In later years, Young became more focused on acquiring wealth and pursuing personal pleasures. Despite these contradictions, Young exhibited admirable traits as the leader of a prominent religious group. He displayed bravery, resolve, organizational abilities, and the capacity to motivate and guide others. It is remarkable that he accomplished all this with only eleven days of formal education, underscoring his exceptional common sense. Throughout his lifetime, Young consistently demonstrated a wide range of qualities.
Despite his advanced age, Young maintained a strong and attractive physical appearance throughout his life. Standing at five feet and ten inches tall, he had a notably robust physique with a chest measuring forty-five inches wide due to his active outdoor lifestyle. Like Joseph Smith before him, Young possessed a captivating charm that attracted both men and women.
At the age of 77, Young passed away on August 29th, 1877 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His followers were influenced by him in various ways. He motivated them to succeed, spread God’s message, and endure hardships. However, he also instilled fear of Satan, expulsion from the church, and eternal damnation. Going against church doctrine or authority was considered a serious offense that led to excommunication. Moreover, during his leadership, the church adopted an anti-intellectual stance with leaders being suspicious of new ideas.
Despite these contradictions, Young holds a secure place in history. He is highly respected by almost four million Mormons and will be remembered as long as their faith persists.
