Read complete books and articles on: Brigham Young

Young, Brigham - brĭgˈəm, 1801–77, American religious leader, early head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, b. Whitingham, Vt. Brigham Young was perhaps the greatest molder of Mormonism, his influence having a greater effect even than that of the church's founder, Joseph Smith, in shaping the Mormon faith as it exists today (see Latter-Day Saints

Early Life

He was a painter and glazier in Mendon, Monroe co., N.Y., when he was first attracted to the new religion. Baptized as an adult in 1832, he led a group to the Mormon community at Kirtland, Ohio, and in 1835 became one of the Council of Twelve (the Apostles). When the Mormons were persecuted in their Missouri Zion in the late 1830s, Young was one of the few Mormon leaders not placed under arrest, and his abilities as an organizer came to the fore. He was one of the chief figures in the move to Nauvoo, Ill. Sent as missionary to England, he started a community that eventually brought approximately 40,000 émigrés to the United States between 1841 and 1870.

Mormon Leader

After Joseph Smith's assassination (1844), Young was the chief factor in maintaining the unity of the church in the Council of Twelve. From that time forward, he served as the Mormons' spiritual leader. He led the great migration west in 1846–47 and was the director of the settlement at Salt Lake City. He exercised supreme control in the communal theocracy of Mormonism, and his genius, as much as anything else, led to the phenomenal growth of a prosperous community. After the creation of Utah's provisional government, he was also made territorial governor and superintendent of Indian affairs.

When the Mormon practice of polygamy and a more general fear and hatred of Mormon power led to hostilities between the United States and the Mormons, Young defended Mormon interests, particularly during the military expedition against the Mormons called the Utah War (1857–58). He lost his post as governor, but through his able statesmanship, he avoided a real break with the United States. In his old age, he was arrested on charges of polygamy and murder, but he was acquitted and his influence increased rather than diminished until his death.

The exact number of his wives—still a contested figure—and the extent of his fortune were the objects of curiosity and idle rumor nationwide. Accusations of sensuality leveled against him by people who were ignorant of the basic principles of Mormon doctrine were not justified. The most serious charge that can be brought against him is that of condoning the massacre at Mountain Meadows. He did not instigate that crime, but it seems probable that he did protect its perpetrators.

Bibliography

See Susa Young Gates (his daughter) and L. E. Widtsoe, The Life Story of Brigham Young (1930); C. Stott, Search For Sanctuary (1984); L. J. Arrington, Brigham Young (1985); N. G. Bringhurst, Brigham Young (1986).

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9 of the Best Books and Articles on: Brigham Young

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

Kingdom of the Saints: The Story of Brigham Young and the Mormons (1957) » Read Now
by Ray B. West Jr. 396 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
2.

Discourses of Brigham Young: Second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints » Read Now
by Brigham Young. John A. Widtsoe. 762 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
3.

When Prophets Die: The Postcharismatic Fate of New Religious Movements ("Brigham Young Takes Charge at Nauvoo" begins on p. 62) » Read Now
by Timothy Miller. 248 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
4.

In Mormon Circles: Gentiles, Jack Mormons, and Latter-Day Saints (Chap. 3 "Brigham Young and the New Zion") » Read Now
by James Coates. 235 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
5.

The Story of the Mormons: From the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901 ("Brigham Young" begins on p. 327, "Brigham Young's Despotism" begins on p. 433, "The Last Years of Brigham Young" begins on p. 567, and "Brigham Young's Death - His Character" begins on p. 574) » Read Now
by William Alexander Linn. 637 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
6.

An Introduction to Mormonism ("Young, Brigham" begins on p. 139) » Read Now
by Douglas J. Davies. 277 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, History, Entire Library

Although one of the fastest growing religious movements in the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains a mystery in terms of its core beliefs and theological structure. This timely book provides an important introduction to the basic history, doctrines and practices of The...
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Although one of the fastest growing religious movements in the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains a mystery in terms of its core beliefs and theological structure. This timely book provides an important introduction to the basic history, doctrines and practices of The LDS--the "Mormon" Church. Emphasizing sacred texts and prophecies as well as the crucial Temple rituals of endowments, marriage and baptism, it is written by a non-believer, who describes Mormonism in ways that non-Mormons can understand.
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7.

Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-Day Saints in American Religion ("Brigham Young" begins on p. 77) » Read Now
by Philip L. Barlow. 256 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library

The Mormons have been one of the most studied American religious groups; still, no consensus exists about the essential nature of the movement or its place in American religion. In this study, Barlow analyzes the approaches taken to the Bible by key Mormon leaders, from founder Joseph Smith up to...
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The Mormons have been one of the most studied American religious groups; still, no consensus exists about the essential nature of the movement or its place in American religion. In this study, Barlow analyzes the approaches taken to the Bible by key Mormon leaders, from founder Joseph Smith up to the present day. He shows that Mormon attitudes toward the Bible comprise an extraordinary mix of conservative, liberal, and radical ingredients: an almost fundamentalist adherence to the King James Version of the Bible coexists with belief in the possibility of new revelation and surprising ideas on the limits of human language. Exploring this unique Mormon stance on scripture, Barlow takes important steps toward unraveling the mystery of this quintessential American religious phenomenon.
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8.

Prelude to the Kingdom: Mormon Desert Conquest: A Chapter in American Cooperative Experience (1947) (Includes discussion of Brigham Young in multiple chapters) » Read Now
by Gustive O. Larson. 316 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, Entire Library
9.

Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West, 1847-1896 (Includes discussion of Brigham Young in multiple chapters) » Read Now
by David L. Bigler. 411 pgs.

Collections: Religious Studies, History, Entire Library

This volume tells of the Mormon church leaders' struggle to establish in Utah an independent, theocratic Kingdom of God.