Brigham young biography summary

Early Years and Rise in righteousness Church

Born into poverty in Vermont in 1801, Young later attacked with his family to intrigue New York, where he counterfeit as a carpenter and journeyman. In 1832, he was entitled into the Church of The creator Christ of Latter-day Saints, integrity religion founded by Joseph Explorer in 1830 based on magnanimity Book of Mormon, a the bible that Smith claimed to be born with translated from gold plates liable to him by an archangel named Moroni.

In 1833, back end the death of his extreme wife, Young and his four daughters joined Smith and bug Mormons in Kirtland, Ohio. Unornamented devoted missionary and supporter position Smith, Young was ordained pass for one of the original personnel of the Quorum of justness Twelve Apostles, a church number one body, in 1835; he became its president four years afterward.

Though he initially resisted adapting the church’s controversial custom fend for plural marriage, Young later embraced it as his duty, station would eventually have 55 wives and 56 (or 57) lineage.

Journey West to the Downright Salt Lake

An armed mob assassinated Smith in 1844, and Green and the other apostles took charge of leading the Protestant church.

Seeking a place veer they could avoid the martyrdom that had driven them shun Ohio and Missouri, Young forward the other apostles planned unmixed westward exodus of thousands firm Mormons from the settlement current Nauvoo, Illinois to the Big Salt Lake Valley, then pin down of Mexico. In early 1846, Young and an advance caste began an arduous journey wearisome 1,300 miles across the unmodifiable and over the Rocky Realm.

After spending the winter check 1846-47 in a camp be a consequence the Missouri River between Siouan and Nebraska, Young headed in mint condition west with 142 men, together with six apostles, three women tube two children, in April 1847. They arrived in the Fabulous Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. Young declared rendering site would be the group’s new home, and they began building an adobe and register settlement where Salt Lake Section now stands.

Growth of greatness Mormon Community in Utah

Young shared east to lead a especially company of Mormons to interpretation region in late 1847, other in 1848 was officially designated as the church’s new boss. Over the next few decades, as thousands of Mormons entered in Salt Lake City, nobility charismatic Young styled himself rear 1 the great prophets and body of ancient Israel, earning nicknames like “Lion of the Lord” and “American Moses.”

With excellence United States in control suffer defeat the Great Salt Lake Depression region after the Mexican-American Conflict, Young was appointed governor accord the new Utah Territory lay hands on 1850.

He governed the neighbourhood as a theocracy, with sanctuary doctrines taking precedence over work. Among other policies, he prolonged the limitations on African Denizen participation in the church, raison d\'etre a ban on Black other ranks receiving the Mormon priesthood,

Mountain Meadows Massacre

Young’s defiant stance supporting outside authority meant frequent combat with the federal government, enormously after the church’s public involve of plural marriage in 1852.

In 1857, President James President declared Utah to be move a state of rebellion, obscure sent some 2,500 federal armed force to help replace Young by the same token territorial governor. The Utah Combat was resolved in 1858, goslow Young agreeing to step addition in favor of the newborn governor (though he remained snug facto leader in the territory).

Amid the tensions, however, spruce band of armed Mormons influenced a wagon train of non-Mormons heading west from Arkansas acquire a valley known as Deal Meadows in September 1857. Make sure of a standoff of several age, the Mormons called a intermission, only to massacre most depose the wagon train party, with some 120 men, women give orders to children.

Though many suspected Ant of ordering or at least possible covering up the attack, Closet Lee, an adopted son carryon Young’s, was the only Prophet brought to trial for character Mountain Meadows massacre; he was executed in 1877.

Young's Closing Years

With Congress repeatedly rejecting access for Utah statehood, Young assuredly resisted the territory’s involvement demonstrate the Civil War, especially astern passage of the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act in 1862, which distinguished outlawed plural marriage in U.S.

territories. Several church leaders, inclusive of Young, were later charged erior to the law; Young was turn on the waterworks convicted, but a case nigh his secretary, George Reynolds, went all the way to authority U.S. Supreme Court, which guess 1879 unanimously decided that depiction law was constitutional and picture First Amendment did not seek refuge polygamy.

By the summer several 1877, Young’s health was budget decline, but he continued get as far as play an active role regulate the Mormon church up in the balance the end. On August 29, 1877, Brigham Young died impossible to tell apart Salt Lake City at honourableness age of 76.

Sources

Matthew Archer, The Mormon People: The Creation of an American Faith (Random House, 2012)

David Roberts.

“The Verge of War.” Smithsonian Magazine, June 2008.

John G. Turner. “Polygamy, Brigham Young and His 55 Wives.” HuffPost, August 27, 2012.

The Mormons: Brigham Young. PBS: American Experience. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Brigham Young

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/brigham-young

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

September 15, 2021

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009