Young, Brigham

Brigham (1801-1877), a leader of the Mormon people. He was born at Whittingham, Vermont, June 1, 1801, and died at Salt Lake City, August 29, 1877. His education was slight. He learned the business of house-painting and glass-cutting. He became a member of the Baptist church. In 1831 he was converted to Mormonism and was received into membership the following year at Kirtland, Ohio. In 1835 he was chosen by Joseph Smith, the prophet, as one of the twelve apostles. On the death of their leader in 1844 the Mormons chose Young president. When the Mormons were driven from their home at Nauvoo, Young led them west through incredible hardships to the shore of Great Salt Lake and founded a new commonwealth. The success of the colonists in converting an alkali waste into a fruitful irrigated garden region, the upbuilding of the city, and the erection of the great Mormon Temple were due largely to the genius of Young for leadership and empire-building. He was appointed territorial governor of Utah by President Fillmore.

Young was the founder of Mormon polygamy. Smith had not announced plural marriage as a tenet of the church, but, in 1852, Young promulgated the doctrine of marrying many wives. He claimed that it had been revealed to him by Smith nine years before. No woman could be saved except she were sealed to a believing husband. It was the duty, therefore, of the elders, to seal each marriageable woman to some husband, lest she be lost eternally. Young set the pace by marrying a score of wives actual, besides sealing many others. His nineteenth wife, Ann Eliza Young, gained notoriety by suing for divorce. Smith's wife and sons pronounced the doctrine of polygamy a forgery. They had a large following, but were suppressed finally.

See Utah; Mormons; Salt Lake City