Brigham Young

“The Latter-day Saint community [in Las Vegas is] vibrant across every facet—politically, public service, charitable. … No other group of people [comes] close.”

When the first company of Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, it was uncertain if crops could be grown in the high, dry climate.

Constructing a great tabernacle in an isolated desert in the early 1800s was a much bigger feat than we are giving it credit for.

Here is a look at some of the interesting things we have learned from "Saints, vol. 2" as we anticipate the release of the next volume.

It’s been 175 years since the Mormon Battalion was formed, but only in the past year have historians discovered exactly who served with this historic group.

From listening to her grandmother tell stories about the Prophet to teaching about his life for over three decades, Black has many reasons why she considers Joseph to be a phenomenal man.

Chances are you have heard of Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Who you may have not heard of is George D. Watt—the transcriber who was present for and recorded many of President Young’s teachings and published them as the Journal of Discourses.

Presidents of the United States have been granting pardons to a range of characters since early American history.

It’s been 174 years since the pioneers left their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois, and began the trek west in search of religious freedom.

There are characteristics about the prophet Brigham Young that might be disconcerting or discomforting to people in today’s day and age.

On June 1, 1801, Brigham Young was born in Whittingham, Widdham County, Vermont. At the same time, approximately 900 miles southwest of Whittingham, four-year-old Elisha Hurd Groves was growing up on a farm in Madison, Kentucky. No one could guess at the time the succession of events that would bring these two men together as they fled their homes and journeyed halfway across the country.

As the first temple built in the West and the first temple since Nauvoo, the St. George Utah Temple was well-looked forward to by the Saints.

Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow. But if He knows I am going to do so-and-so, how can I be free to do otherwise?

Brigham Young was a man well acquainted with life and death.

Today, we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrate our pioneer heritage. Stories will be told and heroes will be remembered—the bravery of the Saints at Winter Quarters, the sacrifice of the selfless young men on the banks of the Sweetwater, and the deep relief of Brother Brigham's famous declaration, "This is the right place. Drive on."

President Thomas S. Monson, in addressing the women of the Church in April 2005, gave evidence of his loving nature: “My dear sisters, may God bless you. We love you; we pray for you.” President Monson’s words reiterated a significant teaching: “Remember that you do not walk alone. The Lord has promised you: ‘I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.’”1 In at least three general conference addresses, President Monson has also declared, “How glorious and near to the angels is youth that is clean.”2

In the early days of the Church, it was common for members to be called to serve at young ages.

On September 11th, 1857, a group of Latter-day Saint militiamen persuaded a band of passing emigrants to march down a trail in Mountain Meadows, Utah. Under the pretense of protection and following the orders of their local Church leaders, these militiamen proceeded to execute 120 men, women, and children.

Departing from Fort Laramie, a vanguard company of Saints, including President Brigham Young, trekked across the high plains of Wyoming, passing such landmarks as Independence Rock, Devil’s Gate, and South Pass. During this phase of the journey, the pioneers encountered Jim Bridger, the legendary mountain man who offered advice and encouragement about the unfamiliar territory stretching before them. Bridger spoke optimistically, though cautiously, about the Salt Lake Valley. Wilford Woodruff recorded, “He spoke . . . highly of the great Salt Lake for a settlement,” but warned “there was but one thing that could operate against it . . . that would be frost.”

The following is an excerpt from Stories of Lucy Mack Smith: Mother of the Restoration by Susan Evans McCloud.

Learn more about the Deseret Alphabet here.

When he was just 9 years old, Lorenzo Young, Brigham Young's younger brother, had a dream about his older brother's destiny that would prove prophetic. Here is what Lorenzo Young had to say about his dream:

Introduction

The roughly 800-pound stolen statue of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young that went missing in Salt Lake earlier this week was found Tuesday evening.

Salt Lake City police are looking for an 800-pound statue of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young after it was stolen early Tuesday morning.

God chooses his leaders. This is true at every level of Church administration. Joseph was chosen by the Lord and so were those who came after him. But in those early years, before the practice of succession in the Church had been formalized, some members were uncertain of the format succession ought to follow. In an August meeting held to resolve the matter of succession, the Lord placed the stamp of his approval on Brigham Young. One account gives the record in these words:

When the Mormon pioneer settlers arrived in the Bear Lake Valley in 1863, they must have looked in wonder at the vast body of water of Bear Lake.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious, you have probably collected a decent store of knowledge about important events in Church history. But no matter how well you thought you knew these stories, there are a surprising number of fascinating facts that you might have overlooked. Here is an interesting story about the vision of the three degrees of glory.

Maybe you've heard the urban legend that the hearse outside Disneyland's Haunted Mansion was really used for Brigham Young's burial. While it's a popular Google search, this myth goes to show that Mormons love a good story almost as much as they love Disneyland. But there is one interesting Mormon connection to this feature at Disneyland that you might not have known.

Pennies are worth one cent, nickels are worth five, and dimes are worth ten. People of all cultures learn the values of their currency early in life and deal with them on a daily basis. Perhaps that's why it's so surprising that not all coins are worth what they're actually worth.

In today’s world, the internet is a vital invention that has completely changed the face of communication and commerce—it’s hard to imagine the world without it. But the completion of the transcontinental railroad in the west desert of Utah had a similarly revolutionary effect on 1869 commerce and communication, dropping travel costs from $1,000 to $65, eliminating the need for dangerous maritime passages via Panama and Cape Horn, and increasing wealth and resources. It was celebrated in every major city in America: the Liberty Bell pealed in Philadelphia, 100 cannons were fired in New York City, and a parade three miles long wound through Chicago. Even the former Confederate States of America joined in the celebration of the East joining the West.

While the United States was being plunged into the midst of the Civil War, George Q. Cannon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles met with President Abraham Lincoln on Friday the 13th in June of 1862, just six months before President Lincoln would issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing over 3 million slaves.

According to the auction company, the revolver has a personal inscription to Brigham Young and was given to him by what was then the largest firearms dealer in the wild west!

After a long day of working in Harvard's library, an LDS student decided to see what books the school had about his religion. What he found was a long forgotten treasure that is simply incredible.

A New York dealer in antique maps and rare books claims to have found the first map of Salt Lake City.

Though it's the primary language of the United States, English is notoriously difficult to learn. And despite having fewer native speakers than both Mandarin and Spanish, it's the most widely spoken language in the entire world—which means lots of people have had to learn it. It's a challenging task for all who undertake it, and that was the problem Brigham Young hoped to solve when he ordered that the board of regents at the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah) create a new alphabet.

A new bookdetailing the role of women in the Church's history takes an unflinching look at topics like why Brigham Young disbanded the Relief Society for a time, pioneer women's views on polygamy, and early women Church leaders performing healing blessings.

MR says: Thirteen handwritten documents holding the signatures of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and many other prominent Church leaders valued at over $3 million were recently donated to a public library where they will be put on display.

MR says: How many of these events did you know about? Though not always highlighted in classes or our culture, these events shaped the Church as we know it today.

MR says: Ever wondered where Brigham Young lived and what he did before he was a Mormon?

MR says: How much do you know about the Mormon War? Many of these little-known quotes and facts might surprise you.

Late one fall evening after Heber and Vilate Kimball had retired to their bed, they were awakened suddenly by a urgent knocking at their door. A neighbor, John Greene, who lived just 100 steps away, stood at the door and bade them come out and behold the scenery in the heavens.”

“I saw this sign while I was driving that said ‘Blasting Zone Ahead.’ Wow—shouldn’t that read ‘Road Closed?’”

Low water is not always a bad thing for boaters. At least boaters with a taste for the history of the lakes they sail.

It is coincidental that the exterior wood trim of pioneer leader Brigham Young's winter home is painted in pleasing shades of green and red — colors we associate with Christmas, a time of year when the great Mormon colonizer took up residence in St. George in his later years.