Brigham Young

Brigham Young

1801–1877 (76 years)

Hometown: Whittingham, Vermont

Biography

Brigham Young was the second President of the LDS Church, serving from 1847 until his death in 1877. A skilled carpenter and craftsman from Vermont, Young converted to Mormonism in 1832 after reading the Book of Mormon. He rose quickly in church leadership, becoming one of the original Twelve Apostles in 1835.

After Joseph Smith’s death, Young led the largest faction of Mormons westward to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, organizing one of the most significant mass migrations in American history. As both church president and territorial governor of Utah, he established over 350 settlements throughout the American West and founded Brigham Young University.

Young was an outspoken advocate of polygamy, publicly announcing the practice in 1852. He married approximately 55 women and fathered 56 children. He taught the controversial Adam-God doctrine (that Adam was God the Father) and blood atonement. His presidency was marked by the Utah War with the federal government and the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857, where Mormon militiamen killed approximately 120 emigrants—an event that remains controversial regarding Young’s knowledge and involvement.

He led the church through its most dramatic period of growth and consolidation, transforming a persecuted sect into a thriving religious civilization in the American West.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Joseph Smith Joseph Smith 1805–1844 (38 years)

Apostles Who Served During This Presidency

Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon Heber C. Kimball Heber C. Kimball Lyman E. Johnson Lyman E. Johnson John F. Boynton John F. Boynton Luke S. Johnson Luke S. Johnson Orson Hyde Orson Hyde William E. McLellin William E. McLellin William Smith William Smith Parley P. Pratt Parley P. Pratt Thomas B. Marsh Thomas B. Marsh Orson Pratt Orson Pratt John Taylor John Taylor John E. Page John E. Page Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff George A. Smith George A. Smith

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Wives (56)

Brigham Young was a polygamist with 56 marriages. 5 of these wives were teenagers at the time of marriage.

Marriage Age Comparison

56 wives · Ages at marriage

Her age His age Teenage bride (<18)
#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Miriam Works Oct 8, 1824 182352
2 Mary Ann Angell Mar 31, 1834 303226
3 Lucy Ann Decker Jun 14, 1842 2041217
4 Augusta Adams Nov 2, 1843 404220
5 Harriett Elizabeth Cook Nov 2, 1843 1842242
6 Clarissa Caroline Decker ⚠ May 8, 1844 1542275
7 Clarissa Ross Sep 10, 1844 3043134
8 Louisa Beaman Sep 19, 1844 2943145
9 Eliza R. Snow Oct 3, 1844 404330
10 Elizabeth Fairchild ⚠ Oct 3, 1844 1643270
11 Clarissa Blake Oct 8, 1844 474340
12 Rebecca Greenleaf Holman Oct 9, 1844 2043230
13 Diana Chase ⚠ Oct 10, 1844 1743260
14 Maria Lawrence Oct 12, 1844 2143220
15 Susannah Snively Oct 31, 1844 2943141
16 Emily Dow Partridge c. Nov 1, 1844 c. 2043237
17 Olive Grey Frost Nov 7, 1844 2843150
18 Mary Ann Clark Jan 15, 1845 2843150
19 Margaret Pierce Jan 16, 1845 2143221
20 Mary Harvey Pierce Jan 16, 1845 2343200
21 Emmeline Free Apr 30, 1845 19432410
22 Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner May 22, 1845 2743160
23 Margaret Maria Alley Jan 14, 1846 2044242
24 Emily Haws Jan 15, 1846 c. 2344210
25 Olive Andrews Jan 15, 1846 2844160
26 Ellen Rockwood ⚠ Jan 21, 1846 1644280
27 Martha Bowker Jan 21, 1846 2344211
28 Abigail Marks Jan 28, 1846 6444200
29 Cynthia Porter Jan 28, 1846 6244180
30 Jemima Angell Jan 28, 1846 414430
31 Phoebe Ann Morton Jan 28, 1846 5944150
32 Mary Eliza Nelson Jan 31, 1846 3344110
33 Rhoda Richards Jan 31, 1846 6144170
34 Zina Diantha Huntington Feb 2, 1846 2544191
35 Abigail Harbach Feb 3, 1846 5544110
36 Amey Cecilia Cooper Feb 3, 1846 414430
37 Julia Foster Feb 3, 1846 3444100
38 Mary Ann Turley Feb 3, 1846 1844260
39 Mary Ellen de la Montaigne Feb 3, 1846 424420
40 Naamah Carter Feb 4, 1846 2444200
41 Nancy Cressy Feb 6, 1846 6644220
42 Jane Terry Feb 10, 1846 2644180
43 Lucy Bigelow ⚠ Mar 5, 1846 1544293
44 Mary Jane Bigelow Mar 20, 1847 1945260
45 Sarah Malin Apr 18, 1848 444620
46 Eliza Burgess Apr 18, 1852 2450261
47 Mary Oldfield Dec 16, 1852 6151100
48 Eliza Babcock Jan 1, 1853 2451270
49 Catherine Reese Jun 10, 1855 515430
50 Harriet Barney May 14, 1856 2554292
51 Harriet Amelia Folsom Jan 24, 1863 2461370
52 Mary Van Cott Mar 30, 1866 2264421
53 Ann Eliza Webb Apr 7, 1868 2366430
54 Elizabeth Jones Jul 3, 1869 5768110
55 Lydia Farnsworth May 8, 1870 626860
56 Hannah Tapfield Dec 8, 1872 c. 657160

Children (61)

With Miriam Works (2 children)

  1. Elizabeth Young (b. Sep 26, 1825)
  2. Vilate Young (b. Jun 1, 1830)

With Mary Ann Angell (6 children)

  1. Joseph Angell Young (b. Oct 14, 1834)
  2. Mary Ann Young (b. Dec 18, 1836)
  3. Brigham Young Jr. (b. Dec 18, 1836)
  4. Alice Young (b. Sep 4, 1839)
  5. Luna Caroline Young (b. Aug 20, 1842)
  6. John Willard Young (b. Oct 1, 1844)

With Lucy Ann Decker (7 children)

  1. Brigham Heber Young (b. Jun 19, 1845)
  2. Fanny Caroline Decker Young (b. Jan 26, 1849)
  3. Ernest Irving Young (b. Apr 30, 1851)
  4. Semira Young (b. Jan 21, 1853)
  5. Arta D'Christa Young (b. Apr 16, 1855)
  6. Feramorz Little Young (b. Sep 16, 1858)
  7. Clarissa Hamilton Young (b. Jul 23, 1860)

With Harriett Elizabeth Cook (2 children)

  1. Oscar Brigham Young (b. Feb 10, 1846)
  2. Annie Marie Roseberry Young (b. Jan 1, 1855)

With Clarissa Caroline Decker (5 children)

  1. Jeannette Richards Young (b. Dec 14, 1849)
  2. Nabbie Howe Young (b. Mar 22, 1852)
  3. Jedediah Grant Young (b. Jan 21, 1855)
  4. Albert Jeddie Young (b. Jan 4, 1858)
  5. Charlotte Talula Young (b. Mar 4, 1861)

With Clarissa Ross (4 children)

  1. Mary Eliza Young (b. Jun 8, 1847)
  2. Clarissa Maria Young (b. Dec 10, 1849)
  3. Willard Young (b. Apr 30, 1852)
  4. Phoebe Louisa Young (b. Aug 1, 1854)

With Louisa Beaman (5 children)

  1. Moroni Young (b. Jan 8, 1847)
  2. Joseph Young (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  3. Hyrum Young (b. Jan 1, 1848)
  4. Alva Beaman Young (b. Jul 25, 1848)
  5. Alma Burtts Young (b. Jan 1, 1848)

With Susannah Snively (1 child)

  1. Julia Young (adopted) (b. Jun 3, 1853)

With Emily Dow Partridge (7 children)

  1. Edward Partridge Young (b. Oct 30, 1845)
  2. Emily Augusta Young (b. Mar 1, 1849)
  3. Caroline Partridge Young (b. Feb 1, 1851)
  4. Joseph Don Carlos Young (b. May 6, 1855)
  5. Miriam Young (b. Oct 13, 1857)
  6. Josephine Young (b. Feb 21, 1860)
  7. Laura Young (b. Apr 2, 1862)

With Margaret Pierce (1 child)

  1. Brigham Morris Young (b. Jan 18, 1854)

With Emmeline Free (10 children)

  1. Ella Elizabeth Young (b. Aug 31, 1847)
  2. Marinda Hyde Young (b. Jul 30, 1849)
  3. Hyrum Smith Young (b. Jan 2, 1851)
  4. Emmeline Amanda Young (b. Feb 11, 1853)
  5. Louisa Wells Young (b. Oct 30, 1855)
  6. Lorenzo Dow Young (b. Sep 22, 1856)
  7. Alonzo Young (b. Dec 20, 1858)
  8. Ruth Young (b. Mar 4, 1861)
  9. Daniel Wells Young (b. Feb 9, 1863)
  10. Ardelle Elwin Young (b. Oct 26, 1864)

With Margaret Maria Alley (2 children)

  1. Evelyn Louisa Young (b. Jul 30, 1850)
  2. Mahonri Moriancumer Young (b. Nov 1, 1852)

With Martha Bowker (1 child)

  1. Ida Ames Young (b. Dec 30, 1860)

With Zina Diantha Huntington (1 child)

  1. Zina Presendia Young (b. Apr 3, 1850)

With Lucy Bigelow (3 children)

  1. Eudora Lovina Young (b. May 12, 1852)
  2. Susan Amelia Young (b. Mar 18, 1856)
  3. Rhoda Mabel Young (b. Feb 22, 1863)

With Eliza Burgess (1 child)

  1. Alfales Young (b. Oct 3, 1853)

With Harriet Barney (2 children)

  1. Phineas Howe Young (b. Feb 15, 1862)
  2. Infant Young (b. Jan 1, 1865)

With Mary Van Cott (1 child)

  1. Fannie Van Cott Young (b. Jan 14, 1870)

Related Posts (115)

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The next day being Sunday, I sat down, instead of going to meeting, and wrote the conversation, and gave it to my sister, who was not a little surprised; but she said it would be best to go to meeting in the afternoon. We went, and Young administered the sacrament. After it was over, I was passing out, and Young stopped me, saying, 'Wait, Martha, I am coming.' I said, 'I cannot; my sister is waiting for me.' He then threw his coat over his shoulders, and followed me out, and whispered, 'Have you made up your mind, Martha?' 'Not exactly, sir,' said I; and we parted. I shall proceed to a justice of the peace, and make oath to the truth of these statements... - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org 'Sir,' said I, rather warmly, 'it will be too late to think in a month or two after. I want time to think first.' ... 'Well, but look here,' said [Joseph Smith]; 'you know a fellow will never be damned for doing the best he knows how.' 'When, then,' said I, 'the best way I know of, is to go home and think and pray about it.' ... 'Well,' said Joseph, 'I see no harm in her having time to think, if she will not fall into temptation.' 'O, sir,' said I, 'there is no fear of my falling into temptation.' 'Well, but,' said Brigham, 'you must promise me you will never mention it to anyone.' 'I do promise it,' said I. 'Well,' said Joseph, 'you must promise me the same.' I promised him the same. 'Upon your honor,' said he, 'you will not tell.' 'No, sir, I will lose my life first,' said I... Joseph said, 'she looks as if she could keep a secret.'” - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org [Brigham Young] returned with Joseph. 'Well,' said Young, 'sister Martha would be willing if she knew it was lawful and right before God.' 'Well, Martha,' said Joseph, 'it is lawful and right before God–I know it is. Look here, sis; don't you believe in me?' I did not answer. 'Well Martha,' said Joseph, 'just go ahead, and do as Brigham wants you to–he is the best man in the world, except me.... I know that this is lawful and right before God, and if there is any sin in it, I will answer for it before God; and I have the keys of the kingdom, and whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven, and if you will accept of Brigham, you shall be blessed... if you do not like it in a month or two, come to me, and I will make you free again; and if he turns you off, I will take you on.' - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org If you will have me in this world, I will have you in that which is to come, and brother Joseph will marry us here today, and you can go home this evening, and your parents will not know anything about it.' 'Sir,' said I, 'I should not like to do anything of the kind without the permission of my parents,' 'Well, but,' said he, 'you are of age, are you not?' 'No, sir,' said I, 'I shall not be until the 24th of May.' 'Well,' said he, 'that does not make any difference. You will be of age before they know, and you need not fear... But brother Joseph wishes to have some talk with you on the subject–he will explain things–will you hear him?' 'I do not mind,' said I. 'Well, but I want you to say something,' said he. 'I want time to think about it,' said I. - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org My feelings at that moment were indescribable. God only knows them. What, thought I are these men, that I thought almost perfection itself, deceivers? Is all my fancied happiness but a dream? It was even so; but my next thought was, which is the best way for me to act at this time? If I say no, they may do as they think proper; and to say yes, I never would. So I considered it best to ask for time to think and pray about it. I therefore said, 'If it was lawful and right, perhaps I might; but you know, sir, it is not.'— 'Well, but,' said [Brigham Young], 'brother Joseph has had a revelation from God that it is lawful and right for a man to have two wives; for, as it was in the days of Abraham. - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org [Brigham Young] smiled, and then proceeded 'Sister Martha, I want to ask you a few questions; will you answer them?' 'Yes, sir,' said I. 'And will you promise not to mention them to any one?' 'If it is your desire, sir,' said I, 'I will not.' 'And you will not think any the worse of me for it, will you, Martha?' said he. 'No sir,' I replied. 'Well,' said he, 'what are your feelings toward me?' I replied, 'My feelings are just the same towards you that they ever were, sir.' 'But, to come to the point more closely,' said he, 'have not you an affection for me, that, were it lawful and right, you could accept of me for your husband and companion.' - Martha H. Brotherton, Brigham Young & Joseph Smith, Brotherton Affidavit, July 13, 1842 | wasmormon.org Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman empire....Rome became the mistress of the world, and introduced this order of monogamy wherever her sway was acknowledged. Thus this monogamic order of marriage, so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by a set of robbers.... Why do we believe in and practice polygamy? Because the Lord introduced it to his servants in a revelation given to Joseph Smith, and the Lord's servants have always practiced it. 'And is that religion popular in heaven?' it is the only popular religion there... - Brigham Young, The Deseret News, August 6, 1862 | wasmormon.org Talk about polygamy! There is no true philosopher on the face of the earth but what will admit that such a system, properly carried out according to the order of heaven, is far superior to monogamy for the raising of healthy, robust children! - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 13, p317 | wasmormon.org “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy.” - Brigham Young, Mormon Prophet August 19, 1866, Journal of Discourses, Volume 11, #41 pages 266-272 | wasmormon.org “While being transported to the penitentiary, according to his mother, Elizabeth Jones, Lewis “was taken out of the wagon a blanket put round his head & ... like a pig by taking his testicles clean out & he laid at this place in a dangerous state he was out two nights & part of two days before he was found.” Manti­ bishop Warren Snow had ordered her son’s castration... she asked the church president if her son’s punishment was “right and righteous.”... Though he condoned it afterward, it is uncertain whether Young had authorized Thomas Lewis’s castration in advance.” - John G. Turner, Brigham Young - Pioneer Prophet, 2012 | wasmormon.org “I wish you to write me the names of those persons who have "written letters" to Sanpete concerning the Lewis affair. In relation to an epistle upon that subject, it would be like pissing upon a hot iron, only make the more smoke. Just let the matter drop, and say no more about it, and it will soon die away, amongst the people. ... With many thanks for your good wishes and a sincere desire that you may be adequate to every duty, I subscribe myself your Brother in Christ.” - Brigham Young, Letter to Bishop Warren S. Snow, July 7, 1857 | wasmormon.org “Among the victims to priestly hatred and jealousy was a young man about twenty years of age, in San Pete County, named Thomas Lewis... he was quite attentive to a young lady-friend... It happened that Snow, the Bishop of the ward in which the Lewis family lived, had cast his patriarchal eye on this young girl, and designed her for himself... Lewis's doom was sealed at once... The closest espionage was kept upon him by the Bishop's band of ruffians, and one evening a favorable opportunity presented itself; he was waylaid, and the Bishop's sentence carried out, which was to inflict on the boy an injury so brutal and barbarous that no woman's pen may write the words that describe it.” - Ann Eliza Young, Wife No.19, Brigham Young's Apostate Wife, 1876 | wasmormon.org The church’s whitewashed, faith-promoting history glosses over many crucial parts of Green Flake’s story. It omits that in Nauvoo, the Flake family donated his slave labor to help build the temple. It skips the fact that he was sent west not as a free pioneer, but to perform slave duties—and that when he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, he plowed the land, planted the first crops, and built a log cabin, all in preparation for the arrival of his enslavers. The church also fails to mention that Green was later given to the church itself as tithing and “served” Brigham Young as a personal servant—a euphemism for slave—for at least a year. Even his eventual emancipation is left unspoken, likely because the details remain unclear and uncomfortable to confront. In 1851, his mother and family went with C. C. Rich and A. M. Lyman to settle San Bernardino. Previous to going she gave her negro slave Green Flake (one of the Pioneers of 1847) to the Church as tithing. He then worked two years for Pres Young and Heber C. Kimball, and then got his liberty and settled near Union. - William J. Flake, February 14, 1894 | wasmormon.org Name of slave owners: Brigham Young Slaves: 1, Greene Description: (age, sex, color) 23, M, Yellow - Utah Territorial Census Schedule 2 for Salt Lake County and Davis County, 1851, MS 2672, The Church History Library | wasmormon.org “Sister Agnes Flake wishes me to inquire of you if there is any chance for her to receive any help by way of the negro man she left when she came here. She has a family on her hands for which to provide. Her health is also very delicate health and if she could realize something from this quarter it would be a benefit to her. Thomas I. Williams told me if he could, he would purchase the negro and pay for him. A word from you on this subject would be received a favor.” - Amasa Mason Lyman, LDS Apostle, in California, Letter to Brigham Young, LDS Church President, in Utah, July 21, 1854 | wasmormon.org “I feel it best to kill the Indians” “My voice is for war, exterminate them.” “I say go kill them!” “We shall have no peace until the men are killed off - Never treat an Indian as your equal.” - Parley P. Pratt, Willard Richards, and Brigham Young Extermination Order - Timpanogos, January 31, 1850 | wasmormon.org "Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands." - Brigham Young, Mormon Prophet, Salt Lake City, March 16, 1856 Journal Of Discourses, Volume 3, Discourse 35 | wasmormon.org "There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it." - Brigham Young, Mormon Prophet, Salt Lake City, March 16, 1856 Journal Of Discourses, Volume 3, Discourse 35 | wasmormon.org “A recently released streaming series presents a fictionalized interpretation of events in mid-19th century Utah. While historical fiction can be illuminating, this drama is dangerously misleading. Brigham Young, a revered prophet and courageous pioneer, is, by any historical standard, egregiously mischaracterized as a villainous, violent fanatic. Other individuals and groups are also depicted in ways that reinforce stereotypes that are both inaccurate and harmful.” - LDS Newsroom Article: Depictions that Deceive: When Historical Fiction Does Harm - Kim Coates as Brigham Young, in the Netflix series, American Primeval | wasmormon.org "Brigham Young and his wife Mary Ann prayed a lot to the Lord about what to do. They learned that they should obey the commandment of plural marriage." - LDS Scripture Stories, Doctrine and Covenants: 1831–1890 Plural Marriage Faith to obey a law from the Lord even when it's hard | wasmormon.org "No fair-minded person can deny that the massacre was the result of the teachings of Brigham Young, and that the Mormons in church council decided that the emigrants should be killed as they were afterwards killed." - William W. Bishop, Confidential Attorney of John D. Lee. Mormonism Unveiled; The life and confessions of the late Mormon bishop, John D. Lee. Introduction, Page 19 | wasmormon.org "I claim that Brigham Young is the real criminal, and that John D. Lee was an instrument in his hands. That Brigham Young used John D. Lee, as the assassin uses the dagger, to strike down his unsuspecting victim; and as the assassin throws away the dagger, to avoid its bloody blade leading to his detection, so Brigham Young used John D. Lee to do his horrid work; and when discovery becomes unavoidable, he hurls Lee from him, cuts him away from the Church, and casts him far out into the whirlpool of destruction. The assassin has no further use for his weapon. I also claim that if religious fanaticism can clear a man from crime, that John D. Lee was guiltless, for he was one of the most intensely fanatical Mormons that infested Utah in 1857. But I do not claim that the fact of his being a fanatic and blinded believer of Brigham Young's so-called revelations excused him — far from it." - William W. Bishop, Confidential Attorney of John D. Lee. Mormonism Unveiled; The life and confessions of the late Mormon bishop, John D. Lee. Introduction, Page 19 | wasmormon.org “I am told there are some of the brethren who are willing to swear against those who were engaged in that affair. I hope there is no truth in this report. I hope there is no such person here, under the sound of my voice. But if there is, I will tell him my opinion of him, and the fact so far as his fate is concerned. Unless he repent at once of that unholy intention, and keep the secret, he will die a dog's death, and go to hell. I must not hear of any treachery among my people.” - Brigham Young, Cedar City, Speaking of the Mountain Meadows Massacre | wasmormon.org "The Mormons courageously performed their part of the blood bath, after which they took binding oaths to stand by each other, and to always swear that the massacre was committed by Indians alone. This was the advice of Brigham." - John D. Lee, Participant in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Excommunicated by Brigham Young & Executed by US Marshalls | wasmormon.org When missionaries teach other people about Mormonism, they always leave crucial details out. "Preach my Gospel" does not tell missionaries to share about the 30+ wives Joseph Smith had, and as young as 14 years old, nor the 50+ wives Brigham Young had. They don't teach you about the actual reason why Joseph Smith was killed - that he burned down a press. They don't teach that Joseph Smith was a known treasure digger. All these details are just the tip of the iceberg and will show red flags to anyone trying to join this cult. All the characteristics of a cult are present in the Mormon church. - Searjasub's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/searjasub/ As a missionary, I was told to not teach Black people because they were cursed. Then President Kimball said he had a revelation and they were suddenly all clean again... I remember going door to door on my mission that year and someone asked me what revelations our Prophet had recently had. I told them about how Black people could now hold the Priesthood and get married in the Temple. The person had laughed at me and said their church had always loved and accepted Black people. The Church later said that its treatment of Black people was consistent with the social norms of the times... but it never apologized for its racism or said that Brigham Young and Bruce McConkie were wrong. The Church still hasn’t apologized. - Tom's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/tom808/ Born and raised in the faith, I’m a descendant of pioneers who crossed the plains and settled the Salt Lake Valley. I was the perfect Mormon. Seminary, mission, BYU, Temple marriage, family, Stake, and Ward leadership. Ancestors crossed the plains with Brigham Young. Life revolved around the church in every way. We held family home evenings each week and attended every Church service, conference, and fireside. If something was happening at the Church, we were there! I’m a corporate executive, educator, parent, and husband. I was a Mormon. - Tom's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/tom808/ "He who takes offense when offense was not intended is a fool, yet he who takes offense when offense is intended is an even greater fool for he has succumbed to the will of his adversary." - Brigham Young, Mormon Prophet | wasmormon.org I’m surprised that the gospel topic essays don’t pull more people I know away. They try to be honest but are deceptive at the same time. The essays that bothered me most are on the priesthood and polygamy. I hurt for the blacks who lost their priesthood rights and succinctly family rights. Why does the church refuse to apologize for taking the priesthood away from blacks when they know Brigham Young was not God lead in doing so? I also grieve for early European immigrant converts who were told by missionaries that church didn’t practice polygamy only to find out after a life threatening journey to the Salt Lake valley that they do. I can’t imagine the pain those wives bore when their husbands agreed to practice polygamy and bring in new wives. It makes me want to vomit! - Erica's "I was a Mormon" story. Read more at https://wasmormon.org/profile/ehaner/ On January 19, 1845, Brigham Young sealed Lorenzo Snow to Hannah Maria Goddard (b. 1828), sister of his legal wife and his cousin. After the sealing, but prior to consummating the union, Lorenzo left on a mission. In April 1849, Joseph E. Johnson became intimately involved with Hannah who became pregnant with his child (Joseph Eugene Johnson born January 3, 1850). Upon learning of the incident, Lorenzo Snow relinquished his earthly claim to Hannah as his wife and she married Johnson. Johnson, already married, was disciplined by the church and quickly rebaptized as a polygamist. Lorenzo allowed her to be sealed to Johnson in 1861. - Hannah Maria Goddard, Forgotten Teenage Bride and Divorcee of Lorenzo Snow | wasmormon.org "There are statements in our literature by the early brethren which we have interpreted to mean that the Negroes would not receive the priesthood in mortality. I have said the same things, and people write me letters and say, "You said such and such, and how is it now that we do such and such?" And all I can say to that is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation... [All the views and all the thoughts of the past] don't matter any more... It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year." - LDS Apostle, Bruce R. McConkie, BYU Devotional 1978 | wasmormon.org “We recommend that people marry those who are of the same racial background generally, and of somewhat the same economic and social and educational background (some of those are not an absolute necessity, but preferred), and above all, the same religious background, without question” (“Marriage and Divorce,” in 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 1977], p. 144). Aaronic Priesthood, Manual 3, 1995. Chapter 31: Choosing an Eternal Companion | wasmormon.org “I can say with confidence, that there is no people on the face of this earth that pay more respect to females than do this people. I know of no community where females enjoy the privileges they do here.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses Volume 9, 37 February 9, 1862 - Brigham Young had already married 50 of his 56 wives. wasmormon.org "We have to remember, that these people are just simply us who haven't yet learned the truth. I don't know what the answer is. Part of me thinks if we stop talking about it and just love them. Maybe. Maybe that's the answer. Maybe we quit dogging Joseph and Brigham. Those people have heard it. They know. They've just been brainwashed. They can call it whatever they want but that's what it is... Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the love that you've made my family feel in a time where they felt nothing. You don't know what you've done for me." Mormon Bishop in Mississippi Resigned - Says Thank You | wasmormon.org “The principle spoken upon by brother Pratt, this morning [plural marriage], we believe in. And I tell you—for I know it—it will sail over and ride triumphantly above all the prejudice and priestcraft of the day: it will be fostered and believed in by the more intelligent portion of the world as one of the best doctrines ever proclaimed to any people.” - Brigham Young | wasmormon.org “It was the first time in my life that I had desired the grave, and I could hardly get over it for a long time. And when I saw a funeral, I felt to envy the corpse its situation, and to regret that I was not in the coffin, knowing the toil and labor that my body would have to undergo.” - Brigham Young on his feelings when Joseph Smith privately introduced the principle of plural marriage to him as a divine commandment | wasmormon.org "Question: Was Brigham Young a racist? Brigham Young made a number of statements which are now considered blatantly racist" - Fair LDS Apologist Website | Statue of Brigham Young vandalized with red paint and the term 'Racist' | wasmormon.org "Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." - Brigham Young, LDS Prophet 1863 | wasmormon.org "Lyman E. Johnson, the first to be called to the Apostleship when the first Council of Twelve was organized, left the Church, but he never had a really happy day after that. According to President Brigham Young he, (Lyman) on one occasion, said, at a meeting" - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses | wasmormon.org “"Have you enjoyed yourself since resigning 'Mormonism?' Now speak the truth. Come, tell us just as it is. Have you experienced joy and happiness since leaving the kingdom of God? Come, now, don't lie!" Brother answers, "I have not enjoyed one day's peace since I left the Church." This is the declaration of the apostates today, when they tell the truth about it. Look at their countenances—is there happiness depicted there? No, it is sorrow; they choose error instead of truth, they love darkness rather than light, and the end thereof, to use Scripture language, is death.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Speaking for Disaffected Members | wasmormon.org “"I have not enjoyed one day's peace since I left the Church." This is the declaration of the apostates today, when they tell the truth about it.” - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, speaking in for all disaffected church members. | wasmormon.org “Prophets in all dispensations have been "men of their times," who were raised with certain beliefs and interacted all their lives with others who shared those beliefs.” - FAIR: Faithful Answers, Informed Response for Latter Day Saints: Was Brigham Young a Racist? | wasmormon.org Wallace: From 1830 to 1978... blacks could not become priests in the Mormon Church, right? Hinckley: That's correct. Wallace: Why? Hinckley: Because the leaders of the church at that time interpreted that doctrine that way. Wallace: Church policy had it that blacks had 'the mark of Cain'. Brigham Young said, 'Cain slew his brother and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin,' Hinckley: It's behind us. Look, that's behind us. Don't worry about those little flicks of history. - LDS Church President Gordon B Hinckley interviewed on 60 Minutes | wasmormon.org Wallace: From 1830 to 1978... blacks could not become priests in the Mormon Church, right? Hinckley: That's correct. Wallace: Why? Hinckley: Because the leaders of the church at that time interpreted that doctrine that way. Wallace: Church policy had it that blacks had 'the mark of Cain'. Brigham Young said, 'Cain slew his brother and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin,' Hinckley: It's behind us. Look, that's behind us. Don't worry about those little flicks of history. - LDS Church President Gordon B Hinckley interviewed on 60 Minutes | wasmormon.org "If there is a despicable character on the face of the earth, it is an apostate from this Church. He is a traitor who has deceived his best friends, betrayed his trust, and forfeited every principle of honor that God placed within him. They may think they are respected, but they are not. They are disgraced in their own eyes. There is not much honesty within them; they have forfeited their heaven, sold their birth right, and betrayed their friends." - President Brigham Young, Journal of Discources 12:20 | wasmormon.org "The Adam-God problem continued to occupy my mind. I finally decided to try to settle the matter. If the doctrine were true, I was willing, as a faithful member of the church, to accept it. If it were not true, I needed some explanation about the apparent fact that Brigham Young (and other church authorities of his time) vigorously taught it. So I composed a letter to Joseph Fielding Smith, whom I respected very much, and who at the time was the Church Historian and the president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I spelled out to President Smith my dilemma: the evidence seemed to be clear and uncontroverted that Brigham Young had taught that Adam is God the Father. But the present church does not teach this. What is the truth? I secretly thought that President Smith would write back and say something like: "Yes, you can be assured that President Young taught the truth: Adam is our Father and our God. The church does not proclaim this precious truth because we do not wish to expose the mysteries of God to the mockery of the world. Preserve this secret truth as you do the secrets of your temple endowment." I received a short and clear answer to my letter from President Smith. It was quite different from what I had expected. He wrote that such an idea was unscriptural and untrue, and completely false. He did not deal with the evidence that Brigham Young had taught it. He ignored the whole problem as if it didn't exist. It bothered me, but I tried to put it out of my mind." - Richard Packham | https://wasmormon.org/profile/richard-packham/ "In two speeches delivered before the Utah territorial legislature in January and February 1852, Brigham Young announced a policy restricting men of black African descent from priesthood ordination. At the same time, President Young said that at some future day, black Church members would “have [all] the privilege and more” enjoyed by other members." - Race and the Priesthood, LDS Church Gospel Topic Essay | wasmormon.org "It is a great blessing to the seed of Adam to have the seed of Cain for servants... Under these circumstances, their blessings in life are greater in proportion than those who have to provide bread and dinner for them... If we suffer the Devil to rule over us we shall not accomplish any good... Consequently, I will not consent for a moment to have the children of Cain rule me, nor my brethren. No, it is not right." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "Were the children of God to mingle their seed with the seed of Cain it would not only bring the curse of being deprived of the power of the priesthood upon themselves but entail it upon their children after them, and they cannot get rid of it. If a man in an unguarded moment should commit such a transgression, if he would walk up and say cut off my head, and kill man mother and child it would do a great deal towards atoning for the sin. Would this be to curse them? No, it would be a blessing to them. It would do them good that they might be saved with their brethren. A man would shudder should they hear us talk about killing folk, but it is one of the greatest blessings to some to kill them." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "Perhaps I have said enough upon this subject. I have given you the true principles and doctrine...they shall have the right of citizenship, but shall not have the right to dictate in Church and State matters. The abolitionists of the east, have caressed them there, and their whole argument is calculated to darken Counsel as it was here yesterday... What the Gentiles are doing we are consenting to do. What we are trying to do today is to make the Negro equal with us in all our privileges. My voice shall be against it all the day long. I shall not consent for one moment for this council to lay a plan to bring a curse upon this people. I shall not while I am here." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "Let this Church which is called the kingdom of God on the earth and here declare that it is right to mingle our seed, with the black race of Cain, that they shall come in with us and be partakers with us of all the blessings God has given to us. On that very day, and hour we should do so, the priesthood is taken from this Church and kingdom and God leaves us to our fate. The moment we consent to mingle with the seed of Cain the Church must go to destruction." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "What is that mark? You will see it on the countenance of every African you ever did see upon the face of the earth, or ever will see. Now I tell you what I know; when the mark was put upon Cain, Abels's children were in all probability young; the Lord told Cain that he should not receive the blessings of the priesthood nor his seed, until the last of the posterity of Able had received the priesthood, until the redemption of the earth. If there never was a prophet or apostle of Jesus Christ who spoke it before, I tell you, the people that are commonly called negroes are the children of old Cain. I know they are, I know that they cannot bear rule in the priesthood." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "In the kingdom of God on the earth, a man who has African blood in him cannot hold one jot nor title of priesthood; Why? because they are the true eternal principles the Lord Almighty has ordained...and not one particle of power can that posterity of Cain have, until the time comes He says He will have it taken away. The time will come when they will have the privilege of all we have the privilege of and more. In the kingdom of God on earth, the Africans cannot hold one particle of power in Government... inasmuch as it is the Lord's will, they should receive the spirit of God by Baptism; and that is the end of their privilege; and there is no power on earth to give them any more power." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on February 5, 1852 | wasmormon.org "In short, as far as the common comforts of life, salvation, light, truth, enjoyment, and understanding are concerned, the Black African has precisely the same privilege as the white man. But they cannot share in the Priesthood; they cannot bear rule; they cannot bear rule in any place until the curse is removed from them; they are a “servant of servants.”" - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on January 23, 1852 | wasmormon.org "I am firm in the belief that they ought to dwell in servitude. When a master has a Negro and uses him well, he is much better off than if he was free. As for masters knocking them down and whipping them and breaking the limbs of their servants, I have as little opinion of that as any person can have; but good wholesome servitude, I know there is nothing better than that." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on January 23, 1852 | wasmormon.org "I will remark with regard to slavery, inasmuch as we believe in the Bible, inasmuch as we believe in the ordinances of God, in the Priesthood and order and decrees of God, we must believe in slavery. This colored race have been subjected to severe curses, which they have in their families and their classes and in their various capacities brought upon themselves. And until the curse is removed by Him who placed it upon them, they must suffer under its consequences; I am not authorized to remove it. I am a firm believer in slavery." - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on January 23, 1852 | wasmormon.org "A strong abolitionist feeling has power over them, and they commence to whisper round their views upon the subject, saying, “Do you think it’s right? I am afraid it is not right.” I know it is right, and there should be a law made to have the slaves serve their masters, because they are not capable of ruling themselves. When the Lord God cursed old Cain, He said, “Until the last drop of Abel’s blood receives the Priesthood, and enjoys the blessings of the same, Cain shall bear the curse;” then Cain is calculated to have his share next and not until then" - Mormon Prophet, LDS Church President, Governor of Utah, Brigham Young on January 23, 1852 | wasmormon.org "Those who leave the Church are like a feather blown to and fro in the air. They know not whither they are going; they do not understand anything about their own existence; their faith, judgment, and the operation of their minds are as unstable as the movements of the feather" - Brigham Young | wasmormon.org