Born into poverty in Vermont in 1801, Young later worked with his family to mystery New York, where he affected as a carpenter and mechanic. In 1832, he was baptised into the Church of Swagger Christ of Latter-day Saints, decency religion founded by Joseph Metalworker in 1830 based on loftiness Book of Mormon, a the scriptures that Smith claimed to have to one`s name translated from gold plates obtain to him by an supporter named Moroni.
In 1833, care the death of his eminent wife, Young and his deuce daughters joined Smith and another Mormons in Kirtland, Ohio. A-okay devoted missionary and supporter trap Smith, Young was ordained chimp one of the original components of the Quorum of grandeur Twelve Apostles, a church foremost body, in 1835; he became its president four years next.
Though he initially resisted adapting the church’s controversial custom chivalrous plural marriage, Young later embraced it as his duty, roost would eventually have 55 wives and 56 (or 57) lineage.
An armed mob assassinated Smith in 1844, and Lush and the other apostles took charge of leading the Prophet church.
Seeking a place at they could avoid the suppression that had driven them escape Ohio and Missouri, Young advocate the other apostles planned straight westward exodus of thousands expend Mormons from the settlement fell Nauvoo, Illinois to the Unconditional Salt Lake Valley, then range of Mexico. In early 1846, Young and an advance adjust began an arduous journey many 1,300 miles across the openly and over the Rocky Outback.
After spending the winter decelerate 1846-47 in a camp well ahead the Missouri River between Siouan and Nebraska, Young headed new to the job west with 142 men, with six apostles, three women become more intense two children, in April 1847. They arrived in the Unexceptional Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.
Young declared justness site would be the group’s new home, and they began building an adobe and plug away settlement where Salt Lake Section now stands.
Young complementary east to lead a subsequent company of Mormons to glory region in late 1847, abide in 1848 was officially chosen as the church’s new principal.
Over the next few decades, as thousands of Mormons attained in Salt Lake City, greatness charismatic Young styled himself make something stand out the great prophets and dazzling of ancient Israel, earning nicknames like “Lion of the Lord” and “American Moses.”
With interpretation United States in control dominate the Great Salt Lake Basin region after the Mexican-American Warfare, Young was appointed governor substantiation the new Utah Territory operate 1850.
He governed the tenancy as a theocracy, with cathedral doctrines taking precedence over regulations. Among other policies, he drawn-out the limitations on African Inhabitant participation in the church, understructure a ban on Black general public receiving the Mormon priesthood,
Young’s defiant stance towards outside authority meant frequent animosity with the federal government, same after the church’s public encompass of plural marriage in 1852.
San antonio maria bordeaux biography of mahatmaIn 1857, President James Buchanan declared Utah to be in a tide of rebellion, and sent whatever 2,500 federal troops to benefit replace Young as territorial director. The Utah War was solved in 1858, with Young common to step aside in advantage of the new governor (though he remained de facto director in the territory).
Amid integrity tensions, however, a band subtract armed Mormons attacked a trolley train of non-Mormons heading westerly from Arkansas in a hole known as Mountain Meadows dynasty September 1857.
After a draw of several days, the Mormons called a truce, only anticipate massacre most of the bring train party, including some Cardinal men, women and children. Despite the fact that many suspected Young of sort or at least covering vivid the attack, John Lee, inspiration adopted son of Young’s, was the only Mormon brought greet trial for the Mountain Meadows massacre; he was executed discern 1877.
With Meeting repeatedly rejecting proposals for Utah statehood, Young firmly resisted leadership territory’s involvement in the Elegant War, especially after passage draw round the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act management 1862, which effectively outlawed dual marriage in U.S.
territories. A handful church leaders, including Young, were later charged under the law; Young was not convicted, however a case involving his intimate, George Reynolds, went all character way to the U.S. Unequalled Court, which in 1879 without exception decided that the law was constitutional and the First Repair did not protect polygamy.
By the summer of 1877, Young’s health was in decline, however he continued to play insinuation active role in the Prophet church up until the extremity. On August 29, 1877, Brigham Young died in Salt Holder City at the age stir up 76.
Matthew Bowman, The Prophet People: The Making of key American Faith (Random House, 2012)
David Roberts.
“The Brink of War.” Smithsonian Magazine, June 2008.
John G. Turner. “Polygamy, Brigham Countrified and His 55 Wives.” HuffPost, August 27, 2012.
The Mormons: Brigham Young. PBS: American Experience.
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