Brigham Young

1 June 1801–29 August 1877

Born 1 June 1801 at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont.[1] Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe.[2] Married first Miriam Angeline Works, 8 Oct. 1824, in Chenango Co., New York.[3] Wife died, 8 Sept. 1832; married second Mary Ann Angell, 31 Mar. 1834.[4] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Eleazer Miller, 14 Apr. 1832, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York.[5] Ordained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 14 Feb. 1835.[6] Appointed as president of Quorum of the Twelve, 14 Apr. 1840.[7] Participated in plural marriage.[8] Directed the migration of the Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, to the Salt Lake Valley, 1846–1848.[9] Appointed as second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1847.[10] Directed the establishment of Latter-day Saint settlements throughout present-day Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada.[11] Governor of Utah Territory, 1850–1857.[12] Attended a Relief Society party at which EBW was present, 10 Mar. 1875.[13] Organized the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association, 1875.[14] Appointed Abraham O. Smoot to establish Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 1875.[15] Appointed EBW to head the grain-saving mission for the Church, 1876.[16] Charged EBW, as editor of the Women’s Exponent, to write and publish the life sketches of women.[17] Died 29 Aug. 1877 at Salt Lake City.[18]

 

[1] “Brigham Young,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah, Early Church Information File, 1830–1900, no. 730, microfilm 1750728, DGS 007101213, image 6656/6678, FHL. “Sealings and Adoptions of the Living, 1846–1857; Index, 1846–1857,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo Temple, vol. A, 1846–1857, p. 783, lines 5668–5671, microfilm 183374, DGS 5265582 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 19 June 2020), Brigham Young (KWJH-9QN). 

[2] “Brigham Young,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah, Early Church Information File, 1830–1900, no. 730, microfilm 1750728, DGS 007101213, image 6656/6678, FHL. Vital Records of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the Year of 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911), 111, 369. “Mothers of the Latter-day Prophets: Abigail Howe Young,” Juvenile Instructor, Jan. 1924, [3].

[3] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:9. “Death of President Brigham Young,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 5 Sept. 1877, 8–9.

[4] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:9. Geauga Co., OH, Probate Court, Marriage Records, 1806–1920, p. 42, Brigham Young and Mary Ann Angel, microfilm 20255, DGS 004701435, image 23/241, FHL.

[5] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:9. Brigham Young, Journal, 9 Apr. 1832–9 Sept. 1836, Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878, CR 1234 1, image 5/85, CHL.

[6] Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835, p. 149, Joseph Smith Papers (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/minutes-discourse-and-blessings-14-15-february-1835/3, accessed 20 June 2020).

[7] Heber C. Kimball Family Organization, Compilation of Heber C. Kimball Correspondence, MS 7269, image 79/217, CHL.

[8] “Sealings and Adoptions of the Living, 1846–1857; Index, 1846–1857,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nauvoo Temple, vol. A, 1846–1857, p. 783, lines 5668–5671, microfilm 183374, DGS 5265582 (restricted access), FHL.

[9] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:11–12.

[10] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:12.

[11] Andrew Jenson, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson History, 1901), 1:13.

[12] “General Assembly,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 19 Oct. 1850, 141. “Gov. Cumming’s Official Account of His Reception at Salt Lake City,” Deseret News (Salt Lake City), 28 July 1858, 96.

[13] EBW, Diary, 10 Mar. 1875.

[14] Handbook of the Young Men’s and Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Associations: Official Guide, Susa Young Gates Papers, ca. 1870–1933, MS 7692, images 3, 7/236, CHL. Church History in the Fulness of Times (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 406–421.

[15] Karl Gottfried Maeser, Synopsis of Foundation and Organization of the Brigham Young Academy, p. 1, MS 23149, CHL. Church History in the Fulness of Times (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 406–421.

[16] “Mission of Saving Grain,” pp. [1]–6, Susa Young Gates Papers, ca. 1870–1933, MS 7692, images 2–7/21, CHL. Church History in the Fulness of Times (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 406–421.

[17] Augusta Joyce Crocheron, Representative Women of Deseret (Salt Lake City: J. C. Graham, 1884), 70. Louisa L. Greene Richards, Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Brigham Young, p. 2, MS 20643, CHL.

[18] “Utah Death Registers, 1847–1966,” p. 47 (1877), Brigham Young; citing series 21866, from Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Utah State Archives and Records Service, Salt Lake City.