On the 200th anniversary of Brigham Young's birth, the accomplishments of his life stand as ever-growing testaments to a man who met and prevailed over the many challenges that came his way.
Born June 1, 1801, in Whitingham, Vt., the ninth child of an indigent farmer, he received no formal schooling, but learning became a lifelong experience for him. After his conversion to the Church, through his personal devotion and loyalty, he was prepared to become leader of the Church only 14 years after its beginnings.
As leader, he mobilized, motivated and empowered his people to accomplish the purposes of the restored gospel, said Glen M. Leonard, director of the Museum of Church History and Art.
"Right from the beginning of Brigham Young's leadership, he became known as a master at teaching, leading and strengthening people. Through a huge emigration program, he moved tens of thousands of people west. He organized and supervised the settlement of vast areas from Idaho to Arizona and from Wyoming to California. The result was nearly 400 settlements. The purpose was to permit the saints to move forward in their religious mission of raising families and sharing the gospel around the world."
In the process, Brigham Young made significant contributions in architecture, agriculture, colonizing, as a family man, as entrepreneur, governor, home economist, judge, missionary, pioneer, publisher, orator and theologian, among others.
His life began in Whitingham, Vt., where his father struggled to provide for a large family. "I have been a poor boy and a poor man," he once stated, "and grew up to manhood poor and destitute." (Journal of Discourses, April 6, 1857.) This experience developed an enduring frugality within him that inspired much advice to the households of others.
His acceptance of the Book of Mormon was paralleled by his acceptance of missionaries. "As soon as I heard them I was convinced that they taught the truth," he said. A series of missionary journeys followed that ranged as far as to England in 1840.
His loyalty to the Prophet Joseph Smith never wavered. He joined the Zion's Camp march in 1834, and in 1835, he became one of the first apostles in this dispensation. When the spirit of apostasy penetrated the Church in 1837, Brother Brigham said, "I stood close to Joseph, and, with all the wisdom and power of God bestowed upon me, put forth my utmost energies to sustain the servant of God and unite the quorums of the Church." (Millennial Star, Vol. 25, p 473.)
A decade later, when the saints had been expelled from Nauvoo and were wintering in temporary quarters in Iowa and Nebraska, he received a revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 136) outlining the way to move the membership to the West, which was followed.
As the members left the confines of civilization, his strict leadership filled the absence of government law. Yet he was revered by the people.
"When Brigham Young stood at the pulpit, the people knew they would receive inspired, practical counsel firmly anchored in gospel principles," said Brother Leonard. "Sometimes his rhetorical style made him appear to be a little tough on people, but in his personal relationships, he was an understanding, helpful, fatherly person."
After becoming established in the Great Basin and starting work on a temple, the Church president expanded the Kingdom by sending missionaries abroad to Europe, the South Pacific, Scandinavia, India, South America, Asia and the West Indies. He also initiated various missions to found industries for products unavailable in the West, such as iron, silk and sugar.
In 1857 as the members were celebrating their first decade in the West, they received news that an army was coming to suppress a supposed rebellion. To meet this challenge, the leader successfully organized delaying tactics and encouraged the people, "Do not be angry with them [the soldiers]" and "They know no more about you and me than the interior of China; they go because they have been sent." (Journal History, Aug. 30, 1857.)
Because of his strict adherence to gospel principles and his kindly relationship to individuals, "Brigham became a father figure to whole generations of people during his 30 years as president of the Church," said Brother Leonard.
"Brigham Young's contribution to American History, including the history of the settlement of the West and the history of that critical period in the Church's life is well-established," he added. "It would be hard to diminish the impact of his accomplishments, because they created a foundation in the West for the Church to build upon and grow to what it has become more than a century after his death."