Brigham Young has long been immortalized in several familiar works of bronze.
The Brigham Young Monument near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City captures President Young's role as settler and civic leader. His spot atop "This Is the Place" monument illustrates the prophet's central role as a 19th-century Moses leading the Lord's people into a promised land. And, of course, a rendering of the Church's second president on the campus of Brigham Young University is emblematic of his love of learning and education.
Each statue captures elements of the prophet's pivotal roles — yet members of the Brigham Young Family Association think first of their collective ancestor as a loving, approachable father and grandfather. Now a new statue unveiled June 1 at the Brigham Young Cemetery on First Avenue in Salt Lake City captures the prophet as a family man. A beloved teacher.
The life-sized statue, cast in bronze by Utah sculptor Stan Watts, depicts the prophet sitting on a bench and reading a book to a pair of young children. One child sits comfortably on President Young's lap, while the other stands behind the bench, leaning on the prophet's shoulder while listening to the story.
Guests at the statue unveiling commented that President Young seems relaxed and focused on precious time spent with family. A prophet in repose.
"That's exactly what we were aiming for," said Tom Williams, one of about 12,000 identified descendants of Brigham Young.
Brother Williams said the association had spent several years planning for the statue. The 200th anniversary of Brigham Young's birth seemed an apropos time to remind cemetery visitors of President Young, the family man.
"This day is about as big as it gets for the Brigham Young family," Brother Williams said.
Casting the statue was a career highlight for Stan Watts, who recently did some sculpting for the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple. Brother Watts said it was rewarding knowing that cemetery visitors would see his work and gain a deeper understanding of the prophet.
"This shows him as a father," he said.
E-mail: jswensen@desnews.com