Brigham Young was an American colonizer. He took over the charges as a president of the Mormon Church in 1847 after Joseph Smith died in 1844. Besides, Brigham Young led the Mormons to Utah, colonized it and served the Oregon territory as official and unofficial governor.
Young was the religious, political leader and fiercely loyal supporter of church founder Joseph Smith. Brigham Young was one of the early few people who received a temple endowment. This temple endowment was introduced by Joseph Smith in May 1842.
In this article, you will know some significant milestones in Young’s life. Let’s start.
Brigham Young Interesting Facts
1. Brigham’s father was a war veteran
Brigham Young was born on 1 June 1801 to a farmer and revolutionary war Veteran John Young at Washington Vt. His mother’s name was Abigail Howe, and he was the ninth child of his parents among eleven. Brigham Young lost his mother at the age of 14 in 1815, who died after fighting against tuberculosis, a sad fact about Brigham Young.
2. Brigham worked as a carpenter and painter in his early age
At the age of 16, Young left his home to make his world and eventually becoming an apprentice carpenter, glazier, and painter in Auburn and New York. Brigham told, his father said to him at the age of 16, “You can now have your time go and provide for yourself, and I stopped jumping, running, wrestling and laying out my strength for naught.”
3. Brigham had a daughter after 2 years of marriage
After several years of itinerant labor, he was married to Angeline Works on 5 October 1824. Initially, the new couple settled in Haydenville, N.Y. In New York, they joined the Reformed Methodist Church. Although Young had a religious family background, he previously refrained from attaching with any church. After relocating to Port Byron, N.Y., they welcomed their first child, “Elizabeth,” in 1826. Three years later, they made a new addition in their family in the form of daughter Vilate.
4. Baptism of Brigham was carried out in the Church of Mormon
A book of Mormon was handed over to Phineas Young by Samuel Smith. Samuel Smith was the brother of Joseph Smith. On the other hand, Phineas Young was the brother of Brigham Young. However, Brigham had read that book before agreeing to be baptized. Miller’s testimony inspired Brigham. As soon as he was baptized, Brigham began to spread his own witness. On 15 April 1832, Young was baptized into the Church of Mormon and preached his first sermon one week later, an interesting fact about Brigham Young.
5. Brigham Young also offered his services for Zion’s Camp Rescue Expedition
Brigham visited the community of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1833. Here, he decided to build the Kirtland kingdom. Afterward, Brigham moved to Missouri to participate in a rescue expedition of the Zion’s Camp. This rescue expedition was led by Joseph Smith. The purpose of this expedition was to assist deprived and harassed Latter-day Saint settlers. Although it was a difficult journey, this experience laid the foundation of the groundwork for his church service after Joseph Smith. This was the first time Young met Joseph Smith in Kirtland.
6. Brigham Young had multiple marriages
Brigham learned the idea of plural marriage from Joseph Smith. Lucy Ann Decker Seeley was the first of his polygamous wives. He married Lucy at the age of 41 (Lucy was 20). Before having plural marriage, Brigham carried out extensive research on this topic and devoted himself to studying and prayer only at that time. After completely knowing the idea of plural marriages, he conducted his marriage with extreme reluctance. It was done with the permission of wife Mary Ann. He married almost 27 women and had 56 children from 16 wives, a crazy fact about Brigham Young.
7. Brigham helped Mormons build and thrive their community
In 1844, when an anti-Mormon mob murdered Joseph Smith, Brigham Young was on the East Coast raising money for the construction of an enormous temple in Nauvoo. The Church was savagely persecuted back then. On his return, Young organized an exodus for uniting the church. Brigham took the Mormons westward. They first settled in Nebraska and then in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. Young had a great hope for the freedom of Mormons. He believed that one day, they would be able to worship and spend their life as decreed by their faith.
8. He was the longest-serving President and Prophet of the Church
Brigham Young knows the longest-serving president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He remained president from 1847 to 1877.
9. Brigham established State of Utah and University of Utah
Brigham Young organized the provincial state of Deseret in March 1849 as a governor, an interesting fact about Brigham Young. The state borders, as proposed by congress, reduced dramatically, and Utah Territory established in the same year in September. The University of Deseret was established by Brigham Young in February 1850. It was possible with the help of the board of regents. Later, this university became the University of Utah.
10. He laid the foundation of Brigham Young University
After the purchase of an existing building in Provo on 16 October 1875, Young laid the foundation of a Brigham Young Academy, which later become convert into Brigham Young University.
11. He played a role in St. George Temple Construction
During Salt Lake temple construction in 1877, Brigham Young presided at the dedication of the St. George Temple. It was the only temple that was built in Utah before his death.
12. Brigham died due to a ruptured appendix
He died on 29 August 1877 at the age of 76 in Salt Lake City. The cause of his death is not known exactly, but it is believed that it was the result of a ruptured appendix. After his death, the Mormons would find themselves under attack by the federal government to strip away the political and economic views of Young.
Conclusion
To sum up, Brigham young was a great political leader and religious follower. He achieved several significant milestones in his life and helped the Mormons to find their freedom of worship. Brigham Young’s name always is written with golden words in history due to his devotion and sacrifices for Mormons.
I hope that this article on Brigham Young facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Historical People Pages!
