The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-31
RriShnn Young.


Brigham Young, the leader. prophet. and
ruler OF the Mormons, was born at Within
ham, Vermont, June l, 1901. lie was the
son Of q farmer who had served in the rcvoll-
tionary war, and received very little educa-
ton. He learned the trade Of i painter and
| gaZer, and naturally cunning, he acquired
plausible address, and joining the Baptist
| Church, he preached occasionally, though
| he was never ordained. In 1882 he Joined
| the MormonS ut Kirkland, Ohio, then under
| the leadcrsbish OF Joseph Smith. He was
| ordained elder, and was very successful
in making proselytes in the eastern States,
whittier he was sent for that purpose.
His shrcwdnc>s and energy soon gave
| him influence with the ignorant and super
| stitiouS adhcrcnts OF Smith, and he was
chosen one Of the twelve apostles, and after
the death OF Smith was made president by
the unanimous choice OF the apostles. His
principal rival. Sidney Rigdon. was eXcoln-
municated and Young waS sent out to make
converts. After the charter OF the city OF
Nallyoo had been revoked and the city bonn
barded Young set out with his followers in
1916. and, going through :; weary march
across the Plains, they reached the Great
Salt Lake Valley, which he persuaded them
was the promised land. Here he founded
Salt Lake City in July, 1917, became the al
solute ruler OF the colony, and in 1919 or
ganiZcd the Territory OF DcScrct. and
applied for admission into the Union.
This was denied by Congress; but the
Territory OF Utah was organized i'll 1880,
OF which Young was appointed Governor
for four years. He remained in authority
till 1854, when, on the appointment OF Il
Governor who was not Il Mormon, he felt
strong enough to defy the Government.
| The new Governor, Alexander Cumming,
was sent out with military force of 2,50G
men. This brought matters to a crisis, and
| the Mormons submitted and became peace
able. In 1852 Smith ordained the celestial
| order Of marriage, sanctIoning polygamy,
which he declared had been revealed to Jo-
seph Smith in July, 1S+3. Smiths widow
and her four sons at once denounced this as
forgery, and headed schi.m. Though
the Mormon apostles had repeatedly replied
to the imputation Of such doctrines or prac-
ticc with the most emphatic and explicit de-
mails, the personal power Of Brigham Young
was such that he had little difficulty III
establishing polygamy as an institution OF
the Mormon Church.
He took to himself large number OF
wives, most Of whom reside in building
known us the "Lion House," from large
lion carved in stone, which stands on
the portco. In 1874 his fifteenth wife left
| him and petitioned the United States Court
for divorce. In addition to his office OF pre-
sidcnt OF the Church, Young was Grand
Archec OF the Order OF DaniteS, secret
| order within the Church, which was one
OF the chief sources OF his absolute power;
and by organizing and directing the trade
and industry Of the community for his own
advantage he acquired immense wealth.
4 los,~
| horrible Mountain Meadow massacre was
pending against him. The evidence was
sufficient to cause the execution OF Bishop
Lee, one OF the principals in the murder,
and death has probably enabled Young to
| escape Il similar fate.