West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-09-29
Brigham Young, the Mormon Prophet
lCincinnati Enquircr.l

Brigham Young, the Mormon Prophet
cincinnati Enquircr.l
Brigham Young, the Prophet, Priest
and King of the Mormon Church, died
August 20, at Salt Lake City, having at
tanned the age of seventy-six years.
Though not the founder of the strange
religious sect which has filled so impor-
tant part in the history of the last
| forty years, he was its ablest support, its
executive, its pcrpetuator in fact; and
with his demise il is more than probable
that the Church itself will soon drop out
of existence.
Brigham Young was born at Whiting
ham, Vermont, on the first day of June,
1901, and grew up, as many New Eng
land. boys do, under the strict religious
teaching of Calvinism. He was married
while still living in his native State, and
at the age of thirty he became convert
to the preaching of 10 Smith, the
founder of the Mormon Church, who,
with Sidney Rigdon, had commenced
their work of PROSECUTING in Northern
New York, where the Church had it's or
igin, and speedily extended their labors
to New England. Brigham speedily
became imbued with ambition, and took
rank almost ut once as one of the leading
spirits OF the organization. In 1881,
when Smith claimed that he had rove
lation commanding him to lead the
people to Kirkland in this State, Brigham
was one OF the most earnest believers
and most willing followers. With the
little band of seventy-fve or one hun
dred, which then constituted the Church,
he came TO Kirkland, and assisted i'm or
ganizing their Church, and, i'm few
| years later, in building the first Mormon
Temple, building which stands i'm that
now almost deserted village. In 1882
Brigham was made an Elder in the
Church, and began preaching. Three
years later he was made one of the
Twelve Apostles that 10 Smith sent out,
having for his associates in that calling
Orson Hyde and Heber @. Kimball. In
1888, when 10 Smith and Sidney Rigdon
were rnobbed at Kirkland for their wild
cat banking operations, and fled to Mis-
souri, to escape the indignation of the
Gentlles," Brigham remained with the
band of believers at Kirkland, and helped
to settle up their affairs preparatory to
their exodus to the West. He and Kim
ball were installed as leaders of the
Church in their migrations, and in spite
| OF the rigors of the winter season and
the long distance which had to be ira
versed in wagons, and by many on foot,
he succeeded in conducting some two
thousand believers to the haven of rest
that 10 Smith had assured them they
would enjoy in Missouri Here he re-
manned with them two years, or until
the exasperated Missourians drove them
away once more. Next he went with
them to Nauvoo, Illinois, where, in 1S4l,
he assisted in building the second and
greater Temple. In 1914 10 Smith
was killed by mob while in Jail in
| Carthage, Missouri, and Brigham Young
became the ruling spirit of the Mormon
Church. Sidney Rigdon aspired to be re-
cognized as the President of the Church.
but Brigham defeated him at the cleo
ton for that office, and made his seat
secure Tor the future. Rigdon was cut
of from the Church, cursed and formally
delivered over to damnation.
In the year 1915 the town charter of
Nauvoo was repealed by the Legislature
of Illinois, and the Mormons were again
| compelled TO seek safety from the popu-
lar uprising of the people by flight after
the town had been hombarded for three
days and its people driven out at the
bayonets' point. Brigham Young at this
time decided to make final stand some
where in the extreme West, and for this
purpose setout for a trip across the plains.
| He arrived Mt Salt Lake Valley july "a.
lS47, and decided to found his new Re-
ligious Empire there. In 1S4S the
| Church made its third exodus, starting
from Council Bluffs, Iowa, and in 1S49
they held their first Convention at Salt
Lake City, and State was organized
under the name of Deseret, signifying
The Land of the Honey Bee" A CON
stltution was framed, but Congress re-
fused to recognize the State, but made it
into Territory, calling it Utah In
1900 Brigham Young was appointed
Governor of the Territory by President
Fillmore. Soon after difficulties broke
out between the United States and Ter
ritorial authorities, and Colonel Steptoe
was made Military Governor, and Brig
ham deposed. In 1857 Colonel Albert
Sidney johnson was sent there with two
| thousand five hundred United States
roops to enforce the laws and to protect
the United States Courts in session mt
salt Lake City. In the same year the
Mountain Meadow Massacre took
| place, which, it is now eener-
ally believed, was planned and
instigated by Brigham Young. and
~ "hANh pOAih ~ lSCtg Ills agent ana MS
accomplish, so recently suffered the pen
atty of death. Since their establishment
in the Valley of Salt Lake the Mormons
have reorganized Brigham Young as the
| absolute head Of their theocracy. He
was the Church, and in his name every-
thing done by or for the Church, was ac-
complished. The city laid out and
founded by him has grown into impor-
lance. He built a temple of grander
proportions than either Of those before
built by the sect, manufactures have
sprung up at his building, schools and
colleges have been founded, theaters
have been established, and the whole
business, as well as the religious polity
Of the Territory and city, has been de-
pendent upon him. The Church was
Brigham's, the city was Brigham's. the
Territory was Brigham's. He leaves
nineteen wives and about one hundred
and fifty children, but no heirs TO his
abilities or his greatness.