The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-02

Among the many illustrious names
that brighten the pages of western
American history there is none that
shines SO LUMINOSITY, there are few
that will live so long, as the name OF
Utah's founder, Brigham Young.
Doubtless much of his fame is due to
the high position that ne held as pres
ident of the Church of Jesus Christ of
LatteT-day Saints, but this office, ex-
allied as it is. would not have given
him the place that ne occupies in the
history of his country. Place alone viii
not make a name illustrious. BY their
works will men be judged, not by the
offices they hold. not by the names
they bear. no. nor even by the ability
they possess, independently of he uses
madf of it. Brigham Young was a
genils, but that is not all. He was a
philsnthropist. who used his great
gifts and powers in such way as TO
become a benefactor to mankind. That
is true title to greatness. That Is his
real patent of nobility.
The story of his long and useful life
is 50 well known that TO dwell upon it
I'm detail while interesting, would be
superfluous. Let us, however, upon
this, his natal day. be reminded of
some of the main events in his mighty
career, some of the salient points OF
his colossal character, thus encouras-
ing ourselves to pursue more stead
tasty the path of honor trodden By our
beloved and departed leader.
One hundred and six years ago Brig
ham Young was born at Nottingham,
Windham county, Vermont, the same
state that was the birthplace of Joseph
Smith. and of many more who became
prominent in the church founded by the
prophet of the last disDensation. His
father, John Young, was a revolution
airy soldier. serving under the imme-
date command of Washington. The
sons early avocations were those of
carpenter and joiner, painter and gla-
zier. In religion the family were Meth
odists, and all. or nearly all. of them
were converted TO Mormonism. Brig
ham Young was baptized by Elder
Eleazer Miller at Mendon, Monroe
county, New York, on the 14th of April,
1882.
Beginning of the Church.
The church was then a little over
two years old, and had migrated from
the region in which it had it's origin
western New York-to northern Ohio.
Its headquarters were at Kirkland. on
the forest -fringed shore of Lake Erie.
Thither, six months after his baptism
went Brigham Young, accompanied by
his brother Joseph and by his friend
Heber c. Kimball At Kirkland they
met for the first time the Prophet Jo-
seph Smith, and the latter, 1t is said.
predicted that Brigham Young would
yet preside over the church. In the
fall of 1888. as a WidOWer with two
children, he removed to Kirkland.
where he married, and thenceforth
made his home with the main body of
the Latter-day Saints.
The next event of importance in his
career. if We except his experience as
a member of lions camp, was his call
to the apostleship, Feb. IA, 1885. He
filled missions in the eastern states and
in Canada, making proselytes, and
gathering funds for the completion of
the Kirkland temple and the purchase
of lands in Missouri, where Mormon
colonies were then settling. When dis
affection arose, and the existence of
the church and the life of it's leader
were threatened by foes without and
within. Brigham Young stood staunch-
~ by the prophet, defending him at his
sition became so fierce that he, as we'll
as the prohpet and other leading men.
were compelled to flee from Kirkland.
They made their way to Caldwell
county. Missouri, whittier they were
followed by the main body of the
church In that wilderness country,
near the western border of the state,
which was also the frontier of the ma
ton, they founded the city of Far
West. the birthplace of our present
honored leader, President Joseph F.
Smith. During the mob troubles that
eliminated in the expulsion of the
Latter-day Saints from Missouri. Brig
ham Young. by direction of the
prophet, who. with others, had been
thrown into prison, was sustained by
the twelve apostles as their president.
His seniors in the quorum of the
twelve, as originally constituted. were
Thomas B. Marsh, who had aposta-
.ized, and David w. Patten, who had