Brigham Young

[[File:Brigham Young.jpg|thumb|upright|Brigham Young, looking suspiciously like Anton Chigurh from ''No Country for Old Men'']]{{mormonism|1}}
'''Brigham "[[polygamy|Bring ‘em]]" Young''' {{lived|1801|1877}} was a [[Mormon]] spiritual leader and [[American]] politician who took over the main branch of the [[Church of Latter Day Saints]] after the death of [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] in Carthage, [[Illinois]]. After becoming the second President and Prophet, Young led the Mormons to the American West and founded Salt Lake City, which would become the capital of [[Utah]] and the de facto capital of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. His force of personality kept the Mormons together in the face of adversity, and kept them from going the way of many other [[religious]] movements born in the same era. 

Young  was a [[racist]] and is credited as being the person in early LDS history who instituted the policy of barring blacks from the priesthood.<ref>[http://signaturebookslibrary.org/?p=445 Signature Books Library]</ref> Yes, the [[Brigham Young University|University]] is named after him, "in his honor" so to speak.

==Searching for meaning==
Brigham Young was born in [[Vermont]] to a [[poor]] family. Before he married, he became a [[Methodist]], but insisted on a full-immersion [[Baptism]].<ref name="turner-pioneer-prophet">''Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet'', John G. Turner ISBN: 978-0-674-04967-3</ref>{{rp|13}} His independent streak made him ill-fitted for the regimented life of Methodism, and he became attracted to an offshoot of Methodism mixed with peculiar notions from the mind of one Joseph Smith, Jr. This group was known as "The Church of Jesus Christ" at the time.

==After Smith==
When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed in Carthage, the "Council of 12" was left in disarray. Brigham Young became the ''de facto'' leader by virtue of his seniority and fearsome mien. Shortly after Brigham Young's ascendency, he was made the Second President and [[Prophet]] in law, as well as spirit.<ref name="turner-pioneer-prophet"/>{{rp|118-126}}

==The Mountain Meadows massacre==
Brigham Young was believed to be at the heart of a [[conspiracy]] that killed 120 settlers headed for [[California]].<ref>[http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mountainmeadows/leeaccount.html The Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 and the Trials of John D. Lee: An Account]</ref> He was never tried.

==Political career==
Brigham Young was appointed as Governor of the Utah Territory in 1851.<ref>[http://cprr.org/Museum/Utah_1851.html Utah & Salt Lake City -1851], Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum</ref> The wall of [[separation of church and state|separation between church and state]] is more like a hedgerow in Utah.

==See also==
*[[Polygamy]]
*[[Theodemocracy]]
*[[Brigham Young University]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Brigham}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Business]]
[[Category:Crimes against humanity]]
[[Category:Cult leaders]]
[[Category:Former United States Governors]]
[[Category:Mormons]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Religious leaders]]
[[Category:Slavery apologists]]
[[Category:Theocracy]]
[[Category:We're on a mission from God]]

Categories: Authors, Business, Crimes against humanity, Cult leaders, Former United States Governors, Mormons, Racists, Religious leaders, Slavery apologists, Theocracy, We're on a mission from God