Brigham Young

American Leader
Brigham Young was a prominent American religious leader and politician who served as the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He led the Mormon pioneers west and founded Salt Lake City, later serving as the first governor of the Utah Territory. Young was also a polygamist with at least 56 wives and 57 children.

About Brigham Young

Brigham Young ( BRIG-əm; June 1, 1801 – August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until his death in 1877. During his time as church president, Young led his followers, the Mormon pioneers, west from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Salt Lake Valley. He founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah Territory. Young also worked to establish the learning institutions that would later become the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. A polygamist, Young had at least 56 wives and 57 children. He formalized the prohibition of black men attaining priesthood, and led the church in the Utah War against the United States.

Get to know Brigham Young better

Frequently asked questions about Brigham Young

Brigham Young was an American religious leader and politician who served as the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877.

As the president of the LDS Church, Brigham Young led the Mormon pioneers west from Nauvoo, Illinois, to the Salt Lake Valley, where he founded Salt Lake City and served as the first governor of the Utah Territory.

Brigham Young was a polygamist and had at least 56 wives and 57 children.

Brigham Young formalized the prohibition of black men attaining priesthood and led the church in the Utah War against the United States.

Brigham Young worked to establish the learning institutions that would later become the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.

Quotes by Brigham Young

A good man, is a good man, whether in this church, or out of it.

Brigham Young

Any young man who is unmarried at the age of twenty one is a menace to the community.

Brigham Young

Don’t try to tear down other people’s religion about their ears, Build up your own perfect structure of truth, and invite your listeners to enter in and enjoy it’s glories.

Brigham Young

Education is the power to think clearly, the power to act well in the worlds work, and the power to appreciate life.

Brigham Young

Honest hearts produce honest actions.

Brigham Young

I don’t care about my character here on earth.I don’t care about what other people think or say about me, all I care about is my standing before the Lord.

Brigham Young

I want to live perfectly above the law, and make it my servant instead of my master.

Brigham Young

If I had a choice of educating my daughters or my sons because of opportunity constraints, I would choose to educate my daughters.

Brigham Young

In the adversity of our best friends we often find something that does not displease us.

Brigham Young

It is wise for us to forget our troubles, there are always new ones to replace them.

Brigham Young

Love the giver more than the gift.

Brigham Young

Nature is the glass reflecting God, as by the sea reflected is the sun, too glorious to be gazed on in his sphere.

Brigham Young

Never let a day pass that you will have cause to say, I will do better tomorrow.

Brigham Young

Remember, a chip on the shoulder is a sure sign of wood higher up.

Brigham Young

Silence may be golden, but can you think of a better way to entertain someone than to listen to him?

Brigham Young

The biggest labor problem is tomorrow.

Brigham Young

There is no knowledge, no light, no wisdom that you are in possession of, but what you have received it from some source.

Brigham Young

True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what’s right.

Brigham Young

We should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do.

Brigham Young