Agency Histories
Young, Brigham
Abstract
Biography/History Notes
Brigham Young was born on June 1, 1801 in New York. At sixteen, he had to leave home and worked odd jobs before gaining an apprenticeship as a carpenter, joiner, glazer, and painter. He was dismissed in 1819 due to a depression which made his continued employment impossible. In 1824, he married Miriam Angeline Works, but she died in 1832. He remarried on February 18, 1834 to Mary Ann Angell. He worked as a carpenter and joiner. He built a saw mill which he operated for a time. On April 14, 1832 he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later that same year in December, he decided to serve a proselytizing mission to Canada. He met his second wife while proselytizing. He moved with the other members of his faith to Kirtland, OH. While there, he worked on the Kirtland temple and studied Hebrew.
After the death of Joseph Smith, he took charge of the Church and decided it would be best for the members to leave the United States. He led a wagon train to the Salt Lake Valley and announced his intention to build a community there. The date was July 24, 1847, which is now celebrated as Pioneer Day in Utah. His first lasting act in the Salt Lake Valley was to organize the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, now known as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. In December of that same year he was officially sustained as the President of the Church.
When the area was acquired by the United States, Young was appointed the territory's governor and superintendent of American Indian affairs by President FIllmore on February 3, 1851. Before officially becoming governor, Young organized a group to establish the University of Deseret (University of Utah) on February 28, 1850. Before leaving office, he created an efficient mail service in 1856. After the events of the "Utah War", Young stepped down from being governor in April 1858. As for his church work, Young reorganized the Relief Society--the Church's organization for women--in 1867. He also created organizations for the young women 1869 and young men 1875. Young died on August 29, 1877.