Brigham Young
Official Statement on Brigham Young:
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/brigham-young?lang=eng
The official historical statement about the life and activities of Brigham Young, the 2nd prophet for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The man who has helped us understand how you can be both a fallible man and the prophet God has chosen to carry the keys of the priesthood.
How Brigham Young was chosen as the next prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after Joseph Smith:
One of the most well documented miracles in the history of the restored gospel was the event that occurred as Brigham Young was addressing the saints after the death of Joseph Smith. Hundreds of people recorded in their journals etc that as Brigham spoke, he looked and sounded like Joseph Smith in a miraculous way confirming to the saints that Brigham was to be the next prophet of God.
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Social Media Resources:
Why Did Brigham Young Become the Next Prophet? (10 min)
How did the prophetic mantel transfer from Joseph Smith to Brigham Young?
Transfiguration of Brigham Young into Joseph Smith, after the death of Joseph Smith Nauvoo Illinois (13 min)
After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the members were in great confusions. They did not know who should be the next prophet to lead the Church. In a large gathering of the Saints Brigham Young, the senior apostle of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, rose to speak and look as though he was Joseph Smith, a miracle from God. God answered the prayers of the struggling Saints with this miraculous vision of Brigham Young looking and sounding just like Joseph Smith.
Why Latter-day Saints Believe Brigham Young is a Prophet (46 min)
Casey Griffith explores the history of Brigham Young and how the faithful can better understand Brigham Young, Joseph Smith’s successor. How to employee the gospel of Jesus Christ as we try to fairly understand and judge those who have represented Jesus Christ as the head of his church like Peter of old. As Peter often failed, so did Brigham and both were still the prophets Christ chose in their time period to lead his Church.
Daniel C. Peterson, “Brigham Young and Slavery” (45 min)
Was Brigham Young a proponent of slavery, was he against it, what was his understanding and policy on the slavery question? Dr Daniel Peterson sheds some light on this subject. Many have cast Brigham in an unfavorable light over the years, when in reality he was ahead of his time.
Brigham Young, slavery, and the apostle that said NO (45 min)
In this episode, David Snell chats with scholar and author W. Paul Reeve about how the early leaders of Utah Territory grappled with the question of slavery. Paul recently co-authored a book on this subject (along with co-authors Christopher B. Rich Jr., and LaJean Purcell Carruth) called "This Abominable Slavery: Race, Religion, and the Battle over Human Bondage in Antebellum Utah".
0:00- Intro 1:37- Joseph Smith's changing views on slavery 4:56- Brigham Young and slavery 10:28- How prolific was slavery in Utah? 12:22- Native American slavery/trafficking 15:34- Utah's answer to black slavery 22:41- The dissenting apostle 30:22- "the worst speech in LDS history" 33:53- The end of slavery in Utah 38:40- Grappling with the tough questions 43:32- Utah's answer to Native American slavery 46:06- Conclusion
Daniel Peterson on Brigham Young (30 min)
Daniel Peterson addresses polygamy denial's accusations against Brigham Young. A great discussion on the merits an life of Brigham Young.
How reliable is the Journal of Discourses? (Do we really know Brigham Young? (51 min)
“His Accuracy was not What it Ought: Comparing George D. Watt’s Original Shorthand Record to his Published Transcripts in the Journal of Discourses” by LaJean Carruth. LaJean Carruth is one of the world’s leading experts on short hand that has focused on early Mormon history and records. Her conclusions after reviewing and transcribing thousands of records related to Brigham Young is that many of his speeches were alterted after the fact by Watt and others who’s motives are unkown but have certainly made Brigham sound far more authoritarian and controlling than he truly was.
Brigham Young: The Stories They DON’T Want You To Know (25 min)
American Primeval paints Brigham Young as a terrible villain. Who was Brigham Young? Does the media accurately portray the man? What does the historical record actually show
Brigham Young on Brigham Young (43 min)
"Brigham Young on Brigham Young: His Life, Conversion, and Faith, in his Own Words" by LaJean Carruth. An interesting look at improved and correct transcriptions from his speeches that previously had incorrectly portrayed Brigham Young in many ways.
The Truth About Brigham Young (33 min)
"Appreciating Brother Brigham" by Daniel C. Peterson. A review of the life and accomplishments of the Prophet Brigham Young.
Brigham Young’s “Adam-God” Explained (23 min)
Did Brigham Young really teach that Adam was “our Father and our God”? In this deep-dive, we walk through the original sermons, the 1877 “lecture at the veil,” the pushback from Orson Pratt, and how later leaders—from Joseph F. Smith to James E. Talmage—standardized Latter-day Saint teachings on the Godhead. You’ll see why this topic matters for understanding early LDS theology, polygamy’s theological framing, and how “doctrine” is defined historically vs. devotionally. You’ll get direct links to foundational sources (1852 and 1854 sermons, the 1857 clarification, the veil lecture, and later doctrinal statements), plus key scholarship to read next. Perfect for students, curious members, and researchers who want the receipts and a clear, balanced overview.
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Adam-God Theory NEVER happened (according to Jonah Barnes) (53 min) (PART A)
Did Brigham Young really teach that Adam was God? In this powerful and clarifying episode of WARD RADIO, hosts Jonah Barnes, Austin Falter, and Cardon Ellis dive deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in Latter-day Saint history — the so-called Adam-God Theory. From historical documents to punctuation changes that flipped entire meanings, this conversation exposes how copy errors, misquotes, and 19th-century shorthand turned a handful of ambiguous statements into one of Mormonism’s biggest controversies. Jonah Barnes breaks down original sources, including the Journal of Discourses and the Joseph Smith Papers, to show how a misplaced comma or title misunderstanding (“Adam” as a title, not a name) created theological confusion that critics have weaponized for decades. Together, the hosts show how Brigham Young’s real teachings fit within LDS doctrine — not against it — and offer comfort to those whose faith has been shaken by online debates or anti-Mormon claims.
Revenge of the Adam-God Theory! (feat. Chris Blyth) (58 min) (PART B)
This Ward Radio episode features a lively and candid roundtable with hosts Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, special guest Brad Whitbeck, and Professor Christopher Blyth from BYU. The conversation is spurred by recent online dustups involving Jonah Barnes, who faced criticism after questioning mainstream narratives about the Adam-God theory a controversial theological topic in Latter-day Saint history.
VIDEO CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 08:39 "Debating Adam-God Theory" 13:04 Adam-God Theory Misrepresentation 20:15 "Masters, PhD, and Folklore Focus" 24:09 "Rise of Fundamentalist Church" 30:00 Brigham Young's Motivations Questioned 34:11 "Heavenly Parents and Church Teachings" 39:40 "Brigham Young on Adam & God" 49:39 Brigham Young's Vision of Unity 54:22 "Church Divide in Beliefs"
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Brigham Young and Blood atonement (6 min)
Brigham Young apparently believed that some sins were so bad that the atonement of Christ would not cover them, and that the only way to atone for those sins would be for the sinner to willingly have their blood shed. But despite Brigham’s harsh language, there is no irrefutable evidence that anyone was ever actually ‘blood atoned’ by order of Brigham or the Church.
Notes:
-In the words of apostle Neil L. Anderson, “...doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk [or in this case, relatively few talks]. True principles are taught frequently and by many.”
-The following quote is just one piece of a larger essay (Quora response) on this subject by non-Latter-day Saint anthropologist Manu Padro. It’s rather blunt, but offers some interesting perspective: Superintendent of Indian affairs, Jacob Forney (a non-Latter-day Saint), said in 1859, “I fear, and I regret to say it, that with certain parties here [in Utah] there is a greater anxiety to connect Brigham Young and other church dignitaries with every criminal offence than diligent endeavor to punish the actual perpetrators of crime." Source: Hubert Howe Bancroft, “History of Utah,” https://bit.ly/3bgs76C
-From B. H. Roberts: “I am not so blind in my admiration of the Mormon people, or so bigoted in my devotion to the Mormon faith as to think that there are no individuals in that Church chargeable with fanaticism, folly, intemperate speech and wickedness; nor am I blind to the fact that some in their over-zeal have lacked judgment; and that in times of excitement, under stress of special provocation, even Mormon leaders have given utterance to ideas that are indefensible.” Source: “Defense of the Faith and the Saints,” p. 76.
-Deseret News, 1882-5-10 (Charles Penrose, Editor): “It has been represented that our leaders claim and are accorded infallibility; that everything they say is taken for God’s word; that their orders are sufficient to condemn a person to death; and other such absurd powers are imputed to them as Church authorities. Those ideas are altogether foreign to the very genius of our faith, and never entered into the framework of our creed or constitution of our system. They are purely the manufacture of our enemies who demonstrate the weakness of their cause by never contenting themselves with the truth in any of their assaults.”
