In Humble Submission

Yesterday was the 171st anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  My time working on the Joseph Smith Papers thus far has expanded my appreciation for the Prophet Joseph Smith.  One thing that constantly amazes me about the Prophet is his willingness to test those around him.  This week I happened upon some letters between Brigham and Mary Ann Angell Young in 1839-1840 in the George W. Thatcher Blair Collection that contained a couple of insights into the Prophet and those two loyal followers.  We all know that Brigham served a mission to England between 1839-1841.  And I was well aware of the challenging circumstances that Mary A. had faced during his absence--an example of which I will cite at the end.  What I was completely unaware of were some details of Brigham's journey between Nauvoo and New York City, and a request that he made of Mary A. during that time.

En route to New York City where the Twelve sailed for England, Elders Young, Kimball, Taylor, and George A. Smith travelled through their former home of Kirtland, Ohio.  Upon arriving in Kirtland, many of the brethren were so ill that some of the disaffected members who had remained in Kirtland believed it was the curse of God upon the Saints for the Kirtland Safety Society.  (Please note that not all of the members in Kirtland were disaffected; some simply hadn't had the funds with which to continue traveling with the Saints).  But despite their illnesses, the Twelve held meetings in the Kirtland Temple and organized a variety of missionary efforts in the city.

While in Kirtland, Brigham Young visited many of the Saints, including Mary A.'s father.  While the details are unclear, it is likely that Brigham explained the impoverished circumstances of his family and the Saints at Nauvoo.  Further, the significant health challenges the Saints were suffering would likely have been evident.  In any case, Brother Angell suggested that while Brigham was in England, Mary A. and the children come to Kirtland and live with him.  Brigham thought that the idea was a good one, and urged Mary A. to consider it.  He even thought that if she went to Kirtland, he might be able to visit her and the children again, before his departure for England.  He could then have left for England secure in the knowledge that his wife and children were being properly cared for and protected.

Mary A. strongly considered the idea and was even preparing to go to Kirtland, when Hyrum Smith advised her not to go.  By this time, Hyrum was a member of the First Presidency.  Learning of Hyrum's advice, Brigham was disappointed, but replied, "I can say the will of the Lord be done.  I hope and trust that I shall never feel to rebel or go contrary to the counsel of the spirit of the Lord as to your going to the Ohio.  I have told you how I felt about it.  I wish you to do the will of the Lord, therefore I shall not say any thing with regard to advice.  Do as you think best.  I wish to do right and keep humble for there is slippery paths that Elders travel in in this Church.  I think it would be better for me to be in humble submission to the powers that be and to [adhere] to counsel, even if it costs me much labor; may the Lord keep us humble and faithful" (Brigham Young to Mary Ann Angell Young, 14 February 1840).

Mary A. apparently took the matter to the Prophet, who confirmed Hyrum's counsel, stating that it was "not the will of the Lord" for her to go to Kirtland, and she humbly submitted to this difficult counsel.  She then noted that in that conversation with the Prophet, Joseph asked "if you [Brigham] was not a going to return before you went to England."  She responded that she did not know, but expected that Brigham would not.  She wrote, "he smiled and said no more" (Mary Ann Angell Young to Brigham Young, 21 March 1840).

For Mary A.'s part, she remained in Nauvoo (actually Montrose Iowa), watching her six children by herself and often times struggling with illness and having so little food that she would have to row across the Mississippi river to go to Nauvoo where she asked for a few potatoes from the Tithing Office.  Then, submissively, she quietly returned to her children with the meager provisions, never writing a word of the matter to Brigham.  Among the children that she cared for alone during that trying period was Brigham Young Jr., who would serve faithfully as an Apostle for many years.  For Brigham's part, he submissively went onto England, staying nearly a full year longer than he had anticipated staying, and there established the foundations of the Church in Britain from which so many members now claim heritage.  And we all know the story of his time after 1844.  But before either of these things happened, there was a simple act of submission about a simple matter of where to live.

For so many members, that issue would have been "none of Joseph's business."  But for Brigham and Mary Ann Angell Young, the question of whether or not she should go to Kirtland in 1840 was a matter of tremendous importance, because it was a test of whether or not they could submit to the direction of the Lord's anointed servant.  I am impressed by Joseph's reaction to the news that Brigham likely wouldn't visit Mary A. again before departing for England.  It was just a simple smile.  But if I can take some historical liberties, that smile says everything to me.  It tells me that with that small response, Joseph knew what kind of a man and follower he had in Brigham Young.  And by the Spring of 1840, to have found someone who would submit and follow in such a small thing, was incredibly important to Joseph, for he had lost friends and leaders who could not similarly submit.

May we likewise learn to be in humble submission.

Brett