 |
| Brigham Young, Circa 1850 |
In thinking about the pioneer trail today, I have thought a lot about Brigham Young's 1848 journey from Winter Quarters to the Salt Lake Valley. This is a journey that is often obscured by the 1847 vanguard journey to the Valley, but it is a journey which has much to recommend it to us. Many people do not know that in September of 1847 after exploring the valley, planting crops, and establishing a small settlement in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham took many members of the vanguard company and rushed back to Winter Quarters, remarkably arriving back there around the first of November. Why? Because they had left their wives and families and the main body of the Saints at Winter Quarters. The vanguard company was, in essence, a small exploring party to search out a new home for the Saints. Brigham's 1848 company, on the other hand, was a large company of men, women, and children, families intent on moving to the newly established community.
In December of 1847, Brigham reestablished the Church's First Presidency, sensing the importance of the Church having a Prophet and President at its head rather than just being governed by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as had happened from 1844 to 1847. So this 1848 journey was Brigham's first real action as the President of the Church. Along the trail he consistently reminded the Saints of their need for greater order and obedience, including in things like hunting buffalo. Some members of the Church disregarded his counsel, not seeing the importance of wisdom in practicing obedience and restraint in something temporal like hunting buffalo.
But even as Brigham pleaded for greater obedience and order among the pioneers, he also showed them an example of what kind of pioneers they were to be. Later in his life, Benjamin Ashby recalled that Brigham was frequently "the last to leave the camp ground" and always manifested a kind of "fatherly care" upon the other members of the company, and particularly among those at the back of the companies who were struggling with poverty and sickness (Benjamin Ashby, Autobiography, Church History Library). Brigham remained toward the rear of the company so that he could "pick up such [pioneers] as was left and could not go on for the want of help" (John D. Lee Diary, July 20, 1848). When people in the companies had oxen or cattle die, it was Brigham Young who came to their aid, giving them one of his own animals to ensure that they would be able to continue to move forward.
This isn't a Brigham Young that we talk about often. We hear of the gruff Brigham; the man who would and did say just about anything; the man who could chastise fellow saints from the pulpit with vigor and precision. But we don't usually hear about the fatherly Brigham Young who watched over the saints with paternal care. And yet, the more I have come to know him, this is Brigham Young for me. Like the pioneers he led, he was far from perfect. But so was Joseph Smith; so were Peter, James, and John; so were Moses and Elijah and the other prophets. Still, like those other worthy Prophets, Brigham Young had the love of God in his heart and it led him to care for the Saints under his leadership with "fatherly care."
May we all learn to be among those who sacrifice our own comforts and peace to care for the needs of those given to our watch care.
Brett
Thanks for this tender look at Brother Brigham, Brett. As you said, so often we think of him as the hellfire and damnation sort of preacher so common to the 19th Century. Truthfully, a lot of that was probably needed to help keep order with the Saints in their new desert home, but I appreciate knowing this wasn't "all" that Brigham was.
ReplyDeleteThe image of him showing "fatherly care" reminds me of an episode of "Poets of the Restoration" that I heard on the Mormon Channel last night. This one focused on Ellis Reynolds Shipp, one of the first two female doctors in Utah, and an adopted daughter of sorts who lived for a time with the Youngs at the Beehive House in Salt Lake City. When Ellis' father remarried and she found herself seeking a new home, Brigham invited her to move to Salt Lake and live with his family. She lived there during the time Karl G. Maesar was tutoring the prophet's children and received lessons from him too. When Ellis wanted to marry, Brigham advised and supported her like a father. When the prophet was encouraging women to get an education, he encouraged Ellis to move to Philadelphia and go to medical school, which she did. Brigham's tender care and fatherly encouragement not only helped Ellis become a stronger person, but also helped to usher in an era of safer birthing practices and health care for the women in Utah. It also heralded an amazing era of education and self-sufficiency for women that exists to this day.
When I thought about Brigham's treatment of Ellis Shipp, I couldn't help but think of the fatherly care and consideration we receive from Dad. He has been strict at times when we needed it, but Dad has always encouraged each of us to get an education and pursue our dreams. He and Mom are among our biggest supporters, sacrificing much so that we could have more. It's humbling to think what they were (and still are) willing to sacrifice for each of us.
From prophets to parents, we have an amazing legacy of examples to draw from as we strive to become better citizens, friends and family members. I only hope that the legacy I will someday Ieave behind will make a difference like theirs has.
Thanks Steph! I love your thoughts About Ellis Shipp! I think we live in a world that has forgotten the virtue of occasional sternness. While Brigham admitted that he was occasionally too hard and too sharp in some of his statements from the pulpit (he thought that was his greatest fault), he was able to make a point with his hardness because of the way that he loved and served the Saints at other times. It is a good example to follow!
Delete