President Brigham Young:Building a Refuge for the Kingdom of God

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Student Study Guide, (2005), 165

When the pioneers first arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, it was largely uninhabited and very remote and isolated. Compared with the well-watered farms they left in the east, it was practically a desert. Settling there would require faith and effort, but the Saints believed that with God’s help they could succeed. By the end of 1847, over 2,000 Saints had arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and nearly 12,000 waited to join them from Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and other settlements in Iowa. Under President Brigham Young’s inspired leadership, the Latter-day Saints continued to gather in the Rocky Mountains, conquered the desert, established safe settlements, and courageously took the gospel of Jesus Christ to many nations of the earth.

His Life (1801–77)


Born on June 1 to John and Abigail Howe Young in Whitingham, Vermont


Age 23, married Miriam Works on October 8; she died in 1832


Age 30, baptized on April 14 in his own mill pond near Mendon, New York


Age 31–32, served a mission to Canada and led a small company of converts to Kirtland, Ohio


Age 32, married Mary Ann Angell on February 18; she died in 1882


Age 33, ordained on February 14 as one of the first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris


Age 38–40, served a mission to Great Britain


Age 38, sustained as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on April 14


Age 43, became leader of the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles after the Prophet Joseph Smith’s death on June 27


Age 44–46, led the exodus west to the Salt Lake Valley and then returned to Winter Quarters, Nebraska


Age 49–57, served as the first governor of Utah


Age 51, laid the cornerstone for the Salt Lake Temple


Age 76, died August 29 in Salt Lake City after presiding over the Church for 33 years

His Presidency (1844–77)



Led the Saints out of Nauvoo, Illinois


The Sunday School was organized


Sent missionaries to Scandinavia, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Hawaii


Church members started over 350 settlements in the western United States and in parts of Canada and Mexico. The Book of Mormon was first translated into Danish.


Construction began on the Salt Lake Temple


Salt Lake Tabernacle completed; Church general conferences held there


The young women’s organization was started


The young men’s organization was started


St. George Temple was dedicated

Establishing the Saints in Utah


2. “Two days after the first company’s arrival, Brigham Young and several of the Twelve climbed a round bluff on the mountainside that President Young had n in vision before leaving Nauvoo. They looked out over the valley’s vast expanse and prophesied that all nations of the world would be welcome in this place and that here the Saints would enjoy prosperity and peace. They named the hill Ensign Peak after the scripture in Isaiah that promised, ‘He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel’ (Isaiah 11:12). [Journal of Discourses,13:85–86.]

3. “President Young’s first public act, on 28 July 1847, was to select a central site for a temple and put men to work planning its design and construction. Placing his cane on the chosen spot he said,‘Here we shall build a temple to our God.’ This declaration must have comforted the Saints, who only a short time before had been forced to discontinue temple worship when they left Nauvoo.


Understanding the Reading

Establishing the Saints in Utah

Haven(par. 1)Safe place 
Quest(par. 1)Search 
Bluff(par. 2)Hill 
Ensign(par. 2)Flag or banner to which people would gather 

The First Year in the Valley


6. “‘By the time the grass began to grow the famine had waxed sore. For several months we had no bread. Beef, milk, pig-weeds, segoes [lily roots], and thistles formed our diet. I was the herd-boy, and while out watching the stock, I used to eat thistle stalks until my stomach would be as full as a cow’s. At last the hunger was so sharp that father took down the old bird-pecked ox-hide from the limb; and it was converted into most delicious soup’ [John R. Young,Memoirs of John R. Young(1920), 64]. The settlers freely cooperated and shared with each other and so were able to survive this difficult time.

7. “By June 1848, the settlers had planted between five and six thousand acres of land, and the valley began to look green and productive. But to the Saints’ dismay, huge hordes of black crickets descended upon the crops. The settlers did everything they could. They dug trenches and turned streams of water on the crickets. They clubbed the insects with sticks and brooms and tried to burn them, but their efforts were useless. The crickets continued to come in mingly endless numbers. Patriarch John Smith, president of the Salt Lake Stake, called for a day of fasting and prayer. Soon large flocks of seagulls appeared in the sky and descended on the crickets. Susan Noble Grant said of the experience: ‘To our astonishment, the gulls med almost ravenous while gobbling down the scrambling, hopping crickets’ [in Carter E. Grant,The Kingdom of God Restored(1955), 446]. The Saints watched in joy and wonderment. Their lives had been saved.

8. “The Saints worked with energy and faith despite their difficult circumstances, and soon they had made great progress. A traveler on his way to California passed through Salt Lake City in September 1849 and paid tribute to them in this way: ‘A more orderly, earnest, industrious and civil people, I have never been among than these, and it is incredible how much they have done here in the wilderness in so short a time. In this city which contains about from four to five thousand inhabitants, I have not met in a citizen a single idler, or any person who looks like a loafer. Their prospects for crops are fair, and there is a spirit and energy in all that you that cannot be equaled in any city of any size that I have ever been in’ [in B. H. Roberts,Life of John Taylor(1963), 202]” (Our Heritage,82–83).

Understanding the Reading

The First Year in the Valley

Marginal(par. 5)Just barely enough to live on 
Waxed sore(par. 6)Became worse 
Herd-boy(par. 6)Boy who cares for the cows in the field 
Ox-hide(par. 6)Ox’s skin 
Dismay(par. 7)Discouragement and sorrow 
Hordes(par. 7)Swarms 
Ravenous(par. 7)Extremely hungry 
Earnest, industrious and civil(par. 8)Diligent, hard-working and polite 
Idler(par. 8)Person not working 
Like a loafer(par. 8)Lazy 





Understanding the Reading


Medicinal(par. 9)Healing 
Abundant timber(par. 10)Many trees 
Land speculation(par. 10)Buying up land to resell it for a lot of money 
Stewardship(par. 10)Managing property for another 
Perpetual(par. 11)Continual 
Emigrating(par. 11)Moving from one place to settle in another 

Handcart Pioneers




Hardships crossing the plains



17. “‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and n a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. … I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.

18. “‘Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since.The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company’[William Palmer, quoted in David O. McKay, “Pioneer Women,”Relief Society Magazine,Jan. 1948, 8].


20. “They, the builders of the nation,

Blazing trails along the way;

Stepping-stones for generations

Were their deeds of ev’ry day.

Building new and firm foundations,

Pushing on the wild frontier,

Forging onward, ever onward,

Blessed, honored Pioneer!

21. “Their example teaches us how to live with more faith and courage in our own countries:

22. “Service ever was their watchcry;

Love became their guiding star;

Courage, their unfailing beacon,

Radiating near and far.

Ev’ry day some burden lifted,

Ev’ry day some heart to cheer,

Ev’ry day some hope the brighter,

Blessed, honored Pioneer! [“They, the Builders of the Nation,”no.36]” (77–78, 80).

Understanding the Reading

Handcart Pioneers

Perished(par. 12)Died 
Depleted(par. 13)Used up 
Legacy(par. 14)Something of great value that is handed down from the past 
In our extremities(par. 16)During the most difficult times of our lives 
On the outposts of civilization(par. 19)At the farthest settlements of the frontier 
Forging(par. 20)Progressing through concentrated effort 
Beacon(par. 22)Light for guidance 
Radiating(par. 22)Shining 

Missionaries Answer the Call







29. “Missionaries became very dear to the Saints in the countries where they served. Joseph F. Smith, near the end of his mission to Hawaii in 1857, became ill with a high fever that prevented him from working for three months. He was blessed to come under the care of Ma Mahuhii, a faithful Hawaiian Saint. She nursed Joseph as if he were her own son, and a strong bond of love developed between the two. Years later, when he was President of the Church, Joseph F. Smith visited Honolulu and just after his arrival saw an old blind woman being led in with a few choice bananas in her hand as an offering. He heard her call, ‘Iosepa, Iosepa’ (Joseph, Joseph). Immediately he ran to her and hugged and kissed her many times, patting her on the head and saying, ‘Mama, Mama, my dear old Mama.’ [ Charles W. Nibley, “Reminiscences of President Joseph F. Smith,”Improvement Era,Jan. 1919, 193–94.]” (Our Heritage,84–86).

Understanding the Reading

Missionaries Answer the Call

Domestic(par. 23)Home 
Initial(par. 25)Beginning 
Proselyting efforts(par. 27)Efforts to convert others to the Savior, the gospel, and the Church 
Berth(par. 28)Sleeping-place on a ship 

Callings to Colonize


Colonies in the west

31. “During his lifetime, all of the Salt Lake Valley and many surrounding areas were colonized. By 1877, when Brigham Young died, more than 350 colonies had been established, and by 1900 there were almost 500. Early Church authority Brigham Henry Roberts noted that the success of Mormon colonization stemmed from ‘the loyalty of the people to their leaders and [their] unselfish and devoted personal sacrifice’ in carrying out their calls from President Young [quoted in Russell R. Rich,Ensign to the Nations(1972), 349]. The colonists sacrificed material comforts, the associations of friends, and sometimes their lives to follow a prophet of the Lord.




35. “‘There have been many hardships. That I admit … and these we have shared together. But if you want to go somewhere else, that is your right, and I do not want to deprive you of it. … But I must stay here, even if I stay alone. President Young called me here, and here I will remain till he releases me and gives me leave to go.’ Brother Rich and his family did stay, and he became the leader of a thriving community for the next several decades. [ Leonard J. Arrington,Charles C. Rich(1974), 264.] Like thousands of others, he willingly obeyed his leaders in order to help build the kingdom of the Lord” (Our Heritage,86, 88–89).

Understanding the Reading

Callings to Colonize

Colonize(subtitle)Establish new towns 
Stemmed from(par. 31)Happened as a result of 
Material comforts(par. 31)Possessions that enhance joy and happiness 
Locales(par. 32)Places 
Gristmills(par. 32)Mills to grind grain into flour 
Adverse(par. 33)Difficult 

Relations with the Indians


37. “When Elizabeth Kane, who was the wife of Thomas L. Kane, a great nonmember friend of the Saints, traveled through Utah, she stayed at the home of a weary Mormon woman. Elizabeth did not think much of the woman until she saw how she treated the Indians. When the woman called her guests to supper, she also spoke a few words to the Indians who were waiting. Elizabeth asked what the woman had said to the Indians and a son in the family told her, ‘These strangers came first, and I have only cooked enough for them; but your meal is on the fire cooking now, and I will call you as soon as it is ready.’ Elizabeth was unbelieving and asked if she really would feed the Indians. The son told her, ‘Mother will serve them just as she does you, and give them a place at her table.’ She did serve them, waiting on them while they ate. [ Elizabeth Wood Kane,Twelve Mormon Homes Visited in Succession on a Journey through Utah to Arizona(1974), 65–66.]” (Our Heritage,89–90).

Understanding the Reading

Relations with the Indians

Frontier(par. 36)Wilderness 
Instituted(par. 36)Organized 
Weary(par. 37)Tired, fatigued 

Organization of Priesthood and Auxiliary Functions


39. “In 1867 the prophet appointed George Q. Cannon as general superintendent of the Sunday School, and within a few years, the Sunday School was a permanent part of the Church organization. In 1869 President Young began giving formal instruction in modest living to his daughters. He expanded this counsel to all young women in 1870 with the formation of the Retrenchment Association (retrenchmeans to cut back excesses). This was the beginning of the Young Women organization. In July 1877 he traveled to Ogden, Utah, to organize the first stake Relief Society” (Our Heritage,90).

Understanding the Reading

Organization of Priesthood and Auxiliary Functions

Auxiliary(subtitle)An organization under the priesthood, such as Sunday School and Relief Society 
Clarified(par. 38)Gave more information about 
Superintendent(par. 39)Leader 
Modest(par. 39)Humble, simple 

What Effect Did the California Gold Rush Have on the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley?

In 1848 when gold was discovered in California, it was a blessing to the faithful but a temptation to the weak in faith. A flood of gold kers crossed the plains from the east and passed through the Salt Lake Valley. Some Church members who were unhappy with the harsh conditions in the valley loaded their wagons and prepared to leave. President Brigham Young counseled: “God has appointed this place for the gathering of His Saints, and you will do better right here than you will by going to the gold mines. … As for gold and silver, and the rich minerals of the earth, there is no other country that equals this; but let them alone; let others k them, and we will cultivate the soil” (in Brown,Giant of the Lord,132–33). Some left for California, but most remained loyal and enjoyed a bountiful harvest that year.

The famous gold rush of 1849 directly blessed the Saints living in the Salt Lake Valley. Merchants hauling goods to California, upon reaching Salt Lake City, learned that food, clothing, and tools sent by ship had already reached that market, so they sold their goods to the Saints at greatly reduced prices. Also, gold kers hired the Saints to repair their wagons. In addition, parties with empty wagons were sent out from Salt Lake to collect goods discarded along the trail by those wanting to lighten their loads for faster travel to the goldfields.

Studying the Reading

Do three of the following activities (A–D) as you study “President Brigham Young.”

Activity A iconA New Homeland

  1. 1.

    Imagine leading a group of people to establish a new homeland. In your notebook, under the title “My Order,” list the following events in the order in which you would do them:

    1. a.

      Divide the land among the people

    2. b.

      Fast and pray to overcome special problems

    3. c.

      Plant crops

    4. d.

      Work hard to make progress

    5. e.

      Identify a place for a temple

    6. f.

      Organize the Church

    7. g.

      Establish an inspired plan for the future

  2. 2.

    Review paragraphs 1–11. Then, under the title “The Pioneers’ Order,” list those same events in the order in which President Brigham Young and the Saints did them during their first several months in the Salt Lake Valley.

  3. 3.

    What impressed you about the order in which they were done?

  4. 4.

    How can you apply this example to the priorities you set in your life?

Activity B iconFind Stories that Relate to the Hymn

  1. 1.

    Carefully read the words of the hymn “They, the Builders of the Nation” in paragraphs 20 and 22.

  2. 2.

    Write the following words and phrases in your notebook. Then find a story from the readings in “President Brigham Young” that is an example of each word or phrase and write a one-sentence summary of the story next to the entry on your list.

    1. a.

      Blazing trails

    2. b.

      Pushing on the wild frontier

    3. c.

      Forging onward

    4. d.


    5. e.


    6. f.


    7. g.


Activity C iconDraw a Map

  1. 1.

    In your notebook, draw or trace the world map from map 7 in the “Church History Chronology, Maps, and Photographs” section of your scriptures. On your map, mark all of the countries where President Brigham Young sent missionaries ( paragraphs 23–29).

  2. 2.

    Answer the following questions:

    1. a.

      In which of these countries would you most like to serve a mission? Why?

    2. b.

      How do you think life changed for the children of those called to serve missions to distant countries?

    3. c.

      What has been the hardest work the Lord has called you to do? How did your experience help you to grow?

Activity D iconWrite a Story

President Brigham Young called many Church members to colonize areas in what is now Utah and its surrounding states. Read paragraphs 30–35 and do the following:

  1. 1.

    List the name of each person who was called to colonize a new community. List a character trait next to the name that you feel best exemplifies that person’s ability to endure a challenging assignment.

  2. 2.

    Look at the picture on page 169 of the family in front of the log home. Imagine you were a member of that family and write a short story describing your feelings when President Brigham Young called you to colonize that area.