Brigham Young

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Brigham Young (1801-1877) was a vital early leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, better known as the Mormon Church. Young was the Mormon leader who led the group to Salt Lake City, as a result he is known as the "Mormon Moses."

Young was born in Vermont and became an early convert to Mormonism after reading the Book of Mormon shortly after its 1830 publication. Some of Brigham Young's important dates were as follows:

• In 1835, he became one of the first Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
• Following Joseph Smith's death in 1844, quickly rose to prominence in the church
• Brigham Young become President in 1847
• Governor of Utah Territory from 1851 to 1858

Brigham Young and the Mountain Meadows Massacre

Conflict with mainstream American society led Young to take the Mormons westward, setting in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, now recognized as Pioneer Day in Utah. Young was the first governor of the Utah Territory, serving from 1851 to 1858. As governor, Young was involved in several controversies, including the Mountain Meadows massacre.

In 1850, Young organized the Board of Regents of the fledgling University of Desert, which later became the University of Utah. Young was a prolific supporter of the Mormon practice of polygamy, eventually taking 55 wives and fathering 56 children. In 1856, Young built Lion House to hold his enormous family, and the homestead remains a Salt Lake City landmark. He died in 1877 as the result of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix.