Learn more about Brigham Young, the second leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the successor to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young led the greatest exodus in American history and acted as a temporal and spiritual leader to thousands of Latter-day Saints in the 1800s.
Winter Quarters played a key role in the pioneer exodus of the Latter-day Saints. As many as one thousand pioneers died during the settlement’s temporary existence. It was also there that Brigham Young received his only canonized revelation. In this interview, Richard Bennett, president of the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters, discusses the history and legacy of Winter Quarters.
Pioneer Prophet is the latest biographical contribution to the life of Brigham Young. Written by Presbyterian historian John Turner, the book examines the complexity of a man known as “American Moses,” “Lion of the Lord,” and “Brother Brigham.” In this interview, Turner reflects on the biography’s research and reflection a decade after its initial publication by Harvard University Press.
Saints Volume 2: No Unhallowed Hand is the second book in a four-volume history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Saint volume 1 covered the time period of 1815–1846. Matt McBride explains what the book covers, how it came to be—and what comes next.
Christopher Blythe’s archival research ended up contributing to scholarship about Brigham Young. Blythe was researching 19th century dreams and visions when he stumbled across an unexpected find: a previously unrecorded revelation given to Brigham Young.
Thomas Alexander is the author Brigham Young and the Expansion of the Mormon Faith (University of Oklahoma University Press, 2019). His book precedes another contribution from the press about the relationship between Brigham Young and Jim Bridger.
Devery Anderson is the marketing manager for Signature Books and the author/editor of several books, including “Salt Lake School of the Prophets: 1867-1883” (Signature Books, 2018). He explains that Brigham Young reinstituted the School of the Prophets started by Joseph Smith.
Matt Godfrey is the managing historian and general editor of the Joseph Smith Papers. The scholar has frequently written about the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, including the Church founder’s relationship with Brigham Young. Additionally, Godfrey has contributed to research about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century.