Brigham Young Quotes with Historical Citations

Brigham Young is a towering influence in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many of his quotes are relevant to this day. This page features quotes from Brigham Young on a variety of topics, including the Fall of Adam and Eve, salvation, self-sufficiency, and more. Please leave a comment if there’s a quote you’d like considered for inclusion.

Don’t miss new insights on topics such as reliable Joseph Smith quotes and the Adam-God theory. Sign up to get them straight to your inbox.

Who Was Brigham Young? Life, Wives, Teachings, and Legacy

Editor’s Note:

The texts presented below are generally based on the available source closest to the times Brigham Young spoke, but paragraph divisions, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization have been silently altered for readability. In almost all cases, the original source is linked for comparison.

Not all topics that Brigham Young spoke on are relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today or accepted as official doctrine. Because of this, Brigham Young’s teachings about plural marriage, race, the Adam-God doctrine, the United Order of Enoch, and other topics are not included in the selections below.

What Did Brigham Young Say About the Curse of Cain?

Baptism

Baptism and Forgiveness of Sin

In the case of baptism, has water any way to wash away sin? No, certainly not. The efficacy of water can’t wash away your sins, but the Lord says, “if you will repent of your sins, go down in water [to be] baptized and there be buried in likeness of being put into earth and being born again, and when you are brought forth, if you do this in all sincerity, your sins shall be washed away.” Will the water wash them away? … No, but keeping the commandments of God will wash them away and cleanse us from all the sin.
October 23, 1853, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare October 23, 1853, Journal of Discourses 2:4.

Quotes From Brigham Young About Creation

Periods of Time

The creation occupied certain periods of time. We are not authorized to say what the duration of these days was, whether Moses penned these words as we have them, or whether the translators of the Bible have given the words their intended meaning. However, God created the world.

If I were a sectarian I would say, according to their philosophy, as I have heard many of them say hundreds of times, “God created all things out of nothing; in six days he created the world out of nothing.” You may be assured the Latter-day Saints do not believe any such thing. They believe God brought forth material out of which he formed this little terra firma upon which we roam. How long had this material been in existence? Forever and forever, in some shape, in some condition.
September 17, 1876, Journal of Discourses 18:231-232.

Adam’s Rib

Moses made the Bible to say [that Adam’s] wife was taken out of his side,— was made of one of his ribs. I do not know anything to the contrary of my ribs being equal on both sides. The Lord knows if I lost a rib for each wife I have, I should have had none left long ago. …

As for the Lord taking a rib out of Adam’s side to make a woman of, He took one out of my side just as much.

‘But Brother Brigham, would you make it appear that Moses did not tell the truth?’

No, not a particle more than I would that your mother did not tell you that little Billy came from a hollow toad stool. I would not accuse your mother of lying, any more than I would Moses; the people in the days of Moses wanted to know things that were not for them, the same as your children do, when they want to know where their little brother came from, and he answered them according to their folly, the same as you did your children.
Sermon, October 8, 1854, 11-26, Historian’s Office reports of speeches, 1845-1885, CR 100 317, Church History Library.

Brigham Young Quotes About Death

The Spirit World

When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world. … Where is the spirit world? It is right here.
June 22, 1856, Journal of Discourses 3:369.

Schooling After Death

If a person is baptized for the remission of sins, and dies a short time thereafter, he is not prepared at once to enjoy a fulness of the glory promised to the faithful in the Gospel; for he must be schooled while in the spirit, in the other departments of the house of God, passing on from truth to truth, from intelligence to intelligence, until he is prepared to again receive his body and to enter into the presence of the Father and the Son. We cannot enter into celestial glory in our present state of ignorance and mental darkness.
October 8, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:332–333.

Learning After Death

I shall not cease learning while I live, nor when I arrive in the spirit-world; but shall there learn with greater facility; and when I again receive my body, I shall learn a thousand times more in a thousand times less time; and then I do not mean to cease learning, but shall still continue my researches.
March 4, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:10.

Quotes from Brigham Young About Doctrine

A Unanimous Voice

In trying all matters of doctrine, to make a decision valid, it is necessary to obtain a unanimous voice, faith and decision. In the capacity of a Quorum, the three First Presidents must be one in their voice; the Twelve Apostles must be unanimous in their voice, to obtain a righteous decision upon any matter that may come before them, as you may read in the Doctrine and Covenants. Whenever you see these Quorums unanimous in their declaration, you may set it down as true [see D&C 107:27]. Let the Elders get together, being faithful and true; and when they agree upon any point, you may know that it is true.
May 7, 1861, Journal of Discourses 9:91–92.

How Did President Kimball Receive the 1978 Priesthood Revelation?

One Man Holds the Keys

No member of the Church has the right to publish any doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, without first submitting them for examination and approval to the First Presidency and the Twelve. There is but one man upon the earth, at one time, who holds the keys to receive commandments and revelations for the Church, and who has the authority to write doctrines by way of commandment unto the Church. And any man who so far forgets the order instituted by the Lord as to write and publish what may be termed new doctrines, without consulting with the First Presidency of the Church respecting them, places himself in a false position, and exposes himself to the power of darkness by violating his Priesthood.
1865 Proclamation of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, Millennial Star Vol. 27 (October 21, 1865), 663.

Brigham Young’s Dream of Joseph Smith

In my dream I went to see Joseph. He sat in a large window in a south west direction, leaned back in his chair, with his feet on the lower round. I took him by the right hand and kissed him many times. He looked perfectly natural. I asked him why it was that we could not be together as we used to live. He had been from us a long time and we wanted his society and I do not like to be separated from him.

He rose up from his chair, looked at me with an earnest and pleasant countenance, [and] spoke in his usual way: “It is all right.”

I then said to him: “I do not like to be away from you.“

“It is right,” he replied. “We cannot be together yet. We shall by and by, but you will have to do without me a while and then we shall be together again.”

I then discovered there was a handrail between us. He stayed by the window, and I was in twilight. To the north of me, it was very dark. To the southwest of him, it was very light. I then said to Brother Joseph: “The brethren you know well—better than I do. You raised them up and brought the Priesthood to us. The brethren have great anxiety to understand the Law of Adoption or sealing principles.” And I said, “if you have a word of counsel for me I shall be glad to receive it.”

Joseph stepped towards me, looked very earnest yet pleasant, and commenced his instruction:

“Tell the people to be humble and faithful and sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice—it will teach how to do and where to go. It will yield the fruits of the Kingdom. Tell the brethren [to] keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other Spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife and all evil from their hearts and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the Kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord and if they will, they will find themselves just as they were organized by our Father in Heaven before they came into the world. Our Father in Heaven organized the human family but they are all disorganized and in great confusion.”

Then he showed me the pattern—how they they were in the beginning. This I cannot describe, but saw it and where the Priesthood had been taken from the Earth and how it must be joined together so there would be a perfect chain from Father Adam to his latest posterity.

He said, “tell the people to be sure to keep the Spirit of the [Lord] and follow it and it would lead them just right.”
Brigham Young office files, 1832-1878; Brigham Young, vision, 1847 February 17; Church History Library.

Wilford Woodruff and the Development of Temple Doctrine

Fall of Adam and Eve

No Effect Administered but by Its Opposite

You have heard me say—and you have heard others say—there is no effect administered here or any where else but by its opposite. It is an eternal principle. Now, can the people understand that? … You could not obtain eternal life unless you did actually know and understand by your experience the good from the evil, the light from the darkness, understand their very holiness and also vice, wickedness, and corruption.
September 1, 1859, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare September 1, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:237.

Know What Evil Is

You cannot give any persons their exaltation unless they know what evil is, what sin, sorrow, and misery are, for no person could comprehend, appreciate and enjoy an exaltation upon any other principle.
June 22, 1856, Journal of Discourses 3:369.

This Brigham Young quote illustrates that he believed we learned through being exposed to both good and evil.

Know the Bitter and the Sweet

Darkness and sin were permitted to come on this earth. Man partook of the forbidden fruit in accordance with a plan devised from eternity, that mankind might be brought in contact with the principles and powers of darkness, that they might know the bitter and the sweet, the good and the evil, and be able to discern between light and darkness, to enable them to receive light continually.
May 19, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:158.

Should Not Blame Eve

We also understand … why God permitted Mother Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit. We should not have been here today if she had not; we could never have possessed wisdom and intelligence if she had not done it. It was all in the economy of heaven, and we need not talk about it; it is all right. We should never blame Mother Eve, not the least. I am thankful to God that I know good from evil, the bitter from the sweet, the things of God from the things not of God.

When I look at the economy of heaven my heart leaps for joy, and if I had the tongue of an angel, or the tongues of the whole human family combined, I would praise God in the highest for His great wisdom and condescension in suffering the children of men to fall into the very sin into which they have fallen, for He did it that they, like Jesus, might descend below all things and then press forward and rise above all.
July 11, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:145.

Brigham Young Quotes About Family

Treat Them Right and Children Are Bound to Parents

I could say something encouraging to parents if they would only heed it: Let the father and the mother in this church and kingdom take a righteous course, never to do a wrong but good all the days of their lives, and if they have one child to one hundred and they treat their children as they should be treated and bind them to the Lord by their faith and prayers, I do not care if they do go to California. They come back again. They may go … but those children are bound to their parents and no power in hell can separate their parents from them in eternity, and by their faith and prayers, they seal up their children to eternal life.
April 29, 1866, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare April 29, 1866, Journal of Discourses 11:215.

God

The More I Can Know of God

Some believe or conceive the idea that to know God would lessen him in our estimation; but I can say that for me to understand any principle or being, on earth or in heaven, it does not lessen its true value to me, but on the contrary, it increases it; and the more I can know of God, the dearer and more precious He is to me, and the more exalted are my feelings towards Him.
July 18, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:57–58.

Another State of Existence

It is not one man, two, a score, a hundred, nor a thousand that carries on this work. The great architect and manager—the superintendent, the controller, dictator, the one that guides—is out of sight of our natural eyes. He lives on another planet, is in another state of existence. He has passed the ordeals we are passing through. He has received an experience, suffered, enjoyed, and knows all that you and I can know, and just as we are passing through the whole of it, He is crowned, exalted, and He holds the keys of power of this kingdom and sways his scepter to do His pleasure and does His will among the children of men, saint or sinner, and brings forth the results of kingdoms and kings of nations, emperor, and all redound to His glory and to the perfection of His work.
June 17, 1866, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare June 17, 1866, Journal of Discourses 11:249.

Joseph Smith’s King Follett Discourse: Is it Central to Latter-day Saint Doctrine?

God is Not in All Their Thoughts

Many, in their acts, seem closely to agree with the expression in holy writ that “God is not in all their thoughts.” We might readily conclude that many, though they use the name of the Supreme Being more frequently than any other name on earth or in heaven, never carefully reflect upon the character of that being.
May 19, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:158.

Quotes from Brigham Young About the Gospel

Matter-of-Fact Religion

The religion of Jesus Christ is a matter-of-fact religion, and taketh hold of the every-day duties and realities of this life.
August 1–10, 1865, Journal of Discourses 11:133.

Practice the Principles

The principles of eternity and eternal exaltation are of no use to us, unless they are brought down to our capacities so that we practice them in our lives.
August 17, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:28.

Faith and Works

When faith springs up in the heart, good works will follow, and good works will increase that pure faith within them.
May 6, 1855, Journal of Discourses 3:155.

Bad Men Good, Good Men Better

What are the traits of this Gospel when it is received into the heart of an individual? It will make a bad man good, and a good man better; it increases their light, knowledge, and intelligence, and enables them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, as the Savior did.
July 11, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:144.

A repeated theme in Brigham Young quotes is that the Gospel makes bad men good and good men better.

Saints Indeed

To be Saints indeed requires every wrong influence that is within them, as individuals, to be subdued, until every evil desire is eradicated, and every feeling of their hearts is brought into subjection to the will of Christ.
July 19, 1877, Journal of Discourses 19:67.

Brigham Young Quotes About the Holy Spirit

Every Breath

I want to see men and women breathe the Holy Ghost in every breath of their lives, living constantly in the light of God’s countenance.
February 23, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:288–289.

All Have Been Enlightened

I do not believe for one moment that there has been a man or woman upon the face of the earth, from the days of Adam to this day, who has not been enlightened, instructed, and taught by the revelations of Jesus Christ. “What! the ignorant heathen?” Yes, every human being who has possessed a sane mind. I am far from believing that the children of men have been deprived of the privilege of receiving the Spirit of the Lord to teach them right from wrong.
December 3, 1854, Journal of Discourses 2:139.

Brigham Young Quotes About Jesus Christ

The Errand of Jesus

The errand of Jesus to earth was to bring his brethren and sisters back into the presence of the Father; he has done his part of the work, and it remains for us to do ours. There is not one thing that the Lord could do for the salvation of the human family that He has neglected to do; and it remains for the children of men to receive the truth or reject it; all that can be accomplished for their salvation, independent of them, has been accomplished in and by the Savior.
July 18, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:59.

Joseph Smith

Foreordination

Joseph Smith was ordained to this before the words were. I told you the doctrine of election and reprobation is true? It is. Joseph Smith was ordained—a decree set upon him in the spirit world long before the foundation of this earth was laid—no doubt that he should be the man in the last dispensation that should bring forth the word of God to the people who that should receive the keys and power of the priesthood, and the Lord had his eye upon him and upon his father and his father’s father and his progenitors clear back to the fall, to Abraham, Enoch, and Adam and has watched that family and that blood. He was ordained to it … and came up in last days to be the minister and hold the keys of last dispensation of fullness of times.
October 9, 1859, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare October 9, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:289–290.

Joseph Smith: As Seen by Historians

Shouting Hallelujah

I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the Kingdom of God on earth and sustain it. These keys are committed to this people, and we have power to continue the work that Joseph commenced, until everything is prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. This is the business of the Latter-day Saints.
October 6, 1855, Journal of Discourses 3:51.

President Young Quotes About Learning

Object of This Existence

The object of this existence is to learn, which we can only do a little at a time.
January 26, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:167.

Instruct our Minds

We are the children of that Being that lives in the heavens, filled with all intelligence, possessing all power, all knowledge. Are you and I going there? If we are, then pay attention to instructing our minds in all these things. I am happy to see the little boys taking hold to learn to sing. Let them learn music. Teach our children every art and sciences. We have got to excel with regard to the sciences of the day just as much as we excel in our religion.
August 17, 1867, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare August 17, 1867, Journal of Discourses 12:122.

We Are in a School

We are in a school, we keep learning. We don’t expect to cease learning while we live on earth. When we pass through the veil, we expect still to continue to learn [and] increase—though it may be a strange idea to some—for the plain reason I am not capacitated to receive all knowledge at once I must receive a little here and there.
August 15, 1852, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions; compare August 15, 1852, Journal of Discourses 6:286.

Listen to Rebuke

When you are rebuked by each other—when brethren meet you and say, “This is wrong in you,” you should receive it kindly, and express your thanks for the reproof, and acknowledge the wrong frankly, and admit that you may frequently do wrong when you do not know it, and say, “I wish you to enlighten my mind, to take me by the hand, and let me go along hand-in-hand and strengthen and sustain each other.” What, in your weaknesses? Yes. Do you expect to see a perfect man? Not while you stay here.
March 17, 1861, Journal of Discourses 8:367.

Moral Agency

Free to Choose

Some of my friends that are strong Calvinists in their faith with regard to the duty and acts and doing of the children of men [embrace] fatalism—God has decreed all things whatsoever comes to pass. That is a mistake. The volition of the creature [is] as free as [the] birds of air to fly, they can rise up, sit, lie do[wn.]

Do you not believe in foreordination?

Yes, as strong as any man in the world. Jesus was appointed before the foundations of the world was built and his mission was appointed him for him to be the Savior of the inhabitants of the earth and all things. Yet, when he came in the flesh, he had the liberty … to choose … to obey his Father or refuse to obey and become a son of perdition.

That is the case with us, and God has decreed and foreordained thousands of things that has come to pass. … God rules and reigns and has made you and I as free as himself and as the angels, to choose for ourselves and we shall then be judged according to our acts.
July 31, 1864, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare July 31, 1864, Journal of Discourses 10:324.

Cannot Force People to Heaven

I am not going to drive a man or a woman to heaven. A great many think that they will be able to flog people into heaven, but this can never be done, for the intelligence in us is as independent as the Gods. People are not to be driven and you can put into a gnat’s eye all the souls of the children of men that are driven into heaven by preaching hell-fire.
February 17, 1861, Journal of Discourses 9:124.

Doing Good is a Choice

Does it follow that a man is deprived of his rights, because he lists in his heart to do the will of God? Must a man swear to prove that he has an agency? I contend there is no necessity for that, nor for stealing nor for doing any wrong. I can manifest to the heavens and to the inhabitants of the earth that I am free-born, and have my liberty before God, angels and men, when I kneel down to pray, certainly as much as if I were to go out and swear. I have the right to call my family together at certain hours for prayer, and I believe that this course proves that I am a free agent, as much as if I were to steal, swear, lie, and get drunk.
June 22-29, 1864, Journal of Discourses 10:333.

Think Before You Act

[There] used to be a old maxim, and in many cases an excellent [and] good one, “think twice before speaking once, think three times before you act.” If we can train ourselves enough to think what we are going to do before we [are] doing [it,] we can avoid the evil present with us.
June 13, 1852, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare June 13, 1852, Journal of Discourses 1:92.

Brigham Young taught to “think twice before speaking, think three times before you act.”

Brigham Young Quotes: Music and Theater

Music in Heaven

There is no fiddling or music in hell. There is not a fiddler in hell or any music of any kind. Music belongs in heaven to cheer God, angel, and man. If we could hear the music there is in heaven it would overwhelm mortal man.
Wilford Woodruff Journal, January 2, 1854.

The Bells at Temple Square: The Tabernacle Choir’s World-Class Handbell Ensemble

The Theater

Upon the stage of a theater can be represented in character, evil and its consequences, good and its happy results and rewards; the weakness and the follies of man, the magnanimity of virtue and the greatness of truth. The stage can be made to aid the pulpit in impressing upon the minds of a community an enlightened sense of a virtuous life, also a proper horror of the enormity of sin and a just dread of its consequences. The path of sin with its thorns and pitfalls, its gins and snares can be revealed, and how to shun it.
March 6, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:243.

Quotes from Brigham Young About Prayer

Pray Even When Angry

If the Devil says you cannot pray when you are angry, tell him it is none of his business, and pray until that species of insanity is dispelled and serenity is restored to the mind.
May 24, 1863, Journal of Discourses 10:175.

Premortal Existence

Premortal Spirits Are Pure

The spirits of the children of men are pure and holy without transgression or any curse upon them—and the differences that you see around you is on account of the circumstances that surround them … Some have taught that because persons are poor that it is on account of transgression. It is false doctrine—from beginning to end.
Historian’s Office general Church minutes, 1839-1877; 1839-1845; Thomas Bullock booklet (#3), 1845 April 6-20, 1845 August 3; Church History Library.

Was Slavery Practiced in Utah Territory?

A War Within Us

The spirits that live in these tabernacles were as pure as the heavens, when they entered them. They came to tabernacles that are contaminated, pertaining to the flesh, by the fall of man.

The Psalmist says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” [Psalm 51:5]. This Scripture has established in the minds of some the doctrine of total depravity—that it is impossible for them to have one good thought, that they are altogether sinful, that there is no good, no soundness, and no spiritual health in them. This is not correct, yet we have a warfare within us. We have to contend against evil passions, or the seeds of iniquity that are sown in the flesh through the fall. The pure spirits that occupy these tabernacles are operated upon, and it is the right of him that sent them into these tabernacles to hold the pre-eminence, and to always give the Spirit of truth to influence the spirits of men, that it may triumph and reign predominantly in our tabernacles, the God and Lord of every motion.
March 8, 1863, Journal of Discourses 10:105.

Do You Want More Content Like This?

Stay connected with fresh content and scholarly insights every week.

War in Heaven

The Lord Almighty suffered this schism in heaven to see what his subjects would do preparatory to their coming to this earth.
April 8, 1871, Journal of Discourses 14:93.

No Neutral Spirits

There were no neutral spirits in Heaven at the time of the Rebellion. All took sides. … All spirits are pure that come from the presence of God.
Wilford Woodruff Journal, December 25, 1869.

Brigham Young Quotes: Prophets

Inquire If Church Leaders Are Led By God

What a pity it would be it we were lead by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are lead by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purpose of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders did they know for themselves by the revelations of Jesus that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves whether their leaders are walking in the path the lord dictates or not. This has been my exhortation continually. …

Let every person be fervent in prayer, until they know the things of God for themselves and become certain that they are walking in the path that leads to everlasting life; then will envy, the child of ignorance, vanish, and there will be no disposition in any man to place himself above another, for such a feeling meets no countenance in the order of heaven.
January 12, 1862, in Deseret News, February 12, 1862.

This video illustrates some of the prophet’s character revealed by the Brigham Young quotes in this article.

Living Oracles More Important than Scriptures

I recollect one Sunday evening, Joseph came to my house at dusk: “I want you to go to my house and preach.” I told him I loved to go to meeting but did not want to go to his house. I knew what was going on: Joseph and Hyrum and William Marks and Law [were] there to operate against Joseph. “I would rather not go.”

Brother Joseph finally talked about [it] until Joseph said this. He said, “Brother Brigham, if you do not go with me to night, I will not [go] to my house to night.”

I did my chores. By time [I] got [t]here it was too late to commence a real meeting. Hyrum had opened the meeting and was preaching. When we went in, we went into the old log house … and Hyrum preached and preached and preached. … Hyrum worked hard and had the Bible and Book of Mormon and book Doctrine and Covenants. “Now,” says he, “that is the law God has given us. Here is the revelations which the Lord has given us for the building up of church and his kingdom in last days. Anything more is of man, it is not of God.” …

When he sat down, Brother Joseph said, “Brother Brigham, now go,” (his hands over his face), get up. …

I got up and I took the books (he had them on the stand). [I] got them separate and I took the Bible, “there lays the Bible and there is the Book of Mormon and there is the Book of Doctrine Covenants—the revelations God has given through Joseph for the salvation of people of [the] 19[th] century. I would not give the ashes of a rye straw for these 3 books for the salvation of any man [that] lives.” And that was my text, and I think before we got through that, the congregation was perfectly satisfied [that] if we had not living oracles in our midst, we had nothing to sectarian world.

Hyrum got up made a handsome apology and confessed his wrong and mistake in his over zeal and asked pardon.
October 8, 1866, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024.

Brigham Young Quotes: Revelation

Obeying the Words of the Lord

I realize the importance of obeying the words of the Lord. When a revelation is given, the people must walk to it. But when I say, “will you do thus and so?”, when I know it is the mind and will of the Lord, it does not bind them so closely to that observation and observations of the word as it would if the word was written to the people. I say to the people, “will you gather the poor elders?” “Will you go preach?” instead of saying, “thus saith the Lord, mine servant so and so, go ye.” I say, “will you go?” Blessed are they that obey when the Lord commands but more blessed are they that obey without a commandment.
December 29, 1867, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare December 29, 1867, Journal of Discourses 12:127–128.

This is a Revelation

It has been observed that the people want revelation. This is a revelation; and were it written, it would then be written revelation, as truly as the revelations which are contained in the book of Doctrine and Covenants. I could give you a revelation upon the subject of paying your tithing and building a temple to the name of the Lord; for the light is in me. I could put these revelations as straight to the line of truth in writing as any revelation you ever read. I could write the mind of the Lord, and you could put it in your pockets. But before we desire more written revelation, let us fulfil the revelations that are already written, and which we have scarcely begun to fulfil.
April 7, 1852, Journal of Discourses 6:319.

Scholar Finds Brigham Young Revelation

The Spirit of Revelation

We often hear it said that the living oracles must be in the Church, in order that the Kingdom of God may be established and prosper on the earth. I will give another version of this sentiment. I say that the living oracles of God, or the Spirit of revelation must be in each and every individual, to know the plan of salvation and keep in the path that leads them to the presence of God.
April 7, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:279

The First and Foremost Duty

Were I to draw a distinction in all the duties that are required of the children of men, from first to last, I would place first and foremost the duty of seeking unto the Lord our God until we open the path of communication from heaven to earth—from God to our own souls. Keep every avenue of your hearts clean and pure before him.
January 20, 1861, Journal of Discourses 8:339.

No Perfect Revelations

Brigham Young said that there has not been a perfect revelation given.

[Brigham Young] supposed there has not yet been a perfect revelation given, because we cannot understand it, yet we receive a little here and a little there. He should not be stumbled if the prophet should translate the Bible forty thousand times over and yet it should be different in some places every time, because when God [speaks], he always speaks according to the capacity of the people.
Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845, p. 171, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Quotes From the Council of Fifty Minutes

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Why Required

No matter how many generations come and go, believers in him are required to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of his death and sufferings until he comes again. Why are they required to do this? To witness unto the Father, to Jesus and to the angels that they are believers in and desire to follow him in the regeneration, keep his commandments, build up his kingdom, revere his name and serve him with an undivided heart, that they may be worthy to eat and drink with him in his Father’s kingdom. This is why the Latter-day Saints partake of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.
July 11, 1869, Journal of Discourses 13:139–140.

One of the Greatest Blessings

It is one of the greatest blessings we could enjoy to come here before the Lord and before angel[s,] before each other witness that we do remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has died for us. This proves to the Father that we do remember our covenants. It proves that we … love his gospel, we love to keep his commandments, and love to honor the name of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth.
August 29, 1852, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare with August 29, 1852, Journal of Discourses 6:277.

Quotes from Brigham Young on Salvation and Exaltation

Save Everybody Who Can Be Saved

The economy of heaven is to gather in all, and save everybody who can be saved.
Salt Lake City, August 12, 1866, Journal of Discourses 11:262.

How Did Early Latter-day Saints React to D&C 76?

To Get Rid of This Sin Within Us

It requires all the atonement of Christ, the mercy of the Father, the pity of angels and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with us always, and then to do the very best we possibly can, to get rid of this sin within us, so that we may escape from this world into the celestial kingdom.
February 3, 1867, Journal of Discourses 11:301.

The Privilege of Proving Themselves

President Young thought none would inherit this Earth when it became celestial and translated into the presence of God but those who would be crowned as Gods and able to endure the fulness of the presence of God. … All others would have to inherit another kingdom, even that kingdom agreeing with the law which they had kept. Yet, he thought they would eventually have the privilege of proving themselves worthy and advancing to a celestial kingdom, but it would be a slow progress.
Wilford Woodruff, Journal, August 5, 1855.

Marriage and Salvation

President Young said there would be men saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God with one wife, with many wives, and with no wife at all.
Wilford Woodruff Journal, February 12, 1870.

President [Brigham] Young explained … all would receive Celestial glory if they held out faithful to the end, whether they had but one wife or many.
Paris, Idaho, School of the Prophets, June 18, 1870

Are There 3 Degrees in the Celestial Kingdom?

Do Not Give Up

Do not become disheartened, give up your labours, and conclude that you are not to be saved. All is yours, if you will but live according to what you know, and increase in knowledge and godliness. . . . Let every man faithfully stand to his post, and they will ultimately be worthy to enter into celestial glory. This is all the business we have on hand at present.
October 8, 1859, Journal of Discourses, 7:333-334.

Will Receive According to Their Works

As far as morality is concerned, [there are] millions of the inhabitants of the earth that live according to the best light they have—they live according to the best knowledge they have. I have told you frequently, they will receive according to their works and those that live according to the best principles they have in their possession or that they can understand, will actually receive peace, glory, comfort, joy, and a crown that will be far beyond what they are anticipating. They will not be lost.
June 19, 1859, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare June 19, 1859, Journal of Discourses 6:332.

Brigham Young Quotes: Scriptures

Like a Lighthouse

It is your privilege and duty to so live as to be able to understand the things of God. There are the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, and the book of Doctrine and Covenants, which Joseph has given us, and they are of great worth to a person wandering in darkness. They are like a lighthouse in the ocean, or a finger-post which points out the road we should travel. Where do they point? To the fountain of light.
July 22, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:129.

Bible Translations

If [the Bible] be translated incorrectly, and there is a scholar on the earth who professes to be a Christian, and he can translate it any better than King James’s translators did it, he is under obligation to do so, or the curse is upon him. If I understood Greek and Hebrew as some may profess to do, and I knew the Bible was not correctly translated, I should feel myself bound by the law of justice to the inhabitants of the earth to translate that which is incorrect and give it just as it was spoken anciently. Is that proper? Yes, I would be under obligation to do it.
August 27, 1871, Journal of Discourses 14:226-227.

New Testament Scholar Thomas Wayment

Observance Will Elevate Any People

I believe the Bible contains the words of God and the words of good men and the words of bad men. … I believe the doctrines concerning salvation contained in that book are true, and that their observance will elevate any people, nation or family that dwells on the face of the earth.
May 29, 1870, Journal of Discourses 13:175.

Brigham Young Quotes on Self-Sufficiency

Save Everything

Never let anything waste. Save every thing, be prudent, and the minute you get more [than] you [can] take care of yourself, ask your neighbors to help you.
June 5, 1853, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare June 5, 1853, Journal of Discourses 1:250.

Brigham Young quote about not letting things go to waste.

Save What You Get

If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.
February 3, 1867, Journal of Discourses 11:301.

Quotes from Brigham Young About Service and Welfare

My Religion

Many of our brethren and sisters are on the Plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them. The text will be—to get them here! …

That is my religion; that is the dictation of the Holy Ghost that I possess, it is to save the people. We must bring them in from the Plains, and when we get them here, we will try to keep the same spirit that we have had, and teach them the way of life and salvation; tell them how they can be saved, and how they can save their friends. This is the salvation I am now seeking for, to save our brethren that would be apt to perish, or suffer extremely, if we do not send them assistance. …

I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the celestial kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the Plains, and attend strictly to those things which we call temporal, or temporal duties, otherwise your faith will be in vain; the preaching you have heard will be in vain to you, and you will sink to hell, unless you attend to the things we tell you.
October 6, 1856, Journal of Discourses, 4:112-114.

Who Was Responsible for the 1856 Handcart Tragedy?

Under Obligation

We are under obligations to our families, connections, and friends, and then to the whole human family. We are not here isolated and alone, differently formed and composed of different material from the rest of the human race. We belong to and are part of this family, consequently we are under obligations one to another.
November 13, 1870, Journal of Discourses 13:301.

Great Means Come with Great Responsibility

The more we are blessed with means, the more we are blessed with responsibility; the more we are blessed with wisdom and ability, the more we are placed under the necessity of using that wisdom and ability in the spread of righteousness, the subjugation of sin and misery, and the amelioration of the condition of mankind. The man that has only one talent and the man that has five talents have responsibility accordingly. If we have a world of means, we have a world of responsibility.
January 26, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:172.

Let’s Talk About the Law of Consecration

Charitable Gifts to Beggars

Suppose that in this community there are ten beggars who beg from door to door for something to eat, and that nine of them are imposters who beg to escape work, and with an evil heart practice imposition upon the generous and sympathetic, and that only one of the ten who visit your doors is worthy of your bounty; which is best, to give food to the ten, to make sure of helping the truly needy one, or to repulse the ten because you do not know which is the worthy one? You will all say, administer charitable gifts to the ten, rather than turn away the only truly worthy and truly needy person among them. If you do this, it will make no difference in your blessings, whether you administer to worthy or unworthy persons, inasmuch as you give alms with a single eye to assist the truly needy.
March 5, 1860, Journal of Discourses 8:12.

Brigham Young Quotes: Temples

Endowment Defined

The preparatory ordinances there administered, though accompanied by the ministration of angels, and the presence of the Lord Jesus, were but a faint similitude of the ordinances of the House of the Lord in their fulness; … there are but few, very few of the Elders of Israel, now on earth, who know the meaning of the word endowment. To know, they must experience; and to experience, a Temple must be built.

Let me give you the definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the House of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the Holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.
April 6, 1853, Journal of Discourses 2:29-33.

Chain Made Perfect

Those ordinances must be performed here … until the chain is made perfect in the sealing ordinances to Father Adam. And the Lord says, “go ye, my servants. Gather yourselves together. Come out from Babylon. Sanctify yourself, build up my kingdom, establish my Zion, perform the ordinances I have delivered to you, build temples for this purpose.”
February 16, 1868, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare February 16, 1868, Journal of Discourses 12:165.

How Was the St. George Temple Built?

The Work of the Millennium

In the Millennium, those who lived to see [the] kingdom of God on the earth in power, in glory, in perfection, and the Lord subdues this reign of wickedness—of sin—that has been so long on the earth, and the saints of God will have the privilege of building their temple[s,] enter into them [and] become as it were pillars in the temples of God, officiating for their friends.

Then we will expect to see our friends come up. Perhaps we will have the privilege to see some we have been acquainted with here … They will go and hunt up their friends and resurrect them when they are officiated for and bring them up, and we will then have the privilege of revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve and enter into the temples of God and officiate for them … until chain is made perfect back to Adam, that there is a perfect chain of priesthood from the days [of] Adam until the winding up scene. This will be the work [of the] Latter-day Saints—this will be work of the Millennium.
August 24, 1872, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare August 24, 1872, Journal of Discourses 15:138–139.

Quotes from Brigham Young About Trials

It is But a Moment

When men and women talk about trials and troubles, suppose you look at yourselves thousands and millions years ahead and say you prove faithful to your religion, you make the kingdom of heaven, you are eternally saved in presence of God, you have obtained the crown of glory? [Then] look back upon your lives and see the losses … and the crosses, the disappointment, the affliction, the sorrow, the grief, … what of it? “Oh,” says they, “it is but a moment. I am here. I have been faithful [during] the few moments I spent in my mortality, and now I have received eternal life and honor, where I can stay to all eternity and progress in … knowledge of eternity, and live and enjoy the smiles of my Father [and] my Elder Brother.
October 6, 1859, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare Deseret News, November 9, 1859, 1.

Truth

Gather up Truth

It is now our duty and calling to gather up every item of truth … whether the infidels have it, the universalists has it, whether the Church of Rome have it, the Methodists Church of England, or Quakers, or Shakers, or the Presbyterians, or the Baptists, and that they are dissented from the closed communion Baptists and from the old Wesleyan Methodists. Every one of them have, more or less, truth. It is the business of the elders of this church (Jesus, their Elder Brother, at their head) to gather up all the truths in [the] world pertaining to life and salvation, yes to the gospel we preach, to mechanism, yes to the sciences of the day, yes to the philosophy in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people … gather up all the truth and gather home to Zion.
October 9, 1859, Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013-2024; compare October 9, 1859, Journal of Discourses 7:283.)

Learn From Other Religions

With regard to your attending Protestant Episcopal service, I have no objection whatever. On the contrary, I would like to have you attend, and see what they can teach you about God and Godliness more than you have already been taught.
Brigham Young to Willard Young, 25 July 1871. Cited in Leonard J. Arrington, “Willard Young: The Prophet’s Son at West Point,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Winter 1969), 42.

Not Always Pleasant

Truth is not always pleasant when it relates to our own dear selves.
June 16, 1867, Journal of Discourses 12:60.

A Brigham Young quote about truth says that truth isn’t always pleasant when it relates to our own dear selves.

Brigham Young Quotes: Unity

Becoming One is Not Looking Alike

And when this people become one, it will be one in the Lord. They will not look alike. We will not all have grey, blue, or black eyes. Our features will differ one from another, and in our acts, dispositions, and efforts to accumulate, distribute, and dispose of our time, talents, wealth and whatever the Lord gives to us, in our journey through life, we will differ just as much as in our features. The point that the Lord wishes to bring us to is to obey his counsel and observe his word. Then every one will be dictated so that we can act as a family.
June 16, 1867, Journal of Discourses 12:57.

Brigham Young Quotes: Word of Wisdom and Health

Covenant to Observe the Word of Wisdom

The Patriarch [John Smith] again rose to speak on the Word of Wisdom, and urging on the brethren to leave off using tobacco, &c.

President Young rose to put the motion and called on all the sisters who will leave off the use of tea, coffee, &c., to manifest it by raising the right hand; seconded and carried.

And then put the following motion; calling on all the boys who were under ninety years of age who would covenant to leave off the use of tobacco, whisky, and all things mentioned in the Word of Wisdom, to manifest it in the same manner, which was carried unanimously. …

President Young amongst other things said he knew the goodness of the people, and the Lord bears with our weakness; we must serve the Lord, and those who go with me will keep the Word of Wisdom, and if the High Priests, the Seventies, the Elders, and others will not serve the Lord, we will sever them from the Church. I will draw the line, and know who is for the Lord and who is not, and those who will not keep the Word of Wisdom, I will cut off from the Church; I throw out a challenge to all men and women.
“Minutes of the General Conference”, Tuesday, September 9, 1851, afternoon session; Millennial Star, Vol. 14 (February 1, 1852), 35.

Seek Healing Blessings and Medical Attention

If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and to ask my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.
August 17, 1856, Journal of Discourses 4:24.

Words of a Prophet: Dallin H. Oaks Quotes From Every General Conference

Quotes from Brigham Young About Work

What We Can Do

Instead of searching after what the Lord is going to do for us, let us inquire what we can do for ourselves.
January 26, 1862, Journal of Discourses 9:172.

Time is Money

Time is all the capital stock there is on the earth; and you should consider your time golden, it is actually wealth, and, if properly used, it brings that which will add to your comfort, convenience, and satisfaction.
August 31, 1875, Journal of Discourses 18:77.

This quote from Brigham Young shows how the prophet in the priceless value of time.

Want More Scholar Interviews in Your Inbox?

Be part of a growing community exploring history, religion, and scholarship.

Sources Cited:

Bullock, Thomas. “Minutes of the General Conference, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Held in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, Sept. 7th, 1851.” Millennial Star 14 (February 1, 1852): 35.

Church History Department Pitman Shorthand transcriptions, 2013–2024. Transcribed by LaJean Purcell Carruth. Church History Catalog, Salt Lake City, UT. CR 100 912. https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record/5df3b7da-d0a5-437b-8268-7dde8a87c76e/0?view=browse.

The Joseph Smith Papers. Church Historian’s Press. http://josephsmithpapers.org/.

Watt, G. D., J. V. Long, and others, reporters. Journal of Discourses. 26 vols. London and Liverpool: Latter-day Saints’ Booksellers Depot, 1854–86. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/search/collection/JournalOfDiscourses3.

The Wilford Woodruff Papers. Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/.

Table of Contents