Comments on: Brigham Young and the Creation of Mormon Doctrine

By: Gary Bergera

Gary Bergera — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:12:51 +0000

Definitely Yes. What’s needed is a good book-length study of Brigham’s thought. Any takers?

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 03:55:18 +0000

i’ll confess to having some of the reductionist tendencies Matt describes, and very much appreciate this corrective.

By: BHodges

BHodges — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 23:30:52 +0000

Great post. Not only do folks frequently overemphasize the kingdom-building BY at the expense of his religiosity (which, to him, could hardly be separated), they also tend to underemphasize those elements of Joseph's prophethood. Some historians have painted JS as the dreamer, the charismatic free-thinker, contrasting with BY as the ruler of the Great Basin Kingdom. JS seems to have displayed characteristics closer to Young the colonizer—directing the construction of a hotel (and many other buildings), mustering local militiamen, founding banking institutions, planning cities, etc.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 17:32:33 +0000

Totally agree, Matt. I think among church members there is the tendency to see BY as the pragmatic colonizer, and when it comes to particular doctrines, sort of the crazy uncle of church leaders. But there is a real theological cohesion to BY’s teachings and things like Adam-God or the priesthood bad that seem so discontinuous with current Mormonism are actually pretty coherent (note, I’m not arguing that they are correct) when looked at within BY’s religious system.

By: Ignacio M. Garcia

Ignacio M. Garcia — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:47:22 +0000

Even as a young man I always marvelled at how much the church was Brigham Young and not Joseph. Growing up in a small Latino branch where we rarely saw the prophet–no televised broadcasts–we tended to focus on the scriptures and Joseph’s life. The church magazines were not as accessible and neither were all the writings of the Brethren. When I grew up and started reading more I got a real sense that this was a “different church” then the one I grew up with. But the greatest difference was the Brighamization that I saw in the church outside of my little branch. So, I think I see more differences in the two prophets than most people, and like Turner am much more sensitive to the shifts in theology and even doctrinal emphasis. Thanks Matt!

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:35:31 +0000

Great stuff, Matt. Thanks.

By: Ben P

Ben P — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:04:51 +0000

Well done, Matt.

By: warno

warno — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 13:05:18 +0000

One aspect that I thought Turner did particularly well was note the evolution of BY’s religious life. In particular the large role that speaking in tongues played soon after his conversion and during his early days but how it all but disappeared after after the first few years in Deseret. It was interesting the the Mormon Reformation had a lot of hellfire and brimstone but not as much manifestation of charismatic gifts that were prevalent in Nauvoo.

By: FrancisE.

FrancisE. — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 08:07:20 +0000

Thank you very much for such a wonderful post, but am just curious about this:

“… much of what mormons of all stripes are proud of in their faith comes from his synthesis of Joseph Smith’s work.”

Does that include the Strangites & CoC., or just LDS & FLDS?