Brigham Young's Life Philosophy

[Olavarria]

Okay. I didn't listen to the quotes, so I can't comment on that.

Which means you only listened to the first 5 minutes of a whole hour.

I just know what I see when I look at Brigham Young's actions. I think of St. Francis as a nature loving, gentle soul who wrote epistles to birds, and thought of nature as something we live with--not something to conquer.

Aside from talking to birds, Id say the same thing about BY.

His wife was "Lady Poverty" and he lived as he spoke (although I do agree that Brigham Young lived as he spoke too.)

BY didnt serve that old wench. But he was poor during various times during his life. He got cleaned out of house and home 5x's. BY wasn't poor for the sake of being poor, but rather because he would rather serve God than capitualte to the gentile mobs.

In fact, I've wondered if the word "Sissy" came from St. Francis.

I think that word comes from "sister". I dont think Francis wasa sissy. As far as I know, during one point in his life he served as a knight and was even captured by the enemy.

I see Brigham Young as an alpha male who dominated everyone and everything with which he came into contact.

Ah yes, thats why you have to listen to the whole thing.

BY was able to "dominate" the things of this world because he would not allow himself to be dominated by them.

I think he was a fabulous leader, a brilliant organizer, and the "right man for the job." But I do not think of him as a spiritual leader, or a particularly compassionate person.

Wrong again my dear.

He was an extremely practical person.

According to Nibley, he was a master of the practical because he was able to put all practical matters aside, and seek first the will of God.

For further reading on this subject, check out Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints

http://farms.byu.edu/publications/booksmain.php

[LifeOnaPlate]

Oh, dear. Another stereotypical view of Brigham Young is presented and perpetuated.

If I've learned one thing so far while reading the Journal of Discourses, it is that Brigham Young was a prophet of the Living God, and not just in some "he was supposed to help the saints cross the plains, other than that, he had problems" capacity.

Onward:

Okay. I didn't listen to the quotes, so I can't comment on that. I just know what I see when I look at Brigham Young's actions.

First, you have need to learn about his actions. The man lived a long life, and it didn't begin when he joined the Church, or when he became prophet, and it didn't end after the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake valley.

I think of St. Francis as a nature loving, gentle soul who wrote epistles to birds, and thought of nature as something we live with--not something to conquer.

And this is different from Brigham Young, how? This point was specifically covered in Nibley's address. And lest it be said that Nibley went quote mining I can tell you the sentiments presented in the talk really are a small selection of hundreds of such quotes; Brigham Young believed in nature. And not as "something to conquer." The only thing Brother Brigham would have anyone conquer is the flesh.

His wife was "Lady Poverty" and he lived as he spoke (although I do agree that Brigham Young lived as he spoke too.) In fact, I've wondered if the word "Sissy" came from St. Francis. (I have no idea, but I've wondered...) I see Brigham Young as an alpha male who dominated everyone and everything with which he came into contact. I think he was a fabulous leader, a brilliant organizer, and the "right man for the job." But I do not think of him as a spiritual leader, or a particularly compassionate person. He was an extremely practical person.

Yikes. Pull out the feminist stick and beat down Brother Brigham, I suppose. To be honest I used to subscribe closely to this stereotype; then I really started looking into the man. He was much much more than this two-dimensional view presents.

I suggest really getting to know the man through his writings and through the work of biographers before calling him a dominating "alpha-male" without compassion. He was a fabulous leader; and if you want to find out why he was effective check out section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants and it will tell you how Brigham tried to honor his priesthood and why he was able to accomplish what he did.