Brigham Young did not understand the Bible?

[webbles]

I happened to come a cross that was attributed to Brigham Young and was being used to say that Brigham Young didn't understand the Bible. It is:

"I think these preliminaries will satisfy me, and I feel prepared to take my text. It is the words of Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken pains to look at them. I have had so much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it ..." (1854 Conference discourse, October 8 ).

I think I found the rest of the talk at http://www.scribd.com/doc/37308113/BRIGHAM-YOUNG-ADDRESSES-Vol-2 (on page 134 of that PDF). A few sentences before and after give:

I think these preliminaries will satisfy me, and I feel prepared to take my text: it is the words of Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken pains to look at them. I have had so much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to be a bible student; I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it. I knew well enough how it read. I have read the Book of Mormon, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants and

other revelations of God which he has given to his people in latter times. I look at them and contrast the spirit and power of them with my faithfulness. My clerks know how much time I have to read. It is difficult for me to snatch time enough even to eat my breakfast and supper, to say nothing of reading. I tell you my text is in the Bible, and reads as follows: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."

I will now put another text with this, and then after, a few remarks. It is one of the sayings of the Apostle Paul: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven, or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." This God is the father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the father of our spirits.

What is confusing is that apparently Brigham Young did say he doesn't understand the Bible and then he goes off and quotes from the Bible multiple times. Does anyone know why Brigham Young would say "I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it."?

I looked through the wiki at http://en.fairmormon.org but wasn't able to find anything about this quote. Google didn't help, it just brought up pages that used the quote to discredit Brigham Young.

[TAO]

He's saying the Spirit in the Bible is much less than it is in the BoM or other revelations. I kinda feel the same way... there are a few parts which are good, but they are nothing compared to the Spirit in the BoM.

[LeSellers]

Does anyone know why Brigham Young would say "I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it."?

Because, before he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he couldn't understand the Bible as its Author intended it.

It is interesting to note that, although he admits not having read the Bible for some time, he nearly immediately quoted a biblical passage verbatim. Brigham studied the Bible, but he studied the Holy Ghost even more.

Lehi

[webbles]

Because, before he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he couldn't understand the Bible as its Author intended it.

I like that explanation.

Probably what confused me the most is this piece:

I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to be a bible student; I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it.

It almost sounds as if he stopped reading the Bible because he didn't understand it. But then, he says that he just doesn't have any time. And then he quotes the Bible multiple times. It just wasn't making much sense to me.

[thesometimesaint]

webbles:

None of us were there when he said that. It is entirely possible that this was just a case of Brother Brigham speaking with a bit of self deprecating humor, and a twinkle in his eye.

[JAHS]

I happened to come a cross that was attributed to Brigham Young and was being used to say that Brigham Young didn't understand the Bible. It is:

I think I found the rest of the talk at http://www.scribd.com/doc/37308113/BRIGHAM-YOUNG-ADDRESSES-Vol-2 (on page 134 of that PDF). A few sentences before and after give:

What is confusing is that apparently Brigham Young did say he doesn't understand the Bible and then he goes off and quotes from the Bible multiple times. Does anyone know why Brigham Young would say "I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it."?

I looked through the wiki at http://en.fairmormon.org but wasn't able to find anything about this quote. Google didn't help, it just brought up pages that used the quote to discredit Brigham Young.

I tend to agree with the warning given at the beginning of the group of addresses at the link you provided"

"Brigham Young claimed that if he had a chance to review and correct

his talks before they were published, they were as good scripture as was

contained in the Bible (see JD 13:95 and JD 13:264). But, he

occasionally complained that some of his addresses were published before he had the

opportunity to review them (see for example Deseret News Volume 17 page

353). There would be no need for such a complaint unless there were

problems with a few of the published talks. It is known that Brigham

Young requested that some of his talks not be reproduced in other publications

from the Deseret News because there were problems with them. Such, for

example was the address of 25 May, 1877 at Logan, Utah (see the John M.

Whitaker Journal entry for October 7th, 1903). This compilation contains

several discourses which are found only in the Deseret News: it is

possible that they were not further reproduced by such a specific

request by Brigham Young.

Some of the unpublished discourses were disapproved by Brigham Young

for publication, such as the talk of 21 June 1863. Many of the talks

published in this compilation were not published during the lifetime of

Brigham Young and it may be that some of them were not published because

he disapproved of the written report."

Sometimes addresses were written down in shorthand and reproduced later or recorders may have relied on their memories to reproduce the words spoken. So your quote may not have been an accurate representation of what he actually said.

[Obiwan]

Am I remembering correctly that it has been said that Brigham actually knew basically the entire Bible by Heart (i.e. memorized)? I think that might be one reason for his self deprivation? It was already stuck in his head?