Brigham Young: American Moses, by Leonard J. Arington, is a great biography of the second Prophet and President that provides a nice overview of the many aspects of this impressive personality.#

The scope of the work:#

One could easily write a volume on Brigham Young as husband and father of one of the most unusual families in American history, another on his thirty years as Church President, still another on his six years as governor, a fourth on his six years as superintendent of Indian affairs, a fifth on his activities in founding more than three hundred settlements in the Great Basin, a sixth on his business interests and economic enterprises, and a final one on his thought---his theological and doctrinal beliefs and assertions. But I have concluded that the proper place to begin is with a one-volume survey. [p. xvi]

On Brigham's stones:#

Once he introduced himself by saying, "I am the notorious Brigham Young." But when one of his followers expressed concern about his reputation, Brigham responded, "Don't fret your gizzard over that." And about the time of Greeley's visit Brigham remarked to his replacement as governor: "I care nothing about my character in this world. I do not care what men say about me. I want my character to stand fair in the eyes of my Heavenly Father." [p. 6]

Brigham on following the Word of Wisdom:#

I have conceived from my youth up that I could have my liberty and independence just as much in doing right as I could in doing wrong. [p. 23]

I never realized the official name of the Kirtland Safety Society. After being denied a bank charter, Joseph Smith and company founded the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Association. Arington adds, "If the establishment of a bank was illegal, the founding of an antibank was not." (p. 57) Hilarious.#

Brigham was once commanded to renounce Mormonism or perish in the early days:#

I will see you in hell first... Renounce my religion? No, sir... it is my all, all I have on this earth. What is this world worth as it is now? Nothing. It is like a morning shadow; it is like the dew before the sun, like the grass before the scythe, or the flower before the pinching frosts of autumn. No, sir, I do not renounce my religion. [p. 67]

Brigham's pragmatic approach to management:#

Joseph Fielding [...] told of a case in which a man had done some ugly things and placed the blame on an evil spirit. Very well, said Brigham, "the blame must be laid on that spirit, and if we could get at him we would cut him off from the Church. But we do not know how to get hold of him unless we take hold of the person possessed by it." [p. 88]

When Brigham was first introduced to polygamy by Joseph Smith, he had to think very hard about it. The chapter on Nauvoo has a few pages of his journal during this time where he works through it. (p. 100-101) Very interesting.#

Obviously, Brigham helped establish much of Church management and doctrine:#

Brigham was asked whether any officer in any branch of the church could say this his word was law and must be obeyed. Answer: "He can say that his world is law, but does that make it so? Yes, if he has the law of God, and delivers it, otherwise it is not." [p. 106]

A pioneer: "We are as comfortable and happy as most of the stationary communities. For if we have not all that our wants may call for, we have the art of lessening our wants, which does as well." (p. 162)#

Brigham on the Word of God: "I believe the words of the Bible are just what they are." (p. 197)#

A woman (Elizabeth Green) asked to be taken off the member list. Brigham's reply:#

Madam: I have this day examined the records of baptisms for the remission of sins in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and not being able to find the name of "Elizabeth Green" recorded therein I was saved the necessity of erasing your name therefrom. You may therefor consider your sins have not been remitted you and you may consequently enjoy the benefits therefrom. [p. 199]

Brigham and Sabbath observance:#

Brigham called to mind Adam Clark, of whom it was said, "If the clock struck twelve on Saturday night, and he happened to have but one shoe blacked, he would drop the blacking and brushes, and go to meeting next day with one shoe blacked and the other unblacked." That might be esteemed a pious example by some, said Brigham, but to him it was "a waymark to the kingdom of folly." [p. 200]

Reading about the Utah War and the Mormon Raiders was very cool. They were tough+.#

The plan to raze Salt Lake City before giving it up was called the Sebastol Plan, after a similar Russian action.#

...it is not Sebastopol which we have left to them, but the burning ruins of the town, which we ourselves set fire to, having maintained the honour of defence in such a manner that our grandchildren may recall with pride the remembrance of it and send it on to all posterity. [p. 264]

Brigham once said to a group of men in Fillmore: "Ye Elders and young men, cort up the girls and marry them and not let them go to the Gentiles. I cannot take them all." (p. 306)#

Is there a requirement to be married in the Celestial Kingdom?#

You ask can a man be saved with but one wife? if he can, in what Kingdom? I answer, a man can be saved in the Celestial Kingdom with no wife at all, and a woman with no husband, and of course, then, a man can be saved in the Celestial Kingdom with but one wife. [p. 317]

Explanation of the much cited case of Brigham claiming not to have been married to one of his wives in a divorce trial. The woman was the undivorced wife of another man and this took place many years after their separation as part of a political challenge. (p. 373)#