--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Miller, John T. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 32 number: 8 published: 1929-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "John T. Miller, “Character of President Brigham Young,” *Improvement Era* 32, no. 8 (June 1929): 639–641." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3208unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3208unse start_page: 639 end_page: 641 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1929-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3208unse publication_year: 1929 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1929, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Character of President Brigham Young Character of President Brigham Young By Dr. John T. Miller IN celebrating the birthday of the great pioneer of the West, Brig- ham Young, the time is opportune to call attention to the high estimate of him given by the leading students of human nature in America who were personally acquainted with him. The Science of Life, by Prof. O. S. Fowler, issued in 1873, con- tains a photo of President Young and above his head are printed the words, "Nearly Perfect Manhood." He is classed with George Wash- ington, Thomas Jefferson, Bismarck and other leading characters of the world. In his book, Human Science, issued during the life of Brigham Young, Prof. Fowler describes the human temperaments and then says: "Brigham Young had this union of all the tempera- ments, large yet equal. He is about six feet high, yet perfectly sym- metrical, though a little way off he seems too stocky. He is broad from one shoulder to the other, yet also deep through from breast bone to shoulder blades, and his chest runs far down besides. In 1 843 he and most of his present apostles came incognito under my hands, and when I came to him, putting my hands on his immense chest, I exclaimed: 'You, sir, have vital force sufficient to live a hundred and fifty years.' He is very broad-built yet sharp-featured, and has a muscular system of remarkable power; besides being very florid thus embodying all the conditions of true greatness or tre- mendous power of body and mind, and only one thus organized could have accomplished what he has. His organization corrected and greatly enhanced my estimation of him." The best book on the human temperaments that has been writ- ten is by D. H. Jacques, M. D., first issued more than half a century ago. He devoted a part to "The Mormon Leader." He makes many favorable remarks about the character of Brigham Young and con- cludes with this statement: "The basis of his character lay in his massive trunk, the never-failing source of that vital affluence which sustains, vivifies, warms, and quickens body and brain alike. The superstructure had the strength of sinew and the force of character imparted by the muscular constitution, and the intellectual ability and moral influence which come from a strongly developed and well balanced mental organization. The base of the brain was heavy and the neck short and thick, giving the propensities great power and activity, but the high coronal region furnished the strong will and the high moral principles calculated to hold them in check." During the life of President Young, C. R. Savage of Salt Lake 640 IMPROVEMENT ERA June, 1929 City, the well-known photographer, sent a photo of that great pio- neer to Fowler & Wells Company of New York. They exhibited it at their studio on Broadway and wrote a long article about it, from which the following is quoted: "Looked at without the name, what would be the general im- pression which this likeness would make on the observer? Would he infer that he represents an essentially good man, or an essentially bad man? Without prejudice, bias, or preconceived opinion, reader, what would your judgment as to the leading traits of this char- acter be? "The photograph from which we copy is a recent one and has been exhibited to large numbers of persons who have called at our office at Broadway and the question has been put to each one on handing him the likeness, 'What do you think of this?' The follow- ing indicate the general character of the answers we have received: 'He looks like a good, fatherly sort of a man.' 'A strong and sensible intellect.' 'An exceedingly energetic character.' 'A man with a will and a way of his own.' 'Kind, but very decided.' 'A man of ability and resolution.' And so on, each inferring what he could from the expression. "Having met the man, and taken his measure years ago, we are prepared to speak more definitely and in detail of this remarkable personage. "First, he is a large, heavy man, weighing not far from 200 pounds, with a broad, firm, deep and capacious chest, well filled out in all the vital powers; with lungs, heart, circulation and diges- tion almost perfect. And on such a physical basis we find as a super- structure, a very large brain — somewhat exceeding 23 inches in cir- cumference, and it is broad, high and round. Of course, with such a build and temperament it must be large at the base. There are strong social feelings with the affections and love of home. He is eminently self-relying. Though born with the spirit of a captain, he is not arrogant, over-dignified or at all distant, but rather easy, familiar and quite approachable. "Among the moral sentiments, which are certainly strongly marked in him, the strongest is veneration, while hope and spiritual- ity are also strong. He will be kind to friends, family, the youth, and indeed to all his household and people. He is a natural orator, a wit, an actor, and he may be said to be a perfect mimic. If educated for or trained to either writing or speaking, he would do it fluently. He also has great power of discrimination and can read character intuitively. Considering his age, the hardships he has endured, the pioneer life he had led, the cares which he has assumed, and the dif- Jane, 1929 CHARACTER OF PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG 641 Acuities he has had to contend with, he is an exceedingly healthy and well-preserved old man. "In almost any position in life, such an organization — with such a temperament — would make itself felt and would become a power within itself. Were the question put as to the most suitable occupation or pursuit we would reply: Being qualified for it by ed- ucation, he could fill any place, from that of a justice of the peace to that of a commander, a judge, a representative, a senator, a diplo- matist, or ambassador, down to that of a business man. He would make a good banker, a merchant, a manufacturer, or a mechanic. He has all the faculties required to fill any place or post in private or in professional life. God will hold him accountable for the right use of a full measure of talents. His accountability and responsibility will be in exact accord with his capability, which is much above that of the average man." Many more favorable statements regarding the character of President Young have testified to the accuracy of the statements made about his character by these eminent students of human nature at a time when his reputation was not as good as it is now. The science of human nature gives the ability to tell whether the reputation of a person fits his character or not. Its principles are expressed in the Sunday School song, "We are sowing, daily sowing, countless seeds of good or ill. * * * In our words and looks and actions lie the seeds of death and life." The same truth is ex- pressed in the following lines by the poet: The human face I love to view And trace the passions of the soul, On it the spirit writes anew Each changing thought as upon a scroll. There the mind its evil doings tells, And there its noblest deeds do speak Just like the ringing of the bells Proclaim a knell or wedding feast. How beautiful Love's features are. Enthroned on Virtue's radiant face. Like some jewel bright and rare, Worn by the fairest of the race. But vice and hatred, how they mar The form and face of man! And from the choicest pleasures bar All who fail to do the good they can. The students of human nature read the character of President Young and said most favorable things about him at a time when his reputation suffered most. The character is what one is, the reputation is what others think about one.