The Life Story of Brigham Young

The Life Story of Brigham Young, THIS is the title of a biography of the great "Mormon" leader written by his daughter, Susa Young Gates, and his granddaughter, Leah D. Widtsoe. Viewed from any stand- point it is an unusual work, written by one who was intimately acquainted with her subject during his lifetime and who has made a constant study of his life since his demise. It is one of the few, if not the only, pro- "Mormon" book written by a Church member which has been put out by a great publishing house without any kind of a financial guarantee — published entirely on its merits. The British edition has come from the press of Jarrolds of London. The Macmillan Com- pany will have the American edi- tion ready at an early day. p DITORIALLY the Millennial ■ Star, under the title "A Great Biography," has this to say: The second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was born June 1, 1801, and died August 29, 1877. Like his predecessor, the Prophet Joseph Smith, his name has been known for good and evil throughout the earth. However, the years have brought perspective. Today, Brigham Young is recognized as one of the great men of his generation, who rendered dis- tinguished service to his fellow-men, both in a temporal and a spiritual sense; and he is acknowledged to have been a man of honor and purity, who dealt justly and kindly by all, and was greatly beloved by those who knew him. He was an empire builder of first rank, both in the wastes of Western America and in the souls of men. That he has been sub- jected to merciless criticism is only a part of the price that greatness must pay. The recent publication by Jarrolds of London and the fine reception by critics and readers of the Life Story of Brigham Young, written by Susa Young Gates and Leah D. Widtsoe, daughter and grand- daughter of President Young, indicate the changing sentiment towards the Lat- ter-day Saints. It was impossible, in an enlightened age, that the cjlumsy un- truths circulated about "Mormon" his- tory, doctrine and motives, could con- tinue to hold sway. Truthful narratives are the most interesting; and humanity yet prefers truth to untruth. The Life Story of Brigham Young is a book of unusual power and beauty. It portrays in vivid, truthful language, with a wealth of fact and anecdote, the romantic beginnings of the Latter-day Saints, and the absorbing story of the course of life and action of a genuine and humble man, Brigham Young, who was lifted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ into prominence and enabled to render magnificent service to the world. The critics agree that the book is an ad- mirable biography, and a thrilling, read- able story, one of the best ever written by a close relative of a notable individ- ual, and praise it for its wealth of ac- curate, intimate history. The book is filled with illustrations, many of them never before published. It is well print- ed and bound. It is good reading. The introduction to the book, written by Mr. Harold J. Shepstone, F.R.G.S., an honest and fair-minded man, not a member of the Church, is published in this number of the Millennial Star, along with an extract from the literature ad- vertising the book. These articles, to- gether with the following table of chap- ters, summarize briefly the contents of the book: Youth and Early Manhood — Early Activities in the Church — Growth in the Church — His Call to Leadership ■ — -The Exodus of Modern Israel — The Trail Westward — Temporary Camps: The Mormon Battalion — The Trek — En- trance into "The Valley" — The First Winter — Life in the Valley — -Brigham Young and Irrigation — The Indians — Other Churches and Non-Mormons — Government and Loyalty — The "Echo Canyon War" — The Army in Utah- Practical Sociology — Industrial Independ- ence— Architecture and Temple Build- ing— Patron of the Arts-Music — Recre- ation and Amusement — Literature and the Drama — Brigham Young and Education — Attitude to Woman's Activities — Per- secution and Some Faults — His Home Life — His Morale — Home Practices — His Last Days — The Measure of a Man. The book is a valuable addition to the world's biographical literature, of espe- & *USA YOUNG GATES has been noted all her life for her loyalty to the Church and its leaders. It has been her privilege to travel exten- sively in America and in Europe, at- tending prominent gatherings of women and meeting many impor- tant people, and she has proclaimed the principles of the restored Gospel and borne testimony to the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors with reverent en- thusiasm whenever an opportunity offered. Her gifted daughter, Leah D. Widtsoe, is no less devoted to the Church and its officers. The spirit in which this book was written can hardly fail favorably to impress the reader. cial interest to the Latter-day Saints, who seldom have had the privilege of telling their entrancing story, unobscured by the fog of prejudice, to the readers of the world. The Latter-day Saints of Europe are grateful to the gifted authors for this splendid portrayal of the life and times of one of their foremost leaders — a world figure in human service. 'T'HE following paragraphs are from Mr. Shepstone's intro- duction: While sojourning in Salt Lake City I met Mrs. Gates, a lady of great charm and grace, at a gathering held in the beautiful home of Mr. Anthony W. Ivins, senior counselor of the First Presidency. It was his seventy-fifth birthday and many friends had gathered to wish him well. I spoke to Mrs. Gates about her journalistic efforts and she very kindly permitted me to read some of the chap- ters. I was amazed at the wealth of de- tail they contained and recognizing the importance of the work and believing it should be given as wide a publicity as possible I offered to render any assistance I could towards its publication. It resulted in the manuscript being handed to me by Mrs. Gates' son-in-law, Dr. John A. Widtsoe, an Apostle of the Church and a distinguished scholar, and head of the "Mormon" Mission in Eu- rope. Then came the task of condensing the material into the covers of a single work, the original record being too bulky for ordinary publication. The decision to produce an abridged edition of the original was only undertaken after much careful consideration and solely resorted to so that the work should enjoy as wide a circulation as possible. Despite their laborious efforts extending over many years the authors very wisely decided that they were called upon to appeal to the many and not to the few. While it has not been found possible to incorporate all that the authors have written, the salient facts of this remark- able life have not been omitted. It will be found to be ,an entrancing story, recording not only Brigham Young's marvelous temporal achievements, but revealing something of his soul and those high principles that guided all his ac- tions. He was without question one of the world's greatest exponents of truth and righteousness, loyal as he saw it to his country, to his people and to his God. We may not all agree with Brig- ham Young's outlook and beliefs, but we nevertheless have to admit that he stands out as one of the great figures in modern history, a remarkable man who accomplished much and wrought for the good of his people and for that cause which he had at heart. Knowing the "Mormon" people as I do from intimate knowledge and contact with them, both in Utah and in this

700 The Improvement Era for August, 1930 country, I can truthfully say though not of their persuasion, that this work is not sent forth in any boastful spirit, or as a piece of propaganda, or even with the idea of foisting their beliefs upon the world; but for the sole purpose of en- abling "Mormon" and Gentile alike, and the world at large, to learn something of the truths that guided Brigham Young and led him to establish a thriving com- monwealth, founded on love, justice and mercy to all, in the barren wastes of the Rocky Mountains. '"THE London Times, probably ■■ the earth's greatest newspaper, has this to say: The Life Story of Brigham Young, by Susa Young Gates (Jarrolds, 18s. net), is written by a daughter of the Mormon leader. ,Mrs. Gates was the first of Young's children to be born in the Lion House which he built in Salt Lake City to accommodate his large family of wives and children. To Mrs. Gates her father and Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, are great and good men. Those two men, she writes, possessed the gift of leadership "which drew people not to themselves as super-men, but rather to God and Christ, whom they worshipped and served, and whose humble instruments they were." Mrs. Gates speaks of her father's work of community founding in what had been a desert with fiery enthusiasm. Her zeal apart, she has written an important chap- ter of history in her accounts of the daring trek of the Mormons across the des- ert, their struggles with the natives and with Washington, and the buildine of the settlements. Interesting light is thrown on the manner of life in polygamous house- holds. Many other British papers re- viewed the work in a highly com- plimentary manner. Aunt Susa, as she is affectionately known in this community, is to be congratulated on her unusual achievement. "Friendship" Arranged by Geo. D. Kirby A friend is: -O- The first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out. A bank of credit on which we can draw supplies of confidence, counsel, sympathy, help and love. One who combines for you alike the pleasures and benefits of society and solitude. A jewel whose lustre the strong acids of poverty and misfortune cannot dim. One who multiplies joys, di- vides griefs, and whose honesty is irrevocable. One who loves the truth and you, and will tell the truth in spite of you. The Aims and End of Education By DR. H. M. WOODWARD, Dean of the Summer Session Brigham Young University HTWO hundred years ago only ■■ kings, queens and royalty and a favored few could afford the lux- ury of a college education such as our students are now receiving. At that time the aim of a college edu- cation was to prepare for three professions: medicine, law and the ministry, and to give a so-called culture to meet certain political and social demands. Then came the Industrial Era with its demand for more training. For one hundred years the aim of education revolved about economic independence, vocational prepara- tion and business efficiency. All of these objectives have become sec- ondary to the great central aim of education as viewed by the out- standing educational philosophers of the present. 'TODAY hundreds of thousands of fine men and women fill our colleges and universities, their fundamental purposes and objec- tives, consciously or unconsciously, being to build into themselves power and capacity to live an ever richer, more beautiful and more serviceable life. Whether they are in chemistry, typewriting, history, mathematics or philosophy, they are all seeking one common end, — to make life and happiness more extensive, more intensive and more secure. This power and capacity to live consists of certain educational pro- ducts,— informational product, at- titude product, skills and ideals. The machine for manufacturing this product consists of a plant, the social groups, the college curricu- lum, these assemblies, a library and a faculty. 'T'HE faculty members, if they are -- doing their full duty, will have decided beforehand just what kind of product, in terms of informa- tion, skills, or attitudes, can be developed with their particular courses. They will organize their material and choose their methods to manufacture the life product decided upon. If students are as appreciative as their intelligence would warrant, they will cooperate with them to the fullest, because it is their product that is being manufactured. In the library you have the storehouse of the wonderful life that has been bequeathed to you by the great minds of all the ages. If you are awake to your oppor- tunities you will pay careful at- tention to the advice given by ex- perts on how to study and how to read. You will read more exten- sively, read to greater purpose, you will increase your speed and extend your comprehension. Seek defi- nite advice on how to study, how to organize your time, how to motivate your reading, and thereby make profitable the many hours otherwise unorganized or wasted. piNALLY if you reach that ■- plane of intelligence where you have a due and proper respect for your better and finer self, you will appreciate what a marvelous organization of all the possibilities in nature this human being really is. You will appreciate that there are many levels on which to live; that your life is like a great mu- sical instrument with keys running from the bass to the finer and more beautiful tones — from the phys- ical through the aesthetic, social, moral and intellectual to the spir- itual. The joys of intellectuality, of extensive aesthetic response, of moral and spiritual values are many and intense. Learn to enjoy them. Listen for the over-tones of your own soul. You are here to become an artist of life, to play each note where it belongs that your life might be- come a beautiful symphony — in- tensive, extensive and secure. The aim and end of your edu- cation is self-unfoldment, self- realization of all the possibilities within you, self-expression and service to humanity. To know the world, to do all possible to improve it, to be grate- ful for it and to enjoy it is to ful- fill all the commandments. And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one an- other words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. (Doc- trine and Covenants, 88:118).