Brigham Young & Jim Bridger

[_Nomomo]

Just finished reading "King of the Mountain Men" on my BlackBerry in the wee hours this morning (1961 Gene Caesar) http://archive.org/details/kingofthemountai000029mbp

I was already familiar with the history of Bridger's experiences with the Mormons, yet when reading the chapters involving the Mormons was once again wondering how on earth people who actually know the history of all Brigham's dishonest and dirty dealings back then can still actually believe Brigham was a prophet of God and God's #1 represenative on earth at the time.

Brigham was a fascinating and interesting character, yet he was also a total ass. No more a prophet of god than any other powerful figures who abused their control over others.

[_thews]

Just finished reading "King of the Mountain Men" on my BlackBerry in the wee hours this morning (1961 Gene Caesar) http://archive.org/details/kingofthemountai000029mbp

I was already familiar with the history of Bridger's experiences with the Mormons, yet when reading the chapters involving the Mormons was once again wondering how on earth people who actually know the history of all Brigham's dishonest and dirty dealings back then can still actually believe Brigham was a prophet of God and God's #1 represenative on earth at the time.

Brigham was a fascinating and interesting character, yet he was also a total ass. No more a prophet of god than any other powerful figures who abused their control over others.

Much like all the other obvious things that don't make sense regarding Mormonism, Brigham Young is one of the most obvious. Either Brigham Young communicated with God and Mormonism is true, or Brigham Young did not communicate with God and Mormonism is false. The paper trail regarding racism and Adam-God is well documented, yet apologists regularly ignore it and claim it isn't "official" doctrine. BCspace goes further and claims "his research" shows Brigham Young was not a racist... still waiting for him to post this so-called research which ignores the following:

http://mormonthink.com/blackweb.htm

"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 10, page 110.)

You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, un- comely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. The first man that committed the odious crime of killing one of his brethren will be cursed the longest of any one of the children of Adam. Cain slew his brother. Cain might have been killed, and that would have put a termination to that line of human beings. This was not to be, and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin. Trace mankind down to after the flood, and then another curse is pronounced upon the same race - that they should be the "servant of servants;" and they will be, until that curse is removed; and the Abolitionists cannot help it, nor in the least alter that decree. How long is that race to endure the dreadful curse that is upon them? That curse will remain upon them, [p.291] and they never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the keys thereof. Until the last ones of the residue of Adam's children are brought up to that favourable position, the children of Cain cannot receive the first ordinances of the Priesthood. They were the first that were cursed, and they will be the last from whom the curse will be removed. When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will receive blessings in like proportion. - (Journal of Discourses 7:290-291, October 9, 1859)

"You may inquire of the intelligent of the world whether they can tell why the aborigines of this country are dark, loathsome, ignorant, and sunken into the depths of degradation ...When the Lord has a people, he makes covenants with them and gives unto them promises: then, if they transgress his law, change his ordinances, and break his covenants he has made with them, he will put a mark upon them, as in the case of the Lamanites and other portions of the house of Israel; but by-and-by they will become a white and delightsome people" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 7:336).

[_Nomomo]

That Brigham could be personally hand picked by God to be the leader of Jesus Christ's only true church on earth and a thief and murderer at the same time strikes me as a little odd. But then, as they say God moves in mysterious ways ~_-

[_Mary]

Nomomo, thanks for the link to the book. I wasn't familiar with Bridger's dealings with the church and found the information and perspectives very interesting.

[_Nomomo]

Nomomo, thanks for the link to the book. I wasn't familiar with Bridger's dealings with the church and found the information and perspectives very interesting.

Your welcome. I also found the author's perspective interesting and in my opinion not unfair to Brigham, just a realistic picture. I first ran across the information of Brigham dispatching men to Fort Bridger to steal the fort and the income derived from it away from Bridger about a decade ago on the Utah Historical Society's website. There are numerous examples in the historical record of Brigham's gross dishonesty. Brigham's thievery from Bridger only being one. I also got a kick out of the interesting method they chose to destroy the liquor at the fort, "in doses" ~_-