Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith
Prophet, Seer and Revelator

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Brigham Young Loved Children

One day Brigham saw a group of boys playing marbles with small rocks. He asked his driver to stop the carriage. He reached into his travel bag and pulled out a set of real marbles and gave them to the boys.


Brigham delighted in little children, no matter what they said. Once when he was visiting the Saints, he stopped at the home of Anson Call. Brigham asked Anson’s little girl to sit on his knee. He took her head in his hands and turned her small face toward his so he could tell her how pretty she was. She stared up at him and said, “Your eyes look just like our sows!” Her father was embarrassed, but Brigham took her by the hand and led her outside. “Take me to the pig pen. I want to see this pig that has eyes just like mine.”

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Kindness to Children

From his early days, Brigham Young was always kind to children. He enjoyed being with young people. He took time to listen to them, and he respected what they had to say. Brigham tried to set a righteous example for them to follow.


One winter when Heber J. Grant was about six years old, he jumped on the back of Brigham’s sleigh to go for a ride. The cutter was going so fast that, even though Heber was freezing, he was afraid to jump off. When the sleigh came to a stream, the driver slowed down, and Brigham noticed Heber. He stopped the sleigh, got out, and picked up the small boy who was shivering from cold and frost. Brigham snuggled him into a thick lap-robe, and soon got Heber warm.

Brigham took Heber on a long ride and told him that he loved Heber’s father, Jedediah M. Grant, former Mayor of Salt Lake City, Apostle, and Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency. After the trip, Brigham took the young boy home and asked Heber’s mother to send Heber to his office in a few months for a visit. When Heber came to the office, Brigham talked with him and was interested in what he was doing. They became friends. Heber J. Grant became the seventh President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Heber J. Grand and Brigham Young

One winter when Heber J. Grant was about six years old, he jumped on the back of Brigham’s sleigh to go for a ride. The cutter was going so fast that, even though Heber was freezing, he was afraid to jump off. When the sleigh came to a stream, the driver slowed down, and Brigham noticed Heber. He stopped the sleigh, got out, and picked up the small boy who was shivering from cold and frost. Brigham snuggled him into a thick lap-robe, and soon got Heber warm.


Brigham took Heber on a long ride and told him that he loved Heber’s father, Jedediah M. Grant, former Mayor of Salt Lake City, Apostle, and Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency. After the trip, Brigham took the young boy home and asked Heber’s mother to send Heber to his office in a few months for a visit. When Heber came to the office, Brigham talked with him and was interested in what he was doing, and they became friends.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Family Prayer at Brigham Young's Home

As the family grew older, there were times when his children, and even his wives, were out visiting with friends at prayer time. Brigham wrote a letter to his family, urging them to be home for family prayer. “When the time appointed for our family devotion and prayer comes, I am expected to be there; and no public business . . . has been able to influence me to forego the fulfillment of this sacred duty which I owe to you, to myself, and to God. . . .Your strict attendance to my wishes in this respect will give joy to the heart of your Husband and Father.”


After prayer, the family talked about their plans and activities. One night Brigham’s daughter Clarissa remembers he called all the children around and gave them each a brand new ten-cent bill. “It looked like a hundred dollars to me.” She was very excited because she didn’t often have money. From then on Clarissa tried never to miss family prayer.

Family devotion was important to Brigham. He taught that prayer should be a guide to our daily lives. He made it a priority to read the scriptures with his family and teach them to rely on Heavenly Father in all they did.