Brigham Young grew up in a strict Methodist home without fun and entertainment. As he got older, he decided that he wanted things to be different for his children. He wanted dancing, music, and the theater to be part of their lives. He made a conscious effort to create an enriching environment for his family.

Brigham Young watched some contention among the Apostles in the early days of the Church. When he became the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, he decided he would treat those around him with love and kindness.

The first meeting the Church held after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham records that he felt overwhelming compassion for the Saints. He wanted to be their protector and nurture them. Love and charity became part of his leadership, and the Saints loved him for it.

Brigham decided how he wanted things to be in his life and set about to create that dynamic. Would that we could all be that way.

Temple Work for a Nephite

Wilford Woodruff loved temples and temple work. When he and a group of brethren left Kirtland, Ohio, and began the treck to Missouri with Joseph Smith, they found a burial mound. Joseph Smith said it belonged to the Nephites and asked them to dig into the mound. They found the skeleton of a man with an arrow sticking in his backbone. The Prophet Joseph said the man's name was Zelph and he fought for the Nephites at the time of the great slaughter. Wilford brought Zelph's thigh bone to Missouri. He wanted to bury it in the Temple Block in Jackson County, but because of the persecution, wasn't able to, so he buried it in Clay County. At least Wilford got Zelph closer to the temple.

Danger, Lorenzo Snow, Danger

Danger, Lorenzo Snow, Danger

Lorenzo Snow and his sister, Eliza R. Snow, accompanied George A. Smith on a trip to dedicate the Holy Land for the return of the Jews. On the way, they stopped in Napels, Italy. The group hired a guide to take them to the mouth of Mt. Vesuvius even though there had been a small eruption the day before. Hiking up the the volcano was difficult for the path had a foot of ash and sand on it. When the party reached the top, they peered into the gaping mouth of the hot bubbling volacano. They all threw rocks over the edge of the crater. The rocks took 30 seconds to reach the bottom. Several of the party climbed up to a rock ledge the jutted out into the crater. They threw sticks into the burning inferno and watched them blaze into nothing in seconds.

How dangerous is that? Especially since the volcano exploded only the day before!

Brigham Young the Inventor

Did you know that Brigham Young worked for a shop that painted boats? It was a difficult task to crush the dye to color the paint so he invented a dye crusher. The shop owner thought it was a great invention.

Music and Dance

Brigham Young's mother loved to sing and enjoyed parties. Brigham himself loved to sing and dance. When the new meeting house was finished at Winter Quarters, Brigham dedicated it and then held a dance.

In the Salt Lake Valley Brigham encouraged the Saints to sing and dance. He built the Salt Lake Theater with nails he bought from Buchanan's army when they left the valley for the Civil War.

He wanted everyone to work hard, but also have time for play.

Indian Delicacies

The Indians gave John Taylor a delicious paste, sweetened with honey. His family loved it! They had just arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and were tired of eating dried beef and flour cakes. John asked the Indians how they made the sweet treat. An old Indian showed him. First they encircled a field with fire. As it burned toward the middle, the crickets hopped into the center and were roasted crispy and brown. The burned crickets were crushed into a paste and honey was added. How much of the paste do you think they ate after they found out how it was made?

Missionary Work in India

Did you know that Lorenzo Snow was the first Apostle to think about missionary work in India? He sent missionaries there and they baptized almost 200 people.