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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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BRIGHAM 'S POWER. 203<br />

him if roads are opened and canals constructed it will<br />

please him. From these practical visions come ac-<br />

tions, and on a Sunday the great high-priest rises<br />

in the tabernacle and says: "God has spoken. He<br />

has said unto his prophet, 'Get thee up, <strong>Brigham</strong>, and<br />

build me a city in the fertile valley to the south,<br />

where there is water, where there are fish, where<br />

the sun is strong enough to ripen the cotton plants, and<br />

give raiment as well as food to my saints on earth.<br />

Brethren willing to aid God's work should come to<br />

me before the bishop's meeting.'" "As the prophet<br />

takes his seat again," says an eye-witness, "and puts<br />

on his broacl-brimmed hat, a hum <strong>of</strong> applause runs<br />

around the bowery, and teams and barrows are freely<br />

promised."<br />

To whatsoever <strong>Brigham</strong> applied himself he directed<br />

his whole strength, provided his whole strength was<br />

necessary to the accomplishment <strong>of</strong> his purpose.<br />

There were others in the field against him, aspirants<br />

but direct-<br />

for the late prophet's place, besides Sidney ;<br />

ing his efforts only against the most powerful <strong>of</strong> them,<br />

the president <strong>of</strong> the twelve summoned the quorum and<br />

the people, as we have seen, crushed Rigdon and his<br />

adherents by one <strong>of</strong> the master-strokes which he was<br />

now learning, declared the revelations <strong>of</strong> Rigdon to be<br />

<strong>of</strong> the devil, cut him <strong>of</strong>f, cursed him, and was himself<br />

elected almost without a dissenting voice, giving all<br />

ostensibly the fullest liberty to act, yet permitting<br />

none <strong>of</strong> them to do so, and even causing ten to be tried<br />

for dissenting. Henceforth none dared to gainsay his<br />

authority ; he became not only the leader <strong>of</strong> the Mormons,<br />

but their dictator; holding authority for a time<br />

as president <strong>of</strong> the twelve apostles, and finally in the<br />

capacity <strong>of</strong> the first presidency, being made president<br />

<strong>of</strong> the whole church in December 1847.<br />

<strong>Brigham</strong> <strong>Young</strong> was now in his forty-third year, in<br />

the prime <strong>of</strong> a hale and vigorous manhood, with exuberant<br />

vitality, with marvelous energy, and with unswerving<br />

faith in his cause and in himself. In stat-

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