The Coward Brigham Young: His Own Confessions

Brigham Young: The Coward

Research by Kerry A. Shirts

Primary research demonstrates that Brigham Young admitted rather unflatteringly that he was a coward. He said on more than one occassion " I am a great coward myself..."[1] Brigham also acknowledged that others said of him "Brother, you are a coward..."[2] The problem becomes rather obvious as we consider the general approach to cowardice in Mormon thought. It is more than of passing interest that Francis M. Lyman taught "Now, the man that would approach the Father [God] should not be a coward. In approaching the throne of grace, we should do so with humility, but with frankness, asking in faith, believing that the Lord will give."[3] George Q. Cannon remarked "A man that is a coward cannot be a Latter-day Saint. A woman who is not a heroine cannot be a Latter-day Saint. It requires just that kind of courage which is so rare in the world to be a Latter-day Saint--the courage to maintain one's convictions."[4] President Joseph F. Smith taught "The man who slackens his hold and loses heart in this great battle of life proves himself a coward in the performance of the great mission that he has come to fulfil. A man should determine in his heart that he will emulate the examples of the good; that he will never cease to try, and to try again, however oft he may fail in the attempt, until he shall attain to the high mark he has set for himself, no matter what the obstacles may be."[5] Rulon S. Wells asked of the Mormons, "Don't be a coward. Be not afraid of the face of man..."[6] John A. Widtsoe noted that "Satan [is] an incarnate coward..."[7] Orson F. Whitney contrasts a coward with a hero in a poignant comparison/contrast, "It is the act of a hero to acknowledge an error. It is the act of a coward to deny or resent a righteous accusation. Herod was a coward when he imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist for reprimanding him for committing the crime of adultery. David was never more a hero than when, on being accused of a similar misdeed, he humbly acknowledged his transgression. The contrast is sublime. Herod, the petty tetrarch, with the instincts of a guilty coward, resenting the imputation and wreaking vengeance upon his accuser; David, the illustrious monarch, with a thousand fold his power and prestige, bending from his throne before one of the meanest of his subjects, and humbly confessing the crime of which he was accused."[8] Orson F. Whitney also said that "Joseph was not a coward. It was he who said that a coward could not be saved in the kingdom of God."[9] In the Times and Seasons we read "I suppose some might think we were cowards. I tell you it is not so, and there need not any one call us cowards. Was Joseph a coward? Was Hyrum a coward? No."[10] Buddy Youngreen discusses an interview that Emma Smith had later in her life after Joseph's death, noting that Joseph's response was straightforward, "I will die before I will be called a coward."[11]

How can this glaring contradiction be? Is Brigham Young, a self proclaimed coward, to be cast outside of Heber C. Kimball, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith and the Kingdom of God itself? To be sure, were anti-Mormons with their methodology to state this case, this is precisely where they would stop and proclaim in loud stentorian voices that indeed, Brigham fails conspicuously and by his own admission! What more do you want? Well, we would say we want a lot more! What is Brigham's context of admitting to being a coward? That is the all important point for us to learn first before claiming something is wrong with the man. And indeed, the context is quite fascinating and gives us hints into the greatness that was Brgiham Young's hallmark leadership in the American West. His comment on himself being a big coward was during the troubles the Saints were having with the indians. He said what he meant, and meant what he said:

I have heard a great many different stories since I came home, and find the minds of the people very much agitated about the probable result of the hostilities of the Indians, and the presence of the Mexicans among them. I will tell you the reason why I returned home before accomplishing the remainder of my contemplated journey--it was because I wished to return. You may inquire why I wished to return. I will tell you. I am a great coward myself, I do not wish to rush into danger imprudently. If there should happen to be any trouble with Indians, and I away from this place, there would be more trouble here than with me. Of this I was fully aware, and it was proved to my satisfaction when I returned home. Imagined danger always produces the most trouble. The Indians are very much as they say the whites are, that is, uncertain--not to be trusted. The whites may be uncertain, but I know the Indians are. I dislike to trust them far. I never wish to be injured, nor have this people injured by Indian depredations, committed upon them.[12]

It is precisely in this vein that another great hero in history was situated by his own determined choice. "It was a very wise man by the name of Xenophanes who said, "I confess myself the greatest coward in the world because I dare not do an ill thing."[13] And there is the rub. Is it cowardice to shrink from doing ill? According to Brigham's method of using the word, it is, but with a twist on cowardice actually being a good thing! Brigham, rather than stir the indians up, would rather approach it differently and keep his people safe in the Salt Lake Valley. That was the idea. Can we be so sure? Again, in Brigham's own words, we can be exactly sure that is his intent in using "coward" in those terms.

"I have no recollection of the Indians killing any of this community, except one man, which happened about three years ago this spring, who had started for California, on foot and alone, against counsel. The red skins found him and slew him. I have never heard of their even disturbing a family; and I do not intend that they ever shall, if watching, and praying, and being ready for them will prevent it.

I have always acknowledged myself a coward, and hope I always may be, to make me cautious enough to preserve myself and my brethren from falling ignobly by a band of Indians. I am satisfied that the men who follow Walker, who is the king of the Indians in these mountains, do it out of fear, and not because they have real regard for their leader. If he becomes hostile, and wishes to commit depredations upon the persons or property of this people, he shall be wiped out of existence, and every man that will follow him. This is my calculation, and I wish you to be ready for it." [14]

Brigham was not a war-monger. He constantly told the saints to better their lives and live right so they would be safe, rather than fight things out and risk getting killed.

"I know what men have done heretofore, when they have seen the enemy advancing, they have skulked, they were sure to be somewhere else than on hand when there was fighting to do, although, upon the whole, I have no fault to find with the Latter-day Saints, or with the Elders of Israel upon that subject, for they love to fight a little too well. If I were to have fears concerning them, it would not be that they would make war, but in the case of war being made on them, I should have more fear in consequence of the ignorant and foolish audacity of the Elders, than of their being afraid. I should fear they would rush into danger like an unthinking horse into battle. So I will not find fault with regard to their courage. On that point I am a coward myself, and if people would do as I tell them, I would not only save my own life, but theirs likewise." [15]

George Albert Smith also noted this issue with the indians and the idea of being cowards:

"I expect, brethren, I shall preach here again, if I live, and I shall probably preach about the Indian difficulties, about the Indian war, if they did say I was the biggest coward south of the Utah mountains, and that I dare not go out anywhere, not even for my cows, without my gun, and generally with somebody with me; and consequently, being so nervously afraid, I shall say to the new comers, especially if they want to be preserved and to save their property, and labour to preserve the lives of their families, they have got to take the counsel of President Young, and that is, to SETTLE IN FORTS--and have fortified cities; and not only to settle in forts and cities, but to go armed, and not be overtaken and murdered by the way, in the manner that some have been. You might suppose, because I am so cowardly, that I am very anxious to kill the Indians; but no man ever heard me undertake to advocate the business of killing Indians, unless it was in self defence; and in no orders that I have issued (and I have issued a great many under different circumstances since the war commenced, being the "Iron Colonel,") have I ever given licence of this kind, but to act in defence of ourselves and property. For I do believe, if the people can be made to listen to President Young's counsel, we can close the war without bloodshed. I have believed it all the time, and I have acted upon it." [16]

The principle is obvious. There is no need to fight when the Saints will listen to the prophet's voice and do what is suggested, namely build and live in forts and destroy even an opportunity for war with the indians. In this sense, cowardice is obvious, logical self-defence without injuring anyone, Saints or indians. It is simply the most peaceful thing the Saints could do. And indeed, George Albert Smith claimed "I am never afraid when I do not think anything is going to hurt me," which explains why he was considered a coward as well! "When I am certain that there is no danger, then I am not the least afraid. The reason I have been called a coward has been from the fact that, whenever I believed there was any danger, I have always gone in for providing for it, and used my ingenuity to thwart that danger; and hence I have been called a coward by some." [17]

Time and again it seemed as though Brigham was preaching to the choir.

"Do not be angry. I will permit you to be as angry as I am. Do not get so angry that you cannot pray: do not allow yourselves to become so angry that you cannot feed an enemy--even your worst enemy, if an opportunity should present itself. There is a wicked anger, and there is a righteous anger. The Lord does not suffer wicked anger to be in his heart; but there is anger in his bosom, and he will hold a controversy with the nations, and will sift them, and no power can stay his hand... I would like this people to have faith enough to turn away their enemies. I have prayed fervently about this matter; for it has been said that the troops would come: but I have said that, if my faith will prevent it, they shall not come. If God will turn them whithersoever he will, so that they do not come here, I shall be perfectly satisfied. But another man steps up, and says to the one that prays for our enemies to be turned away, "Brother, you are a coward; damn them, let them come, for I want fight to them." Herein you perceive a conflict in our faith; and that should not be... But, says one, "I want to fight." Do all such persons know that they are not right? If they will examine their hearts, they will find a wicked anger and a malice there; and they cannot get into the kingdom of God with those feelings. Learn to control yourselves..." [18]

Hence, Brigham Young, as other early Mormon leaders, indeed were cowards, to kill unnecessarily, to drift from God needlessly, etc. The indians were also looked upon as the children of God, and as such to be cowardly towards killing them was deemed sin, hence Brigham's remarks about himself, with the obvious conclusion that it is good, in this context, which we hardly doubt our critics would ever acknowledge, let alone keep Brigham Young's comments in this context, as Brigham Young obviously meant it to be.

Endnotes

1. Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.105, Brigham Young, May 8, 1853. Cf. p.106, "I have always acknowledged myself a coward, and hope I always may be." See also "I am a coward myself..." in Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.165, Brigham Young, July 31, 1853.

2. Journal of Discourses, Vol.5, p.230, Brigham Young, September 13, 1857.

3. Journal of Discourses, Vol.22, p.252, Francis M. Lyman, October 7, 1881.

4. Journal of Discourses, Vol.24, p.226 - p.227, George Q. Cannon, June 20, 1883.

5. Discourse Delivered by President Joseph F. Smith, at the Morgan Stake Conference, Sunday, February 16, 1896. In the Collected Discourses, Vol.5, Joseph F. Smith, February 16, 1896.

6. Rulon S. Wells, Conference Report, October 1931, p.64.

7. John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, October 1948, p.112. James E. Faust has said essentially the same thing, The Church News, Conference Issues 1970-1987, p.7.

8. Orson F. Whitney, Millennial Star, 1882, Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, Vol. 2, p.102.

9. Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.323.

10. Times and Seasons, Vol.6, p.987.

11. Buddy Youngreen, "Joseph and Emma: A Slide-Film Presentation," BYU Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2, 1973-74, p.215.

12. Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.105, Brigham Young, May 8, 1853.

13. Sterling W. Sill, BYU Speeches, January 20, 1960, p.12.

14. Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.106, Brigham Young, May 8, 1853.

15. Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.164 - p.165, Brigham Young, July 31, 1853.

16. Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.196, George Albert Smith, October 7, 1853.

17. Journal of Discourses, Vol.5, p.108, George Albert Smith, August 2, 1857.

18. Journal of Discourses, Vol.5, p.230, Brigham Young, September 13, 1857.