Definition

Proper noun: - A historical figure: Brigham Young was a 19th-century American religious leader who succeeded Joseph Smith as the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church). He is most famous for leading the Mormon pioneers on a mass migration to the Salt Lake Valley, which became a foundational event in the settlement of the American West.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Brigham Young is a central figure in the history of Utah.
  • The university was named after Brigham Young.
  • Under the leadership of Brigham Young, the settlers began irrigating the desert.

Advanced Usage

• "A Brigham Young": Used informally or in historical analogy to refer to a strong, pioneering leader who organizes and guides a community through a difficult migration or settlement.
  • The project needed a Brigham Young to unite the team and lead them through the challenging initial phase.

Variants and Related Words

• Youngite (n, historical): A rarely used term that could refer to a follower of Brigham Young or his policies during the 19th century.
• Brighamite (n, historical): A term used in the 19th century to denote a member of the faction of the Latter Day Saint movement that followed Brigham Young after the succession crisis, as opposed to other factions.

Synonyms

• Pioneer leader: A person who is the first to develop or settle a new area.
• Religious colonizer: A leader who establishes a settlement based on religious principles.

Related Phrases

• The Brigham Young era: Refers to the period of Mormon history from 1844 to 1877 when Brigham Young was the president of the church and the primary leader in Utah.
• In the spirit of Brigham Young: Acting with determination, practical leadership, and a vision for building a community in challenging circumstances.

Noun

1. United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith; he led the Mormon exodus from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (1801-1877)