Review
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Title: The Brigham Young Journals, Volume 1: April 1832-February 1846
Editors: Ronald K. Esplin, Dean C. Jessee, Brent M. Rogers, Gerrit J. Dirkmaat, Andrew H. Hedges
Publisher: The Religious Studies Center and BYU Press, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in cooperation with the Brigham Young Center Foundation, Sandy, Utah, and Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Genre: Religious Non-Fiction
Year Published: 2023
Number of Pages: 470
Binding: Hardbound
ISBN: 9781950304400
Price: $34.99
Reviewed by Cheryl Bruno for the Association for Mormon Letters
Almost on the heels of another similar volume (George D. Smith’s Brigham Young, Colonizer of the American West: Diaries and Office Journals, 1832–1871, published by Signature Books in 2021), comes the BYU and Deseret Book-published The Brigham Young Journals, Volume 1: April 1832-February 1846. Unbeknownst to the editors, the two projects were being worked on simultaneously for many years, and the BYU volume was in copy editing and production when Smith’s came out. Despite their overlapping timelines, the two volumes offer distinct perspectives, inviting intriguing comparisons.
Upon examining the introductions of both volumes, a striking contrast emerges in the sympathetic and enthusiastic portrayal of Brigham Young presented by the Esplin volume. Through carefully selected quotations, the editors illuminate Young’s religious fervor, emphasizing pivotal moments like his baptism and ordination, where a profound sense of purpose and urgency replaced earlier gloom. Young’s burning desire to proclaim the Gospel to the nations is vividly expressed, with quotes like, “Nothing would satisfy me but to cry abroad in the world, what the Lord was doing in the latter-days. . .. I had to go out and preach, lest my bones should consume within me” (ix).
Smith’s rendering of Young’s conversion is more reserved, placing it within the broader context of his family’s involvement with the Church. Smith’s account may leave the impression of a somewhat neglectful husband during his early mission, while the Esplin volume highlights Young as a caring husband, emphasizing his efforts to limit preaching to the vicinity of his home to tend to his ailing wife Miriam, and their two young daughters.
As the Esplin volume delves into Young’s journals, it maintains a sympathetic portrayal, often aligning with the perspective familiar to staunch Latter-day Saints. However, this approach, while appealing to a specific audience, may obscure the complexities of the historical record. For instance, the volume downplays the succession struggle after Joseph Smith’s death, focusing more on affirming the leadership of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and criticizing Sidney Rigdon’s “machinations.”
Between 1832 and 1845, Brigham Young documented his experiences in three distinct physical journals. Over the years, he transitioned between these volumes, resulting in significant portions of his journal entries being arranged in a non-chronological order within the physical artifacts.
Understanding Brigham Young’s journaling habits and the unique organization of his entries provides a glimpse into the challenges and nuances of preserving historical records. Both George D. Smith and the editors of the current volume chose to present the journal entries in a cohesive sequence that adheres to chronological order. This was a wise choice, especially when, as in the Esplin volume, detailed notes on the artifacts are included in an appendix. Esplin et. al. include the final volume of Young’s first four journals, in the handwriting of his scribes, in a separate section labeled “Office Journal,” even though the time period covered overlaps with that of the “Personal Journals.”
In numerous instances where gaps exist between entries, Esplin and his colleagues intervene by including editorial notes. These provide insights into Young’s location, activities during those periods, and plausible explanations for the extended breaks in his writing. “In this volume extensive annotation sometimes dwarfs Young’s writings,” but the authors promise that “the additional information will elucidate the text and thus make the reading more informative and enjoyable (xi). I agree. The reader is able to peruse this volume of Young’s unpolished entries almost as an elegantly written biography.
There are many places where the transcription differs in the two volumes. For example, in the entry for May 2, 1833, the Esplin volume has
tue thirsday 2 Preached at Brother Drowns [Charles M. Drown] and the Lord pord out Δ his spiret apon the Peaple (8),
compared to Smith’s
This day 2 Preached at Brother [Charles M.] Drown’s and the Lord pord out * his spiret apon the People (6)
In the footnotes, Esplin explains “there is an illegible character that Young wrote and wipe-erased here,” while Smith notes that “Young appears to emphasize his intense spiritual feelings with an asterisk.” Esplin also explains: “’thir’ is written over three letters, likely ‘tue’ indicating Brigham Young began to write the word ‘Tuesday.’”
I was able to compare the transcriptions with the Brigham Young journal, available at the Church History Library. I agreed with Esplin’s transcription, added to the fact that Young often places the day of the week before the date, but never uses “this day.” There is no recognizable asterisk, but there is an erasure, as noted by Esplin.
I checked several other disparities between the two transcriptions (e.g. on the dates of Nov. 1, 1843, and Dec 11, 1845,) and in all of these cases, I agreed with the transcription done by Esplin and his associates over that done by Smith.
Because of my expertise in Mormonism and Freemasonry, I was especially interested in how the two volumes would handle Young’s sole coded entry of January 6, 1842. Using the Royal Arch Masonic cipher to substitute the coded symbols with letters, the entry reads:
I . W. A . S . T . A . K . E . N . I . N . T . P . T . G . E . L . P . D . G . E ( I WAS TAKEN INT[O] T[H]E L[O]DGE )
Janury 6th 1842
J . S . M . I . T . H . W . A . S . A . G . N . E . W . W . . . . . ( J. SMITH WAS AGNE[S][S] )
Janury 6th 1842
Brigham Young Jornal
In the first line, three errors can be identified, each involving the simple addition or omission of a dot in the cipher character. The third line, with the apparent error of “AGNEWW” instead of “Agnes S.,” resulted from the inversion of a triangle character.
I was dissatisfied with the way both volumes handled this entry. George Smith transcribes it as follows:
Janury 6th 1842 Brigham Young Jo[u]rnal I was taken into the Lodge J. Smith saw [sealed and wed] Agness [Moulton Coolbrith Smith].
A footnote explains, “This entry was written in code, translated here.” This transcription does not duplicate the date but places it and the words “Brigham Young Jo[u]rnal” before the coded symbols rather than after, as they appear in the journal. It also rearranges the letters “was” in the second line (identical to the “was” in the first line), into “saw.” The footnote fails to address the challenges associated with assuming the correctness of the Masonic code decipherment.
The Esplin volume transcribes the entry as follows:
[Line of Coded Text]
Janury 6th 1842
[Line of Coded Text]
Janury 6th 1842
Brigham Young Jornal
This transcription is more technically correct, as it reproduces what is written on the page, including the format and the two dates. Despite a footnote acknowledging the Masonic decipherment, (which is attributed to Andrew Ehat rather than the first person to decipher it, Arturo De Hoyos), the authors express uncertainty, stating, “No known key code exactly deciphers Brigham Young’s coded text.”
They also note that Ehat’s interpretation requires the addition of the words “wedded and sealed.” “Moreover,” the authors say, “if this attests a ceremony uniting Joseph Smith and Agnes Smith, it would not have been a sealing for eternity since Agnes would have been sealed to her deceased husband Don Carlos. Here the authors make an unwarranted assumption.
Thus, both volumes approach the coded entry with discrepancies and assumptions. The Esplin volume remains too cautious about definitive interpretations, while the Smith volume fails to consider potential errors and uncertainties in the decipherment process. A more nuanced approach is necessary, recognizing both the strengths of the Masonic decipherment as well as the complexity of Brigham Young’s coded text and its potential implications.
Meticulous attention to detail is evident in the formatting of this book. The choice of font is not only visually appealing but also contributes significantly to the overall reading experience. The book is competitively priced, and at the same time, the quality of the paper and printing is exceptional. Thoughtful design elements make a noticeable difference in a book that is not only intellectually engaging but also aesthetically pleasing. To achieve this in a volume devoted to the journals of a figure known for his rough and unrefined persona is a stellar accomplishment.
The Brigham Young Journals, Volume 1: April 1832-February 1846, steps into the heart of Mormon history with a meticulous and insightful exploration of Brigham Young’s pre-exodus journals. The volume successfully navigates challenges, including disarray and gaps in chronology, demonstrating a commitment to accuracy and reliability. In doing so, it distinguishes itself as a commendable scholarly achievement. Despite critiques raised concerning the portrayal of Brigham Young and the handling of certain journal entries, and despite concurrent efforts with another volume by George D. Smith, the editorial team, led by Ronald K. Esplin, have crafted a unique narrative that contributes significantly to the understanding of Brigham Young’s life and the foundational history of the Latter-day Saints.