Source Note

Brigham Young. Journal, 9 April 1832–9 September 1836. Brigham Young Office Files. CR 1234 1. Church History Library. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Brigham Young’s first personal journal is a brown leather, hardcover book measuring 6½ × 4¼ inches (16.6 × 10.7 cm). A square piece of white paper is pasted on the front of the book with the handwritten words “Prest. B. Young’s Journal 1832, 33, 35, and 36” written in brown ink. The journal contains twenty-four leaves, or forty-eight cream-colored, faintly lined pages. The pages are not numbered. Following the twelfth leaf are two inserts sewn into the book. The first insert contains eight leaves, or sixteen pages of unlined cream-colored paper measuring 411/16 × 3¾ inches (12 × 9.5 cm); the last three pages of the insert are blank. The second insert contains six leaves, or twelve pages of unlined cream-colored paper measuring 5 × 4 inches (12.5 × 10 cm). The first page of the diary begins with the entry “Apriel 9th 1832”; the first page of the first insert begins, “Sept 3th 1835”; the first page of the second insert begins, “about 11 A.M. wee ware in Buffalow.” Following the last page of the second insert, the thirteenth leaf of the main diary contains the entry for “November 12 – 1833” written on the top half of the page; the bottom third of the page, written upside down is another entry for “Sept 3<th> 1835.” The book had been turned over and used for journal entries from 3 May–3 September 1835, ending with the aforementioned “Sept 3” entry.

The journal has two leaves containing miscellaneous writings. Starting from the back of the book: The first leaf is blank; the second leaf (p. [3]) contains the text “Art thou a brother or brethren, I salute you in the name of the Lord. . . .” on the top two-thirds of the page; the bottom third contains a mathematical calculation and Brigham Young’s name written sideways at the bottom of the page. Page [4] contains an account of money received under the date of “Apriel 30<the> 1832.” Then on page [5] begin the diary entries, starting with “May 3th 1835.” Those miscellaneous writings from pages [3] and [4] are featured here.

―――――――― ◊ ――――――――

Editorial Note

The following undated, miscellaneous notations are found on page [46] of Brigham Young, Holograph Journal: 9 April 1832–9 September 1836.

―――――――― ◊ ――――――――

Art thou a brother or brethren, I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token of the everlasting covenent; in which covenent I receive you to fellowshi<p> in a determination that is fixed, immoveable and unchangeable to be your frind and brother through the grace of God, in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandment<s> of God blameless, in thanksgiving forever and ever.[1]

[2] Samuel

Brigham

Brigham Young

070

060

040

250

160

344 11.14

190 21 55

---- ------

18,14 32 69

32 69

Notes

[1] Revelation given through Joseph Smith on 3 January 1833 provided “instructions how to regulate the Elders school,” including how members of the School of the Prophets were to act and be saluted. The writing by Brigham Young here mirrors a portion of Smith’s 3 January 1833 revelation. (See Revelation, 3 January 1833, in JSP, D2:347–48 [D&C 88:133].)

[2] TEXT: The lower half of page [46] in Brigham Young’s first holograph journal contains these undated, apparently randomly written names and numbers. Young appears to have turned the journal counterclockwise to write these names and numbers; they appear sideways in the lower right-hand corner of the page when the journal is facing its proper direction.