My Servant Brigham: Portrait of a Prophet By Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, R. Q. Shupe Bookcraft, 1997. Hardback: 155 pages. ISBN: 1-57008-351-7 Suggested retail price: $19.95 (US)
Reviewed by: Jeff Needle

My Servant Brigham is a very brief look at the life of the second President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is presented in two parts -- an initial, theme-based look at the life of a very complex man, followed by a cradle to grave look at his life and service.

The book contains a wealth of rare photographs and drawings from the period. The authors want us to see Brigham as the people of his day saw him. Reproductions of editorial cartoons and newspaper stories provide a rich look at Brigham's contemporaries.

Here's a scene that I would have loved to witness:

Brigham's power to move people through his sermons is discovered in comments found in hundreds of diaries. For the collective body of the Saints, many situations demonstrate Brigham's ability to rally the people. One such time was in October 1856 when news arrived of the late-starting handcart companies' troubles. After listening to Brigham, Lucy Meserve Smith recalled: "Just at the session of our October Conference, news came where [the] hand card companies were. President Young and others were so excited and anxious for fear those companies would be caught in the snow in the mountains, they would not go on with Conference. The President called for men, teams, clothing and provisions, and they were soon on the way to meet the companies with President Young himself till he got into the Canyon. There he took sick and was obliged to turn back. The sisters stripped off their petticoats, stockings, and everything they could spare, right there in the Tabernacle and piled into the wagons to send to the Saints in the mountains . . ." (25-26)

Throughout this small book, the reader can gain a nice view of everyday life for the Prophet. His energy and zeal for the cause were remarkable. And in the end, even his detractors had to admit that he shouldered an enormous burden in his quest for the building of the kingdom.

The authors are careful to maintain a balance between the expected laudatory comments, and the sometimes-spicy criticisms of the contemporary press and others. All in all, it makes for a lovely read, and a very good introduction to Young's interesting life.

I continue, however, to balk at the high price of such a book. Twenty dollars seems a bit steep for such a small book. However, it is currently remaindered at Deseret Book, and will make a nice addition to your library.

... Jeff Needle/jeff.needle@general.com