Brigham Young

The Quote “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” — Brigham Young, JoD 10:110 (March 8, 1863) Lyrics [Intro - Somber piano, slow tempo] [Verse 1 - Spoken word style, building into melody] March eighth, eighteen sixty-three Tabernacle, Salt Lake City Prophet stands before the congregation "Shall I tell you," he begins "Shall I tell you the law of God?" Everyone leans in to listen [Verse 2 - Melody establishes, minor key] "In regard to the African race" His voice is steady, certain, clear "If the white man of the chosen seed Mixes his blood with the seed of Cain" He pauses for the weight to land "The penalty, under the law of God..." [Chorus - Full, powerful, deliberate] Death on the spot Death on the spot This is the law of God, he says This will always be so Always be so Death on the spot This will always be so [Verse 3 - Building intensity] Civil War is raging, nation torn "I'm no abolitionist," he claims "Neither am I pro-slavery" Standing in the middle ground Then declares that love across the line Deserves death by divine command [Chorus] [Bridge - Tempo slows, piano solo, then spoken/sung] One hundred and fifty years pass December, two thousand thirteen The church releases a quiet statement "We disavow the theories advanced in the past" "That mixed-race marriages are a sin" The law of God... Was just a theory? [Verse 4 - Quiet, testimonial] Today in temples, all across the land Interracial couples kneel and pray Sealed for time and all eternity By the same church that declared Their love deserved death on the spot Under the eternal law of God [Final Chorus - Raw, powerful] Death on the spot He said death on the spot This is the law of God This will always be so But always meant One hundred and fifty years Till it was too embarrassing To keep saying so [Outro - Piano fading, spoken] "This will always be so" (Repeat, growing quieter) "This will always be so" "This will always..." [Silence] Historical Context The Setting: March 8, 1863 — Salt Lake Tabernacle. The Civil War is raging. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued just two months prior. The nation is torn over slavery, race, and freedom. ...

The Quote “You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, un-comely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind… The Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin.” — Brigham Young, JoD 7:290-291 (October 9, 1859) Lyrics [Intro: Somber acoustic guitar, fingerpicked, haunting] [Verse 1: Speak-sing, testimony voice] October morning, eighteen fifty-nine Brigham stood in the Tabernacle, said he'd gather truth divine "God has created of one blood," he told the gathered crowd "All the nations, black and white, copper-colored" — spoke it loud [Pre-Chorus: Building] But then he taught intelligence And what the Lord had shown About the classes of the human race And curses set in stone [Chorus: Full voice, letting horror speak] Flat nose and black skin That's the mark the Lord put on Uncouth, un-comely, disagreeable The curse of Cain lives on Flat nose and black skin Deprived of blessings from above This is what the prophet taught In the name of God's own love [Verse 2: Measured, each word weighted] "Cain slew his brother Abel, committed odious crime He'll be cursed the longest of any child of Adam's line The Lord put a mark upon him" — Brigham made it plain The flat nose and the black skin is the curse upon that stain [Bridge: Sparse, haunting, space between lines] One hundred nineteen years The priesthood was denied One hundred nineteen years While Black Saints testified Children couldn't be sealed To mothers and to fathers One hundred nineteen years Of theological slaughter [Verse 3: The reckoning] Nineteen seventy-eight, June The revelation came Black members could hold the priesthood now But no apology for shame Twenty thirteen, an essay Disavows the theories taught "Black skin is not divine disfavor" But what about what it wrought? [Final Chorus: Quieter, bearing witness] Flat nose and black skin That's what Brigham Young declared The mark of Cain, the curse of God One hundred nineteen years they bared The church disavows it now Says racism in any form But for a century and more This teaching was the norm [Outro: Instrumental, fading, unresolved] Historical Context The Setting: October 9, 1859, in the Tabernacle at Great Salt Lake City. Two years before the Civil War began. ...

The Quote “Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of Heaven among men. Such a system was commenced by the founders of the Roman Empire… Rome became combated by a barbarous and warlike people, who had been nourished in adultery from their infancy. They knew not their fathers, for they were the sons of a multitude who all ranged the forest, destitute of any order save in their predatory expeditions against their neighbours. They kidnapped their wives from the Sabine nation. Thus monogamy originated in crime, and has been sustained by crime… This monogamic order of marriage, so esteemed by modern Christians as a holy sacrament and divine institution, is nothing but a system established by a set of robbers.” — Brigham Young, JoD 9:322-323 (July 6, 1862) ...

The Quote “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may even be permitted to come into the presence of the Father and the Son; but they cannot reign as kings in glory, because they had blessings offered unto them, and they refused to accept them.” — Brigham Young, JoD 11:269 (August 19, 1866) The Failed Prophecy “If we do not embrace that principle soon, the keys will be turned against us. If we do not keep the same law that our Heavenly Father has kept, we cannot go with him… I wish here to say to the Elders of Israel, and to all the members of this Church and kingdom, that it is in the hearts of many of them to wish that the doctrine of polygamy was not taught and practiced by us… It is the word of the Lord, and I wish to say to you, and all the world, that if you desire with all your hearts to obtain the blessings which Abraham obtained, you will be polygamists at least in your faith, or you will come short of enjoying the salvation and the glory which Abraham has obtained.” — Brigham Young, JoD 11:269 ...

The Quote “Do you query why we give endowments to A., B., and C.? It is to make devils of those who will deny the faith, for that is also necessary, as a host of devils will be needed. It is for the exaltation of some and the downfall of others.” — Brigham Young, JoD 8:181-182 (September 9, 1860) Lyrics [Intro - Organ and Accordion, Minor Key Waltz] [Verse 1 - Quiet, Reverent] They tell you in the temple prep class About sacred covenants that'll help you pass Through the veil to exaltation's door Eternal families, celestial law White clothes and promises of glory But Brigham Young told another story September 1860, he explained The temple's darker purpose, plainly named [Pre-Chorus - Building] "Do you query why we give endowments To A., B., and C.?" Let the prophet tell you what they're really for Listen carefully... [Chorus - Explosive, Theatrical] "It is to make devils of those who will deny the faith For that is also necessary" (that's what Brigham says!) "As a host of devils will be needed" Sacred ordinances with a purpose dark and strange A host of devils will be needed And the temple will provide For the exaltation of some And the downfall of those who tried [Verse 2] Every active member knows someone Who went through the temple, then was done Walked away, left the faith behind Did the endowment seal their bind? Were those sacred ordinances given Not just for the path to heaven But to manufacture the enemy? "A host of devils will be needed" [Bridge - Spoken over sparse music] Modern temple preparation teaches: • Sacred covenants • Eternal families • Celestial glory It does not mention: • Making devils of the unfaithful • Manufacturing the enemy • "The downfall of others" [Final Chorus - Darkly triumphant] A host of devils will be needed The prophet told us plain The temple serves a double purpose Exaltation and the stain Of those who take the covenants Then walk a different road Were they always meant to fall? Did Brigham Young forebode? [Outro - Carnival organ, fading] A host of devils... will be needed... (Laughter fading into silence) Historical Context The Setting: September 9, 1860 — A regular Sunday sermon in Salt Lake City. ...