Family_and_descendants Brigham_Young

caricature of young s wives, after death

young polygamist, marrying total of 55 wives, 54 of them after converted mormonism. policy difficult many in church. young stated upon being taught plural marriage, first time in life desired grave. time of death, young had 56 children 16 of wives; 46 of children reached adulthood.

sources have varied on number of young s wives, due differences in scholars have considered wife . there 55 women young sealed during lifetime. while majority of sealings eternity , time . researchers believe not of 55 marriages conjugal. young did not live number of wives or publicly hold them out wives, has led confusion on number , identities. in part due complexity of how wives identified in mormon society @ time.

of young s 55 wives, 21 had never been married before; 16 widows; 6 divorced; 6 had living husbands; , marital status of 6 others unknown. in 1856, young built lion house accommodate sizable family. building remains salt lake city landmark, beehive house, young family home. contemporary of young wrote: amusing walk brigham young s big house, long rambling building innumerable doors. each wife has establishment of own, consisting of parlor, bedroom, , front door, key of keeps in pocket. @ time of young s death, 19 of wives had predeceased him, divorced ten, , 23 survived him. status of 4 unknown. 1 of wives, zina huntington young, served third president of relief society. in will, young shared estate 16 surviving wives had lived him; 6 surviving non-conjugal wives not mentioned in will.

notable descendants

in 1902, 25 years after death, new york times established young s direct descendants numbered more 1,000. of young s descendants have become leaders in lds church, while other have become notable events outside of lds church service.