Is it "mean-spirited," as one LDS apologist complains, to suggest that Mormon Church president Brigham Young may have died from purposeful poisoning?

Apparently so. 'Tis such a bitter pill for the pious prophet protectors.

In the face of the intriguing proposal that Young met his fate by poison he ate (possibly snuck into his sugar by wives who were fed up with him), one defender of the "divinely inspired" Mormon dynasty replies:

"Although it’s not impossible that Brigham Young died of arsenic poisoning, blaming murder in a universally LDS setting of nursing and medical treatment is jumping to conclusions.

"First, getting to arsenic poisoning is one jump. Going to murder, thereafter, is another jump.

"Then, proceeding to succession as a motive is in many ways the greatest jump.

"Means and motive are the two principle components of murder, and there are many reasons in a large family setting where someone close to Young might want to see him murdered. In the Roman world, any time someone who was in perfect health suddenly fell ill and died was looked upon with suspicion. But this was in a politically charged environment. Young, arguably, was not in such an environment.

"Augustus was said to have been murdered by his scheming wife, Livia. It’s possible, of course. Some have even suggested that Moses was killed by an impatient Joshua. John Paul I was said to have been murdered, as well as Vince Foster and Ron Brown. The list could go on and on.

"[To suggest that Brigham Young died for deliberate poisoning] is fascinating, but is conjecture, and it’s mean spirited. It’s one thing to publish against Mormonism, but the lack of respect so prevalent by you, Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins detracts from what you write and say.

"Succession in the presidency was fairly well established by the time Young died. Young’s attempt to establish a dynasty would have been met with rejection by the Twelve and by other church leaders. And though you may not believe Young to be a prophet, those attending him did believe, and murdering a prophet is somewhat more difficult to do than a Pope, especially when the Pope was most likely removed to cover a multitude of sins."

(posted by "John Roberts," response to "Was Brigham Young Murdered?," reader commentary section, in "Questioning Mormonism," 22 May 2010, at: http://rfmorg.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/brigham-young-murdered-by-poison/)
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Down, boy.

Let's examine the mysterious circumstances surrounding Brigham Young's rapid demise--by comparing his death to that of, well, a horse who met a similar end:

INTO THE HORSE’S MOUTH: ARSENIC

Arsenic poisoning was long suspected--and, in fact, was eventually confirmed–in regard to the heretofore perplexing and unexplained death of one of horse racing’s most famous legends, “Phar Lap,” who died suddenly some three quarters of a century ago.

In a report from the "Associated Press," headlined, “Phar Lap Died of Arsenic Poisoning,” comes the following:

”Melbourne , Australia . . . Forensic scientists say champion Australian gelding Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning, solving a mystery that has intrigued the horse racing world for more than 75 years.

“Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts before his death in mysterious circumstances at Menlo Park in California in April 1932. Days before his death, he won Mexico ‘s Agua Caliente Handicap, which was then the richest horse race in North America.

“Arsenic poisoning has long been suspected as the cause of Phar Lap’s death, but confirmation had been lacking until . . . [recently] released the findings of their forensic investigation.

“[Researchers] took six hairs from Phar Lap’s mane and analyzed them at the Advanced Photon Source Synchrotron in Chicago , finding that in the 40 hours before Phar Lap’s death the horse had ingested a massive dose of arsenic.

“Phar Lap’s mounted hide is on display at the Melbourne Museum . . .

“‘We can’t speculate where the arsenic came from, but it was easily accessible at the time,’ [one of the researchers] said.

“Notebooks kept by Phar Lap’s handler . . . show the horse was administered tonics and ointments containing both arsenic and strychnine. An accidental overdose has long been considered the likely cause of death.”

("Phar Lap Died of Arsenic Poisoning," by the "Associated Press," in "USA Today," 19 June 2008, at: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-06-19-1009901622_x.htm)
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FROM THE MEDICAL HORSE’S MOUTH: DID ARSENIC KILL BRIGHAM YOUNG, AS WELL?

Like that dead Mr. Ed, it has long been suspected that Mormon prophet Brigham Young most likely also died from arsenic poisoning.

Indeed, it has been duly noted that a close relative of Young--Dr. Seymour Young--”was the attending physician who attended Brigham at the latter’s home when he, Brigham lay a-dying from arsenic poisoning! And, it was he, Doctor Seymour, who–fifteen years later ‘doctored up’–or, ‘fudged’–the official death certificate by erasing out the actual cause of death and inserting the word ‘appendicitis.’”

(posted by "JLHyde," under "False Teachings," in "LDS Social Network Forums," 25 July 2004, at: http://www.lds.net/forums/19396-post12.html)
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JUST CALL IT A FEELING IN THE GUT

Good reason to suspect that Brigham Young may have succumbed to arsenic poison (in this case, deliberately--not accidentally--administered) comes from an analysis by Samuel W. Taylor, grandson of LDS prophet John Taylor.

In an article entitled, “Who Done It? The Nagging Mystery of Brigham Young’s Last Moments,” Taylor lays out the what he suggest may have been the cause of Young’s suspiciously-disguised demise.

Taylor notes that Young–amid swirling rumors that he had been purposely poisoned–suddenly had become ill in August 1877 and died a week later.
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FROM MORMONISM’S MUZZLED MOUTH: APPENDICITIS, NOT ARSENIC

The Mormon-owned “Deseret News” insisted that Young died from a ruptured appendix, not from a nefarious helping of poison.

Shortly after Young’s abrupt departure, the newspaper assured its loyal but curious LDS readers that an official explanation of Young’s death, prepared by “attending physicians” and “others” present when Young kicked the bucket determined that nothing amiss had occured.

Brigham’s bowel busted.

Or so the story went.

The paper assured its readers that Young had actually fallen victim to “cholera morbus,” a condition blamed on him having eaten a combination of green corn and peaches.

Hear ye, hear ye, the actual Mormon Church-sanctioned version of Young’s demise, as it issued forth at the time from its designated house organ:

“‘Last Moments of President Brigham Young’

“In order to satisfy the feelings of many of our readers and answer numerous inquiries concerning the particulars of the last sickness of our late beloved President, Brigham Young, we publish the following, arranged from reports made by Drs. Seymour B. Young and F.D. Benedict, and others who were present during the last hours of the President’s earthly existence.

“President Young’s sickness commenced on Thursday, August 23, continuing the whole of the afternoon. He had an inclination to vomit, but he continued to attend to his business as usual. In the evening he was present at a Bishop’s meeting in the Council House, and instructed the brethren in their duties, speaking with marked point and power.

“At 11 o’clock at night, on retiring, he was seized with an attack of cholera morbus, the usual symptoms of vomiting and purging being almost continuous until 5 o’clock on Friday morning, when, at his own request, a mild opiate was administered hypodermically into each foot, to relieve the intense pain, caused by the constant cramping of the muscles.

“During the whole of that day his sufferings were great, continuing through most of the night, but becoming less severe toward Saturday morning, when he slept for a few hours. This was the first rest he enjoyed from the commencement of the attack. During the whole of this period he endured his pain cheerfully, and occasionally made humorous remarks as was his wont when he saw those around him inclined to be troubled.

“Inflammation of the bowels set in on Saturday at 3 p.m. and the abdomen commenced to swell. One small dose, half a grain of opium, was administered and at midnight the same quantity. These doses, though small, and given at long intervals, had a tendency to somewhat relieve the pain and retching, so susceptible was his system to any kind of narcotic or stimulant.

“Throughout Sunday he continued, both while awake and asleep, to moan. When asked if he suffered pain his invariable reply was, ‘NO, I don’t know that I do.’ During the same night his sufferings were less severe, but continuous, although at 8 o’clock he had a grain of opium and at midnight half a grain.

“On Monday morning, at 8 o’clock, he showed increasing symptoms of nervous prostration, by constant moving of the hands and twitching of the muscles of the arms. One grain of opium was administered, and from then till 12 noon, he had a very severe spell. Another grain of opium was given him and at 8:20 in the evening half a grain more. About 9 o’clock he sank into a quiet sleep, resting without moaning.

“During Sunday and Monday he had received, at intervals of half an hour, a tablespoon of milk and brandy, an ounce of the latter to eight of the former. He was also administered to by the various brethren very frequently from the time he was attacked until his demise. About 10 on Monday evening he sank into a semi comatose condition, from which it was difficult to arouse him, although, by persuasion, he swallowed the milk mixture every half hour and a teaspoonful of ice water between times.

“At 1 o’clock on Tuesday morning, warm stimulating injections were given, after which he thoroughly aroused, and, by the aid of his attendants got out of bed twice. At 4 o’clock the same morning he sank down in bed, apparently lifeless. Artificial respiration was resorted to, by which the lungs were kept inflated, and hot poultices were placed over the heart, to stimulate its action.

“President John W. Young and others administered to him the ordinances for the sick, calling on the Almighty to restore him, and he subsequently revived, and responded ‘Amen’ to the administration. For nine consecutive hours artificial respiration was continued. At that time he seemed greatly revived and spoke to those around him, saying he felt better and wished to rest.

“This condition remained until about 8 in the evening, when partial prostration again ensued and his case considered exceedingly critical by the attending physicians, Drs. S.B. Young, W.F. Anderson, J.M. Benedict and F.D. Benedict. After consultation an entire filling up of the lower part of the bowels by injection was determined upon, for the purpose of creating an action through the alimentary canal, but was not persevered in, on account of fainting symptoms, and the patient objecting to the treatment, which caused him to cry out with pain. He passed the night in a semi-comatose state.

“On Wednesday morning symptoms of approaching dissolution were plainly evident. The early coma was entirely attributable, so the doctors say, to a poisoning of the blood, from the pressure of the swelled bowels, causing a prevention of return currents of the circulation to the hearts and lungs. At the time of his demise he was entirely free from the influence of any opiates or narcotics, not having taken any for 44 hours previous.

“From the time Pres. Young was taken ill until the hour of his death, Dr. Seymour B. Young attended upon him with greatest assiduity, attention and care, scarcely ever having left his bedside during the whole of the time, night or day. In fact the same can be said of all his attendants, who remained by him constantly, and watched every pulsation and very change with the most intense anxiety and solicitude.

“Dr. F.D. Benedict remained with the patient the whole of Tuesday night and Wednesday until his demise. Drs. W. F. Anderson and J.M. Benedict also attended at intervals during that time. The temperature and pulsations were taken frequently, the temperature remaining at 99 until 4 a.m. on Wednesday when it rose to 101, and to 105 just previous to his decease. His pulses ranged from 120 to 128, the latter being reached after the administration of stimulating medicines.

“Not only the physicians named above, but the members of the profession of Salt Lake generally, expressed an anxiety to give all the aid in their power with a view to the relief and restoration of the President.

“On Tuesday night about 10 o’clock, while lying in a kind of stupor, his son John W. asked him, “Do you know me, father?” He responded, ‘I should think I ought to.’ About two hours previous to his decease, when several brethren administered to him, he responded in a clear and distinct voice, ‘Amen.’

“Since news of the great man’s departure have gone abroad, messages of condolence have been received from all parts of the Territory, as well as from the different points of the union, and from Europe . No earthly potentate ever reigned more fully in the hearts of his people than did President Brigham Young. And throughout the territory, while flags hang at half mast, and civic and religious organizations vie with each other in rendering tributes of respect to the departed, grief swells the souls of the Saints . . .”

(“Last Moments of President Brigham Young,” “Desert News,” 31 August 1877).


As Taylor skeptically notes, “This report evidently was published to quiet rumors of poisoning. However, it is more revealing than the doctors at that time realized.”
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REST IN POISON, NOT PEACHES

Taylor has ample reason to doubt the Mormon version of Brigham Young’s mysterious death. Reading the “Desert News” account led him to conclude that it probably was something less benign than fruit that caused Young to so quickly go kapoot.
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TAKE SOME OPIUM AND DON’T BOTHER CALLING ME IN THE MORNING

Indeed, Taylor asserts that the bedside doctors knew Young had been poisoned and not knowing what else to do, simply gave him opitates to ease the pain as he sank toward his inevitable death.
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VERDICT FROM DEVOUT MORMON DOCTORS: FAITHFUL SILENCE

Taylor complains that even though the “Desert News’” questionable explanation of Young’s death was later submitted to several devout Mormon physicians for their informed reaction, none bothered to respond.

Taylor reports, however, that he finally contacted Dr. Max Dimick, a lapsed Mormon and well-known Sacramento physician who served as assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California Medical School at Davis , requesting Dimick’s opinion on the “Desert News” account of Young’s passing.

Specifically, Taylor wanted to know “who done it” and how.
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WHAT DIDN’T KILL BRIGHAM YOUNG: A WHOLE HOST OF MIS-DIAGNOSED AND MISSTATED THING-A-MUH-JIGS

Outlining Dimick’s response, Taylor writes:

“After consulting . . . [with] pathologists, [Dimick] reported that ‘What you would like to know is who had access to his lunch that day. It must have been arsenic and it had to be acute rather than chronic poisoning.’

“[Dimick] discussed the possibility of typhoid, paratyphoid or bacillary dysentery, dismissing them because in such cases ‘he [Young] should have been ill over a prolonged period of time.’ As for cholera–’forget it.’”
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ADDING UP THE ACTUAL EVIDENCE FOR POISONING

Taylor reports that “[Dimick] enclosed tear sheets regarding arsenic from a medical text [by authors Louis S. Goodman and Alfred Gilman, entitled ] . . . “The Pharmocological Basis of Therapeutics” [New York , New York: The Macmillan Company, 1955].

Taylor concludes that, based on Goodman and Gilman’s work, Young’s death “certainly did fit” the description of arsenic poisoning.

Taylor says he asked Dimick if it could determinded, post-mortem, whether Young was actually arsenically poisoned.

Taylor notes that such a question was based in the fact that arsenic was not only utilized in Young’s day as “a popular poisoning agent” but was “also a major ingredient of embalming fluid.” Taylor thus wanted to know “whether by exhuming Brigham’s remains it would be possible to ascertain if he was poisoned.” Specifically, Taylor inquired if “the embalming fluid [would] penetrate the bones and hair after death, as the poison would have during life? . . .”

Taylor said Dimick responded by noting that it would take arsenic approximately one week “after ingestion . . . to get into the bones and hair,” as the body deposited it in attempting to eliminate the poison” and that, according to other pathologists with whom Dimick consulted, “the embalming fluid would not contaminate the bones or hair.”

In actuality, Dimick concluded that Young had ultimately been killed by arsenic poisoning, based on Dimick’s investigation, as well as his consultation with other medical practitioners:

“Joseph H. Master, M.D., Forensic Pathologist at the Diagnostic Pathology Medical Group of Sacramento, states ‘I find nothing in the “Deseret News” article description of President Young’s terminal illness that would be inconsistent with death by arsenic poisoning.’ . . .

“Dr. Frederick A. Schroeder, specialist in intemal medicine at Sacramento , said that after reviewing the ‘Last Moments’ he would ‘certainly concur with the diagnosis of arsenic poisoning,’ the symptoms being ‘most unlike appendicitis in any form.’ The ‘neurologic phenomena are typical’ of arsenic poisoning, while ‘terminally his dehydration and electrolyte symptoms are rather classic.’ He concluded that ‘arsenic poisoning makes this a favored diagnostic probability.’”

Taylor also references Dimick’s citation of the medical text, “Clinical Toxicology” (Lea and Febiger, 5th ed., Philadelphia, 1972), under the chapter, “Poisons with Symptoms Referable to the Digestive Tract,” in which the authors note that “[v]omiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea soon follow” arsenic consumption. “Pain in the limbs, headache, convulsions, muscular weakness and unconsciousness indicate an effect of arsenic upon the central nervous system . . . Nervous symptoms are numbness, buming, tingling or itching; these are followed by fasculation (muscular twitching) or gross tremors with the muscular atrophy and paralysis.”

The most persuasive conclusion, therefore, based on informed medical opinion? Taylor says arsenic, based on “a description of Brigham’s symptoms.”

Taylor also notes Dimick’s citation of the medical text, “Clinical Toxicology” (Lea and Febiger, 5th ed., Philadelphia, 1972: 5th ed., Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1972), under the chapter, “Poisons with Symptoms Referable to the Digestive Tract,” wherein the authors note that “[v]omiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhea soon follow” arsenic consumption. “Pain in the limbs, headache, convulsions, muscular weakness and unconsciousness indicate an effect of arsenic upon the central nervous system . . . Nervous symptoms are numbness, buming, tingling or itching; these are followed by fasculation (muscular twitching) or gross tremors with the muscular atrophy and paralysis.”

The most persuasive conclusion, based on informed medical opinion? Taylor writes: “This could be a descriphon of Brigham’s symptoms.”

Taylor reports that a pathologist at California ‘s Whittier Hospital , J.W. Springer, M.D., responded: “From the available material it appears that Brigham Young died as the result of ingesting arsenic. This certainly does not resemble appendicitis” [a claim predictably put forth by faith-defending Mormon historians, including Leonard Arrington].

Taylor writes that, indeed, he received a consensus of confirmation that Young had, in fact, been a victim of foul poisonous play from the physician staff members at Whittier . “One [of these] doctor[s],” reports Taylor , “noted that in lasting a week Brigham ‘must have been a tough s.o.b.’”
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QUESTIONING THE OVER-BLOATED APOLOGIST CLAIM OF APPENDICITIS

Taylor notes Dimick’s confirmiing diagnosis that Young’s death was not due to appendicitis:

“I have seen innumerable cases of appendicitis including the complications of rupture, peritonitis, and abcess formation. I have never seen it present itself with symptoms such as those described for Brigham Young. Diarrhea is rare and ‘continual vomiting and purging’ are not described as symptoms of appendicitis. In summary, one can say Brigham Young did not die of appendicitis. That he had a massive generalized gastroenteritis is evident and is compatible with acute arsenic poisoning . . .”

Taylor specifically dismisses the-appendix-did-it theory served up by Lester E. Bush, as it appeared in Bush’s “Brigham Young in Life and Death: A Medical Overview” (“Journal of Mormon History,” Vol. 5, 1978).

While commending Bush’s paper for its attention to detail in other respects, Taylor nonetheless criticizes it as “belong[ing] to the school known as the ‘new’ Mormon history, characterized by a veritable avalanche of footnotes, but, too often, defending the faith rather than following the facts.”

Taylor also quotes Dr. Dimick’s caustic reaction to Bush’s bush league premise: “If a medical student diagnosed appendicitis from Brigham’s symptoms, he’d flunk out of school.”

Taylor notes that Dimick “pointed out that [while] the swelling of Brigham’s abdomen in the latter stages of his sickness ‘is suggestive of peritonids and ileus,’ resembling the symptoms of appendicids,” it nonetheless “doesn’t necessarily mean the condition was caused by a ruptured appendix, because ‘the corrosive action of arsenic may erode the mucosa and perforation can and does occur. This in turn would insure peritonitis, and ileus.’ The violent vomiting and purging of the first few days would be typical of poison, but certainly not of appendicitis.”

To the contrary, as Taylor notes (further quoting Dimick), “‘The muscular twitchings described here are also consistent with arsenic poisoning.’ Evidently, the diagnosis of appendicitis, Dr. Dimick concluded, can be made only by ignoring completely the first days of Brigham’s sickness.”

Taylor also cites the opinions of other medical doctors with whom Dimick conferred on the likely cause of Young’s untimely death:

“Dr. George Babbin, Clinical Associate Professor Surgery, University of Califomia at Davis , said that in the past 40 years ‘I have never seen appendicitis present itself with “vomiting and purging being almost continuous.” In my opinion such an onset to an acute illness would make acute appendicitis so unlikely that I would certinally not even consider it in formulating my diagnosis.”

Taylor notes that it is possible to confuse peritonitis with a ruptured appendix:

“It is certain that . . . [Brigham Young's] cause of death was peritonitis, and in this respect the final symptoms could resemble the results of a burst appendix. Taylor points out that according to contemporary medical literature, “‘[i]n a case of acute poisoning, the digestive tract is inflamed, and may show ulceration,’ [and] . . . the whole of the mucous membrane may be reddened’ with consequent erosion which may penetrate all the coats of the stomach and cause perforation.”

But, as Taylor points out, “Brigham had displayed the classic symptoms of arsenic poisoning for several days before evidence of peritonitis appeared.”

How, then, to explain the apparently sneaky act by Young’s nephew and attending physican, Dr. Seymour Young, to alter the medical record?

Taylor ‘s answer: Seymour “would have a most compelling reason to conceal evidence of foul play. He was not only protecting the establishment stance, but preventing a family scandal.”

Taylor makes note of how Dr. Seymour Young’s personal account of Brigham Young’s suspicious death was itself suspiciously doctored:

“It could be significant that Seymour Young not only had second thoughts about Brigham’s death, years later, after [Brigham Young's supposed] appendicitis had been ‘discovered,’ but that Dr. Young dug back in his journals to 24 August 1877, five days before Brigham’s death, and penciled in the addendum, ‘appendix broke.’ This suggests that the journal wasn’t a repository for private and personal matters, but was considered a historical record being written for posterity.”
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FAMILY SECRETS ON BRIGHAM’S BOW-OUT

Taylor further reports that a physician requesting anonymity–amd whose grandfather had attended Young in his final hours–admitted to him that it “was known in his own family that Brigham died of poison.”

Taylor also reports that this physician “also told me that he had talked with the wife of Apostle John A. Widstoe, who was a Young, and she said that fact that Brigham died of poison was well known in her family.”
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YOUNG’S EFFORT TO PERPETUATE FAMILY POWER: THE REASON BEHIND HIS UNCEREMONIOUS SEND-OFF

Taylor argues that Young could well have been poisoned by disgruntled Mormon conspirators unenthused with Young’s suspected plans to have his own sons succeed him as Mormonism’s prophet:

“[It is a] possibility that Brigham had planned to form a Young family dynasty to rule the church. T.B.H. Stenhouse had accused him of this in the book, ‘Rocky Mountain Saints,’ evidence being that Brigham had secretly ordained a son, John W. Young, as an apostle, when John W. was a boy of 10.

“Subsequently, in 1864, [Young] ordained two more sons, Brigham Young, Jr. . . . 28, and Joseph A. Young, 30″– facts, says Taylor, that were “confirmed in the internal press by Reed C. Durham and Steven H. Heath in ‘Succession of the Church Presidency,’ Salt Lake, Bookcraft, 1970. Also by [the LDS ] Church Almanac, 1975.”

Taylor further explains the basis for the suspected poison plot:

“The significance of this action is that [according to the Mormon system of the prophet replacement] the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would succeed to the office of Church President upon the death of the incumbent.

“However, if this was Brigham’s plan, it backfired. The Quorum of the Twelve was outraged on learning of the secret ordinations of the boys, and only one of the three [Brigham Young, Jr.] was accepted into the Twelve.

“However,” Taylor continues, “by 1877, the last year of Brigham’s life, he was accused by the ‘Salt Lake Tribune’ of planning to abdicate in favor of [Brigham Young, Jr.]. . . .

“The Gentile press had freely predicted that at the [upcoming] dedication conference [of the Mormon St. George Temple], Brigham would abdicate in favor of [Brigam Jr.]. The ‘Tribune’ was so sure a change of leadership would take place that it dubbed the event the “abdication conference.”

“The ambiguous ranking of Apostle John Taylor was another evidence that abdication might have been planned. Brigham had succeeded to the church presidency by reason of being president of the Quorum of the Twelve. Yet for the past three years, when Taylor was senior member of the Quorum, he was pointedly sustained at conference as a ‘member of the Twelve,’ rather than its president.

“Brigham hadn’t abdicated at the St. George conference, very probably because of the recent execution of John D. Lee, scapegoat of Mountain Meadows 20 years previously, and the sensation caused by his ‘Confessions,’ written after he felt betrayed by Brigham in receiving the death sentence. . . .

“The nation-wide uproar at this time could have caused Brigham to remain in control, had he planned abdication at St. George. The ‘Tribune,’ however, predicted that he would abdicate in favor of [Brigham Young, Jr.] at the next conference, in October. But Brigham Young died 29 August. . . .”

How did the senior Young possibly attempt to gurantee his his family’s continued control of the Mormon throne? Taylor explains:

“[Brigham Young] could have controlled succession to the presidency only by personally stepping down in favor of his selected replacement. Dead, the matter of succession was beyond his control.”
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FINGERING THE CULPRIT

Taylor lays out the details of the last days of Young’s agonizing death, proposing in the process who may have been responsible for the dastardly deed:

“It is a fact that Brigham and several other Brethren in Salt Lake, upon arrival at St. George for the April conference, had been felled by sudden attacks of violent purging and vomiting. . . . Were the Brethren victims of bad water, tainted food, or, we must ask, had something been slipped into their food?”

Taylor , of course, opts for the last possibility. As to the guilty party, he writes:

“Who done it? Well, who had free access to [Young's] heavily-guarded compound? Who would have given Brigham his medication in the small hours, and sat with him throughout the night? Who would be admitted without question to the sickroom at all times?

“The answer is inevitable: members of his immediate family, and in particular the nurses, about whom the ['Desert News'] ‘Last Moments’ say nothing. Yet with ‘vomiting and purging being almost continuous’ the first few days, the patient needed a great deal of attention.

“The women of the household would have been busy with bedpans, with changing sheets, with keeping the patient clean and as comfortable as possible.

“In looking for someone who would have been in position–and with a motive–to have put arsenic in Brigham’s lunch on Thursday, and, very possibly, to have also given additional doses at the bedside during the week of his sickness, we must examine those who were very close. We must zero in on a suspect who was entirely above suspicion. . . .

“[T]he guilty person had to be someone living in the Lion-Beehive House complex. . . .

“We must remember that there would have been an impelling motive for such an act. . . .

“Who had the most to gain?[:] . . . [T]he menage of Brigham’s own family and close relatives. It might be appalling to suggest such a scandal in the family of a sainted figure. However, it is a fact that one murder in five is committed by a member of the immediate family, and almost half of all murders by relatives, family, or close friends. The Young family had its tensions, as the subsequent brouhana over the settlement of Brigham’s estate proved. The complications of plural marriage were astronomical.

“Who of this select group would have both opportunity and an immediate, impelling and overwhelming motive? . . .

“Call her ‘Ms. X.’ Inasmuch as charges were never filed, I cannot name her now. However, if you really do want to know, her identity can be found among the pieces of this ‘whodunit’ which lie waiting in available material for any interested scholar, historian, western buff, ‘whodunit’ fan, trivia freak or windmill filter who wishes to fit the puzzle together. My cards are on the table. I’ve had no access to confidential sources or sensitive materials. No safes were opened to me.

“What is important is not the actual name of ‘Ms. X,’ but her relationship to Brigham Young. In an association of a dozen years, her initial dislike had grown to intense loathing. But what drove her to the corner drugstore for a little calomel salve, please, Mr. Godbe, and oh, yes, a dime’s worth of arsenic to get rid of the gophers?

“Motive:

“The threat to her daughter, a beautiful girl of 17. At this period in Deseret , when an old man began losing his steam, he was dealt a young girl as a plural wife to revitalize him. Brigham did the dealing; his permission was essential. While a special exaltation in the hereafter was promised a nubile maiden who married an old man on earth, to her mother it was a monstrous situation which made her flesh crawl. When an appeal to Brigham failed, her only recourse was to eliminate the man in charge.

“Modus operandi:

“The sugar bowl. Brigham liked to eat with members of his menage. How, then, to single him out for a lethal does without endangering others? Sugar was a prized commodity in frontier Utah . The members of the household sweetened their tea with honey. Only Brigham and special guests used sugar. He also liked a cup of tea in midaftemoon. Again, the sugar bowl, the contents mixed with a tasteless white powder.

“In the event more than one dose was required, because Brigham was ‘a tough s.o.b.,’ consider the tea served to settle his stomach during his week’s sickness, and also the medication, a mixture of brandy and milk. There was ample opportunity.

“Whether or not the identity of the culprit was suspected I have no way of knowing, though her unhappy fate subsequently would have indicated that she was tormented by conscience or harassed by family rumor.”
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CONCLUSION: THE GRIM REAPER VS. HISTORY’S KEEPER

Summing up the case of what caused Brigham to croak, Taylor observes:

“And so the case stands. Officially, Brigham Young died of appendicitis. Impartial medical evidence says arsenic poisoning. And, like the case of Jack the Ripper, the full facts may never be known.”

(S.W. Taylor, “Who Done It?: The Nagging Mystery of Brigham Young’s Last Moments,” under "Brigham Young's Last Moments: Arsenic or Old Age?," at: http://www.saintsalive.com/resourcelibrary/mormonism/brigham-youngs-last-moments-arsenic-or-old-age )


Is it beyond the realm of possibility, given that defenders of Mormonism's Young claim it was unlikely Young would have been purposely killed since the LDS Church's process of succession was supposedly already firmly established in Young's presidency?

Not so fast, all you faithful fast-and-testimony bearers. As one skeptic of the party line rejoins:

"'Succession in the presidency was fairly well established by the time Young died' [is an]' idea [that] is ridiculous. Succession was such a mystery at the time of Joseph Smith’s Death, it took brigham years to find/fabricate justification to make himself prophet, after having his fabricated reasoning added to the doctrine and covenants.

"Furthermore, Young was only the second prophet of the Mormon Church, and so succession had no real history. It had only happened once."

(posted by "Measure76," under "Was Brigham Young Murdered?," reader commentary section, in "Questioning Mormonism," 22 May 2010, at: http://rfmorg.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/brigham-young-murdered-by-poison/)


It's good go consider plausible possibilities that Brigham Young met his end in ways not covered by Mormon Sunday School manuals--although the LDS faithful predictably cry that all this does is poison the well.

"And should we die before our journey's through, all is well, all is well . . . "

:)



Edited 16 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2011 02:56PM by steve benson.

Any questioning of something that the Mormon leaders want you to believe.

"..bitter pill..." Bwahahahaha, was that a pun, Steve? :)

Ron

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2011 02:28PM by steve benson.

They won't even consider the possibility that Young was poisoned. I'm not saying it's certain by any means, but it is a possibility. Not to people in my family. Nope. Not a chance.

I don't care one way or the other about the poisoning issue, but I do think it's an interesting example of Mormons deciding what they want to believe and then building a case to support that decision -- all the while claiming it's what you're doing.

...why did it take three years to fill the job?

John Taylor wasn't even sustained as President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles until AFTER Young died. The previous PQTA, George Cannon, I believe, was already dead at the time.

Moreover, there was also a three-year interregnum between the death of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young's own accession to the Presidency.

If this well-established pattern of succession included the "promotion" of a sitting PQTA to the First Presidency, why didn't it just happen, instead of waiting until 1880?

More bogus Morg double-speak for ears of the faithful.

With modern technology, if the original Certificate of Death was examined, it could be easily ascertained if it was fudged with. No one one's gonna let that happen, though, I'm jus' talkin' outta my rear end...

I also heard that Bigot was poisoned by John D. Lee's sons in vengeance over his responsibility for their father's death.

Yeah I've heard that too. Don't know which sons though. They certainly had a motive.

There's also the rumor that BY was behind the suspicious death of Samuel Smith who is also believed to have been poisoned. Instant Karma's gonna get you.

--The Strange Death of Samuel H. Smith, Brother of Joseph Smith and Heir Apparent to the Assassination-Emptied Mormon Throne--

RfM poster “Charley” mentions in this thread the suspicious death of Samuel Harrison Smith, younger sibling of Joseph Smith.

As with circumstances surrounding the agonizing and mysterious death of Brigham Young, allegations have been made over the years that Samuel, too, was the victim of deliberate poisoning deviously administered by those angling for power in the time period following the assassination of Joseph Smith.

Notes “Charley”:

“There's . . . the rumor that Brigham Young was behind the suspicious death of Samuel Smith who is also believed to have been poisoned. Instant Karma's gonna get you.”

(see also, "Hard to Swallow: Mormon Apologists Refuse to Consider That Brigham Young May Have Been Deliberately Poisoned In His Own Household," by Steve Benson, on "Recovery from Mormonism" board, 20 June 2011, 2:08 p.m.)


That rumor appears to be well-grounded.

Samuel Harrison Smith was an early baptized member of the Mormon Church, one of its original founders and one of the so-called "Eight Witnesses." He was also one of the Church's first missionaries and served on the Kirtland, Ohio, High Council.

That apparently wasn't enough to protect him, however.

Samauel died under mysterious circumstances on 30 July 1844, at the age of 36, barely a month after Joseph and Hyrum Smith were shot to death in the jailhouse siege at Carthage, Illinois.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Joseph Smith had chosen his brother Samuel to take on the leadership mantle for the Church if both he and Hyrum were killed. According to Joseph Smith's private secretary William Clayton, Joseph had "said that if he and Hyrum were taken away, Samuel H. Smith would be his successor."

After their deaths in Carthage, Samuel personally transported Joseph's body by wagon--lain in a plain pine box covered with prairie grass--back to Nauvoo.

Soon thereafter, he became violently ill and was himself dead in a matter of weeks.

(see: "Samuel Harrison Smith," at http://today.answers.com/topic/samuel-harrison-smith; H. Michael Marquardt, “The Rise of Mormonism: 1816-1844” [Longwood, Florida: Xulon Press, 2005], p. 635; Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill, “Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith” (Urbana, Illinois, University of Illinois Press, 1976], p. 21); and Ernest H. Taves, “Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon” [Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books,1984], p. 216)
_____


--Cries of Foul Play from Members of Joseph Smith's Family--

Despite efforts by the Mormon Church to dismiss allegations that Samuel Harrison Smith was a victim of a murder plot at the hands of LDS Church leaders conspiring to succeed Joseph Smith, members of the Smith family vigorously contended that Samuel had been purposely killed in a power grab that took place in the aftermath of Joseph's assassination.

Five years after Samuel's death, published media accounts by the only Smith brother to survive the Nauvoo period, William, charged that Samuel had been deliberately poisoned:

"In the October 1849 issue of his newspaper, the 'Melchisedek & Aaronic Herald,' William Smith publishe[d] a list of Mormon martyrs, including Samuel H. [Smith], 'who died from the effects of poison administered to him. He died within one month after the martyrdom of his brother.'"

("Martyrs of the Latter Day Saints," in 'Melchisedek & Aaronic Herald' (Covington, Kentucky) 1, no. 7, Oct. 1849)


A few years later, in a letter to the “New York Tribune,” William Smith provided further details on the suspicious death of his brother, Samuel, pointing a direct finger at Brigham Young and Willard Richards, accusing them of orchestrating Samuel's murder:

"I have good reason for believing that my brother Samuel H. Smith, died of poison at Nauvoo, administered by order of Brigham Young and Willard Richards, only a few weeks subsequent to the unlawful murder of my other brothers, Joseph and Hiram Smith, while incarcerated in Carthage jail.

"Several other persons who were presumed to stand between Brigham Young and the accomplishment of his ambitions and wicked designs, mysteriously disappeared from Nauvoo about the same time, and have never been heard from since."

(William Smith, "Mormonism," letter to the “New York Tribune,” 28 May 1857)


In private correspondence in 1892, William Smith further asserted that Willard Richards asked Hosea Stout (who happened to be Samuel's caretaker) to kill Samuel in order to prevent Samuel from taking office as Mormon Church president before the Quorum of the Twelve (which happened to be led by Brigham Young) could convene to handpick a successor.

(William Smith, letter to "Bro. [ . . . ] Kelley,” 1 June 1892)


Samuel H. Smith's own daughter, Mary B. Smith, expressed her belief that her father and her uncle Arthur Milliken were simultaneously poisoned through the administration of a powdery toxin purported to be medicine--noting, as well, that the same doctors attended both men.

According to Mary, Milliken stopped taking the fatal substance but Samuel continued to the last dose, which "he spit out and said he was poisoned. But it was too late--he died."

(Mary B. Smith Norman, letter to Ina Coolbrith, 27 March 1908; the above citations found in "Samuel H. Smith (1808-1844)," under “Death and Succession Crisis,” in “Saints Without Halos,” at: http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/b/smith_s.phtm)


Moreover, Samuel H. Smith's wife, Levira Clark Smith, also concluded that her popular husband had, in reality, been murdered--and proceeded to name the murderer.

Writes author Richard Abanes:

"[In the wake of Josepsh Smith's death,] Samuel Smith . . . seemed a reasonable choice to many Saints [for the Church's next president]. In fact, he nearly took control of the Church before the Twelve had returned [to Nauvoo], much to the irritation of Willard Richards, who wanted no leader to be named until all the Apostles were present.

"Richards may have gone so far as to have Samuel murdered to prevent any succession. Samuel's wife believed this to be the case, naming as her husband's murderer the Chief of Police--Hosea Stout, a Danite widely known for having a violent streak and a cold-hearted disposition.

"Everyone knew he was more than capable of homicide. He had already been, and would continue to be, connected with several murders and assaults involving apostates and Church critics. . . .

"In the case of Samuel Smith, Stout had acted as Samuel's care-giver when he fell ill, and in that capacity had given Samuel 'white powder' medicine daily until his death. Samuel's wife, daughter, and brother . . . all believed the powder to be poison."

(Richard Abanes, "One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church" [New York, New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 2002], p. 207)
_____


--Brigham Young Denies Ordering the Murder of Samuel Smith--

Brigham Young hotly denied allegations that he had also been involved in the death of Samuel H. Smith, instead offering up a questionable alibi:

". . . William Smith has asserted that I was the cause of the death of his brother Samuel when brother Woodruff, who is here to day, knows that we were waiting at the depôt in Boston to take passage east at the very time when Joseph and Hyrum were killed.

"Brother Taylor was nearly killed at the time and Doctor Richards had his whiskers nearly singed off by the blaze from the guns. In a few weeks after, Samuel Smith died and I am blamed as the cause of his death.'"

(Brigham Young, "Journal of Discourses," vol. 5, July 1857, p.77)
_____


--Dissecting Young's Shaky Denial--

Former “Recovery from Mormonism” poster "Perry Noid" raises serious questions about the truthfulness of Young's denial of involvement in the death of Samuel H. Smith:

" . . . I [am] struck at how weak [Young's] defense [is].

"He simply seem[s] to be relying on the 'Hey. I was out of town' alibi that Mafia types like to rely on after giving instructions to an agent who just happens to be 'in town.'

"It seems like he's counting on suckers not asking the next obvious question, i.e., '[S]ince [Young] and his pro-polygamy faction obviously were the prime beneficiaries of Sam[uel] Smith's untimely demise, doesn't it stand to reason that [Young] could have given instructions to a subordinate or have knowingly approved of the plan in advance?

"At the very least, isn't it possible that [Young] knew what happened after the fact and covered it up because it worked out so nicely for himself?'

"The pattern of denial by [Young] in this instance sure does feel similar to that used in the Mountain Meadows Massacre case.

"But it's also highly likely that [Young] literally got a 'taste of his own medicine' since his own death followed a prolonged episode of painful, violent vomiting and discomfort that may have been the result of a revenge poisoning."

"Perry Noid" offers additional intriguing and compelling information which makes it entirely possible to conclude that Samuel H. Smith could well have been seen as a dire threat to the interests of Young's conniving inner circle of power-mongering polygamists:

" . . . Samuel was probably the last best hope that the Smith clan had to maintain a dominant leadership position in the Church.

"If he had succeeded Hyrum to the office of Patriarch, that position could have been leveraged into a hereditary presidency that only Smiths were eligible to attain.

"Samuel probably wasn't capable of being a strong leader like Joseph, or even Hyrum, but the Smith clan was likely hoping that he would be able to hold things together long enough for Joe III to ascend to the throne.

"Samuel's claim, in addition to being supported by the fact that he was the eldest Smith male in line after Joe and Hyrum, was also supported by the fact that he was the third official convert to Mormonism, after Joe and Oliver.

"So, I believe that, first and foremost, he was a serious obstacle to the ambitions of the strong pro-polygamy faction that was coalescing behind Brigham.

"I don't know whether or not Samuel would have continued to go along with polygamy but my impression was that he was not an enthusiastic supporter and the remainder of the Smith clan would probably have intended to dump it all together, knowing that it would be a continuing source of trouble for their Church.

"One biography of Samuel indicates that he had no plural wives, but only married his second wife after his first wife had died."

“Perry Noid” further adds that Hosea Stout, former police chief of Nauvoo, may indeed have been the administrator of deadly toxins to Samuel Smith during a power struggle over the issue of polygamy:

“ . . . Samuel was possibly intentionally poisoned by an agent of Brigham Young in 1844. (Samuel was considered by many to be well ahead of Brigham Young in the contest for succession to Joseph Smith, but suddenly fell ill and died on July 30, 1844--barely a month after the deaths of his brothers, Joseph and Hyrum.) . . .

“[Historian D. Michael] Quinn argues that Willard Richards instructed Hosea Stout, a former Danite and police chief of Nauvoo, to poison Samuel Smith. He died not long after Joseph died. While most of the Church leaders were away from Nauvoo at the time, the Church leadership quickly split along the lines of polygamy. Those who favored the continued practice of polygamy and secret ordinances were partial to Brigham Young and wanted to wait until the Quorum of Twelve Apostles returned to Nauvoo before choosing a successor.

"Those who were opposed to the practice of polygamy and secret ordinances favored the leadership of William Marks. Sidney Rigdon quickly made a proposal to become guardian of the Church and Marks threw his support behind Rigdon. However, the day before the meeting to decide whether Rigdon should be appointed guardian, the Apostles returned to Nauvoo.” (Garn LeBaron, Jr., “'The Mormon Hierachy: Origins of Power'--A Review,” 1995, at: http://www.exmormon.org/hierarch.htm )”

("Thanks for the re-post," by "Perry Noid," Recovery from Mormonism board, 5 June, year unknown; and "My understanding of the situation . . .," idem, RfM board, 5 June, year unknown, at http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon248.htm )
_____


--Further Reasons to Question Brigham Young's Attempts at Distancing Himself from the Dastardly Deed--

Noting the documentation amassed by historian D. Michael Quinn as well as others, avid student of Mormon history and former RfM poster "Deconstructor" asks, "Why would such an accusation be laid against Brigham Young?," then explains:

“This troubling piece of information came from a Church talk Brigham Young gave in 1857:

"'And William Smith has asserted that I was the cause of the death of his brother Samuel, when brother Woodruff, who is here to day, knows that we were waiting at the depôt in Boston to take passage east at the very time when Joseph and Hyrum were killed. Brother Taylor was nearly killed at the time, and Doctor Richards had his whiskers nearly singed off by the blaze from the guns. In a few weeks after, Samuel Smith died, and I am blamed as the cause of his death." (Prophet Brigham Young, July 1857, 'Journal of Discourses,' vol. 5, p.c77)

“I checked Church history sources and found these clues about the death of Joseph Smith's brother [Samuel] in Navuoo, who died little over a month after Joseph was killed:

"'Samuel Harrison Smith, born in Tunbridge, Vt., March 13, 1808. Died July 30, 1844, broken-hearted and worn out with persecution. Aged 36. The righteous are removed from the evils to come.' (“Times and Seasons,” Vol.5, No.24, p. 760)

"'Hyrum & Joseph w[ere] murdered in Carthage Jail in Hancock Co[,] Illinois. Samuel Smith died in Nauvoo, supposed to have been the subject of conspiricy by Brigham Young.' (“Joseph Smith Family Testimony, William Smith Notes,” circa 1875, in Vogel, “Early Mormon Documents,” p. 488)


"Deconstructor" observes;

"To understand the context, you have to remember that after Smith and Hyrum were killed, there was some conflict over who should be his successor.

"Brigham Young was not in Nauvoo when Smith was killed but started to head back as soon as he heard the news.

"Meanwhile in Nauvoo, several potential leaders were positioning to take the reins of leadership. The most popular replacement was Samuel Smith, the brother of Joseph Smith. William Clayton had recorded Joseph declaring his brother William his successor if both he and Hyrum were killed.

"But Brigham Young's first cousin and Church apostle, William Richards, insisted that nothing should be decided until Brigham Young could return to Nauvoo.

"However, many members did not want to wait, and more and more support was gathering behind Samuel Smith, Joseph Smith's brother, to become the next Prophet and leader of the Church.

"For a select few, this presented a problem because Samuel was violently against polygamy. It was looking like Samuel Smith would become the next prophet and promised to denounce the practice of plural marriage.

"Michael Quinn, from 'The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power,' explains what happened next:

"'Then Samuel Smith suddenly became violently ill and died on 30 July 1844. This added suspicion of murder to the escalating drama.

"'Council of Fifty member and physician John M. Bernhisel told William Smith that anti-Mormons had somehow poisoned his brother.

"'William learned from Samuel's widow that Hosea Stout, a Missouri Danite and senior officer of Nauvoo's police, had acted as his brother's nurse. Stout had given him "white powder" medicine daily until his death. Samuel became ill within days of the discussion of his succession right, and by 24 July was "very sick."

"'There had been enough talk about Samuel's succession claims that the newspaper in Springfield, Illinois, reported, "A son of Joe Smith [Sr.] it is said, had received the revelation that he was to be the successor of the prophet."

"'William Smith eventually concluded that Apostle Willard Richards asked [Hosea] Stout to murder (his brother) Samuel H. Smith.

"'The motive was to prevent Samuel from becoming Church president before Brigham Young and the full Quorum of Twelve arrived (in Nauvoo).

"William's suspicions about Stout are believable since Brigham Young allowed William Clayton to go with the pioneer company to Utah three years later only because Stout threatened to murder Clayton as soon as the apostles left.

"Clayton regarded Hosea Stout as capable of homicide and recorded no attempt by Young to dispute that assessment concerning the former Danite.

"One could dismiss William Smith's charge as a self-serving argument for his own succession claim, yet Samuel's daughter also believed her father was murdered.

"'My father was undoubtedly poisoned,' she wrote. 'Uncle Arthur Millikin was poisoned at the same time--the same doctors were treating my father and Uncle Arthur at the same time. Uncle Arthur discontinued the medicine-without letting them know that he was doing so. (Aunt Lucy [Smith Millikin] threw it in the fire).

"'Father continued taking it until the last dose [which] he spit out and said he was poisoned. But it was too late--he died.'

"Nauvoo's sexton recorded that Samuel Smith died of 'bilious fever,' [which was] the cause of death listed for two children but no other adults that summer.

"This troubling allegation should not be ignored but cannot be verified.

"Nevertheless, Clayton's diary confirms the efforts of Richards to avoid the appointment of a successor before his first cousin Brigham Young arrived.

"'Stout's diary also describes several occasions when Brigham Young and the apostles seriously discussed having Hosea "rid ourselves" of various Church members considered dangerous to the Church and the apostles. Stout referred to this as "cut him off--behind the ears--according to the law of God in such cases."

"'Stout's daily diary also makes no reference whatever to his threat to murder Clayton in 1847. When the Salt Lake "municipal high council" tried Hosea Stout for attempted murder, he protested that "it has been my duty to hunt out the rotten spots in the Kingdom." He added that he had "tried not to handle a man's case until it was right."

"'Evidence does not exist to prove if the prophet's brother was such a "case" Stout handled."' (D. Michael Quinn, “The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power” {Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 1994], pp.152-53)."

(“Did Brigham Young Murder Joseph Smith's Brother? (References),” posted by “Deconstructor,” on “Recovery from Mormonism” board, 6 April, year unknown, at: http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon248.htm)


In support of William Smith's charge that Samuel H. Smith was rubbed out on the orders of Brigham Young in order to prevent him from becoming head of the LDS Church, historian Dan Vogel repeats testimony from members of Joseph Smith's own family:

"'Hyrum & Joseph w[ere] murdered Carthage Jail in Hancock Co[,] Illinois. Samuel Smith died in Nauvoo, supposed to have been the subject of conspiracy by Brigham Young.'"

(Dan Vogel, "Joseph Smith Family Testimony, William Smith Notes," circa 1875, in "Early Mormon Documents," p. 488; and "Was Joseph Smith's brother Samuel Murdered?," by "Deconstructor," at: http://www.i4m.com/think/leaders/brigham_murder.htm)
_____


--Mormon Supporters Claim Samuel Smith's Death Was Due to Accidental Injury or Fever--

Despite numerous indications fueling deep suspicions that Samuel H. Smith may have died of deliberate poisoning at the hands of an inner Mormon circle cabal, the LDS Church-owned and -published "Encyclopedia of Mormonism" makes the suggestion that he actually died from a conveniently unidentified horse-riding injury, supposedly sustained during Samuel's dramatic effort to save the lives of his brothers Joseph and Hyrum:

"Upon hearing of the dangers to his brothers at Carthage, Samuel attempted to ride to their aid, but arrived too late to intervene. He died within the month, apparently of an injury sustained in that ride."

(Sydney Smith Reynolds, "Smith Family," in "Encyclopedia of Mormonism: The History, Scriptures, Doctrine, and Procedure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," vol. 3 (New York, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992], p. 1360)
_____


--Other Mormon Historians Don't Parrot the LDS Apologist Spin--

LDS historian Donna Hill mentions nothing about Samuel suffering a riding injury, claiming instead that in his gallop to Carthage to save his brothers, he was chased by a mob, arrived too late to rescue them, carried the murdered bodies of Joseph and Hyrum back to Nauvoo and, amid this ordeal, "[c] ontracted a fever and survived his brothers by only a few weeks."

Fellow LDS historians Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton agree with Hill's explanation of Samuel Smith's death, adding only that the mob that chased Samuel on his ride to Nauvoo had "mud-daubed faces."

(Donna Hill, “Joseph Smith, the First Mormon: The Definitive Story of a Complex and Charismatic Man and the People Who Knew Him” [Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, 1977], p. 448; and Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton, “The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-day Saints” [New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979], p. 82)
_____


--The Assessment of Samuel Harrison Smith's Death from Non-Mormon Historical Circles--

Other professional observers--notably the non-Mormon variety--aren't as willing to shrug off Samuel H. Smith's death to a riding injury or a fever.

Richard N. and Joan K. Ostling, in their book, “The Power and the Promise: Mormon America,“ note that Joseph Smith designated his brother Samuel to be his successor, adding that Samuel "would have succeeded [his assassinated brother] Hyrum as [Church] Patriarch and thus had a claim [to succeed Joseph as prophet], but died just weeks after Joseph and Hyrum, amid rumors he had been poisoned."

(Richard N. Ostling and Joan K. Ostling, “The Power and the Promise: Mormon America” [San Francisco, California: HarperSanFrancisco, 1999], p. 337)
_____


--Conclusion: In Mormonism, the Living Prophets Are More Important Than the Dead Prophets--

Could it be that some of the dead prophets became dead at the hands of those who wanted to become the living prophets?

You might be inclined to drink to that.

Just don't swallow.



Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2011 06:21AM by steve benson.

Excellent post, Steve.

One more on the long list of things TSCC keeps hidden, because they don't want the sheeple asking too many questions like:

Why would anyone close to the lard's anointed want to kill him?
Why would gawd allow his chosen leader to be poisoned?

Then they would discover more hidden, ugly history.

Topping for Old Poster : http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,747137

Samuel Smith was exactly what came to my mind when I first started reading this, though I have NEVER heard anything about BY's being possibly poisoned. Wow. Just a nasty bunch of people.

Do any of you know who the woman might have been with the 17-year-old daughter, or did I miss that?

Thank you, Steve, for that information. Unbelievable. Guess Brigham was a real pill (another bad pun). It does seem like an awfully hellish way to go. Is someone attempting to exhume his body now? Does his body "belong to the church," as it were, do they have any say in the matter?

Why not just exhume the body and get all the speculation and conversation over with. that ought to get the tbms in a tizzy.

Because the implication that BY might have been murdered by his own family would taint his sainted image.

Most people murdered by their own relatives earned it, or at least that's what Columbo taught me.

axeldc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Most people murdered by their own relatives earned
> it, or at least that's what Columbo taught me.

LOL.

sorry, wrong place again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2012 03:50PM by ducky333.

Who is the most likely person to kill you? Your spouse. What type of spouse is most likely to get killed? An imperious, domineering spouse that may have been abusive.

What other reasons to people kill? Greed, jealousy, revenge.

In a household of many wives and lots of money, is it hard to believe that one or more of BY's wives might have decided to do him in? He was rich, they stood to inherit his household. If he died, they would each get a cut, and then be free to marry and lead lives of their own. A rich widow can do quite well for herself, and is an attractive bride.

What if one of the wives wanted to marry someone else? BY is not likely to grant a divorce, and if he did, she would get nothing from him. What if she thought a little arsenic in his postum was her route to freedom from him?

This is all speculative, of course, but how plausible a murder mystery would this be?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2012 11:33AM by axeldc.

Spot on. When people are in desperate situations, they do desperate things to get out of those situations. Besides Brigham, it appears Joseph Smith had a brother who was murdered the same way, and there may have been others. I would bet a study of the lives of polygamist would show a high number of them dying mysterious reasons. They lived in a world where things were hidden from outsiders, making detection of murder easier. The women had plenty of motive for murder, and so did men who either did not have wives, or wanted more.

And what about John Taylor? Is he ruled out? He was as secretive as predecessor BY, hid in the many hidey-holes in the Mansion as the head polygamist who swore he wasn't (didn't he spend over two years in hiding?). And his presence goes all the way back to JoeBlow himself at Carthage. Why not look at him as well?

that darn cup of poison was obviously not "blessed" with a TBM prayer.

You know there are a bunch of anti-Romans going around telling how Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by the Roman Senate, on the floor of that very body itself. They even go so far as to claim his best friend Brutus was not only in on the plot but a key ringleader. Talk about a far fetched attempt to make the Romans look bad.

Thanks for the laugh.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2012 12:04PM by Dave the Atheist.

It could have been in his precious sugar he would not share with anyone else. And if I am very lucky it was a woman I am related to!

It isn't only "Mormon apologists" who have a problem with this. The "evidence" here is thin and circumstantial and would not stand up in a court of law -- with the exception of the one that acquitted OJ. It is "possible"? Sure. Is it even "probable"? I have seen nothing here that suggests this is anything more than speculation. "Because Phar Lap, too, suffered a sudden and mysterious illness" is not, just technically speaking, a reason, nor is it exemplarity logic. Phar Lap’s case is not cut and dried. (Surprise.) Nor is assuming a tyrannical polygamous household was not a happy home exactly a reason to assume a murder. Many households are flat-out miserable without anyone murdering anyone involved. And that century was filled with "mysterious," "sudden" illnesses we can now diagnose, trace, prevent, or treat. Who doesn't know that? The water alone killed untold hundreds of thousands – possibly millions. My own grandmother died quite young of a similar undiagnosed malady that could have been anything from bacteria in the water to salmonella poisoning to needing some good antibiotics after childbirth (when there were none) to flu to Crohn's disease to her being the font of the family's delicate stomach syndrome to cancer to god knows what. Jumping from that to murder is a leap. Would anyone here find anything weird in this account of a 19th century death – if that death had been some quiet Presbyterian minister?

There are plenty of historians who have fearlessly examined the dark corners and crannies of Mormonism. If anything, there are entirely too many who have indulged in a tendency to sensationalize or overstate the case against Mormonism. This does the truth no more good than the defenders of the faith have done it. I'm sure there are plenty of historians out there who would love to put feathers in their caps by positing that Brigham Young had been murdered -- if only there were a stronger, more convincing case to be made.

The idea that the only reason this doesn’t get more play is because of “Mormon apologists” just doesn’t wash. There are plenty of exposes of Mormonism from the very good “Under the Banner of Heaven” to the outright lousy. I thought this sentence hilarious bad: “It might be appalling to suggest such a scandal in the family of a sainted figure.” Outside of Mormon circles, Young was hardly a “sainted figure.” He was one of the most reviled men of his time, and the world was endlessly scandalized by Mormonism. The Salt Lake Tribune of that time, which was founded as an anti-Mormon paper by disgruntled former Mormons, would have loved to break this story. As it was, they were reduced to calling Young illiterate and satanic. Gimme a break. "Sainted figure' my arse.

I think I have discovered the identity of Sam Taylor's Ms. X.

I want to find out a little bit more about her though.

Lois

I have been looking into this for years, even as an uber TBM. It began in nursing school when we were studying poisons. I went back and looked at Brigham's death and it could not have been his appendix. I took the historical description to a doctor that I knew and he agreed with me-slow poisoning.
I think Brigham had stated at John Lee's funeral that if Lee was innocent, Brigham would die in 6 months. I think he took Lee's wife and had her head up the kitchen. That would mean she would be the one that would know about the poisons for the vermin. We know that Brigham believed in blood atonement. He was the guilty one in MMM. Could it be with someone's expertise in poisons and a certain time frame, this could have been done by Lee's wife or someone else with his knowledge?
I met a person by the name of Ashford(I think). He is the one with a huge collection of documents and wanted to investigate further on what he could find. He said this really intrigued him.

When I consider whether BY's own family may have wanted him dead, I recall this quote from him that really exemplified his love for his family.

"Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them. You would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the Kingdom of God."

Now there's love.

Couldnt happen to a nicer guy...there were likely dozens perhaps hundreds who were steam rolled...killed or tyranized by this bigot and blow hard...you know all that bowie knife javelin yap...fact is he talked tough but seemed content to let men with bigger balls than he had do the dirty work...so began the great tradition of plausible deniability that nelson just pulled...even reading the back stabbing of hickman would seem to give a few more disenchanted a good reason...moism sure doesnt tie up in any nice tight little bundle...thanks ever so for the research and report Steve...best watch that greencorn and peaches...tapir dan was seen in the area