Brigham Young and the “highway to hell”

 

At one time Brigham Young stated that he felt he was on the highway to hell for doing what at the age of eleven?

a.       Back talk to his mother

b.      Using his sling shot on the neighbor’s dog

c.       Cursing

d.      Listening to music

Yesterday’s answer:

 b.   Shoes

 Brigham Henry Roberts records the following when the company of Saints he was with entered Salt Lake City:

“When Captain Chipman’s ox team swung around the corner of Third South into Main Street, I found myself at the head of the lead yoke in that team. . . . Here the people had turned out to welcome the plains-worn emigrants and were standing on the street sides to greet them. . . . Along the road, perhaps nearly half way from the mouth of Parley’s Canyon to the city, I as I strode on ahead of Captain Chipman’s team saw a bright-colored, dainty, charming little girl approaching me in the middle of the street. It was a strange meeting, we two. My hair had grown out somewhat. But three months journey over the plains and through the mountains without hat or coat or shoes for most of the way had wrought havoc with my appearance. My hair struck out in all directions; the freckles seemed deeper and more plentiful and the features less attractive than when the journey began. Shirts and trousers barely clung to my sturdy frame, and my feet were black and cracked but now covered by the shoes taken from the feet of a dead man at a burnt station. These I was wearing in compliment to my entrance into “Zion.” Also my face had been more carefully washed that morning. But try as I would, the shock of hair was unmanageable, and so no wonder the dainty little lady was somewhat timid in approaching me. She had on her arm a basket of luscious fruit, peaches, plums, and grapes These she extended to me , the “ugly duckling” of a boy from the plains, and asked me if I would have some peaches. . . . I finally turned back as best I could to the wagon where Polly was concealed under the wagon cover because of her being a little ashamed of her appearance. Running behind the wheel ox and climbing up on the tongue of the wagon, I called to my sister, and handed to her the fruit, and then scrambled back to the ground and ran for my place at the head of the train and marched  on until the head of Main Street was reached.

 Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel, Their Faces Toward Zion (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996), 153.