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Show 46 Although Brigham's enemies labelled him a "hypocrite, swindler, forger, murderer," etc., there are few men who had more deeply devoted friends than Brigham Young. The apostate John Hyde, Jr. says of him: "The magnetism that attracts and infatuates, that makes man feel its weight and yet love its presence, abounds in him. Even his enemies have to acknowledge a great charm in the influence he throws around him."3 His loyal following considered him to be a wise and benevolent leader. All their aspirations were centered in his.ability to guide them toward spiritual and temporal salvation. His speeches, already mentioned as being practical doses of common sense and basic Mormon doctrine, were characterized by a distinctive blend of wit and sarcasm. Although his language was not always grammatically correct, his lack of education did not hinder him from getting his point across. When the situation called for it, he could delived his message with great power and influence, and his listeners responded with spirited enthusiasm. No one in Utah questioned the authority of Brigham Young. Few men in America have accumulated the degree of power Brigham Young did when he ruled Utah. As an acknowledged prophet of God, he was the ultimate authority of all things religous. Considering the Mormon philosophy of religion, this title wielded almost total control of a society that voluntarity subjected itself to that philosophy. As the president of the church, (whose members comprised almost the entire citizenry), he held all the "keys" of the priesthood to which a large majority of ithe adult male population was a member. In other words, Brigham Young was the head of the priesthood, and compliance to his eddicts was taken almost for granted. As territorial governor, he was the chief executive of Utahj and could order out the militia for the defense of the citizenry. Although the governor was amenable to the president of the United States, Young's grip on Utah was extremely tight due to tne support of the people. |