Originally posted by BigFatMeanie
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I'll give you credit for most of those as church policies influenced by him. As far as non-doctrinal influences, I was speaking generally of his theocratic governing of the state. I think his political leadership was spotty, though he should get credit for continually trying new industries. My main point here was that his philosophy of governance (for example, theocracy and united order) has been rejected by the church. Furthermore, there were real-life consequences for his autocratic rule. His insistence on fighting the federal government for decades proved disastrous for just about every aspect of life in Utah. I doubt the worst that has been said concerning him and the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but he was very complicit in the cover-up. His protection and then scapegoating of John Lee was at best unethical.
Just for the record (since we all know this and it's been rehashed over and over), here's a list of his doctrines that have been changed or rejected by the church:
Polygamy
Polyandry
Blood Atonement
Adam-God doctrine
Blacks and the priesthood
I am sure there are more, but I gave away my Dad's Journal of Discourses.
I agree with your temple and missionary examples. Those are lasting legacies. Not sure about the PoGP. Wasn't that canonized after he died?
Like you say, context is important. BY faced a lot of problems for decades and probably did the best he could, given the circumstances. However, he really went off the rails doctrinally. The fact that the church rejects what he used to teach is not in dispute. Presidents have been wrong in teachings before, but I think Young took the fringiest aspects of Mormonism and went crazy with them. Furthermore, I am convinced that he taught and did immoral things, contrary to what the church considers gospel. So I disagree that he wasn't any more flawed than the rest of us. I think he fails a comparison with the current crop of church leaders. I don't see them (or most lay people for that matter) making those same errors I believe he did.
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