Mormons and the telegraph

[LA Ute]

I happened upon this interesting little piece in the Atlantic:

The Strange Connection Between The Mormon Church and Telegraph

It was interesting how Brigham Young saw possibilities in the new technology. Another item for me to add to the list of "Things I Didn't Know."

[PaloAltoCougar]

That is interesting, particularly in view of the common wisdom that the Saints moved west in search of isolation and detachment from "the world." And yet they embraced new technologies (including the transcontinental railroad just a few years later) that eliminated the isolation and introduced the world into the Salt Lake Valley.

I gave a talk a few years ago about the pluses and pitfalls of the internet, and I likened it to the telegraph and railroad being brought into Utah. All three technologies are superb tools, and all three had/have the potential for harm or abuse, bringing evil into the home, but their potential for good vastly outweighs the bad. I also noted that Brigham Young created the Young Women's organization a few months before the Golden Spike--my theory is that the YWMIA was created in part as a shield against the imminent introduction of the outside world into Utah. We have similar shields available, if desired, against the negatives of the internet.

[wuapinmon]

LA & PAC,

Since yall were around back then, what was Brother Brigham like?

[PaloAltoCougar]

LA & PAC,

Since yall were around back then, what was Brother Brigham like?

Dude could party like it was 1899.

[falafel]

LA & PAC,

Since yall were around back then, what was Brother Brigham like?

And did he let his 67 kids trick or treat on Sunday?

[wuapinmon]

And did he let his 67 kids trick or treat on Sunday?

Yes, but they weren't allowed to have any chocolate.