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| Benjamin Brown |
On 16 February 1888, 6 years and 8 months after arriving in Salt Lake City, Benjamin Brown died. He was 49 years old. His daughter, Catherine, wrote:
The change of climate proved too much for Father's health; the mountain fever took hold of him; he was laid up from August 1881 to April 1882.
Being out of employment, he went to Logan where he secured employment for a short time. Returning to Salt Lake City, Father entered the employ of the Pickard Harness Company as shop foreman, remaining with them until his last sickness.
Father was always energetic and faithful in religion as in business; as a block teacher in the 14th Ward, he endeared himself to all. No matter how urgent personal matters were, he always had time to listen to the tales of grief and woe of the poor and lowly. His heart was large, and oh so full of sympathy that the heavy laden were always cheered and comforted ere he left them.
During the absence from the ward of the late Bishop Thomas Taylor, Father was appointed to preside over the 14th Ward, and later, on the release of Thomas Taylor, he was selected as second counselor by Bishop George H. Taylor. This position he held until his death which occurred February 16, 1888.
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| Business Ad in the 1884 Salt Lake City Directory |
Soon after Ben recovered from his initial illness, he served as an "Acting Teacher" in the SLC 14th Ward. In order for a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to officially perform the duties of an Aaronic Priesthood office, he would be labeled as "acting" for and in behalf of one who would hold that particular office in the lesser priesthood. Beginning in the late 1870s, bishops were encouraged to ordain young boys (sometimes as young as 9) to the Aaronic Priesthood, but it was the men of the ward who performed most of the duties which would normally be assigned to Aaronic Priesthood holders today. The scope of those duties, however, was much broader in the earlier days of the church.
According to church historian William G. Hartley (here, p. 97):
Acting teachers . . .became ward officers second in importance only to bishoprics in terms of practical ward work and were sustained as ward officers. Each ward's corp of acting teachers or block teachers was small, sometimes but a dozen men. The most important duty of acting teachers was home visits. . . these teachers visited eight to twenty families monthly, quarterly, or randomly. In many wards, the teachers not only monitored the members' behavior but heard charges of sinful behavior, investigated allegations, and determined whether repentance was satisfactory or whether disfellowshipment or excommunication should be imposed. Acting teachers not only performed the revealed duties of priests and teachers (home visits, watchcare, and dispute resolution), but also collected fast offerings, assisted the poor, and administered the sacrament. In short, Melchizedek Priesthood holders acting in Aaronic Priesthood offices . . . were a trusted and hard-working ward elite.
From the minutes of the 14th Ward Teachers' Meeting we learn a little about Ben's involvement:
25 May 1883
“Bro. Brown had been visiting with Bro. Reiser,
and reported the death of Bro. Jaimes W. Cummings.”
3 Aug 1883
Prayer by Ben Brown
“Bro. Brown reported the death of the daughter of
Bro. C. Luca (?)”
28 Mar 1884
“Bro. Reiser had only visited one night, on
account of Bro. Brown being sick."
26 July 1884
Bro Brown reported a death on his block in the
family of Bro Kinsel; also a birth in the family of Bro. Bowring, spoke of a family named Miles,
who were going back to New Zealand."
8 Aug 1884
“Bro. Brown stated that a Sister Lynn who had been
drawing $8.00 per month from the tithing office, had not had any aid for
several months, having been informed that in future the aid must come from the
Bishop. Councilor Taylor said he could not do any thing until the bishop
returned.”
22 Aug (no year)
“Center tier by Bro Benj. Brown who had not been
very well for the last two weeks and had not been able to visit the Saints much
and therefore had nothing particular to report.”
11 Dec 1885
Opening Prayer by bro Benj. Brown
“Bro. Brown reported the death of sister Amelia
Woodmansee, and the birth of a son to Jos. S. Tingey.”
5 Mar 1886
Elder Benj Brown presiding
“Elder Brown was pleased at the good reports made
and trusted the brethren would continue diligent in encouraging the people and
looking after their spiritual and temporal wants, one being as essential as the
other.”
19 Mar 1886
Elder Benj. Brown presiding
“Bro. Arthur Brown reported that Dr. Groves had
used some very improper language in regard to bro. Geo H. Taylor” (Arthur was Ben's oldest son. I just found this comment interesting.)
“Bro Bjorkman said that a young man by the name of
Brandley desired to have the priesthood conferred upon him. Bro. Brown
instructed Bro Bjorkman in regard to bro. Brandley receiving the priesthood. He
spoke of the pernicious course which a large number of the young LDS were
pursuing."
2 Apr 1886
(Bp. Thos Taylor presiding)
“Benj Brown testified to the integrity of the
teachers and the value of their labors, he felt the great importance attached
to prayer.”
Ben ordained John Gibson a deacon
16 Apr 1886
Elder Benj. Brown presiding
“Bro. Brown instructed the teachers not to ask
bro. Harris for donations; he spoke of the bad effects of drink and smoking and
of that class of people who were Mormons from policy.
30 Apr 1886
Elder B. Brown presiding
“Bro. Brown suggested that bro. Gibson be accepted
as worthy of being ordained a teacher, which was done by bro. T.E. Taylor.”
11 Jun 1886
Elder B. Brown presiding
“Bros Hodgins and Elder [Brown] had attended the
Priesthood meeting said the instructions given pertained to ward matters and
that people who profaned the Sabbath by excursions etc. should be diligently dealt labored with and if they did not reform they should be dealt with
for their fellowship. Drunkards and drink sellers could not be fellowshipped.
The teachers must clean up the ward, warn the ungodly and indifferent to
repent, or loose their positions."
25 Jun 1886
“Bro. Brown spoke of sister Woodmansee who was
gradually sinking, they were in need of some assistance in staying up at
night.”
9 July 1886
Elder B. Brown presiding
“Bro. Brown spoke upon the subject of the
priesthood and gave some counsel that we all should remember.”
15 Oct 1886
“Counselor B. Brown said action should be taken
by and of the teachers in effecting a cleaning up of cases of wickedness &
sinners & in doing good saving all who are worthy.”
That last entry was made after Bishop George H. Taylor returned from prison and Ben was no longer an Acting Teacher (and Acting Bishop) but the bishop's counselor, a position in which he served until his death in 1888.
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| Salt Lake Herald 17 February 1888 |
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| Salt Lake Herald 19 February 1888 |
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| Deseret News 22 February 1888 |
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| Deseret News 29 February 1888 |
So what's my take on my 2nd great-grandfather, Benjamin Brown, from my twenty-first century perspective? Not that it really matters (because I'm positive my perspective is significantly flawed given the limited information available to me), but I would say - without hesitation - that Grandpa Ben is by far, for lack of a better word, one of my "favorites". For two very important reasons:
One
He found the gospel of Jesus Christ in Mormonism. I think that first and foremost, other than Christ himself, the one who had the most influence on Ben's spiritual practices and worldview was the Reverend John Flower, long-time pastor of Beccles' Independent Chapel (here) who "as an ambassador for Christ . . . preached .the Gospel . . . with a deep and tender sympathy . . . of Christ and him crucified." When the Independent Chapel was taken over by a new leader who's motives were not so pure, Ben retreated and rebelled. Soon after, he found Christ in the teachings of the traveling Mormon missionaries and was willing to place everything on the alter to practice a new Christ-centered religion. From what I've read and have come to know about him, and aside from a few reported anomalies, (sorry but I just can't buy into the notion that was ubiquitously taught in the church - even up until a few years ago and still today within many Mormon circles - that we must be "worthy" before church leaders are duty bound to help "save" us, as if the church and/or church leaders are capable of saving anyone, see above quote 15 Oct 1886) Ben's service in the LDS church was absolutely focused on serving as Christ served - to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees (D&C 81:5).
Two
I believe he flat out rejected the practice of plural marriage. Since the first Manifesto superficially ending polygamy was not issued until 2 years following Ben's death, he certainly had every opportunity to participate. And, as he rose in the ranks of church leadership, he was most likely encouraged to do so (see William G. Hartley's statement that most bishops were polygamists here). After all, it was clearly taught and believed at the time, in the exact words of Brigham Young: "The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy." (Journal of Discourses; Salt Lake City; August 19, 1866) Further, it was also believed that the only way a woman could be exalted in the Kingdom of God was by means of a Priesthood ordinance sealing her to a worthy, high-ranking Priesthood holder (MUCH more about that in future posts). I don't even think his wife, Catherine, was completely opposed to it. (Keep reading and you'll understand why I think that.) So why would he reject such an important and essential "saving" ordinance unless he intentionally chose to do so?
Of course, we'll never know the answer to that question. But if I were Ben, I would have seen plural marriage - and everything else associated with Mormon-related male privilege and patriarchy - at the very least as a distraction from the true work at hand: simply to serve, to bless, and to love. (It's not too hard to come to that conclusion when you look at the virtual circus act of a ward he was thrown into, complete with a polygamist bishop found guilty of homosexual acts with unwilling teenage boys and a polygamist bishop's counselor in the penitentiary.)
Despite the fact that he did not choose to participate in the practice of plural marriage during his lifetime, 2 1/2 years after his death polygamy would find him. On 31 December 1889, the daughter of his wife's niece died in Lowestoft England. Her name was Caroline Ann Linder. She was 25 years old at the time of her death and unmarried. She was not a Mormon. In September of 1890 all of Ben's immediate family members (including his wife, Catherine) traveled by train to Logan, UT for the temple marriages of two of his children, Benjamin B who was marrying Martha Pearson and Lilian Rachel who was marrying Joseph Christenson. On 25 September, the day following his childrens' temple sealings, Caroline Ann Linder received by proxy her individual saving ordinances in the Logan Temple and was then sealed by proxy to Benjamin Brown as his polygamous wife for all eternity. Even though I'm quite sure the family truly and firmly believed they were performing this sealing ordinance for a high and noble purpose, I can't help but feel he was somehow tainted because of it. They took a man who was good and true and pure and muddied him up a little. And Catherine - it saddens me greatly to think about the burden which was most likely placed on her shoulders by the reality of her belief that she would be sharing her beloved Ben with at least one other woman throughout all eternity.
And honestly, it also makes me angry. Quite angry.
So I'll just try my best to think of him in this way:
Benjamin Brown
1839-1888
loving husband and father
kind humanitarian
disciple of Jesus Christ
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