Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1972 An Historical Investigation of the Recreational Philosophy, Views, Practices and Activities of Brigham Young David Lawrence Bolliger Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Mormon Studies Commons, and the Recreational Therapy Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Bolliger, David Lawrence, "An Historical Investigation of the Recreational Philosophy, Views, Practices and Activities of Brigham Young" (1972). Theses and Dissertations. 4538. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4538 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 1zaz AN historical investigation OF THE recreational philosophy VIEWS PRACTICES AND activities OF BRIGHAM YOUNG A thesis presented to the department of recreation education brigham young university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degredegreee master of arts by david lawrence bolliger august 1972 this thesis by david lawrence bolliger is accepted in its present form by the department of recreation education of brigham young university as satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree hofmasterof masterofmaster of arts s V jainjalnjaan F D shoyoehoyo s corrdmiteharananan aluaalwa heaton committee memberer 1 x4I xadadat wilfiamwilhiamlulam jJ hafenhchayenafeffe n depadepaifenentent chairman 11 acknowledgements deep and sincere gratitude is expressed to dr benjamin F dehoyos chairman of my advisory committee for his many hours of excellent guidance which enabled me to complete this study appreciation is also extended to the staff at the LDSL D S churchurchch historians office for their efforts and suggestions concerning this study gratitude is also expressed to my wife nadine Z bolliger for her encouragement and sacrifices to bring this study to its comple- tion iiiili111 TABLETAB LE OF CONTENTSCONTE NTS page acknowledgements chapter 1 1 I introduction 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 9 0 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM I1 delimitationsLIMITATIONSDE LIMITAT lonsIONS 2 justification 2 definitions 2 II11 REVIEW OF RELATED literature 4 THE recreational philosophies OF THE presidents OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTERDAYLATTER DAY SAINTS 0 a 0 0 0 0 4 joseph smith 4 johnJ 0 hn taylorT ayloayio r 0 0 1 0 0 lb 0 0 0 5 wilford woodruff 5 LorenzlorenzolorenzosnowsnowoSnow 6 joseph F smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 41 0 0 6 heber J grant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 G & 7 george albert smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 david 0 mckay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Q 0 0 8 joseph fielding smith a 10 0 a 0 9 0 6 0 0 0 0 8 BRIGHAM YOUNG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 9 SUMMARY 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 IViv v chapter page liiIII111 PROCEDURE 12 IV presentation OF historical DATA AND significant EVENTS INTHEIN THE LIFE OF BRIGHAM YOUNG 13 historical development OF BRIGHAM YOUNGYOUNGSsires11ecreationalrecreational philosophy ANDVIEWAND VIEWS 6 6 9 0 9 6 9 9 9 0 17 SUMMARY a 0 0 0 0 0 31 recreational activities OF BRIGHAM YOUNG 31 brigham youngs birthday parties 31 dancing 32 dramatics and the theatre 34 excursions 0 0 0 0 35 fairs 0 0 Q 0 G a 0 10 37 holidays a go 0 0 0 0 0 Is 9 & 0 10 38 lectures 41 music 41 parties 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 43 sleigh riding 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 & 0 0 46 visits to settlements 46 recreational activities OF BRIGHAM YOUNGS FAMILY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 48 V FINDINGS conclusions AND recommenda- tions 6 6 6 6 0 9 0 8 9 0 6 0 0 0 50 FINDINGS 50 conclusions 51 recommendations 51 LIOGRAPHYbibliographyB IB 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 CHAPTER I1 introduction brigham young second president of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints enjoyed many recreational pursuits according to skidmore author of mormon recreation in theory and practice brigham young 0 0 not only enjoyed recreational pursuits himself but some of his august religious speeches were on this subject time and time again he spoke about recreation in his spiritual sermons to the people 6325 an example of his speaking on the purpose of recreation was given in a speech delivered at the legislative festival held in the territorial house in salt lake city march 4 1852 now we are met in the capacity of a social community for what that our minds may rest and our bodies receive that recreation which is proper and necessary to keep up an equilib- rium to promote healthy action to the whole system let our minds sing for joy and let life diffuse itself into every avenue of the body for the object of our meeting is for its exercise for its good 7529 these glimpses about brigham youngs recreational views showed need for a study of his recreational philosophy views prac- tices and activities therefore this historical study hoped to make a contribution on this subject STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM the major intent of this study was to pursue brigham youngs I1 2 philosophy views practices and activities of recreation emphasis was placed on the following 1 historical development of brigham youngs personal philosophy of recreation 2 recreational views of brigham young 3 recreational practices of brigham young 4 recreational activities of brigham young 5 recreational activities of brigham youngs family delimitations in this study the investigator pursued brighamyoungsbrigham youngs phi- losophylo sophy views practices and activities of recreation therefore this study entailed the period of brigham youngs life from 1801 to 1877 books and periodicals along with other historical tools were utilized to determine brigham youngs recreational philosophy views practices and activities justification brigham young was an historical figure and members of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints should be aware of his recreational philosophy views practices and activities this phase of his life was written not only for the present but for future readers as wewellweil11 definitions church church when capitalized refers to the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints 3 BrighabrighamyoungbrighammYoungyoung brigham young was second president of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints he was born in 1801 and died in 1877 Morcormonsmormonsmons A nickname given to members of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints recreation an endeavor or activity which is socially accept- able and worthwhile in which a person voluntarily participates during leisure hours and through which he may better develop physically mentally emotionally and socially 4443 CHAPTER nH REVIEW OF RELATED literature in this chapter a review of some of the relevant literature is presented including the recreational philosophies of all the presidents of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints in writing on mormon history many writers when commenting on brigham young have realized the powerful influence he had on the recreational practices of the mormon people his recreational philosophy views practices and activities are readily apparent when studying his life he not only engaged in recreational practices him- self but advocated wholesome recreational pursuits for the saints as well at the conclusion of this chapter brigham youngs philosophy of recreationrecreationisrecreationist is presented THE recreational philosophies OF THE presidents OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER- DAY SAINTS joseph smith joseph smith was the first leader and president of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints he had many ideas concerning recreational pursuits an article entitled joseph smith as a states- man 11 contains the following statement joseph smith was directly interested in sports and amusements of all sorts in his maturity he would often go out on the play 4 5 grounds and participate in the games with the children just like a youth of school age he encouraged sports and games of a legitimate nature among all classes of his people for he realized their value in physiological training as well as a means of social- izing the people and bringing them nearer together 48 704 skidmore said of joseph smith during the period of 183018441830 1844 under the leadership of joseph smith nearly every type of recreation that the church sponsors today was advocated including drama dancing debating boating hiking music and picnics 6323246323 24 andrus concluded this about joseph smiths philosophy of recreation his philosophy was that recreation was a necessary adjunct of each day by having some form of relaxation and recreation one could do better work he preached that man should have joy in this life as well as in the life to come 174 john taylor john taylor became the third leader and president of the church of jesus christ of latterlatterdayday saints he like his predeces- sors entertained ideas about recreation andrus presented this informative viewpoint into john taylors recreational philosophy john taylor was a great believer in recreation and personally enjoyed and encouraged all wholesome activities his special talents and interests lay in linguistic and writing exercises he was an accomplished poet had written several poems and verses and was active in the dancing sociasocialssociatsls and other recreational pursuits of the day his greatest contribution to the church recreational program was the innovation of linguistic and writing activities as a part of legitimate recreational activitiesactivities11