Brigham young biography movie 1940

The Mormons are chased out of Illinois by angry mobs. Their leader, Joseph Smith, is killed while in custody because they dared defend themselves.

Brigham Young (Dean Jagger) declares himself the new leader of the church and guides his people westward.

Of course, it’s going to be an arduous journey, one that will test their faith.

And all the more so because Angus Duncan (Brian Donlevy) has heard of gold being discovered in California.

He’d prefer to lead the Mormons there. Having seen his lucrative business burned to the ground back in Illinois he figures he could get rich in a land where you can just pluck gold from the ground.

Brigham isn’t keen on the California idea.

He dreams of a society where everyone shares in the wealth and fears greed will take over in “a land of milk and honey.”

He suggests they settle in a valley that came to him in a dream — as a message from God — while recovering from illness duri