As a church leader, Brigham Young stood in marked contrast to his predecessor, the charismatic, idealistic, and theologically innovative Joseph Smith. Instead, Young inspired his followers by his down-to-earth demeanor and through his skills as a pragmatic organizer and executive. His emphasis in both his actions and sermons was on the practical means essential for building up the Kingdom of God in a frontier environment. Only rarely did Young venture into the realm of theological and doctrinal innovation and then with mixed results. His pronouncements emphasizing blood atonement and the Adam-God theory had minimal impact on the long-range course of Mormon theological development. More important was Young's implementation of denial of the Mormon priesthood to blacks, a practice that remained in effect until its repeal in 1978. 1847
[source: Utah History Encyclopedia: Brigham Young, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/y/YOUNG%2CBRIGHAM.html]
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