That's a hard one. Important in what respect? In terms of importance to church history, Joseph Smith was. He restored the fullness of the gospel. Brigham Young was also a prophet though, and led the saints to Utah to escape from persecution, which was also a very big deal. ... in the end, I don't think the question is about who was most important, but just that they both had different parts to play--different things they had to do to serve the Lord. Both were important... and both were insignificant as well, in a way. God would have accomplished his purpose anyway.
No. Brigham Young was in the eastern states.
In 1832 when Brigham Young converted to Mormonism and moved to Ohio.
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith was the founder, and he was in upstate New York at the time. Brigham Young took over after Smith's death.
Brigham Young.
Brigham Young actually didn't make many changes to the Church. Everything that Brigham Young did was in response to previous instruction given by Joseph Smith. For example, Brigham Young moved the Church to Utah because Joseph Smith prophesied in 1842 that the saints would find peace in the Rocky Mountains. Brigham Young expanded the practice of polygamy, but Joseph Smith had preached in favor of the practice as early as 1831 (polygamy officially began in 1843, still with Joseph Smith's approval). Brigham Young also expanded the practice of consecration (the 'United Order'), which Joseph Smith taught in 1834. (The practice is also found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon.) Brigham Young also expanded temple building (begun by Joseph Smith) and performed temple ordinances, which were given to him by Joseph in 1842.
Brigham Young's last words were "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph" presumably about the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr.
No one killed Brigham Young. He died at the age of 76 after his liver ruptured. You may be confusing him with Joseph Smith. Brigham Young took over the presidency of the LDS Church after Joseph Smith was murdered. Joseph Smith was martyred by a mob (shot 4 times) while imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri on unspecified charges.
No, nor was he ever accused of doing so. Brigham Young was serving as a missionary in Europe at the time of Joseph Smith's murder so he could not have been involved with the event.
Brigham Young! He had way more children than Joseph Smith. Thus, Young had more Mormon descendants to further the Mormon movement . Brigham also didn't die as early as Joseph Smith, giving him more time to reign over "Zion"ANOTHER ANSWER:As there wouldn't be a Mormon movement without Joseph Smith, I'm going to say that he contributed more... he started the whole thing!
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe that Joseph Smith's successor was Brigham Young. However, many offshoot groups claim other successors, such as Joseph Smith's son, Joseph Smith III.