Brigham Young | Brigham's Gym

Brigham’s Gym — Go Forth and Lift

Some pioneers crossed the plains with handcarts. Brigham Young apparently would have preferred a barbell.

The Brigham’s Gym T-shirt combines Latter-day Saint history, vintage strength-training style, and a little pioneer-era humor. Featuring Brigham Young in a deep squat with a seriously loaded barbell, this shirt is made for anyone who believes that “go forth and lift” is a perfectly reasonable addition to the pioneer vocabulary.

Brigham Young’s actual legacy was considerably bigger than his fictional weight room. As president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he directed the development of settlements throughout the Great Basin, helped organize communities and industries, promoted education, and encouraged economic self-sufficiency.

Education was particularly important to him. In 1850, he helped establish the University of Deseret, which eventually became the University of Utah. In 1875, he founded the academy in Provo that later became Brigham Young University.

That makes the shirt's message especially fitting. BYU's enduring motto, “Enter to learn; go forth to serve,” connects education with putting knowledge to work for others. This shirt gives that idea a slightly more muscular twist: go forth and lift.

And the health theme isn't entirely out of place. Latter-day Saint General Conference messages have repeatedly emphasized caring for the body through wise nutrition, adequate rest, and regular exercise. Elder Boyd K. Packer taught that the Word of Wisdom helps us keep the body in the best condition possible, while other Church leaders have specifically encouraged physical conditioning and exercise.

So grab your vintage Brigham’s Gym shirt, hit the gym, take care of the body you've been given, and remember the unofficial pioneer workout plan:

Enter to learn. Go forth to serve. And, apparently, go forth and lift.

Product: Next Level Apparel N6210 Men's CVC Crew

Next Level Apparel N6210 Men's CVC Crew

• 4.3 oz.,

• 60% combed ringspun cotton/ 40% polyester jersey

• Colors have a slightly heathered look

• Pre-shrunk for reduced shrinkage

• CVC blend

• 1x1 baby rib-knit set-in collar

• Shoulder to shoulder taping

• Tear-away label

• Side seamed