Ran across an interesting discussion of the tar and feathering of Joseph Smith and possible reasons behind the attack. Probably an anti-Mormon site, but seemed reasonably balanced in its presentation.
http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/n/1832_tar.phtml
One of the things that bothers me about Mormon discussion of their history is their general automatic assumption that the only possible explanation for attacks such as this is religious prejudice. One possible explanation given on the website for the motivation of the attackers is that Joseph Smith had been intimate with teenage Marinda Johnson, whose father and brother were in the mob. Frontier Americans of the time took quite a dim view of this type of behavior, and tarring and feathering was quite a frequent response to it.
Interestingly, Marinda Johnson later married another Mormon. However, Mr. Smith “married” her, apparently without bothering with anything resembling a “divorce,” while her husband was in England on a mission, then apparently returned her to him on his return. She continued to live with her “first husband” for the rest of her life.
Behavior like this could very easily get a man killed in frontier America, quite regardless of his religious practices.
I didn't make this argument. I specifically opened a line on the political angle which has not been discussd at all but which I find very intriguing. Besides your offered explanation was "Frontier Justice". Tell me is "Frontier Justice" is a better justification for murdering a baby than Religious Prejudice?
This article was just released by the Church for the upcoming 150th anniversiary.
This September marks the 150th anniversary of a terrible episode in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On September 11, 1857, some 50 to 60 local militiamen in southern Utah, aided by American Indian allies, massacred about 120 emigrants who were traveling by wagon to California. The horrific crime, which spared only 17 children age six and under, occurred in a highland valley called the Mountain Meadows, roughly 35 miles southwest of Cedar City. The victims, most of them from Arkansas, were on their way to California with dreams of a bright future.
For a century and a half the Mountain Meadows Massacre has shocked and distressed those who have learned of it. The tragedy has deeply grieved the victims’ relatives, burdened the perpetrators’ descendants and Church members generally with sorrow and feelings of collective guilt, unleashed criticism on the Church, and raised painful, difficult questions. How could this have happened? How could members of the Church have participated in such a crime?
Two facts make the case even more difficult to fathom. First, nothing that any of the emigrants purportedly did or said, even if all of it were true, came close to justifying their deaths. Second, the large majority of perpetrators led decent, nonviolent lives before and after the massacre.
Sharon Chambers of Salt Lake City is a great-granddaughter of child survivor Rebecca Dunlap. “The people who did this had lost their way. I don’t know what was in their minds or in their hearts,” she said. “I feel sorrow that this happened to my ancestors. I also feel sorrow that people have blamed the acts of some on an entire group, or on an entire religion.”
The Mountain Meadows Massacre has continued to cause pain and controversy for 150 years. During the past two decades, descendants and other relatives of the emigrants and the perpetrators have at times worked together to memorialize the victims. These efforts have had the support of President Gordon B. Hinckley, officials of the state of Utah, and other institutions and individuals. Among the products of this cooperation have been the construction of two memorials at the massacre site and the placing of plaques commemorating the Arkansas emigrants. Descendant groups, Church leaders and members, and civic officials continue to work toward reconciliation and will participate in various memorial services this September at the Mountain Meadows.
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How long do you think until the "Christian" descendants of the Missouri mob will erect a monument to those they murdered in Missouri and elsewhere? How about a monument at Winter Quarters for the 600 who died there as a direct result of the forced migration. Most of them are between age 0-5.
Can’t believe everything you read. By the way, how could there ever be a “reason” for tarring and feathering a fellow human being - no trial, no judge, no jury. And didn’t they attempt a castration? Altogether horrific and evil.