Westward Bound - Two books revisit tragic episodes in Mormon history.

Washington Post ^ | September 21, 2008 | W.H. Brands

[Zakeet]

DEVIL'S GATE
Brigham Young and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy

People do remarkable things and appalling things in the name of religion. Distinguishing between the two categories isn't always easy. In the mid-1850s, Brigham Young directed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to gather in Zion -- Utah Territory -- to enable the struggling Mormon colony to hold its ground against the encroachments of westering American gentiles. To save money and thereby maximize the number of Mormons able to make the trek, Young decided to forgo horse- and oxen-drawn wagons in favor of human-powered push carts. The handcarts cost a 10th of what wagons and draft animals did, and they promised to fill Utah with Mormons before too many gentiles arrived.

[Snip]

Throughout Devil's Gate, Roberts shows great sympathy for the travelers but none for those who set them in motion. He demonstrates that Young's handcart scheme was based on a gross underestimate of the labor involved in pushing carts 1,300 miles across plains and over mountains. The plan was also poorly executed, with most of the carts hastily constructed of green wood that warped and shattered on the road. Young's hurry to populate Utah with Mormons prevented the laggards from stopping for the winter and thereby condemned some 220 persons to death, mainly by exposure.

[Snip]

MASSACRE AT MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
An American Tragedy

During the summer of 1857, an emigrant wagon train from Arkansas crossed Utah heading for California. The train had nearly cleared Mormon territory, reaching Mountain Meadows in the southeastern part of the settled region of Utah.

[Snip]

Yet even these authors cannot provide a definitive answer to the most pressing question: Why?

[Zakeet]

The excerpt doesn't do the article justice.

[Zakeet]

Ping to an interesting read on Mormon history.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I thought they were making a movie about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. What ever happened to that?

[mel]

bump

[MindBender26]

I respect Mormons for their generally high moral values and high work ethics, but the great book, “A Gathering of Saints” paints a vivid story of the inner workings of the church hierarchy, which I suppose is like many church hierarchies.

[Zakeet]

I thought they were making a movie about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. What ever happened to that?

There have been several documentaries about the Mountain Meadows Massacre such as this one. Unfortunately, almost all of them tend to underplay the Mormon involvement and cover-up.

In my opinion, the best online source is found here, an account by a law professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

You might also want to read the original reports prepared by U.S. Army Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, and U.S. Judge John Cradlebaugh. Both were men of integrity who investigated the incident on behalf of the Federal Government shortly after the massacre took place.

[worst-case scenario]

Thanks, Zakeet, for the additional info and links.

[Gamecock]

Reckon you wouldn’t want just any old Mormon as a neighbor.

[buccaneer81]

tragic episodes in Mormon history

I would add the day that Harry Reid was born.

[Leisler]

"When drought and grasshopper infestations produced desperate economic conditions in Utah (or Deseret, as the Mormons called the territory), Brigham Young concluded that the problem stemmed from a loss of righteousness among his people. In early 1856, Young launched the Reformation, a campaign to arouse religious consciousness. Mormon leadership urged spiritual repentance and rebaptisms. All those unwilling to make the necessary religious sacrifices were invited to leave Utah. The most troubling aspect of the Reformation was its obsession with the doctrine of blood atonement.

Young asked his followers to kill Mormons who committed unpardonable sins: "If our neighbor...wishes salvation, and it is necessary to spill his blood upon the ground in order that he be saved, spill it." While Young aimed his fiery words about blood atonement at Mormons who committed serious sins, his speeches undoubtedly contributed to a growing culture of violence. The Reformation might have had a spiritual goal, but it fueled a fanaticism that led to the tragedy at Mountain Meadows."

[greyfoxx39]

Brigham Young directed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to gather in Zion -- Utah Territory -- to enable the struggling Mormon colony to hold its ground against the encroachments of westering American gentiles.

I have seen here, time and again, the claim that the mormons were "driven out of their homes by the thousands by the evil gentiles wanting their land." The LDS church is well-practiced in rewriting history, especially in claiming unwarranted persecution. Not to mention hiding the words and practices of early leaders.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Yet even these authors cannot provide a definitive answer to the most pressing question: Why?***

Most likely economics. Religion was just an excuse. The train was rich and the city goods were far, far away. I remember reading about Texas ranchers getting together and raiding wagon trains crossing Texas for the same reason. The Texans didn’t try to justify it with bogus religious reasons.

I found out something a couple of weeks ago. Alexander Fancher owned 200 acres of land about two miles from me.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Reckon you wouldn’t want just any old Mormon as a neighbor.***

I think that today I would rather have a mormon as a neighbor than a Seventh day Adventist, especially since the adventists refused to help two young children caught out in a rainstorm on their sabbath here two weeks ago. They came up to my house soaking wet after they were rebuffed by the Adventists, It was a Saturday. I doubt any Mormon would have refused them help.

[radiohead]

I find this whole episode of Mormon history to be fascinating. I live near ‘Mormon Trek Blvd’ in Iowa City. Off of Mormon Trek is Mormon Handcart Park. Iowa City was a starting point where the Mormons outfitted themselves for the trek west.

I believe there are some graves there (I’ve only been once) and the city has tried to keep much of the area the way it would have been during the Trek. I can not imagine loading up a hand cart and walking to the west.

Here is a short article about it: http://www.mormonhistoricsitesfoundation.org/articles/iowaCity3.htm

[Birmingham Rain]

Zakeet,

Thanks for posting the link. I had little idea as to the history of the massacre.

I started reading it hours ago, and was just now able to get back to it. A lot of history to absorb if one is so unfamiliar with it as is me.

It’s sickening. I could go on and on about the anger the contents of the article caused, but I believe it needless to point out to others the obvious. Only cowards could do such.

It’s becoming all too easy for me confuse “Mormon” with “Mus-—” in my mind, and I had to stop and correct myself several times during the reading. The apparent correlation being the slaughtering of the women and children AFTER the slaughtering of the innocent men led into an ambush by the promises of those following such a “Godly” man’s preachings (rantings).

And, alas, saving the youngest for their own desires. Let’s make no mistake about the reasons why on this one.

May God have mercy, is all I can say.

An education in the beginnings of Mormonism, to be sure.

Best Regards,

BR

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

*** A lot of history to absorb if one is so unfamiliar with it as is me.***

Now get a copy of MASSACRES OF THE MOUNTAINS by J P DUNN JR.

You will get quite an awakening about Mountain Meadows, Sand Creek, Washita and other killing grounds of the west.

[Birmingham Rain]

Book Exchange, anyone?

---

Thanks for your response, Ruy Dias de Bivar.

I’m almost finished with reading John Doyle Lee’s after-conviction account.

As I’m sure it is with a lot of folks, I have to go back and forth with the Internet and personal matters at hand.

Your and others’ posts, however, brought on again a question I’ve thought about for a while: I cannot afford to buy every book I’d like to read. More to the point, I would not want to pay for every one I may deem worthy of reading only to conclude that it was a waste of time. I wonder about an FR book exchange group being formed? Reckon it would be workable?

Best Regards,

BR

[Birmingham Rain]

“Will my death satisfy the nation for all the crimes committed by Mormons, at the command of the Priesthood, who have used and now have deserted me?” - John Doyle Lee (Last Confession and Statement of, ...)

Eerie, given what has now become the Mormon Church.

[colorcountry]

I am John D. Lee’s great-great-great granddaughter.

The massacre was horrific.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I wonder about an FR book exchange group being formed? Reckon it would be workable?***

Sounda interesting. I gave my copy of MASSACRES OF THE MOUNTAINS to my local religious university library. You might check a used book store or major public library for a copy.

As I have said, it is not just Mountain Meadows Massacre but also Sand Creek, the Washita, Whitman massacre, and many others from which you will get a very iconclastic version. If you have been fed modern pap these will definitly let you see what has been “edited out” of all the stories.

You will come away with a completly different version of the Indian wars.

[Birmingham Rain]

Dang, CC! What is your take on the whole ordeal?

After reading Lee’s account, it’s apparent that he alone served as scapegoat for the whole sorry, evil affair. He was complicit, yes, but, I do believe that he truly felt sorry for his actions and regretted having been led astray. That just can’t be missed in his confession. To be open with you, I cried reading it.

What do Mormons today say about this? Or is it a rather hush-hush topic?

I believe Lee’s account to be pretty accurate because he didn’t seem intent on revenge on any particular person. (That’s my reading and understanding of it, anyway.) Can’t say that I would have felt the same way.

Seems that he “saw the light” on the matter before his death, and hopefully understood that forgiveness was his for asking through Jesus Christ alone.

Again, I say, LED ASTRAY.

My Best Regards,

BR

---

From the “Last Confession and Statement of John D. Lee”

“Heaven forbid that I should put a burden upon others’ shoulders, that I am unwilling to bear my just portion of. I am not a traitor to my people, nor to my former friends and comrades who were with me on that dark day when the work of death was carried on in God’s name, by a lot of deluded and religious fanatics. It is my duty to tell facts as they exist, and I will do so.”

[colorcountry]

Lee's family has born the burden of the massacre for 140 years. Now the LDS Church has published a book laying it all at his feet once again.

You should read some of the nasty posts that mormons on this site have said to me once they discover I am a Lee descendant.

He is guilty - there is no doubt. My only prayer is that Lee is forgiven by the only One that matters. I wish he could have left me with a legacy of understanding God's grace and the forgiveness of sin - instead Lee left his progeny the awful imprisonment of Mormonism, works, perfection and obedience to the Prophet.

The Udall family of politicians are also Lee descendants. It's too bad they are all liberals. Gordon Smith (R-Or) is likewise a Lee descendant. There is an estimated 100,000 of us.

I was raised under the burden of John D. Lee's infamy in the town where he was buried... Now I am free in Christ. I don't carry the burden any longer.

[Birmingham Rain]

Thanks, Ruy Dias de Bivar.

I wonder how much more enlightenment on the subject I can take because my opinion of the “religion” is now more concrete than ever in its fraudulence and corruption of the soul.

Mr. Lee’s account is one heck of an horrific and perfect example of “in God’s name” do we knowingly do what is against His law by perpetrating evil for one’s own wants, and murder and mayhem following shortly behind to achieve those wants.

Fortunately, as for imagining outer space and fishes of the deep blue sea we are equipped with an imagination.

Unfortunately, as for the Mountain Meadows Massacre we are ... equipped with an imagination.

My Best Regards,

BR

[Birmingham Rain]

“Now I am free in Christ.”

And may God bless you always, CC. HE is the only One who can free us.

“I don’t carry the burden any longer.”

It was NEVER your burden to carry. Don’t go there. You cannot choose your relatives. Shame on me for saying this, but we all have relatives we’d rather not claim. Doesn’t mean we don’t love them — only that we wish some disassociation in name at some points in life.

You were surely looked upon by Jesus Christ and you heeded His call! God love you, CC!

As for posters being ugly to you, view it - as I’m sure you already do after reading a great deal of your posts - as a way to enlighten others with the peace only He can give. Keep the faith, and know there are many here who may not respond to your posts because there’s nothing we could add, but firmly support you, believe in you, and lean on your strength in Truth, CC.

MY VERY BEST TO YOU,

br

[colorcountry]

Thank you for your encouragement. You are a welcomed addition to these threads.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

If you want to know of another not so well known massacre google .....Morrisite massacre.

[js1138]

This was the basis for the first Sherlock Holmes story, the one never made into a movie ot TV show.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***This was the basis for the first Sherlock Holmes story,***

A STUDY IN SCARLET by A C Doyle

I read it way back in 1961.