How do the Mormons explain their role in the Mountain Meadows massacre?

Question

How can this be justified?
1st. They dressed as Indians but after five days they changed tactics.
2nd. Then they went a bit away ,dressed back into normal clothes and acted like the Rescue Party who had negotiated a deal with the"Indians".
3rd, Then confiscated all the guns as part of the deal for "saving" the travellers and Mormon dissidents( who were the reason for the attack in the first place).
4th. Took everybody off a mile or so and shot them all. 2 men got away but were eventually tracked down and killed a day or so later.
5th. Took the 17 children they had not killed back with them to Salt Lake City.
6th. Got away with it. After a publicized trial, witht childrens own testimony admitted into the court.

Please explain this to me, if you are Mormon. How this is told to you.
What are the justifications for this as in your church doctrine.

Tell me the Mormon facts please on this.
My soures are Internet sites. And a certain author by the name of Mark Twain. I got there side let me hear yours.

Answer 1

First, I am not a Mormon. I have asked this of Mormons and know their answers.
They deny that this ever happened. This is a fabrication of the Christian church to slur them is the explanation of this.
They have quite a thing about Christians making things up to cast slurs upon them. They do a pretty fine job of this themselves and they show themselves to be pretty paranoid too!

One other thing I was told is that because I oppose the church (teach what it really believes and what the Bible says about this), I have been told by Mormon missionaries that I need to be blood atoned. That means that I need to be taken out and shot. My blood being spilled will assure me a better salvation than Christ could offer me.

One of the answerers got into poetry about the church being true and the book blue. My Bible is black and it is true - unlike the book of mormon on the shelf in the basement. One example is in 3Nephi where people of colour are supposed to turn white if they truly repent. Have you seen what Brigham Young said when he expounded on that verse? If you haven't, you must. It will show you how the true fruit of the church is bitter.

Answer 2

Some other others explained things pretty will already, let me add a couple things if you will.

First obviously ED B is not LDS, things like this go contrary to our belief.
From what I found from sources, sorry can't remember them all. The church at the time was considered a threat by the federal government and even post camps to over watch many different Mormon communities. (as the leaders of the church at the time assigned many members to start new communities all over, to include what we know now as Las Vegas) this particular group was fully aware of the military possibilities. When they found out a "convey" of armed people were coming through the leaders decided not to take a chance and overcome them. that's possibly why they went though a whole charade to make them feel at home, if that's what they did. The heads of the church not only did not condone the massacre, they didn't know about it until it was too late.

But from what I heard, Along with a formal apology, the church excommunicated the leaders of this group and turned them into to federal custody. The orphaned Children were taken to SLC so that good families can care for them, since they were the church's responsibility. If nothing happened to the people who did this then I doubt the church would move them to SLC when there were people already there to care for them.

Unfortunately every church has at least one sad story, due to naive humans in the church. But what really matters is how the church handles it. do they cover it up and pretend tend it never happened? Or do the apologize and seek repentance by fixing or doing anything that can be done to make things at least a little better Like the church did? Other churches are guilty over cover ups and deception, but at least this church tried to makes things better.

Answer 3

Unfortunately the history of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is spotty and based on hearsay. However, I do not dispute the fact that it happened. What we don't know is why and under who's orders.

It is not really something that is studied much in the Church, as it doesn't have anything to do with the doctrines of the church or prophesies of God. I have read many books on the incident, with some varying stories, but when it comes down to it there is no way it would affect my beliefs in the Church. There are many horrible acts committed each day, by many people of different faiths, but I do not think those things should reflect upon their religion, because I understand that mankind is far from human. Additionally, I can not say what is going on in one person's mind when they are behaving in a particular way. Thankfullly God is the only Judge of the individual acts of mankind. Through my studies, including that of many other religions, I have determined the Mormon Church to be of God. I suppose each individual should find out on their own and seek answers from Him.

So, I don't think anyone should try and justify (even if they could) the horrible acts that took place. Those who were wrongfully killed should be honored, and those who did wrongfully killed will be punished.

Answer 4

I have family in Cedar City, Utah, just down the road from the massacre site.

The Mormon church, LDS, has officially admitted to their part in the massacre and apologized for the chain of events that led up to the killings.

Last year a monument was built at the site by the Mormon church paying tribute to the pioneers that died there.

I still think there needs to be more transparency on the part of the church and their elders, but they have made some great strides in owning up to this incident in their past.

They also made an official statement that this incident is in no way to be justified under Mormon or Christian theology or teaching.

Answer 5

From the article I'm reading, the church doesn't know exactly how the massacre happened. But the President of the church (of that time) was absolutely oppossed to the massacre that occured. And you will be interested to know that the Mormon church built a monument to the people who were murdered that day. (Original monument was built in 1859. Not sure if the church built that one. The church re-built and dedicated the monument in 1999).

Church doctrine? The Mormon church doctrine condemns murder! Among many things, we believe in following the 10 commandments in the Bible. Including the one that says "Thou shalt not kill".

**"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." - 13th Article of Faith. This is also church doctrine.

Answer 6

How do you explain the burning of kirkland temple, the nauvoo temple?
How do you explain mormon own properties got stolen, lands been taken away.
How do you explain the lDS women being rape, LDS men got killed simply because of their belief?
How do you explain the mob murdering of the Prophet Joseph Smith?
How do you explain the freedom of religion are being violented?

What's the justification of the above?

Answer 7

Those people were crossing our land without permission. of course we killed them. and took there children.It is Gods will as seen and understood by our elders. are you going against Gods will? then you must be killed also. only those who follow this church will be saved. pagan.we will sic the Spirit of God upon thee. and it will Smite thee with a stone from heaven.thou aret evil and must be destroyed. But Merry Christmas to you.anyway

Answer 8

Get your anti mormon story straight bud.

Church is true, book is blue!!!!!!!!