LDS: Have you seen this regarding the Mountain Meadows Massacre?

Question

I have read in YA numerous LDS haters that accuse our church for trying to cover up the MMM. I thought this was interesting. I didn't even know about it until my son studied it in 8th grade history.

http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=b36da6cf971f4110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD&vgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD

Answer 1

I really enjoyed the article about Mountain Meadows massacre. The site is about 20-30 miles north of me and we've stopped to visit a couple of times. It was a tragic event in the history of Utah [especially southern Utah]. Yes, it was men who massacred the settlers in the wagon train were LDS members & part of the local militia. But the event was driven by just a few men who were overreacting to fear and a twisted desire for vigilantism. When the local leaders initially declined action, a few men waited until after the meeting broke up to put further pressure on the Militia leaders and get them to acquiesce. The massacre was a horrible attempt to hide the guilt of men who knew they'd made a bad decision and wanted to cover it up, but the blood of the innocent cried out for justice. Whether the full amount of justice was metted or not, I will happily leave in the hands of God.

btw, honest researchers admit that the rider who was dispatched to Salt Lake to query Brigham Young as the territorial governor was too late to save the wagon train, as it was 6 days round trip [of hard riding] and the rider returned to Cedar City after the massacre had been perpetrated.

And yes, troops were dispatched to put down the so called Mormon Rebellion - fuelled by the rumors and accusations which had driven the early Latter-day Saints from their homes in New York, Ohio, Iowa, & Missouri... and was settled peaceably and the US Army went home without incident.

Answer 2

Okay,

First of all, I have heard of Haun's Mill, Gov. Bogg's, etc., etc. These were frequently mentioned in Sunday School, sacrament meeting, and Priesthood. Why? Because they are faith promoting and that is the purpose of these meetings. The issue with MMM arises because some people are more interested in the constant attempt to feel warm fuzzies than learning about the whole truth. I’m okay if all you want to feel is warm fuzzies, but don’t try to tell me from within your bubble that you have the whole truth. Presenting factual history and placing the beginnings of the church in its proper historical context in not “bashing.” However, refusing to look at the big picture, warts and all, is a little disingenuous. I guess if your sole purpose is to feel good regardless of any facts then the standard Mormon approach will suffice.

Whether BY was directly involved can’t be directly ascertained and those who insist on his involvement prior to the event are misinformed. We can assume that he became aware of what happened at some point and the historical record shows what his response was. You can make your own judgments here. What I think should be considered in this situation is how BY’s conference addresses added to the climate of intolerance, vigilante justice, and cult-like following that led to this tragedy. Quotes by Brigham Young such as, “If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats," cannot be discounted when looking at this tragedy. This is found in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. II., page 311. Even the temple endowment at that time included an oath to take vengeance on the United States and the enemies of the LDS church for the wrongs suffered in Illinois. What ever happened to turning the other cheek? Brigham Young stated publicly after the massacre that God had taken vengeance on the Francher party. Whether Young ordered the massacre or not, his leadership created a feeling among the saints that spilling blood for sins was acceptable in the eyes of God. When I read some of these responses, I couldn’t help think how the participants at Jonestown would have responded to criticism of Jim Jones and his actions.

Answer 3

The LDS church is accused of trying to cover up the Mountain Meadows Massacre???

I just did a study on all of the public statements the First Presidency has released from 1830 until 1990, and I can tell you that at least once per decade since the massacre, the first presidency has released a public statement apologizing for what happened, and expressed condolences and regrets to the victims of the tragedy and their families.

Over the past 150 years the church has not stopped apologizing for the horrible events that occured at Mountain Meadows in 1857, and if the past is any precedent, they will continue to apologize for what happened for the next 150 years.

What happened in Mountain Meadows was an unbelievable tragedy, and the chuch can never apologize enough for it, but to say that the church tried to cover it up is nothing short of ludicrous.

Answer 4

It's unfortunate that the Mountain Meadows Massacre happened. I just returned from Salt Lake and while I was there I watched the new Joseph Smith film they have in the visitors center. It is unbelievable how much hatred there was towards the saints. Did you know that the LDS church is the only organization to have an extermination order placed on them in United States history? The Mountain Meadows Massacre was wrong, but those saints had gone through enough.

Answer 5

The Mountain Meadows Massacre is a great tool for Anti-Mormons. They simply twist or leave out a few facts as they tell the story to gullible people who in turn regurgitate the story to other gullible people until it becomes such an outrageous tale that someone feels compelled to make a movie about it. They market it as being "based on a true story" and gullible people believe it. After all, ignorance and misplaced criticism are bliss.

Answer 6

The MMM is a very misunderstood event. My great great grandfather and my great great great grandfather where both in it. Both wrote very detailed accounts of what really happened in their journals which my dad now has. The president of the US at the time ordered an army to go to Salt Lake and burn it to the ground and kill the Mormons. The saints were just defending themselves and their rights. No one tried covering it up. People twisted what really happened to make the Mormons look like the bad guys when in reality it was the government. People need to understand that the Mormons had been driven out of their homes and settlements many times before by angry mobs and the government. They were being oppressed and all they did was stick up for themselves. What did you expect them to do? Stand there while the army slaughtered them to death? I don't think so.

It's pretty pathetic to think that if this happened to any other religion there wouldn't be any misconceptions about what really took place. There have been many religions who have tried exterminating others, causing wars, and disturbing peace. There are so many myths and misunderstandings about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It's sad to see how so many people try destroying and disicrating the true gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to refute and argue back. Do some research in correct areas like lds.org. I think mormons know more about themselves than the rest of the world thinks they know about them.

Answer 7

Yah! I read it before it came out in the Ensign. If the family members of those killed during the massacre can forgive I think that the "mormon haters" should be able to as well. After all, it wasn't the church that was responsible. Do we blame the entire Catholic church for massacres and murders?

My 3XGreat grandfather was Hyrum Smith but you never hear about his martyr, or the Haun's Mill massacre. People only hear what they want to hear and nothing else.

Answer 8

I think it's just more mormon-bashing.... The massacre was the work of individuals- not the authority of the church. In general, everyone was skeptical of people coming through, because the US had sent armies after us, native americans were sometimes violent...you just didn't know who to trust...aparently the victims were just immigrants but people overreacted-stupidly. and they happened to be members of our church. I've got news for people- There are bad apples in Mormonism. The mountain Meadows Massacre is just a demonstation of that fact.

Answer 9

I've known about it since I was 8 or 9 years old. My family went on a trip around Southern Utah. We visited Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Brianhead, as well as Mountain Meadows.

The church certainly doesn't try to cover it up, but it isn't really something that needs to be discussed in Sunday School, where we try to build our faith and our understanding of the gospel.

Answer 10

What about President Buchanan sending in federal troops after the LDS? I didn't learn that in history class; I read about it in Liberty Magazine, a publication by the Seventh Day Adventists, who advocate religious freedom for all.

Yes, the reason it was settled peacefully was every LDS man stood outside of his home, unarmed, with a torch ready to burn his property. The army could not take the humiliation.