How do Mormons justify the Mountain Meadows Massacre?

Question

Was Brigham Young Involved?

I did not mean it in a judgemental way. I am seriously curious about their point of view...

Don't be ignorant... A lot can be learned from the past...

"Don't be so quick to jump to the sensationalistic conclusion loved by journalists and gossip mongers."

I wasn't. I was told this by an LDS member! Why can't there be open discussions about this? What's the harm?

Answer 1

There is no justification for this event. It effected more than the 120 who were killed at the time - it also effected the descendants, their families, the families of the mormons who participated and their descendants. The LDS church has not sought to justify it - merely to present the facts and to allow healing on all sides. This was the action of some few members who acted badly in a situation.

Brigham Young was only involved as he was the prophet of the LDS church at the time, who counseled caution and compassion - but his word arrived too late - after the fact. You can read about it here -
http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1c234dc029133110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&locale=0
you might also be interested in researching Haun's Mill to get a feel of what these men might have been feeling at the time of the MMM.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a tragic event, and the Mormon Church has expressed regret for the involvement of some Mormons in the massacre. However, there is no convincing evidence that Brigham Young played a role in the planning and execution of the massacre.

Some of those involved in the planning of the Mountain Meadows Massacre were concerned that Brigham Young had not authorized an attack. They sent a messenger to Brigham Young asking what they should do. If Brigham Young had already authorized the massacre, why would the locals seek his council a second time?

In the letter Brigham Young sent back to those who were planning the massacre, he said: "In regard to the emigration trains passing through our settlements, we must not interfere with them until they are first notified to keep away. You must not meddle with them. The Indians we expect will do as they please but you should try and preserve good feelings with them." Unfortunately, this letter arrived two days after the massacre, two days too late. If Brigham Young ordered the massacre, why did he tell locals that they should leave the wagon train alone?

An eyewitness reported that Brigham Young wept when he learned of the massacre.

The Mountain Meadows massacre was a terrible tragedy, but there is no convincing historical evidence to implicate Brigham Young’s involvement.

Answer 3

You take a group of people, who only wish to worship God the way they want to! They are pestered and maligned, and mocked, and literally driven from the state They start out in Illinois. And then they are, beaten, raped, robbed, and murdered! Have all there possessions,destroyed and then be burned out of there homes, state by state, half way across the United States! They got to Nebraska, and stopped for the winter.They died, from cold, hunger and exposure, while camped by the Platte River, waiting for spring to continue traveling!
Then when they get to Utah, and think they are finally safe? Here comes word of Federal soldiers sent to kill them!
A few renegades, who had already lost family members, went to the wagon train, and killed the supposed attackers!
Was it wrong? Yes of course it was. But what had happened to them, and been done to them was wrong as well!
Does two wrongs make a right? No. But the people who did it were tried and hanged! And NO, Brigham Young was not involved to that.
What happened to the murderers and rapists, and the mobs that chased them, and were so cruel? Were they ever tried? I doubt it!
So don't come on here, and ''demand'' an explanation., about the Mountain Meadows Massacre! The people responsible were brought to justice! Which is more than I can say about those brutes in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas!
How do the peoples of those states that persecuted the Mormons justify what they did????

Why don't you people just go away? I almost hope, that someday, you get some of your own back, and see how you like it!

Answer 4

I would think that all Mormons mourn the events that happened at Mountain Meadows. Justification? Barely! All that occurred previous to this great tragedy, as Zilla My Heart and others so adequately expressed, could explain partly the reasons of it.

Nevertheless, the actions of a few should not denigrate the entire group, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While you and others are reading about this massacre, please consider reading about the massacre at Haun's Mill, the reason for the Extermination Order given by Missouri Governor Boggs, and the burnings, killings, and raping of innocents from Illinois and thereafter. Don't forget to read about the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith while incarcerated at the Carthage, Illinois, jail--all done under the pretense of protection.

Also, consider reading about the invasion of U.S. Federal troops into Salt Lake City that halted the building of the great temple--all because of intimidation and scare tactics perpetuated by the civilian populace and federal government in the East.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre is indeed a nasty scar on American religion and in Mormonism, but extenuating circumstances can only explain so far until the actions of the few guilty murderers must come to bear.

Answer 5

We don't have to justify anything. The Church was not involved. It happened. It was a tragedy carried out by some over zealous settlers that were themselves misinformed. Then, after the fact, they tried to do the Nixon defense and cover up their sin. That merely complicated and exacerbated the situation. Brigham Young sent explicit instructions to leave the pioneers moving through the region alone. The notice arrived after the fact.
Don't be so quick to jump to the sensationalistic conclusion loved by journalists and gossip mongers.

Answer 6

I believe Brigham Young was NOT involved and there is NO evidence to the contrary (only rumors).

I do not Justify that horrible Massacre AT ALL. There is no justification for it. All known Murderers were excommunicated and prosecuted.

D

Answer 7

How do Christians justify the way they physically attacked the Mormons before they left for Utah? As a Christian, I cannot justify their actions (and I question the true Christianity of some of those who desired to exterminate the Mormons).

In the same way, most Mormons don't try to justify it. Most don't believe their "prophet" was involved at all, just that some Mormons got angry (probably with provocation) and acted on their own. Unfortunately, many religions have "black sheep" incidents in their past. These incidents don't disprove the validity of one's beliefs, just that people don't always follow their stated beliefs fully. I won't abandon Christianity because of how Christians treat Mormons in Missouri, but I'm very sorry that those events ever occurred.

Answer 8

We don't. Those who were responsible were punished, the ringleader was executed.

Brigham Young expressly told them not to do it. Historical documents bear this out. I understand that there is a hatchet-job of a movie called "September Dawn" that flatly contradicts historical facts and paints B.Y. as a madman who organized and authorized the massacre. This is simply not true.

Answer 9

We don't justify it. It was a tragic mistake made by some renegade Mormons who went crazy.

Brigham Young didn't have anything to do with it.

Answer 10

It was never been proven if Brigham Young was involved, but he was the person in-charge of UT at the time, so...you fill in the blank, nonmormons say mountain massacre, mormons say Hans mill massacre, wither way, both were bloody and vicious, which came first, you ask? Han's mill, so you could say that Mountain meadows was revenge for Han's mill.