Mainstream media blasted sensational headlines: “Mormon leader ‘ordered massacre’ of settlers'”(The Telegraph). Historians debate how much of these reports about the Mountain Meadows Massacre were fabricated or whether they were true. And so, Casey W. Olson is taking a principle that sounds reasonable, about allowing diverse voices to get their say, but is applying it to those who already have the dominant narrative. “What was done here long ago by members of our Church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct. m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) A notable report on the incident was made in 1859 by Carleton, who had been tasked by the U.S. Army to investigate the incident and bury the still exposed corpses at Mountain Meadows. Utah residents were burning their homes and stockpiling provisions for a complete evacuation of the area. They probably would have not made it going this route anyway! Jacob Forney, the man who later reported to the U.S. government about the Mountain Meadow Massacre, was the person who had Parley P. Pratt arrested–which helped set off the chain of events that led to the massacre. But is it a historians job to judge whether an event was “pardonable” or not? Mall Of Asia Map Guide, mk_theme_dir = "https://www.karaenergysystems.com/wp-content/themes/jupiter", He was a crazy wife-beater who was stalking a woman because he felt he owned her. But it did. Why did the government for 150 years block the removal of Parley P. Pratt’s body from its grave in Arkansas to Utah, where he stated he wished to be buried? '”, “Parker, who lagged behind the Bakers and other emigrants at Fort Bridger, later caught up with the Thomas D. Harp train, which stopped to recover cattle taken by Indians on the headwaters of the Humboldt in present-day Nevada. I thought there must have been some fuss with the Indians along the road somewhere. In the report, Lee’s “spelling is really pretty consistent with modern-day spellings.”. From what I could tell, Parley P. Pratt’s union with her was for “eternity only,” which means they did not have any physical relations. Journal Writing Prompts In Spanish, Missouri Wildcats – Who was in that wagon train? A book by Juanita Brooks flat-out blames the Missouri Wildcats for what happened: “But the reckless boasts and acts on the part of those who called themselves ‘Missouri Wildcats’ culminated in disaster for the whole train.” There is no ambiguity. Two militiamen, their faces washed clean of paint and plain clothes on their bodies, approached the wagons with a white flag. Why did Mormons slaughter innocent Settlers the "Mountain Meadows massacre " to be precise? .grecaptcha-badge{ It is easy for them to skew the narrative when so little is known for sure–just suppress inconvenient evidence and give credence to Anti-Mormon source, aka “marginalized voices.” Thus, Anti-Mormons will continue to use the Mountain Meadows Massacre to portray all Mormons as violent fanatics, indoctrinating anyone they can. Why did McLean and “several of his friends” happen to be there ready to go on a moment’s notice to overtake Pratt, who was galloping at full speed? The war the Mormons had so feared between the U.S. troops never did happen. McLean, being informed of his escape, rode after him full speed, with several of his friends in company with him. A party of ‘mostly Missourians’ helped retake the cattle and, according to emigrant Helen Carpenter, ‘some of them were disposed to treat the squaws as the Border Ruffians did the women of Kansas,’ and ‘some were for having the squaws killed.’ She felt relieved that ‘there were enough real me’ in the party to save the native women.”. Who was responsible for the massacre? Wandell under the pen name “Argus” in 1871. May said Lee condemned church leaders “for allowing him to be a scapegoat” yet did not implicate Young in the massacre. If the bones found in 1999 have been reinterred by official fiat, and most of the relics of the massacre remain undiscovered, the valley is still littered with the debris of unsettled history. But he gives the wrong date for the killings. mk_grid_width = 1140, I do not think you can dissociate what happened at Mountain Meadows from the experience of the Saints earlier, before they got to Utah. It was a tragic event in Mormon history many thought best forgotten. In his alleged last statement, John Doyle Lee said he “believed” the order to massacre was based on a talk George A. Smith had with Haight, based on a talk Smith had with Brigham Young: Forged Historical Evidence – For some reason, Wikipedia’s section about Brigham Young in their Mountain Meadows Massacre article includes mention of testimony about the massacre which historians now say was forged: There is no “may have been” about it. Wikipedia claims: “There is a consensus among historians that Brigham Young played a role in provoking the massacre, at least unwittingly, and in concealing its evidence after the fact.” In what way did Brigham Young do that? There is no evidence to support this. Of course! Even when the prophet Joseph Smith was assassinated in a government prison, they sought for peace. ", mk_ajax_search_option = "disable", The next day I was taken into the same room that Brother Parley was occupying. They would have starved. The Baker-Fancher wagon train strayed from the usual path through Northern Utah, which was an easier route, and opted for the Mojave desert with meager provisions. mk_no_more_posts = "No More Posts"; Speech, John CRADLEBAUGH, Last Confession & Statement of John D. Lee, a famous Anti-Mormon who murdered and bombed Latter-day Saints, via University of Nebraska, “Horrible Massacre of Emigrants!! The events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre were absolutely appalling. (I continue to get comments from readers who don’t seem to understand this concept.) The emigrants threatened ‘to kill every ‘G*d d*mned Mormon’ that there was in the mountains.’ They spread the rumor that ‘that some four or five hundred dragoons were expected through on the Fremont trail. But all in all, the Mormons did not fight back. Or? The Mountain Meadows Massacre summary: A series of attacks was staged on the Baker-Fancher wagon train around Mountain Meadows in Utah. Little is known about Forney’s life following his dismissal. The materials that we gathered for writing this book about the Mountain Meadows Massacre were voluminous. On Sept. 11, 1857, a Mormon militia in southern Utah seized a wagon train from Arkansas and brutally murdered 120 people. Was that, pre-massacre statement, a lie? The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a war crime committed by mormons in southern Utah in September 1857. We still do not know how much the Native Americans were actually involved, or if they were involved at all. The Mountain Meadow Massacre was a tragedy that should not have happened. I heard that the emigrant party had poisoned a spring at Corn creek.”. And he had zero reason to believe Smith got the idea from Brigham Young. Catchy Name For Web Design, Soon after, records … He then told me where to meet him if he escaped. Still later, he visited their Salt Lake City camp to warn them again. mk_banner_parallax = false, all and (max-device-width: 760px) The only reason historians started to suspect it was because somebody at the society happened to review a journal article that “mentioned that the affidavit had been acquired by the historical society through Hofmann.” Mark Hofmann is a famous Anti-Mormon who murdered and bombed Latter-day Saints after it was discovered that he was forging important historic documents that were embarrassing about the church. Who wrote it from his dictation? It is impossible to know for sure. Encyclopedia Research. The Mountain Meadows Massacre happened on September 11, 1857. Pretty much the only thing I read about regarding “Mormons” in history textbooks was polygamy. but make such a vague innuendo in his last statement to his lawyer? I was then given in charge of the marshal. Ieee-754 Floating Point Converter, A captain of the army from Fort Gibson arrested Parley P. Pratt and his missionary companions on the charge of stealing clothes (clothing belonging to the children of the women he helped)–a ridiculous charge. Bishop, who was pretty well versed in Indian lore, sympathized with them, but told them they must not harm the emigrants, as there were lots of innocent women and children in the company, but with all the reasoning and persuading the Indians were determined to revenge themselves.” (William B. Ashworth via Juanita Brooks, p.51), W.M. On September 4, Mormon stake president and major in the Nauvoo Legion Isaac Haight ordered Legion member John … Over 100 immigrants and some apostate mormons who had joined a wagon train crossing Utah territory were seiged and when their ammunition was running short, the mormons came to them under a flag of truce. I do not agree with him. During the past two decades, descendants and other relatives of the emigrants and the perpetrators have at times worked together to memorialize the victims. mk_responsive_nav_width = 1140, The settlers needed the Natives as allies in the war with the federal government, and this incident with the Missouri Wildcats threatened to break this alliance over the poisoned spring, according to these accounts. “While in the prison at Fort Gibson he gave me his watch and money, to deliver to his family, but seeing that I was in danger of being mobbed, he requested me to hand it back to him for safety, he being confined. But this is an incorrect characterization of what the 1999 forensic work concluded (which only studied skulls from 18 of the skeletons of those killed). They see it as their job to tell us the moral worth of those involved, and thus historians make themselves into propagandists rather than historians. { It was an assassination, and local government officials were probably part of it. Haight instructed his wives and family to “say nothing” about the massacre. Learning More: 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. Aware of the sensitivity of the events at Mountain Meadows, Mormon officials from Young on down worked to shift the blame for the massacre either to Indians or the emigrants themselves. “What did you hear was the cause of the massacre! The "Mountain Meadows Massacre" still troubles the descendants of both the attackers and victims. They make it sound like a man was rightfully angry because a cult stole away his family. Acer C720 Specs, Plesmanweg 27 McLean overtook Brother Parley 12 miles from Van Buren in Crawford county, rode up to him with a Colt’s repeater, and discharged six barrels at him… McLean rode into Van Buren and was congratulated by his friends for his success and was allowed to escape at large and in peace after a warrant was issued for his arrest.”. It cleared up many misconceptions and stated the facts plainly. But the stain of the Mountain Meadows massacre was not so easily erased; Lee remained a fugitive until November 1874 and went on trial for murder … Taco Time Beef Taco Salad No Chips, The opposite of what Casey W. Olson is suggesting is true: The narrative about our identity and history is controlled by those who oppose us, not by us. PRIOR to the massacre occurred, Haight said his orders came from “headquarters”. Historians debate how much of these reports about the Mountain Meadows Massacre were fabricated or whether they were true. In any case, the people of Utah had good reason to be very suspicious, especially when a group of travelers show up right after the assassination threatening to kill Brigham Young and other Utah residents. If McLean and his “friends” traveled on to Van Buren and presumably on to escape being arrested, who desecrated and removed Pratt’s body? I feel that the Lord has not forsaken me and grants me the comforting influence of his Holy Spirit which has therefore sustained me and enabled me to bear the position with some small degree of resignation. Even if Brigham Young had done that, I don’t know what that would have done to avoid the Mountain Meadows incident. At some point, people are going to break and they are going to defend their families. Is this an admission of guilt? He asked me of my welfare, and said, “I am happy that we have been permitted to converse with each other; I feel that the hand of the Lord is in it.” He said: “McLean and his friends will kill me. There are notable exceptions, such as the Hauns Mill massacre, where a group of saints holed down and refused to be expelled from their property, and were shot down by a pro-slavery militia. read more. No. I was also examined as witness, but having no evidence against him, he was privately acquitted, the next morning being the 13th of May. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); As the Baker-Fancher train camped at Mountain Meadows, some of the residents of Cedar City and the surrounding areas determined that some action needed to be taken against the emigrants. Opposed Brigham Young- Lee opposed Brigham Young and denied that he was a prophet. ”. The first period of intense nationwide publicity about the massacre began around 1872, after investigators obtained Klingensmith's confession. The Mountain Meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the Baker–Fancher emigrant wagon train, at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah. According to an Anti-Mormon source: So, that’s 5 out of 18 which is about a quarter of the skulls studied. “I believe he is leading the people astray, but I believe in the gospel as it was taught in its purity by Joseph Smith in former days. })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5VTDGFZ'); It was a tragic event in Mormon history many thought best forgotten. After an investigation and trial, the man found chiefly responsible was executed by Utah officials. I am in the hands of the Lord and He can do just as he likes with me. Utah was literally being invaded! Historians dismiss the hysteria about Parley P. Pratt’s assassination and it being connected to the Baker–Fancher wagon train, but was it just a crazy rumor? Also, the federal government was sending troops to invade Utah, and Arkansas certainly was keen to be on the government’s good side. “Critics– federal Judge John Cradlebaugh chief among them– accused Forney of neglecting evidence of Mormon complicity in the Massacre and of financial misconduct. School Indoctrination – In their article hyping that forgery, The Telegraph incorrectly suggested that forensics proved “Mormon” settlers did the killing: “In 1999 work to restore a memorial at the settlers’ burial site turned up bones and forensic tests showed many in the group had been shot and not bludgeoned to death by the Indians, who had no guns.” I don’t know where they got the idea that the Natives had no guns; I haven’t seen anyone suggest that. mk_captcha_invalid_txt = "Invalid. Vague Innuendo- He “believed” that Smith had a talk with Haight. That certainly will only help them increase their dominance of the narrative and shut out marginalized voices, which is our voice. I have no desire to live except to do good and my way appears to be hedged up on every hand.” He also desired me, if I could, to wait in Van Buren and see what became of him, and if he was murdered, to make a report to President Brigham Young of the true circumstances of his death and trial.”. Related Questions. Required fields are marked *, “It becomes historically understandable if not pardonable when viewed as the result of a combination of Mormon hysteria during the early stages of the Utah War, the rumors that this company was a reconnoitering party in advance of the main federal army, and the misbehavior of some members of the Fancher train, mainly a few hangers-on known as Missouri wildcats, who forcibly expropriated supplies and made profane, provocative boasts that they had participated in the Haun’s Mill Massacre and other mob actions against the Saints.”. Opponents of the church try to hype a connection to Brigham Young alleged by John Doyle Lee. mk_preloader_bar_color = "#ce2253", In my opinion, bad men, for a bad purpose, have magnified a natural circumstance for the perpetration of a crime that has no parallel in American history for atrocity.” That sounds pretty condemning of the Latter-day Saint settlers. window.abb = {}; When the federal troops entered Utah in 1858 led by Major James Carleton, there was no eruption of violence. Indians were attacking wagon trains all the time, right? mk_smooth_scroll = "true", You must not meddle with them. Avoid hostility at all cost. Privacy policy: This site uses Google Analytics to track and analyze visitor usage of this website, which may involve cookies. For many years the Mountain Meadows Massacre was a taboo subject among Mormons. Several witnesses said the man was out to kill Parley P. Pratt. mk_preloader_bg_color = "#ffffff", Brigham Young Ordered The Militia To Avoid Conflict – It was during the tense meeting with Captain Stewart Van Vlient that Brigham Young received word of a wagon train causing trouble for locals south of Salt Lake. 0 0. Wikipedia: Mountain Meadows Massacre. On the day following, his trial came off before the United States commissioner. Why Latter-Day Saints Should Stop Using Google. Argus recognized that the Latter-day Saints, who had always tried to avoid violence amidst the worst persecution, would not be easily provoked to do such a thing. That makes “Argus” a poor source for information. Most of them were on their way from Arkansas to California, and a friendly Mormon chief assured them that this place in Utah’s Mountain Meadows would be a secure camping place. The officials of Arkansas hated the Latter-day Saints and state of Utah because of its opposition to Indian slavery. The heightened anxiety brought on by rumors swirling about the train, the advancing federal troops, the drought that many had suffered through for the year, and the memories of violence in Missouri and Illinois all combined in an explosive atmosphere; yet the residents were unclear on what action they should tak… Do I understand why they did it? Casey W. Olson of the Utah State University suggested it is important to approach the subject in the classroom from the perspective of those who are marginalized: Have you ever seen Missouri’s extermination order of Latter-day Saints mentioned in a textbook or history course? The note seems to be written by someone “trying to give the appearance of being barely literate,” May said. He was away serving his mission and didn’t even see her much. The Mormon Experience: A History of the Latter-Day Saints, Leonard J. Arrington, ‎Davis Bitton, p.167, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Ronald W. Walker, ‎Richard E. Turley, ‎Glen M. Leonard, Utah and the Mormons. “At this place and within a few miles of the Indian Farm, (commenced a few years ago for the Pah Vante Tribe and all living on it) it is alleged that the said emigrant company treated the Indians most inhumanley, such as poisoning a spring with ‘arsenic’ and impregnating dead Cattle with strichnine. The Missouri Wildcats “while encamped at Corn Creek, poisoned a mule that had died, and also a spring, and the Indians had been made sick by eating the mule and drinking the water, and they were heap mad! The federal government was intent on (illegally) removing democratically elected governor Brigham Young and installing a new governor of their choosing. That, of course, is pretty weak evidence. He knew they were coming, but Latter-day Saints did not know the extent or positions of the dragoons. ), “I have always believed, since that day, that General George A. Smith was then visiting Southern Utah to prepare the people for the work of exterminating Captain Fancher’s train of emigrants, and I now believe that he was sent for that purpose by the direct command of Brigham Young. This is characteristic of the tactic Anti-Mormon scholars and media corporations use to turn this issue and other such issues to attack the church. But Anti-Mormons are really pushing more emphasis on the tragedy in school curriculums–I think you can guess why. Many point to this as the reason for such a whole-sale slaughter at the Mountain Meadows Massacre. var mk_header_parallax = false, The fact that even an Anti-Mormon mentioned this shows that there must have been strong anti-Mormon behavior coming from that wagon train. They have arrested me to put me in his power.” He said: “You will probably escape alive, and I have a sacred request to make of you; that is to go and see my family and tell them I am perfectly reconciled to my fate. Mountain Meadows Massacre, (September 1857), in U.S. history, slaughter of a band of Arkansas emigrants passing through Utah on their way to California. The Utah State Historical Society, which maintains the document in its archives, acknowledges a possible connection to Mark Hofmann, a convicted forger and extortionist, via go-between Lyn Jacobs who provided the society with the document.”, “Among items that immediately spring to mind that may indicate a forgery are the fact that the writer supposedly was so illiterate that he misspelled “have,” yet the second time the word is used, it is spelled correctly. There is no evidence to support this. The New York Times summarized this bigoted movie released by Sony Pictures: It’s about what you would expect. The story is that Parley P. Pratt was killed by his polygamous wife’s estranged husband. The fight lasted five days and the Baker-Fancher party began to run out of ammunition, water, and food. However, the promotion of historical identification can cause teachers and students to overlook the complexity of the past and the perspectives of marginalized individuals or groups whose experiences do not fit within the framework of the nation’s grand narrative”, “Shaw then insisted on me being arrested and taken before the superintendent of Indian affairs. But I still don’t excuse it and I’ve got a friend with whom I spent hours and hours and hours discussing the Mountain Meadows Massacre–he’s a non-Mormon who has read voluminously on the subject and it’s interesting to get his perspective. Second-hand Statement- This was written at Lee’s “dictation” and delivered to his lawyer who delivered it to the church, conveniently after Lee’s execution. j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? Who informed McLean when Pratt was secretly let go? Another possible forgery showed up in 2002, when a metal sheet was “discovered” by a “volunteer” doing restoration work on Lee’s Fort. Does this have anything to do with Jacob Forney’s rash dismissal of to the accusation that the wagon train carried poison with them? Juanita Brooks, a Mormon, gave the incident its first thorough treatment in decades with her book The Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1962. The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a war crime committed by mormons in southern Utah in September 1857. There are those who speculate that there were more people involved. Anti-Mormons portray the Utah pioneers as violent madmen who attacked anybody happening by, but the Mountain Meadows Massacre was by all accounts an isolated act and not demonstrative of a larger pattern of violence. Then rode back to Fort Gibson, where we were lodged in prison, they sought peace... Rape, murder, torture, thievery—the Latter-day Saint pioneers displayed remarkable forbearance witness David Tulis who next. Settlers the `` Mountain Meadows Massacre is an American tragedy in school curriculums–I you... 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