Carrie Stuart Parks, Artist, Author
  • Home
    • Books: Non Fiction
  • Books
    • Writing news
    • A Cry From the Dust >
      • Bibliography
      • Research and background >
        • Death of Joseph Smith
        • Resources for purchasing books
    • The Bones Will Speak >
      • Bibliography
    • When Death Draws Near >
      • Bibliography
    • Portrait of Vengeance
    • Formula of Deception >
      • Discussion Questions
    • Fragments of Fear
    • Relative Silence
    • Woman in Shadow
    • Fallout
  • Bio
  • About Carrie
    • Blog >
      • More books for suspense readers
    • Carrie's Art Gallery
    • Schedule
    • Statement of Faith
  • Speaking
    • Don't Lie
    • Using Art
    • the art of writing
    • Participants
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • Links
  • For Book Clubs
  • Store
  • Category
  • Product
  • Forensic Art Fliers

Do You Think Brigham Young Was Responsible for the Mountain Meadows Massacre?

4/26/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Superman Syndrome contains a number of details which, on the surface, might seem mean-spirited. I used historical facts to weave an interesting story. In this and related blogs, I’ll share where I found my
materials and why I used them. I hope you are as intrigued by the bygone facts
and historical holes that formed my book. You decide: was Brigham Young responsible for the Mountain Meadows Massacre?


 We’ll start with the connection between Brigham Young and the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The LDS church has maintained that Brigham Young knew nothing of the massacre until after it happened. Below are some quotes from my research.

 Brigham Young denied his involvement, stating, “The horrifying event transpired without my knowledge, except from after report, and the recurring thought of it ever caused a shudder in my feelings.”  -Historian’s Office Journal, 8 December 1859, Typescript, LDS Archives, page 88.

 So Young can't even think about Mountain Meadows without shuddering. Now let's look at his words and actions. Below is his sermon after the event:

"Do you know who those people were that were killed at the Mountain Meadows? I will
tell you who those people were. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
uncles, aunts, cousins and children of those who killed the Saints, and drove
them from Missouri, and afterwards killed our Prophets in Carthage jail. These
children that the government has made such a stir about, were gathered up by the goverment [sic] and carried back to Missouri, to St. Louis, and letters were sent to their relatives to come and take them; but their relations wrote back that they did not want them--that they were the children of thieves, outlaws and murderers, and they would not take them, they did not wish anything to do with them, and would not have them around their houses. Those children are now in the poor house in St. Louis. And yet after all this, I am told that there are many of the brethren who are willing to inform upon and swear against the brethren who were engaged in that affair. I hope there is no truth in this report. I hope there is no such person here, under the sound of my voice. But if there is, I will tell you my opinion of you, and the fact so far as your fate is concerned. Unless you repent at once of that unholy intention, and keep the secret of all that you know, you will die a dog's death, and be damned, and go to hell. I do not want to hear of any more treachery among my people." 

Now we’ll examine the action of Young:

 Army brevet major James H. Carleton and some soldiers were sent
by the US government to investigate the massacre. They arrived in the spring of 1859 to find unburied bones, shreds of children’s clothing, hunks of women’s hair, and many skulls with bullet holes or shattered. They gathered up all the bones they found and buried them under a rock pile, then topped the memorial with a wooden cross which simply stated “Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.”


“In May 1862, Brigham Young happened upon this memorial as he was passing through the meadow … when Brigham read the inscription on the cross he pondered it for a short while and then proposed an emendation: “Vengeance is mine,” the prophet smugly asserted, “and I have taken a little.” A moment later one of the Saints in his entourage threw a rope over the cross and pulled it down, while others began dismantling the stones and scattering them. By the time Brigham’s party departed the Mountain Meadows, the monument to the slaughtered emigrants had been obliterated.”
 -Jon Krakauer, Under the Banner of Heaven, Doubleday, 2003, page 230

“Virtually every federal officer who became involved in future investigations of
the massacre would conclude that Young personally ordered the atrocity, used his
position to shield the killers who had followed his instructions, and personally
directed the elimination of all evidence incriminating himself and his closest
advisors.” -Sally Denton, American Massacre, Vintage Books, 2003, page
152

What do you think?


6 Comments
Bonnie S. Calhoun link
4/28/2013 12:29:18 pm

I can't wait to read this book. Very intriguing!

Reply
Peg
6/20/2013 09:35:32 am

We just recently visited Macomb Ill for our daughters college graduation and went site seeing. We came across by accident the little town of Carthage and took a tour of the jail. The LDS church had missionaries from Utah at the museum giving tours and speaking to the visitors about Joseph Smith and what happened at the jail and in his life. They were very nice people very sweet. My husband asked them about the Mountain Meadows Massacre and Brigham Young involvement and they said they never even heard anything about any massacre. These girls (they were all girls with the exception of one older man) were very young only 18, maybe they make sure it is not taught in their schools and churches. They could be hoping to forget it ever happened and maybe it will just go away.

Reply
Carrie Stuart Parks link
6/23/2013 02:23:13 am

I found most LDS have a spotty idea of their history, though I did use a number of their books to research mine. When I visited the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, the docent-who'd worked there every Thursday for ten years-had less knowledge than I did on the display she stood in front of.

Reply
T. Andrews
9/17/2013 05:06:10 am

I came to your website because I was interested in your art instruction books. I must say that I'm a little offended by the commentary on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It seems like this article and the one on Joseph Smith's body has some bias against the church.
As a writer, I feel that your "just the facts" approach seem to be misleading and biased. I was always taught to use primary resources and those quoted seem to be secondary, actually beyond that, as factual evidence.
As a Latter-day Saint, I'm offended by the comments about members not knowing their history. Do you ask the same of other religious sects? Is there church history taught in schools? There was only a blurb in my school texts about the "Mormons" and none of it included the extermination order, the murder of Joseph Smith, and the accounts of the persecutions they endured in order to practice their religious faith. As in any other faith, I would suspect that it would be their personal endeavor to delve into the details of the history of followers of their faith.
Shucks, when it comes to American history people are spotty. I feel that it's unfair to assume that because I'm LDS, I should be indoctrinated with my church's history.
In defense of the tour guides, most of them are missionaries, who volunteered to do what they are doing. And thus are probably trained to give general facts. They do it because they love helping people, not because they are history buffs or professors.
I don't know if Brigham Young had anything to do with the massacres. The only one who needs to know is God who will deal with him accordingly.

Reply
James
1/6/2017 05:34:57 pm

How could Brigham Young NOT know about the Mountain Meadow Massacre? He ruled everything that had to do with the Utah Mormons in the 1850s.

Reply
Carrie Stuart Parks link
9/17/2013 06:00:13 am

Hi Mr. Andrews,
Thank you for stopping by my website looking for art instruction books and tapes. You have come across the blog on my new novel: A Cry From the Dust and yes, it is about the historical background of the LDS church. I'll try and answer your concerns.

Yes, I did have to learn of my church's history as part of my church confirmation. In addition, I have researched a number of other historical foundations of different religions.

I'm sure LDS missionaries are trained to give general facts probably about the LDS Church, however, when working as a tour guide on a historical site, the history would seem to be a rather good thing to know if asked.

As far as biased, I quoted the LDS official history, the sermon of Brigham Young, the actions of Brigham Young as reported by members of the LDS Church, and two sources that researched the LDS Church. Most of my research was from LDS materials. I will, however, keep in mind your objections and be sure that the source is properly notated.

Thank you again for stopping by. You just might enjoy the book.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Carrie Parks

    Fine artist, forensic artist, author.

    Archives

    August 2019
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    November 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Billy The Kid
    Brigham Young
    Cancer
    Deception
    Forensic Art
    Frank Peretti
    Jack The Ripper
    Joseph Smith
    Lds
    Locations
    Mormonism
    Mountain Meadows
    Research
    Writing

    RSS Feed

    other suspense books
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • Books: Non Fiction
  • Books
    • Writing news
    • A Cry From the Dust >
      • Bibliography
      • Research and background >
        • Death of Joseph Smith
        • Resources for purchasing books
    • The Bones Will Speak >
      • Bibliography
    • When Death Draws Near >
      • Bibliography
    • Portrait of Vengeance
    • Formula of Deception >
      • Discussion Questions
    • Fragments of Fear
    • Relative Silence
    • Woman in Shadow
    • Fallout
  • Bio
  • About Carrie
    • Blog >
      • More books for suspense readers
    • Carrie's Art Gallery
    • Schedule
    • Statement of Faith
  • Speaking
    • Don't Lie
    • Using Art
    • the art of writing
    • Participants
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • Links
  • For Book Clubs
  • Store
  • Category
  • Product
  • Forensic Art Fliers