Apr 01, 2003 brigham young led one of the largest group migrations in american historyover 12,000 peopleto salt lake city, utah. At the direction of brigham young, local mormons are directed to massacre. A story set against the mountain meadows massacre, the film is based upon. The mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century. But i knew when i saw that, that this was a calculated act of vengeancethat the orders came from brigham young, and they originated when the apostles met on the evening of the 26th of july, 1857, at salt lake, and brigham young, recording their discussion, and brigham young wrote, we discussed our enemies, and underlined enemies three times. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, appreciated the expression of contrition to the paiutes, but he felt the church as an institution fell short in owning up to its culpability. However, there has never been any real evidence that brigham young approved of the massacre or ordered it. Brigham young was an important leader in the early years of the mormon church, and led a several decade long term until his sudden death. The mormon church now admits the tragedy of the massacre, but has tried to keep brigham young above the fray. A few days after the massacre, september 29, 1857, lee briefed young in salt lake city.
A 2006 movie, september dawn, starring jon voight, is based on the massacre. John, the militia was a part of the theocratic territorial government. In 1857 mormon leader brigham young ordered the massacre. A confession etched on a newly discovered lead sheet has shaken the mormon church by linking its revered leader, brigham young, with one of the worst massacres in american history. Inspired by the true story of the leader of the mormon church, this film features dean jagger in the title role. In 1857 mormon leader brigham young ordered the massacre of 100140 emigrants on their way to california then covered it up from us federal investigators the mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant. Although brigham young and other church leaders in salt lake city learned of the massacre soon after it happened, their understanding of the extent of the settlers involvement and the terrible details of the crime came incrementally over time. Will bagley,who operates the prairie dog press in salt lake city, is the author of blood of the prophets. Sep 11, 2008 notes will bagley, historian and author of blood of the prophets.
The depiction of the massacre in the film was based on the confession of lee and staged as he had described it. Bakerfancher wagon train brigham young and the mountain meadows massacre. At the direction of brigham young, local mormons are directed to massacre the gentiles using their allies, the paiute indians. Brigham young led one of the largest group migrations in american historyover 12,000 peopleto salt lake city, utah. Lees first trial, but he agreed to the following deposition for. Lee, youngs adopted son who led the massacre, was executed by a firing squad 20 years after the killings the only person punished. Bagley was also one of the people interviewed for a. Brigham young was the president of the quorium of the twelve aposoles. If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats. In 1857 mormon leader brigham young ordered the massacre of. June 1, 1801 august 29, 1877 was an american religious leader, politician, and settler. Nov 11, 2014 brigham young was an important leader in the early years of the mormon church, and led a several decade long term until his sudden death. Bill kurtis investigating history produced an episode for the history channel in 2004 about the murders from university of new mexico professor paul huttons script. Mountain meadows massacre of 1857 the vintage news.
Before they could reach their destination, a party of mormons and indians attacked them while they camped on a plateau known as mountain meadows in southern utah. Terence stamp as brigham young and dean cain as joseph smith. Although there have been many books about these similarities and topics, including the mountain meadows massacre, this is the first movie. Brigham young downplays the more controversial aspects of the mormon church particularly polygamy in favor of portraying young as a trailblazing man of the land. The new movie september dawn depicts young holding a secret meeting of mormon leaders. Brigham young also known as brigham young frontiersman is a 1940 american biographical romantic drama film that describes youngs succession to the presidency of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints after founder joseph smith, jr. A love story set during a tense encounter between a wagon train of settlers and a renegade mormon group. In 1857, when the mountain meadows massacre occurred, utah and the united states were on the brink of war. Lee with white flag jon gries and mormon militia jonathan trent ford.
Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows. The determination of a local militia composed of religious men to commit a crime does not necessarily implicate the entire religion in the crime. It was a murder of 120 men, women, and children, ordered and planned by southern utahs mormon settlers members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The film is controversial, representing the view that brigham young had a direct role in the massacre, while the lds church maintains that the weight of historical evidence shows that brigham young did not authorize the massacre.
Drawing from a wealth of primary sources, bagley explains how the the murders occurred, reveals the involvement of territorial governor brigham young, and explores the subsequent suppression and distortion of events related to the massacre. Brigham young 1 the mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, university of oklahoma press, 2002. The movie depicts the mormons leaving right away, but in reallity, it was two years later.
The mountain meadows massacre church of jesus christ. The attacks began on september 7 and culminated on september 11, 1857, resulting in the mass slaughter of most in the emigrant party by members of the utah territorial militia from the iron county district, together with some southern paiute native americans. Two days after the massacre, brigham youngs messenger finally arrived at mountain meadows with the orders to let the wagon train pass. Feb 27, 2002 a confession etched on a newly discovered lead sheet has shaken the mormon church by linking its revered leader, brigham young, with one of the worst massacres in american history. Brigham young 1 the mountain meadows massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of american history. Brigham young was mistaken when he later testified that the meeting took place some two of three months after the massacre young 1875. The movie brigham young starred names such as tyrone power today is his 100th birthday as jonathan kent, linda darnell as zina webb, dean jagger as brigham young, mary astor as mary ann young, one of brigham youngs wives, and vincent price as joseph smith jr.
It was directed by henry hathaway and produced by darryl f. But in the aftermath of the massacre, only one participant was brought to trial, and that was john d. September dawn is a 2007 canadianamerican western drama film directed by christopher. In april 1857, near harrison boone county, 120 to 150 settlers, mostly arkansans, started a journey toward the promise of a better life in california. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkmans. The church and the utah war, 185758 religious studies center. Scholars debate whether senior mormon leadership, including brigham young, directly instigated the massacre. This was created for a class project for a high school class. Jul 14, 20 in 1857 mormon leader brigham young ordered the massacre of 100140 emigrants on their way to california then covered it up from us federal investigators the mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. In my opinion the massacre at mountain meadows was a terrorist act motivated by their leader brigham young s greed and not a religious act at all. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant wagon train at mountain meadows in southern utah. An impartial look into the mountain meadows massacre and film, september dawn. A biocultural history of the mountain meadows massacre, by shannon a. Sep, 2016 the mountain meadows massacre of 1857 remains one of the most controversial events in the history of the american west, and it is called the darkest deed of the 19th century.
Coates although frank james singer, a successful california businessman, hired will bagley to rewrite the story of the mountain meadows massacre, bagley says singer did not influence his interpretation. People have long speculated that mormon leader brigham young orchestrated the mountain meadows massacre. The church and the utah war, 185758 religious studies. Brigham young and the mountain meadows massacre wikipedia.
Managing director, family and church history department, ensign, september 2007president youngs express message of reply to haight, dated september 10, arrived in cedar city two days after the massacre. Mormon leader ordered massacre of settlers telegraph. To fully understand the death of joseph and hyrum smith one needs to understand the continual coverup by the lds church the coverup extends to the tour of the carthage jail that the mormon tour guides hide the fact that joseph and hyrum smith had any guns in their cells. Mormon, latter day saints, lds, mormonism, mountain meadows massacre, brigham. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2006, 81106. The mountain meadows massacre is a 2001 documentary film about the mountain meadows massacre. Brigham young was not the prophet at the time and many other leaders tried to envolk their status as the next prophet. Mountain meadows massacre encyclopedia of arkansas. He was the second president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church from 1847 until his death in 1877. Directed by christopher cain young guns and written by mr. With jon voight, trent ford, tamara hope, terence stamp. According to wayne atilio capurro, the greatgreat grandson of philip klingensmith, the mormon bishop of cedar city, utah, in 1857, his ancestor, portrayed by jon voight in the film, was a participant in the mountain meadows massacre and one of three men assigned to deliver personally to brigham young the valuables taken from the murdered. A utah massacre and mormon memory the new york times. It was produced by eric young with dave chase, jan walker and larinda.
Fleek, the church and the utah war, 185758, in nineteenthcentury saints at war, ed. How a militia unit of godfearing christians could have murdered more than 120 people in cold blood seems beyond comprehension. Young also led the foundings of the precursors to the. In my opinion the massacre at mountain meadows was a terrorist act motivated by their leader brigham youngs greed and not a religious act at all. Will bagleys work blood of the prophets, im told, is a very scholarly updating, taking into account new evidence. Mountain meadows massacre 1857 massacre frank kirkman. Movie version of the mountain meadows massacre committed by mormon vigilantes under the command of the church hierarchy and brigham young himself in. May 06, 2014 the movie brigham young starred names such as tyrone power today is his 100th birthday as jonathan kent, linda darnell as zina webb, dean jagger as brigham young, mary astor as mary ann young, one of brigham youngs wives, and vincent price as joseph smith jr. Deposition of brigham young regarding the mountain meadows massacre july 30, 1875 brigham young declined to be deposed for john d.
The movie quotes brigham young as saying, i am the voice of god, and anyone who doesnt like it will be hewn down. The mountain meadows massacre was a series of attacks on the bakerfancher emigrant. The mormons courageously performed their part of the blood bath, after which they took binding oaths to stand by eachother, and to always swear that the massacre was committed by indians alone. Local mormon bishop jacob samuelson voight is suspicious of the. Within 6 months of the massacre brigham young was seen driving one of the fancher parties fancy hand caved wagons around salt lake city. In his autobiography, he said the attack was planned by the direct command of brigham young.
She added that the church has no comment on the september dawn movie. Even though young blessed it as a place to begin anew, his fears of continued religious persecution may have caused him to order a massacre. The aftermath of mountain meadows history smithsonian magazine. Wikimedia commons brigham young, president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, as drawn in 1879 by george a. But these aspects are eclipsed in the film by the mormons snidely. This movie tries to tell the whole story and in doing so will make a lot of people angry. My first experience with the mormon church was watching the 1940 film brigham young.
Ahead of september dawn, mormon church revisits dark period. If brigham young did not order the massacre, jns, then mmm says very little about the church, actually. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows has won numerous awards including a spur award from western writers of america, the bancroft history prize from the denver public library, westerners international best book, and the western history association caughey book prize for the most distinguished book on the. From the trailer, this movie takes antimormon speculation and paints a very unjustified portrayal of brigham young as a bloodthirsty tyrant and suggests that he was somehow responsible for this massacre. Brigham young and the massacre at mountain meadows, by will bagley, university of oklahoma press, 2002, p. As juanita brookss the mountain meadows massacre has for decades been the classic account of this event, which was a personal tragedy on many levels as well as an embarrassment one that persists to this day for the mormon church.
Two days after the massacre, brigham young s messenger finally arrived at mountain meadows with the orders to let the wagon train pass. The movie begins with the deposition of mormon leader brigham. Ironically, professor young said he made the film with the aim of clearing brigham young of responsibility for the massacre, but was unable to find the evidence to do so. Based on extensive investigation of the events surrounding the murder of over 120 men, women, and children, and drawing from a wealth of primary sources, bagley explains how the murders occurred, reveals the involvement of territorial governor brigham young, and explores the subsequent suppression and distortion of events related to the. The massacre at mountain meadows remains one of the most heinous and least understood crimes in the history of the american west. From the trailer, this movie takes antimormon speculation and paints a very unjustified portrayal of brigham young as a bloodthirsty tyrant and suggests that. All of the travelers died except for seventeen children, who were taken into. He founded salt lake city and he served as the first governor of the utah territory.
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