New book on Mormon-led massacre opens old wounds

The date is etched in blood in Utah and Mormon church history and, on a more intimate level, the family trees of people like Karen Maxwell, a mother of eight and choir teacher from Salt Lake City.
On Sept. 11, 1857, Mormon militiamen led the slaughter of 120 men, women and children on a wagon train bound for California in an incident known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Chief among the instigators was Isaac Haight, a local militia and church leader. Several generations later, Karen Maxwell would come to know of him as her grandfather's grandfather.

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Now, a new book drawing on existing material and documents previously unavailable to scholars lays the blame largely on southern Utah church and militia leaders. They were otherwise good people, the authors say, who were caught up in the frenzy of the times and took up guns to try to cover up terrible mistakes.

The long-awaited release of "Massacre at Mountain Meadows" forces a reexamination of a dark episode for a faith community that puts families first. Mormons believe the family unit lasts for eternity, dutifully practice genealogy and cherish their pioneer past. So for descendants of massacre perpetrators, the book's gritty detail and naming of names can bring a painful reckoning.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-08-18-mormon-massacre_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

with the arrival of the transcontinental RR?

Brigham city, developed just in time for the golden spike.

RamboLiberal

If the shurch of Jesu later day saints have doing some wrong, and at the look at it, it dosent look good, the the shurch should, and must do something to do it right. It is just the honest thing to do as I see it anyway...

I have not so mutch knowlegde about this, so I would not jump to conclution anyway, but it sounds like some goes over the bounderies here,and to harm and kill 150 others, is just dam wrong in my book.. Hopefully the member of this shurch have grown since this, and are not in that mood anymore...

Off course it is painfull for the ansestors of they who was liable for killing this men, woman and children, it is natural to feel guilty when their grand, grand fathers have executed folks, for no real reason at all... But even if it hurts, it is something that have to come to light, and be finished with I guess..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

Is also a detailed account that names names.

"September Dawn." It tanked, of course. But the Massacre was just that, and there is no way to sugarcoat it.

...were performed by "otherwise good people." Well, that's a relief.

It was of the historical fiction variety, but very well done.