On September 11, 1857, a devastating and controversial real life massacre of 120 men, women, and children took place in Mountain Meadows, Utah. This film integrates a romantic drama in a Romeo and Juliet-type love story to set a backdrop for a tragedy wrought by religious fanaticism.
In th fall of 1857, a wagon train of of westward bound settlers led by Captain Alexander Faucher (Shaun Johnston) makes its way to the rich gold coast of California by crossing through Utah, when a confrontation with a congregation of Mormons led by the venerable Brigham Young (Terence Stamp) soon leads to lethal consequences for all involved. Mormon Bishop Jacob Samuelson (Jon Voight) interrupts the wagon train's progress in the Utah Territory because they have passed through the compound of Cedar City. This is the home of his many wives and children, particularly his beloved oldest son Jonathan (Trent Ford), and his second son Micah (Taylor Handley).
Run out of Missouri ten years earlier, the Mormons were victims of religious persecution, including the murder of their Prophet Joseph Smith (Dean Cain), so they see the Gentiles as their enemy. Rumors were started that President Buchanan was sending Army troops to displace the Territorial Governor Brigham Young from his post. Young in return declared martial law, warning his church members to prepare to turn back interlopers by any means.
Bishop Samuelson, his Deacon John D. Lee (Jon Gries), and his Danites (a group of extreme vigilantes) stop the wagon train from crossing their land. Urged by Lee to leave the encampment, Francher pleads for compassion, as his teams need to refresh and rest. Samuelson intervenes and allows the wagon train to stay in the valley for two weeks with the option of checking up on them. Leaving his oldest son Jonathan to check up on the Gentiles, Jonathan is very happy to accommodate his father's wishes, because he's captivated by the beautiful Emily (Tamara Hope), the wagon train minister's daughter. The more Jonathan sees Emily, the more they're attracted to one another. Both young actors Trent Ford and Tamara Hope had great chemistry as the Romeo and Juliet lovers. They naturally bring thoughtfulness and careful consideration to pivotal roles.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Tonya Nichols
I am a direct descendant to 29 of the victims who were slaughtered at Mountain Meadows. The church has covered the extent of Mormon involvement for 150 years. The questions are not just about whether Brigham Young gave a direct order or not. Why did the church not expel or punish all involved? Why did the church cover the tracks of so many men who participated in Cedar City? Why did they never find it good and decent to bury the bodies but leave them to be torn apart by wild animals? Why did the church keep the surviving (younger than 8) children until they were rescued by military? Why did the church put all the gold bar money from the train into its storehouse and absorb the prize horses and cattle into the church herds? Why did they not attempt to make such a horrible wrong right? Because the wrong went all the way to the top.
There was no way to clean it up. Today is no different. The wrong still goes all the way to the top so the "church" can not clean it up. If they could, they would grant the descendants long standing request to deed the Mountain Meadows land to the federal government to make into a national monument. Instead, the dead remain in the hands of those who slayed them. If the church were innocent, they would let go of the victims and the land over which they were scattered.
Americans who believe this to be a long dead issue should consider their willingness to rest with the real estate at Ground Zero controlled by followers of Osama bin Laden.
2 - cp
That 20 percent of the us army was on it's way to put down the Mormons was not a rumor, it was a fact!
In the previous thirty years prior to mountanin meadow massacre, the Mormons were persecuted and driven out of five states. Two sitting US governors gave extermination orders explicitely and implicitely to kill all mormons on sight Governors Boggs and Ford of Missouri and Illinois. Their leader Joseph Smith and his Brother were murdered in their cell as they awaited trial.
Over the years there were tar and featherings, the slaughter at Haunns mill in Mo. countless murders along the way. The Mormons in 1847 were forced out of their homes and community which they had built in Nauvoo, Il., IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. There were no transfers of deeds nor sales of properties, their lands and possessions were simply stolen from them without compensation.
And as these families were driven into the cold harsh winter wilderness, at the end of guns, hundreds more of them perished along the way, men, women and children. Imagine the children with only the clothes on their back puilled from their warm beds and kicked across the river. Again, no Marriott accross the river. Was this terrorism?
The implication that the MMM was the first act of religious terrorism on US soil is insulting to all intelligent human beings. I have an ancestor, a mother of five who was burned at the the stake,as a witch, in the name of God, as were countless other souls. Native Americans were slaughtered by the thousands in the name of God, African Americans likewise. The Mormons themselves were killed by others in the name of God. But somehow, this one time incident in 1857, (nothing like it involving Mormons has ever happened before nor since), is the "first act of religious terrorism in US history"? Hollywood hype at best, profound ignorance in the least. All of these incidents preceeded the event of 1857.
Unfortunately a perfect storm of events happened which created paranoia in the lonely outpost of southeren Utah.
After the previous 30 years of the country's persecution or "terrorism", perpetrated on the Mormons, they were now established. They had settlements all over the west, they had finally found their homes in the "tops of the mountains". Guess what folks, this time, they were not leaving. Having met all requirements for statehood in 1850, they were denied over and over again.
Now, here comes one fifth of the US army to once and for all take care of the "Mormon problem". Martial law was declared by Brigham Young, people were on alert. Parley P. Pratt a Mormon Apostle, had recently been murdered in where? Arkansas.
Another group of people had joined this wagon train, from where? Misouri. Among other things the Misssouri wildcatters had bragged about the slaughter at Hauns mill in Missouri, a decade earlier. Some had bragged they were there when Joseph was killed. There were rumors of poisened wells, etc. Comments were made "well go to California and get the militia and come back to take care of you mormons once and for all".
Nobody can justify what happened on that day in 1857, but one should understand the climate which could have brought an otherwise peaceful people to such horrific acts.
Remember there were no telephones, email, telegraph, nor pony express,
the trip to Salt Lake could take 3-5 days each way. When Brigham Young got word, he sent the rider to tell them to let them go in peace. For will bagley to stae otherwise is false. His so called scholarship is lacking to say the least
To take this incident and then write sensational books and make movies with poor scholarship, lies and inuendos, stating that Brigham Young gave orders to act this way when no accredited historian has ever come to this conclusion, and to refer to this as the first US act of terrorism, etc. is in fact nothing more than "JOURNALISTIC TERRORISM.
for true scholarship
3 - Nauvoo Christian
One question...If what you have believed your entire life was not true; would you want to know?
4 - Tonya Nichols
Wow!! Someone took all the right "We are the best, to hell with the rest" classes at BYU. I'm guessing they didn't take a lot of time covering things like what actions made early Mormons enemies of the state in FIVE states, at a time when states were working to acquire citizens to build the new statehoods, and the compounded conflicts that arose from Mormon beliefs that they answered only to the prophet and not the constitution or local laws. Is it possible the "religious terrorism" of an extermination order (The order was in response to what Boggs termed "open and avowed defiance of the laws, and of having made war upon the people of this State ... the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for the public peace--their outrages are beyond all description.") had more to do with the over weaning Mormon arrogance that disregarded any outside the faith beliefs and opinions as the empty thoughts of Gentiles going to hell, and those law abiding citizens getting fed up with having their store goods, land, cattle, and women 'repurposed for the kingdom'?
Parley Pratt was not killed because he was a Mormon leader, or because he was being persecuted. He ran off with another man's wife to add to his collection. The husband, who was not even from Arkansas, caught up with Pratt, in Arkansas and shot him.
Keep also in mind; the wagon train was not comprised of people who aligned themselves with Arkansas anymore than you would call Mormons Missourians, Arkansans or whatever state they left. The members of the wagon party left Arkansas behind and were, more correctly, future Californians.
Congress denied statehood as Brigham Young refused to submit to the laws of the constitution. He wanted to be a separate state answering only to himself. That is why Buchanan sent troops to displace him as Territorial Governor. The Army was not coming to kill anyone. If Mormons believed that, it is because their governor, Brigham Young, needed them ready to fight to the death when he declared martial law on the military.
Did members of the wagon train, composed mostly of women and children, really brag, swagger, and poison wells?? Or is that a maelstrom of Mormon rumors necessary to convince local men to participate in their massacre?
The 'peaceful' Mormons believed in blood atonement.
They killed many of their own members for trying to leave the faith by slitting their neck and spilling their blood. This was an "act of mercy to save their souls."
Does Will Bagley, or any historian or author, have to graduate from BYU to be credible? Is BYU the only source of "true scholarship" Surely Bagley isn't the only person with these views that hold the church responsible. Many others HAVE published. Of course, access to church records can be a little difficult since CJCLDS does not want certain documents to be seen or reported. However, the testimony of plenty of those who were present is recorded and difficult to sweep under the "Well, lots of crazy stuff happened back then. I'm sure the church is innocent. Lets just forget it" rug.
Child abusers who were abused as children are comprehendable, but no less culpable for their own choices. We expect them to be repentant to be restored to good faith. Saying, "Nobody can justify what happened on that day in 1857, but one should understand the climate which could have brought an otherwise peaceful people to such horrific acts," without offering apology for the massacre of women and children (as is the formal position of the church), IS justification. It is the memorized mantra of BYU students, staff, and missionaries. The church DOES feel justified and so do a majority of LDS members.
The hubris is the same stunning stuff that made for the trouble in the early states. What continues to mystify me is how so many church members can look to this institution for spiritual leadership when it is unable, in the space of 150 years, to find an open measure of humility and humanity to demonstrate repentance, as an example to its people of how to take responsibility and offer sincere apology when wrong.
5 - David Fancher
You speak of scholarship and righteousness but no one seemed that the writer of the article didn't bother to spell Captain FANCHER correctly. The historical marker making the site has been vandalized three times and should be put under Federal protection as this is a hate crime. The Fancher party was only guilty of believing in Democracy and patriotism for their United States for which they died for. They were only passing through Utah on their way to California to resettle, not to come all this way to persecute the Mormons. This hatred they had for my ancestors lives today. I go to Utah regularly and deal with it every time I wear my company ID in public.
6 - FANCHER descendant
Here, here David. I have experienced similar predudice. It is as if, by continuing the hateful behavior, Mormons justify having had it in the first place. I attended a highschool where the Mormon students were told, by their bishop, they were not alowed to talk to me. Period. We could not even be put in groups in Chemistry or Math. This was explained to them, and the school principal, before I even enrolled. Just moving into town set the wheels of protective wheels of predudice in motion.
As far as federal protection of the monument goes, that is the only hope of responsible care. The church can't bother to respect the dead enough to keep from flipping a load of them up with a backhoe while digging right on top of the marked grave in 1999. Who does that????
7 - Chill out
All this is a little bizzare. If the Mormon church is wrong, let it be wrong. Why do all the hate(rs) try to prove such a point. If the Mormons are wrong then its wrong and nothing will come of it. They still only have 12 million members. This hardley scratches the surface of Christain church membership. Mormons are not to be concerned with. Those still hurt by their ancestors hardships should grow up and get over it. My ancestors have experienced far worse, but I can't waist my days blamming all the descendants of my lenial persecutors. This is crazy! Learn from the past and move on. No one is the wiser finding fault. If you think you're right move on and preach something uplifting and positive. Don't waste your time finding fault and persecuting. If you insist on pointing the finger consider modern topics like the Iraqi war, Jihad, and the poverty, charity, or the domination of the Muslim church and strict observance of belief and death as a means for religious freedom. Start there, make a differnnce today. Or spend your time in the past and while you're there lets consider all other religious wars in the name of God. There are many!
8 - Arkansan American
I will forever wonder if my life is best spent doing good or fixing bad. To teach children and set them free from the chains of ignorance, prejudice, secrecy, and the victimization of cruel men is my passionate privilege; to lay those to rest who suffered the same is my responsibility. There is no one else to do it and I can not feel for the living if I do not respect the dead. I may not march forward until I charge back. The tenacity of the Arkansians is that we will honor life. We can not honor our own lives if we do not value those slaughtered before us. The summary of our heritage is that we are born to a family of a nation that honors life.
Those killed offer us the chance to fight on their behalf so we can find the dignity to battle our own assailants. If we fear we may fall unnoticed and unrecovered, we can not feel the support of family that is necessary to face the individual health assaults of cancer, disability, and birth defects, or recover from abuse, rape, robbery, or battery with courage and valor. We can not approach the larger defeats like our country’s most recent September 11 attack. It is not possible to feel connected to the fabric of a nation if we do not feel the threads of our families. We are Americans only after we are Fanchers.
Could Americans march on with a soul if they left the towers in a heap with the powder of bones beneath them? I was there. I know we could not. I watched both towers fall. I went to ground zero while the other buildings were still burning with a group of emergency response volunteers to start the digging. I worked to support the efforts from a boat on the pier where the crews came to eat and shed their gear for a few fleeting moments each day. I heard the stories from the places where the cameras could not go and watched the men who told them suffer the periodic indignity of mental/emotional/physical breakdown. I watched the digging ever day for the first two months. I knew it could not stop until the land was clear and all the collected fingers, toes, skull fragments, and hip sockets were identified and sent home to the families that birthed them. If we could not do this for them, we would know we were forever unrecovered from the assault. Perpetual victims. Locked in a pile that was proof of the injustice yet incapable of honoring those who died and therefore powerless to live with honor.
Many wonder why the Fanchers can not let the Mountain Meadows Massacre go and move on to the living of new generations. Is that what other countries say of the United States? Move on. Could we ever do it if Bin Laden controlled Ground Zero and obstructed the investigation for two years after the attack so that the remaining personal effects could not be recovered and sent home to the families? What if a Muslim organization designed, constructed, and controlled the memorial? What if they were turned loose on the site to dig on occasion and unearth whatever popped up? Could we resolve the horror if the very few survivors were kept two years in his care after the attacks? And how would we view the accounts of history that painted him as a great religious leader whose name was lauded and respected as a prophet worthy of naming a University after? If the students at Bin Laden University did not have access to the truth of what his followers did at his request, how hard would we fight and for how many generations would we feel the need tell them the awful truth about him?
It is not just for apologies and possesion of burial grounds that the Fancier descendants are dog-jaw clenched on the heels of the Mormon Church, we want the truth of Brigham Young told. He is a villain esteemed as a Prophet whose history is unknown to his own genealogically obsessed followers.
I know I did not sleep well again until Ground Zero was swept clean and Bin Laden’s hidden palace secrets were revealed for all those who followed him. I suspect that is the same for most Americans, even the ones who were not at the towers.
The Jews can recover only through the truth being captured in film, book, and museum with the knowledge that everyone knows that Hitler did wrong. There is no Hitler University. There is no esteem for his marvelous ideas and we know better than to herald his genius for it was dark and dangerous. Brigham Young is responsible for the Massacre and many other heinous assaults against humanity including those against his own followers and their women and children. The forces of control still at work in the Mormon Church are why it can not come clean. The stench of internal fear and knowing looks hiding secretive silences still waft over the lives of members today. Those who can not name evil can not do so because they are still in the practice of it. The Mormon Church controls its members and suppresses unsightly truths much today as it did when it found the riches of a foreign wagon train more valuable than the lives on it. The Massacre is one of many bloody tales searching for a public voice.
Perhaps this means that I am finally growing up. Youth chooses to overlook responsibility. Wisdom knows the cost is too great. You can not break a thread and still rest in the assurance of its coverage. That is my heritage. I am a Fancher. I am an American. I am a citizen who believes in truth and justice. I am a teacher who can not espouse for others what I can not live for myself. I believe is setting the enslaved free, be they living or dead.
This is a modern topic. The church still owns the land on which the dead they slayed are buried. This wasn't a personal family squabble, the Fancher party was killed because Mormons were at war with America. The train was killed for being "Mercats" in the Utah War. Until Americans see the simple need to claim that land as a national monument, they are not ready to address the far more complicated issues like Iraqi war, Jihad, poverty, charity, or the domination of the Muslim church. Taking national control of national killing fields is easy. Preparing to meet the coming wars of Americans against religious extremeists takes tremendous thought and effort. It isn't about 'getting over it,' it is about taking the first steps of proving we are ready to grow up and care so we can be trusted with the adult issues of our nation and, indeed, our world.
9 - RJ
Either the Mormons are right or wrong. THAT'S IT! Nothing else! How easy is that? Have you ever even talked to one? I have, they don't try to convince anything is right, they don't try to tell you that what some of the members have done in the past is right. We all make mistakes, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. So if you wanna know the truth, why don't you stop thinking you can find it by reading solely history books, and kneel down, ask GOD what the truth is? If you're Christian then you believe in God right? Isn't that why the Mormons left? They knew the truth, not because Joseph Smith told them, not because B.Young told them, they knew it because they humbled themselves, and just prayed to know truth. Isn't that what everyone is searching for any way? With basically everything? Isn't that the worlds question? Where is the truth? From talking to some mormons I could see, that's what they're striving to do. Strive, not try. Everyone makes mistakes, some A LOT worse than others. Some mistakes require bigger consequences. You pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other right? Either the Mormon people are right, or they are wrong. If you want to find out for yourself, then try what they asked me to do. Humble yourself, unharden your hearts, and just pray. Ask God what the truth is. Either it's right or wrong. One of these young men I was talking to said something that hit me that I will leave as my closer. He said "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is perfect. The people in it are not." How true of a statement can you get? We ALL make mistakes, like I've said, but does that not mean we can not take upon us Jesus Christ, and repent, and strive to do better tomorrow? If you want to argue whether the Mormons are right, or whatever, just think the famous line. What would Jesus do? I think he would ask His Father what to do, He would bring peace, not hatred. Right?
10 - MCH
"They knew the truth, not because Joseph Smith told them, not because B.Young told them, they knew it because they humbled themselves, and just prayed to know truth."
And the "humble" massacre of 120 men, women and children was their version of the "truth"...?
11 - Christopher Rose
The Mormons are wrong because god doesn't exist. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints isn't perfect either; partly because it's based on the misconception that there is a god and partly because it's a human creation and most human creations are flawed in one way or another.
12 - MCH
And who would want 76 (Brigham Young) or 51 (Joseph Smith) wives!?! One is quite enough me, thankyou...
13 - Molly
The church has never covered up the fact that it happened. It was an unfortunate event in our church's history, there was no excuse for it. As far as I know there is no proof that President Young ordered the people to be killed, nor is there any proof that he didn't. Everyone is speculating what happened that day and why it happened.
My question is why is everyone so stuck on making the LDS church out to be some evil entity?
14 - lifeonaplate
To call the MM the "first act of religious terrorism" in America is honestly a joke. Can anyone honestly say this was the first act of religious terrorism?
15 - Haley
Not the first act of religious terrorism IN America, first act of religious terrorism AGAINST America. The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a terrorist retaliation of a sect, the Mormons, against the state. The Fancher-Baker train was exterminated because they were "Mercats" - AMERICANS and the Mormons were at war against America. B.Y. would not submit his theocratic rule to the checks and ballances of our constitution which is why the troops were marching to dethrone him. He believed he answered to NO MAN. The hysteria of the massacre was a part of the Utah War. Mormons versus Americans. The spoils of the massacre, from one of the wealthiest trains ever to cross the plains, wagons, weapons, gold bar, cattle, horses, and personal effects were brought into the church store house to be used to fortify the members for battle. The wagons themselves were used to haul ore for munitions and for Brigham Young to get about among his men. All the flimsy "wildcat and well stories" were started by Mormon leaders who needed to fortify their henchmen to do evil. They needed to kill the train to aquire it's wealth to fight against the state. Ugly, but true.
And yes, Americans should expect an appology from the institution that mastermined, collectivly covered, and still insulates such an event from the light of truth because they feel themselves so superior to the laws by which we live.
Any American could have been on that train. Any American too old to tell would ever get the chance. The terrorists would have killed them.
16 - Heavy D
With all due respect to David Fancher and the other descendent, most of us Mormons have no idea who you or your ancestors are/were. I don't know how you can feel hate when, if polled probably 99.9% of Mormons would have exactly zero recollection of the name.
I feel badly that one of your ancestors was killed by perhaps even one of my ancestors - not likely, but who knows? However, could it be possible that you are imposing your own negative feelings (even perfectly justified feelings) on those around you and that people are not hating you simply because of your name? Current LDS people are a lot less informed on the details (individual names!) than you give them credit for.
17 - Blake
Did anyone forget the holy crusades where Christians walked around slaughtering everyone in the name of god?
Please people get over it.
18 - Mormon Kid
For those of u who hate my religion (mormonism) i have to say that this subject is touchy for me. I do not believe that the past leader of this church ordered the massacre. i believe he tried to stop it. i believe the mormon community was edgy and just the thought of someone from arkansas were another leader of the church had recently been killed even close to them would upset them. Maybe some did boast about the death of the prophet but i do not believe anyone deserved to die. no one ever does. This is a dark chapter in the LDS church and every mormon feels sick about it still so to make a movie about it and rub it in our faces is a major insult to the 12 million members. I kno i wish i could say my religion was totally clean but i cant anymore. I believe that the idea that Brigham Young ordered the attack is a fictional thought dreamed up by MH tho and that that is the most insulting finger ever pointed at my religion. nuf said.
19 - Nowhere
A. The church does cover up its history.
To Mormons out there...check your Elder's Quorum Manual Quotes....look at the number of quotes from the "Journal of Discourses".
Now try and find a copy.
If you really want to know more, start reading all the 'anti mormon' books that are out there. Not all "anti" LDS literature is "The Godmakers."
20 - decendent of D. Lee
I am related to John D. Lee five generations back. Until recently I was not aware of the facts of the horrible act. The fact that John D. Lee was the only one convicted of this crime is simply remarkable. The idea that Young was not responsible for the massacare doesn't line up with the principles of the Mormon Church. Lee had a holy obligation to obey the elders and other leaders. They represented the will and voice of God. A true Mormon knows you do not question the voice of God and that to show yourself worthy you are, like Lee did, expected to do your duty.
I've read Lee's last words and his confessions accounting of that day and the events leading to it. According to public record Lee apparently was extremely upset over the task he was asked to carry out. Lee himself stated" I am a true believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe everything that is now being taught and practiced by Brigham Young." His words not mine. Lee was raised catholic and left for an orphan. He longed for a family and Young provided this for him.
It his highly unlikely that one man acted alone. Especially in a faith that practices obedience to religious authority (in this case his father and president of the church), over personal conviction. Lee had a family that he cared for and a "duty" to uphold if he was going to be obedient to his faith and in his heart he believed, his God. Lee was not the leader of the church and if anyone is familiar at all with LDS practices there is a chain of command that is demanded to be followed--your salvation requires it.
What has happend is unfortunate. It was an unfortunate time in America's history like many other events that we can all recall. These horrible events happen all over the world. To blame one group of people or another for the acts of another is just as unfortunate. History is meant to be a teacher. I don't believe any Mormon today would ever think about doing what the early leaders of the church did. However, it is very ignorant of anyone not to look at this event and others like it and not try and reason for themselves why they occured. The early Christian Church has some very similar sads events. It is well documented the christians that were killed for what they believed and even in the church itself we know that Paul killed Christians in the name of God because he couldn't cope with his own sinful nature. The question I think which needs to be addressed is why today or in the early LDS church did the leaders only allow the voice of God to heard through them? Why is the voice of God only allowed to come through a select few? The fact is, this is what was being taught to the early LDS church. From what I've read for myself I think Lee was in conflict over the fact that he himself never believed that God wanted the pioneers blood to be shed for their sins. I think God was talking to Lee but his faithfulness to Young, his adopted father no less, was very strong. I was not raised Mormon but my father was and he very much instilled in us this chain of command authority. I was taught not to question. Although my father left the Mormon church he very much taught us that our obedience to him would provide me the voice and will of God. I remember being told many times that if I obeyed my parents and they were wrong that God would take of it and that I would not be held accountable. And although I believe there is some truth to this, I also believe my father's Mormon upbringing contributed to this idea that obidence is more important than grace. It just seems to me that anyone who believes they are the only ones who can hear from God are on a power trip and are very insecure about themselves. If God only spoke to a select few I don't see how so many amazing and incredible things in this life could ever occur. I believe that God doesn't discriminate against his creation. He loves and desire to speak to us all.
21 - lifeonaplate
Regarding post 19 about the Journal of Discourses being supressed, or whatever he is trying to insinuate there: you can find the entire thing at just about every LDS bookstore on the massive collection on disk called "GospelLink." It is also available in entire online for free.
As is reflected in the reviews of the film, September Dawn falls short in practically every area: historical, and artistically, it is a poor film.
22 - BlueDreams
Post #15...Haley
It was not that BY wouldn't submit to any man. It was that no one gave him notice of change in governorship of UT. They had no idea of the government change, nor the reason 2,500 soldiers were dispersed to their territory. I can't think of an analogy to get the situation across...but I'll try. Imagine a people who highly distrust another in the same nation. The recent past has brought only trouble for them and now, without warning, a large army is coming. There's no reason for this. But that is the only fact you have, that a large army from a system that left you in a barren desert the last time you had an encounter and that after years of work, drought, etc is beginning to come about is now moving towards you. This is why there was a standoff...not any desire for a throne but a fear for the kingdom surrounding.
Buchannan was an idiot to do this...it's one reason why the 'mormon war' is also called Buchannan's Blunder. No I'm not blathering on mormon propoganda...it's on wikipedia. The fancher party was truly at the wrong place at the wrong time. No, this does not justify the massacre...nothing ever will. Mormons do not feel justified by this. Then again, neither does this massacre justify demonizing a church/religion/people.
With luv,
BD
23 - Bill Williams
I saw the movie, SEPTEMBER DAWN and thought it was a great film.
Maybe you want to believe in the so called "Letter" that Brigham Young sent via messenger to stop the attack, but there has never been concrete proof that it ever existed. Even BY in his deposition said he never heard of the attack until some time AFTER it occured.
Now how could he dispatch a letter to stop a slaughter that he never heard about until some time AFTER the event? Hmmmmmmm...
24 - Randy Gavin
I agree it was a good movie treating a difficult subject. How do you make a peice of history like that an enjoyable expeirience? They did a good job in presenting it and should be commended. Instead the film has been the victim of a hatchet job both befdore and after its release.
25 - Spencer
Dear Bill Williams:
You state: "Maybe you want to believe in the so called "Letter" that Brigham Young sent via messenger to stop the attack, but there has never been concrete proof that it ever existed."
This is simply not true. There is no reasonable dispute at all that Brigham Young's letter existed. A copy of it, made at the time he wrote it, still exists to this day.
See this link for more information.
I'm not sure where you got your information, but it is patently incorrect.
Thanks,
Spencer