What Happened at Mountain Meadows? | Peace and Violence, Ep. 6

The Mountain Meadows Massacre-easily the darkest and most violent episode in our Church’s history-happened on September 11, 1857, when a group of Latter-day Saints, aided by some Paiute Native Americans, participated in the wholesale slaughter of around 120 men, women, and children belonging to a wagon train of emigrants from Arkansas en route to California. This atrocity occurred against the backdrop of the 1857 Utah War when the feelings of Latter-day Saints were already set on edge. As federal US troops marched toward Utah with unknown intentions, Church leaders used defiant rhetoric and counseled the Saints-who had been victims of government-sanctioned violence before-to conserve their resources and be ready for anything. It was in this unfortunate atmosphere of hysteria that those in the Arkansas wagon train found themselves as they passed through Utah. So by the time these emigrants purportedly said and did offensive things toward some Latter-day Saints, the stage had already been tragically set for the highly irrational and totally unjustified violent response they received in return. In this episode of Church History Matters, Scott and Casey walk through the details of how this atrocity unfolded under the direction of local Latter-day Saint leaders and think about what possible lessons we might glean from this darkest hour of our history.
This is the sixth episode of our podcast series on peace and violence in Latter-day Saint history. For a full transcript of this episode, as well as show notes and additional resources, visit our website at doctrineandcov....
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Originally published December 3, 2024
DISCLAIMER: While we try very hard to be historically and doctrinally accurate in what we say on this podcast, please remember that all views expressed in this and every episode are our views alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Scripture Central or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[@kylebartlett7065]

One of the things I love about this podcast is your attempts to put aside your biases and be as objective as you can during these discussions. I appreciate this episode especially, tackling the most atrocious act committed by (local) leaders in this churchs history. Yet still, faith is being strengthened. Thank you for your efforts.

[@danielschulz9304]

Well done, thank you

[@loisparrish2146]

This has been a struggling point throughout my life. Thank you for addressing it in a forthright way. I read Juanita Brooks' book as a young adult and have tried to reconcile church history since.

[@dcarts5616]

This is so sad. I’ve heard about this MMM many times, but it never gets easier to listen to or study. I hate that antis and even current progmos alike still claim that BY ordered it but I understand the sentiment. It started in Missouri when our ancestors were kicked off their lands several times, murdering our people and a prophet of God, raping our women etc., but the MMM is so sad either way. The Gospel of Christ is one of repentance and forgiveness, I wish everyone involved then and especially now understood that simple call to a spiritual truce.

[@thexplodenator3007]

I’m a descendant of John D Lee. And honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the root cause of why that side of my family has so many issues

[@Tk.utelab]

I lived just a few miles from Mountain Meadows. I also had the privilege of being a surveyor that but in the new monument. Don Carlos shirts Is my 3rd great uncle. Peter shirts is my fourth great grandfather. Don Carlos was married to Lee’s daughter. Lee instructed Don Carlos to go down and get the Paiutes and bring them up. Something happened because after the massacre, Lee ordered Don Carlos to divorce his daughter. The history isn’t quite certain, but it sounds like Don Carlos did didn’t do what he was supposed to do. Also I being friends with the Paiutes tribe near St George, every single person I talk to said they were never involved. But a lot of the Saints were dressed like Paiutes. I think to find out what really happened. We need to get to the bottom of what happened between Lee and Don Carlos Shirts.

[@richardbarrow4620]

I'm old and take the bus. Someone on the bus spoke of this event as the way Mormons delt with people passing through Utah in the 1800s.