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Mountain Meadows Massacre: Difference between revisions

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The Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857) was the killing of members of a wagon train passing through southern Utah Territory, carried out by a local Mormon militia with involvement from some allied Native Americans during a period of heightened fear and conflict associated with the Utah War. Critics often point to the Church’s leadership structure in the territory and inflammatory rhetoric of the period as evidence that Church authorities bore direct responsibility for the attack, while also emphasizing later efforts to conceal what happened as further indication of institutional culpability. The historical record, however, distinguishes between local militia leaders in southern Utah who planned and executed the attack and Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, noting that communication delays and fragmented authority shaped events on the ground. While Brigham Young’s exact role has been debated, available evidence does not show that he ordered the massacre, and some directives he sent appear to have counseled peaceful passage of emigrants. The Church has since acknowledged the tragedy, expressed sorrow for the suffering caused, and formally disavowed the actions taken at Mountain Meadows while recognizing the complexity of the historical circumstances. Click the links below for faithful answers to questions about and criticisms of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
The Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857) was the killing of members of a passing emigrant wagon train in southern Utah Territory by a local Mormon militia, with participation from some allied Native Americans, during a period of heightened fear surrounding the Utah War. Critics often attribute responsibility to Church leadership due to the territorial context and rhetoric of the time, but available historical evidence distinguishes between local decision-making and Church headquarters, and does not support claims that Brigham Young ordered the attack. The Church has since acknowledged the tragedy, expressed sorrow for what occurred, and disavowed the actions taken at Mountain Meadows while noting the complexity of the circumstances.
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*[[Historical summary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre|Historical Summary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre]]
*[[Historical summary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre|Historical Summary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre]]

Revision as of 21:25, 19 June 2026

Mountain Meadows Massacre

The Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857) was the killing of members of a passing emigrant wagon train in southern Utah Territory by a local Mormon militia, with participation from some allied Native Americans, during a period of heightened fear surrounding the Utah War. Critics often attribute responsibility to Church leadership due to the territorial context and rhetoric of the time, but available historical evidence distinguishes between local decision-making and Church headquarters, and does not support claims that Brigham Young ordered the attack. The Church has since acknowledged the tragedy, expressed sorrow for what occurred, and disavowed the actions taken at Mountain Meadows while noting the complexity of the circumstances.


First video published by the Church History Department.


FAIR Conference