I recently saw a movie about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but I feel like it couldn’t have possibly told the whole story. Was there some sort of persecution against the Mormons in the past? Thanks for your help. (Question originally posted in Spanish)
One Response to “I recently saw a movie about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, …”
Leonardo Leal
2010-12-20 07:03:37
Hi Leidi. I'm happy you visited my site to find answers to your questions. I think I know the movie, and it's not historically accurate. In fact, it was condemned by many news commentators here in the United States as a bigoted anti-mormon production.
The real story is much more complex. I've written bout it elsewhere on my site. You are right in thinking that the Mormon people had been significantly persecuted in the 19th century and that paranoia led a band of Mormons to foolishly attack the Francher party of American immigrants in Southern Utah, contrary to the wishes of Church and territorial leaders like Brigham Young.
The "Mormon Church" originally started in New York in the 19th century, but moved to Ohio after a few years. After Mormon leaders were cruelly tortured, our people moved to Missouri, where we were again poorly received. Eventually the governor of that state authorized the extermination of the Mormon people. Many murders and rapes followed, and the Mormons fled to the neighboring state of Illinois. In Illinois, we built a great city called Nauvoo, but eventually the mobs again forced us to abandon our homes. To escape persecution, we fled thousands of miles and built our communities in the desert. Thousands of Mormons died in this forced exodus. After finally finding a safe home in the desert, the United States still refused to leave us in peace. They sent a great army to investigate and potentially further persecute us. It was during this time of war, fear, and paranoia that the Francher party, unfortunately, entered the Mormon territory of Utah. The leaders of the band of Mormons that attached the Francher party were subsequently excommunicated from the LDS Church.
Fortunately, in modern times this past animosity with the United States has ended. Persecution against Mormons is significantly reduced, and Mormons in the United States have been significantly integrated into the society that once rejected them.
The real story is much more complex. I've written bout it elsewhere on my site. You are right in thinking that the Mormon people had been significantly persecuted in the 19th century and that paranoia led a band of Mormons to foolishly attack the Francher party of American immigrants in Southern Utah, contrary to the wishes of Church and territorial leaders like Brigham Young.
The "Mormon Church" originally started in New York in the 19th century, but moved to Ohio after a few years. After Mormon leaders were cruelly tortured, our people moved to Missouri, where we were again poorly received. Eventually the governor of that state authorized the extermination of the Mormon people. Many murders and rapes followed, and the Mormons fled to the neighboring state of Illinois. In Illinois, we built a great city called Nauvoo, but eventually the mobs again forced us to abandon our homes. To escape persecution, we fled thousands of miles and built our communities in the desert. Thousands of Mormons died in this forced exodus. After finally finding a safe home in the desert, the United States still refused to leave us in peace. They sent a great army to investigate and potentially further persecute us. It was during this time of war, fear, and paranoia that the Francher party, unfortunately, entered the Mormon territory of Utah. The leaders of the band of Mormons that attached the Francher party were subsequently excommunicated from the LDS Church.
Fortunately, in modern times this past animosity with the United States has ended. Persecution against Mormons is significantly reduced, and Mormons in the United States have been significantly integrated into the society that once rejected them.
I hope this answer helps!