The Mountain Meadows Massacre Explained

Men, women, and children looking to practice their religion in peace… viciously slaughtered. Surely, that couldn't have happened in a country built on principles of freedom?

#History #Massacre #Religion

Setting the stage | 0:00
Utah Mormons prepare for war | 1:31
Trapped in Utah | 2:32
Bloodbath at Mountain Meadows | 3:17
A letter could have stopped it | 4:47

[GrungeHQ]

What do you think of the Mountain Meadows Massacre?

[cynhiacations]

It never ceases to amaze me just how many wars battles and riots etc are started over religious beliefs. Throughout history most were started by the church

[Bushmaster]

I drove through the Mountain Meadows memorial area yesterday, although I’ve known about it forever I had to look up new info, this did a good job.

[stevechrisman]

Another feather in the cap of organized religion. Good work.

[skylark]

This was a tragic and horrible event caused by religious fanaticism and greed on the part of Brigham Young. The Saints had been in Utah but 10 years and were having a hard go of it. Young’s coffers were running low. He saw the wealth of this wagon train of Methodists families when it came through Salt Lake. Forty wagons, 900 longhorn cattle, 250 stock horses, a fine race horse valued at $10, 000, four finely carved carriages, $100, 000 in gold and silver, and other belongings. This was the wealthiest wagon train to enter Utah territory and Young saw an opportunity to make himself rich. The families were directed to Mountain Meadows as it was a respite stop of the trail with a big meadow, lots of trees, streams running through it, and grazing grasses for the herd of cattle. But it was also surrounded by hills that made targeting the wagon train families much easier. A siege between Mormon church leaders and the wagon train families began and lasted five days. Without water and food and several of their leaders already shot or killed, the families decided to surrender to the Mormon militia after surrendering their weapons in order to get water and food promised by the Mormons. Men and women were matched separated into the meadow and were shot point blank. Infants had their heads bashed against wheels. Many had their throats cut. The murdered were 120 laid out across the meadow. Thirty eight victims were children. 17 children age 6 and under were allowed to survive as they could grow into servitude roles for Mormon families. The bodies of the dead were stripped of their clothing which was tithed to the Mormon church, blood soaked and all. The bodies were not buried by their Mormon killers.
Young ended up with the gold from the wagon train. The cattle were branded with the Mormon church brand, an upside down cross. Young built a fine home for his favorite wife and himself and gave her a finely carved carriage with a stag’s head on it and fine jewels from the murdered women. Did he tell her where they came from? The Mormon murderers took wagon loads of goods and John D Lee took one of the fine carriages and gold. Young finished building the temple in Salt Lake City using the gold from the murdered families. Young became wealthy from this vicious crime and bears the brunt of responsibility for the murders. He was no Saint. Only John D Lee was prosecuted and shot by firing squad at Mountain Meadows. The rest of the murderers went on with their lives. The U.S. cavalry came through many months later to a horrific site of the skeletons at the meadow and buried them and erected a huge cross at the site to honor the dead. Young had the cross torn down. “Vengeance is mine, and I have taken a little.”
There is no way the murders would have happened without Young’s approval. He had a strong hold of all his church leaders, even choosing their wives for them. The Mormon church owns the murder site today and has never acknowledged its full responsibility for the murders. They tried to blame the Indians and covered up the murders for many years. But history has a way of revealing the truth. This horrific event forever mars the Mormon faith. It should be a deal breaker for every Mormon with a conscience.

[fabricegorgeon]

Thank you. It is more clear for me now...

[inhocsignovinces]

Since Bishop John Lee saw himself as a scapegoat, then it adds weight that Brigham Young gave the nod to such actions. The letter he wrote two days after the massacre was to falsely document in writing he had no hand in the matter.

[ReesieandLee]

Excellent! No one ever talks about this. Another Sept 11th attack.

I did a ton of genealogy during lockdown and found out my Great Great Great grandfather used to travel around with Joseph Smith and baptized people all over NY. He was also baptized by Joseph Smith himself. I grew up in Utah so it shouldn’t be that surprising, but it was!

The Mormon Massacre has always fascinated me.

[dben]

I am a Christian and this is absolutely insane and has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus.

[premiumg]

I grew up in Utah and this made me dislike the Mormon church even more

[DanielEarth]

The most blood-chilling quote on silencing Mormons speaking out can be attributed to Brigham Young a short time before the Mountain Meadows Massacre trial in 1875 When the people of southern Utah, alarmed by the presence in their midst of federal investigators, wavered in the faith. Brigham himself jerked them into line in short order.

“Do you know who those people were that were killed at the Mountain Meadows?” he demanded in a sermon delivered at Cedar City. “I will tell you who those people were. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and children of those who killed the Saints, and drove them from Missouri, and afterwards killed our Prophets in Carthage jail...And yet I am told that there are many of the brethren who are willing to inform upon and swear against the brethren who were engaged in that affair...I hope there is no such person here, under the sound of my voice. But if there is, I will tell you my opinion of you, and the facts so far as your fate is concerned. Unless you repent at once of that unholy intention, and keep the secret of all you know, you will die a dog’s death, and be damned and go to hell. I do not want to hear of any more treachery among my people.”

From: HOLY MURDER The Story of Porter Rockwell By CHARLES KELLY and HOFFMAN BIRNEY

[sparkparkful]

Living in Utah as a non-morman this is just disgusting

[philbrooks]

LDS to this day still have not formally apologized for this massacre nor given compensation to any of the relatives of the victims. So Christian of them.

[laurencaulton]

What a lovely story of violence, covered-up for so long.

[jackofblades]

1:00 "was murdered by the husband of one of his wives"
Pardon my language but What the fuck

[karenshannon]

I joined the LDS when I was in my 30's. When i heard about the massacre of the Arkansas wagontrain that was on their way to California, it broke my heart. These evil men murdered these innocent people and got away with it. All mormons that were involved in the bloody murder of these innocent people should have been rounded up and shot. After many years of being a member I told them to excommunicate me. Jesus never had a church and these people put His, JESUS, name on their church. I don't believe in religions as they were put in place to control people. The rich men in charge made the rules. Greed, power, and control over the people, killing those who would not follow their teachings. The catholic church murdered over one million people in northern France. Women have been murdered by the churches by MEN in Europe accusing them of being witches. This happened right here in Salem. Young girls, women, and men accused people of being witches for different reasons, one of wanting a mans property. The catholic church also murdered monks. Church of England? I have seen movies about these churches. The UNITED STATES of AMERICA murdered the indigenous tribes of Indians. The children were taken to boarding schools that cut their hair, made them take a "christian" name. Jesuits ran many schools in CANADA and the USA.Girls and boys were raped by those in charge. Children were beaten, some to their deaths. Just in the last few years have they found the graves of children that were killed and died here in the good old USA and CANADA. Nothing will ever be done about this. Columbus did bad things to people. Read and find out. Muslims are still forcing people to become Muslim or die. The people that are being killed are not allowed firearms to protect themselves and their families from these Muslim men that come to the villages and rape all the women and little girls and then kill everyone. It is going on now. The Jewish people were murdered too in many countries.

[b.m.t.h.]

Lets face it, their leader Joseph Smith was a hustler, he invented his new religion to make money (no shame in wanting money)
Later he also decided he wanted lots of women and invented some tale about men having lots of wives to get to heaven. Joseph Smith, the ultimate grifter.

[Anthony-hurj]

How quickly it became "their land" when, in fact, American Indians were still there, still fighting for their land.

[JessieArt]

Very good video - thankyou! Quick question: why refer to the Mormons as “latter day saints”? What’s the difference?

[charlessidney]

I drive past there at least once a month, it moves me every single time. It's a real place, it really happened and it's an absolute shame.