The Tragic Mountain Meadows Massacre: How and Why it Happened

The Mountain Meadows Massacre was a tragic event, where about 120 pioneers were killed by a local Latter-day Saint milita. There's no excusing the actions of members of the militia. Knowing some of the context can help better understand why it happened, Brigham Youngs involvement, and what we can learn from this. Join Zander Sturgill as he explores the Mountain Meadows Massacre site.

[BlaineNay]

Well done.

I live in Cedar City and go to church with descendants of men who were involved. I've taken my Boy Scouts and my family to Mountain Meadows. I use the tragedy to teach the importance of choosing good friends and to walk away early when friends want to do something inappropriate. Peer pressure can, and does, quickly evolve into a mob mentality and then kill. Don't be there when that happens.

[Renfair]

Here post-American Primeval. I'd never heard of Mountain Meadows or anything about "The Mormon Wars". Watching a few videos and podcasts later, the thing I'm struck by is that none of the LDS creators telling the story have shied away from the shame of the event. It's a credit to your faith that so many Saints, like you, are interested in truth over narrative. It's also led me down a rabbithole of the incredible history of the church's founding! Many thanks!

[jacobbuzan]

I always asked myself how people could go along with things like Nazism and supporting things like the Holocaust. But i look at today's society and am shocked to see how easy it is for people to go along with people who vilify entire groups of innocent people. How easy it is for people to forget history and not learn from it.

[terihubbell]

I am the 6th generation Granddaughter of John D. Lee. I learned about this as a teen and was horrified by what happened. I spent my life reading and watching interviews about this; I pondered how this could happen. I love our leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they have said, that we don't have to take their word for what is asked, but that we can go to the Lord and gain our own testimony.

Our family legend is that John D. Lee was following his priesthood leader, (who wasn't righteously honoring the priesthood (as we learn, he was angry at them), but chose to blindly follow. We don't have to blindly follow, but go to the Lord and ask for inspiration regarding what is being asked. I have done this and saved myself from heartache; God always comes first! God lives and answers prayers; no matter our faith or how sinful we are. He can not intervene but promises to be with us and to help us along the way.

In my heart, I truly feel this is where JDLee's breakdown was. I feel that, according to history, he took responsibility for his actions and went to Brigham Young while the others went into hiding. He accepted the responsibility and was executed. Whatever honor that was given to this man is because he took full responsibility for the action, that's all! When Brigham Young's message came the rider was told not to spare the flesh of the horse, but to get there as fast as he could. JDLee was mortified at what he did and broke down and cried. I only share this because this is my family's understanding and what I have learned from it.

We are to look to our prophet; He will never lead us astray, but those under him we need to weigh and measure in prayer and wait for our personal inspiration on the matter as we study the scriptures.


I want to acknowledge Zander and Scripture Central for the wonderful job they did creating this video. Thank you so much! Teri

[JSMITHSTONES]

The utter brutality is shocking, just the worst of humanity. I’m really glad to see you teaching tolerance, we have too much extremism in this country. Everyone has a place here.

[emilybailey]

I didn't know about this until I was in my twenties. It shocked me and shook me up. I think it's an important part of our history. Its such a huge tragedy, and we must remember and learn from it. Such a good time to publish this!!!

[Emily-zp]

I live in Enterprise so I pass this frequently. I feel that this is a sacred place.
Thank you for doing this video….

[danhancock]

It blows my mind that nobody is talking about how strong the feeling of evil is at these sites. I've stopped at every one of them, and the feeling of despair, pain, helplessness, and pure evil is stronger at these sites than anywhere else I've ever been.

[sugashaneray]

Nice sugarcoat. Brigham young's behavior and 20 year attempt to cover it up, speaks volumes

[lmfarms]

Thank you. Always take the time to step back and rethink your actions.

[davewinch]

A large cross needs to be put back on the monument. The people who died here were not Mormons and should be honored in this way. Brigham Young and his men tore down the cross and rock monument that was originally here.

[dinocollins]

Zander is crushing it today with great content! Loved this video!

[jsfueston]

I'm LDS. These people weren't "unjustly killed." They were murdered.

[samueljensen]

I'm a descendant of a Fancher that was a cousin to the leader of the wagon train. Needless to say his family was not happy when he joined the church.

Horrible tragedy and a stain on mormon history. What started as a minor problem grew and grew and a few leaders tried to cover their mistakes.

[troysgarage]

Parley P Pratt is my GGGGrandfather and this massacre happended on the ranch of another ancestor of mine (property still owned by my family). I do not condone what happened here, it marks a very dark period in LDS history. This is definitely a sacred place dedicated to remembering so this never happens again!

[deltanfilms]

Nice job Zander! This turned out really well and is important history.

[lindathomas]

This video was very well done and taught me a lot of things that I didn't know already

[melaniecuthbert]

This video is so well done. Thank you for the respectful way the awful story was told.

[Junzar]

I am so glad you talk about fear. People do stupid things when people are afraid, when they let rumors take over, when you don’t put your faith i the Lord.

[tokouatonga]

Peer pressure is real. I learn a lot here.
When it’s our dear friends and family a lot of times we tend to hesitant or delay doing what’s right.
Two events that has happened recently in my life and I’m vowing to do much better next time. There’s a saying…