tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post4826871271921054117..comments2024-03-26T11:33:59.219-06:00Comments on Religion in American History: Mountain Meadows Massacre -- from new Contributing Editor John Turner!Paul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-15514828502689288962007-11-03T00:00:00.000-06:002007-11-03T00:00:00.000-06:00I do think it's unfortunate that the date of this ...I do think it's unfortunate that the date of this tragic event in Mormon history coincides with the airplane bombing of the twin towers, only because every time someone makes a point to remind us of that, I wonder if it does not takes us back (in another sense) to the old evangelical polemic of Mormons as Muslims, Joseph Smith as an American Muhammad etc., etc.. With the rise of post-colonial literature, literary theory,Orientalism and the problem of the "Other," as well as the imperialist or neo-imperialist tendencies of "multicultural global feminism" as one example, but of neo-colonialism in general, one wants to tread very carefully these days when exposing the flaws in the history or character of others--Mormons in this case.<BR/><BR/>That said, this is not really news to anyone on either side, I don't think! Anyone who's read Brooks, and can read between the lines, marvels at her bravery and genius for having written what is still the best book on the subject--with respect to Turner and others. <BR/><BR/>To single out Mormons as guilty of suppressing their history, and therefore to suggest Mormons ought simply to "admit it, learn from it, and move forward..." I hear in such reactions to the article in question, something a tad colonialist or neo-colonialist. <BR/><BR/>I thought "we" as historians, historians of culture and religion at least, American Studies scholars to be sure, had learned from the colonial past, admitted it, and moved beyond such problematic assumptions about minorities in America, religious or otherwise. <BR/><BR/>Apparently not.<BR/><BR/>September Dawn? A great film? Really???clyde fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690045158864332507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-48541056173427528962007-09-12T06:30:00.000-06:002007-09-12T06:30:00.000-06:00Great piece on the massacre. And glad to see your ...Great piece on the massacre. And glad to see your a new contributing editor.Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-19878738385602469602007-09-11T06:16:00.000-06:002007-09-11T06:16:00.000-06:00Thanks for the comments. Just for clarification, ...Thanks for the comments. Just for clarification, as far as I know the church has more or less conceded Mormon involvement in the massacre since Juanita Brooks's groundbreaking 1950 book on Mountain Meadows. I do it's possible that the film prompted the publication of the Ensign article on Mountain Meadows, but I don't have any proof of that. "Anonymous" is correct that if Brigham Young didn't explicitly order the massacre, that fact doesn't make him blameless. <BR/><BR/>I also agree with Brad that the backdrop of persecution is critical for understanding the Mormon response to the Utah Expedition of 1857. The Haun's Mill massacre and Joseph Smith's martyrdom were hardly ancient history. Just for balance, a few months before Boggs's extermination order, Smith's counselor Sidney Rigdon made the following statement: "And that mob that comes on us to disturb us; it shall be between us and them a war of extermination, for we will follow them, till the last drop of their blood is spilled, or else they will have to exterminate us: for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families, and one party or the other shall be utterly destroyed."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-39163965663769400502007-09-10T17:38:00.000-06:002007-09-10T17:38:00.000-06:00To be perfectly honest, I believe that it would be...To be perfectly honest, I believe that it would be very difficult to make a comparison between 19th century Mormons and the religious radicalism that currently exists today. First off, the Mormons of the 19th century were victims of violence and hatred that even the United States government was either inept or unwilling to stop. The trek to the Salt Lake Valley essenitally turned 19th century Mormons into refugees fleeing for their own safety. Proof of this lies in Governor Lilburn Boggs' extermination order on all Mormons in Missouri. By the time settlers came into Mountain Meadows, many Mormons had already witnessed the death of family members, friends and their prophet. Of course this does not serve as justification for the atrocities they committed at Mountain Meadows, but it does articulate a clear difference that exists between religious radicalism today and the percieved terrorism of 19th century Mormons.Brad Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-8212983807681666152007-09-10T17:33:00.000-06:002007-09-10T17:33:00.000-06:00Great Article! I personally think that even if Bri...Great Article! I personally think that even if Brigham Young did not order the massacre, he created the environment and was involved with the cover up. I also find it interesting that the church (LDS) only recently admitted involvement with church leaders, which I am sure is due to the film, September Dawn. I also have to say that I thought it was a great film and that alot of people missed the point of the film. It was not a direct reflection of the LDS church of today, but it did have a violent past. Why is this so hard for the LDS church to acknowledge? Every other religion had dark moments... are they truly that arrogant to think that they can suppress history? Just admit it, learn from it, and move forward...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com