By G. Jeffrey MacDonald
Religion News Service
Now the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” is becoming more than a subject of somber reflection within tight-knit Mormon circles. Two new films and a forthcoming book aim to tell the nation what happened, why and — perhaps most important — whether the revered Mormon prophet Brigham Young ordered the killing to occur.
At stake are not just the details of a tragic moment in pioneer history. For the 5.8 million Americans who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon church is officially known, the integrity of one of their most important heroes hangs in the balance. For others, the depictions stand to forge new impressions of a controversial religious minority that has known both violent persecution and substantial influence across its tumultuous 180-year history.
“As a society, we are definitely at a crossroads” in terms of rethinking Mormonism, says Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion & American Public Life at Boston College. “This is a huge moment because it’s a very important religion.”
Throwing down the gauntlet is the Aug. 24 release of Christopher Cain’s movie, “September Dawn.” Although the romantic storyline is fictional, the film claims to be historically accurate in tracing the massacre to Brigham Young and portraying 19th century Mormons as obedient, bloodthirsty fundamentalists. In one scene, for instance, an angry mob ignores a report that the wagon train’s “gentiles” are friendly and chants for “blood atonement!” in the form of death.
Other renderings, however, convey a more complex picture. The PBS documentary “The Mormons,” which was broadcast April 30 and May 1, explained that Mormons had suffered multiple, often bloody persecutions, which prompted their epic westward trek in the mid-1840s to settle in the Salt Lake Basin. By 1857, federal troops were marching on the Utah territory to depose the theocratic governorship of Brigham Young, and his followers were gearing up to defend their turf from yet another assault. In that touchy environment, bullets flew and travelers died. The ensuing massacre ensured no adult witnesses would survive.
“The important thing is to place the massacre in context,” Helen Whitney, director of the PBS documentary, said in an interview. “They believed they were at war. The president was arriving with his troops. … All of this was swirling around — years of persecution, a kind of paranoia — it really was sort of an explosive mixture in which the brakes just didn’t hold.”
On the high-stakes issue of Brigham Young’s role, the official view from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is simple: He had none. Young sent a messenger to tell militiamen to let the travelers pass without interference, according to LDS spokesman Michael Otterson. The full case for vindicating Young will appear later this year in an Oxford University Press book written by three church historians.
As debate swirls, observers are theorizing why Mountain Meadows is gaining traction in popular culture. Hollywood tells a distorted version in order to increase ticket sales, Otterson says, and in the process actually validates Young’s stature as a prophet.
“Every prophet of the Old Testament and every prophet of the New Testament has come under criticism and ridicule from the establishment of the day,” Otterson says. “So it doesn’t surprise us that some people would want to throw rocks at the memory of Brigham Young.”
Although Mormons regard themselves as Christians, orthodox Christians reject key tenets of Mormonism, such as the exaltation of founder Joseph Smith to the status of prophet and the treatment of his Book of Mormon as scripture. Despite being controversial, Mormons have recently risen to unprecedented prominence in American society. Mormons lead numerous well-known companies, occupy leadership positions in government and have a presidential hopeful in the well-financed GOP campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
With all that in mind, some observers suspect a rising tide of anti-Mormonism accounts for today’s intense focus on Mountain Meadows.
Jan Shipps, professor emeritus of religious studies and history at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and an expert on Mormonism, doubts Young was involved in the massacre: “My sense is that Brigham Young was not that dumb as to order people to kill a wagon train” and stir up more ill feelings toward Mormons.
Nevertheless, she says, the prospect of implicating Young and his church in a historic tragedy appeals to modern-day critics.
“The important thing is, why is all this coming up right now?” Shipps says. Mormons used to live largely to the West, she says, but now “Mormons are everywhere. They are making converts that the evangelicals would like to make, so evangelicals are saying Mormons aren’t Christian. All of a sudden you get this (attitude of): We’re going to look at Mormon history, and we’re going to find out what’s really there.”
For historian Will Bagley, a former Mormon with pioneer roots and author of “Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows,” the current debate is long overdue.
He argues that Brigham Young was “a penny-pinching tyrant” who stirred up xenophobic sentiments and must have authorized the massacre, in part because “nothing happened in the Utah Territory without Brigham Young knowing about it.” What’s more, he says, the church should welcome the debate because its authority depends not on a blameless version of the past but rather on its forthrightness and its embrace of honorable moral values.
“The (LDS) church is absolutely wrong to believe that its history is a threat to it,” Bagley says. At the same time, he adds: “I certainly hope this (movie) won’t ignite another round of rabid anti-Mormonism.”
Historians on both sides of the debate agree that Americans shouldn’t infer too much about modern-day Mormons from current portrayals of their ancestors.
“Even if Brigham Young ordered (the massacre), would it mean the Mormon people are now disposed to violence?” Shipps asks. “I don’t think so.”
Copyright 2007 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Beliefnet
Advertisement
posted August 15, 2007 at 10:18 pm
If I were a Romney fan I’d wonder about the timing of the book.
Since it’s come up, it would be nice if a definitive answer were possible, but it seems unlikely.
But clearly what some of their ancestors might possibly have done 150 years ago doesn’t tell anything about them now. Of course if someone say celebrated their ancestors’ actions then (like several southerners do theirs) it would say something about them now.
posted August 15, 2007 at 11:47 pm
I doubt that the timing has anything to do with Romney. The amount of time it takes to both write and publish a book probably puts it’s inception before Romney announced his candidacy.
I’ve read brief accounts of the massacre before. It’s obvious that something hideous and unwarranted happened. But, the historical record (at least as far as what I’ve read) seems to be inconclusive since there is no unbiased accounts.
As a historical episode, the Mormon participants do not come out very well. As any sort of reflection on current members of the LDS church, it means nothing, although any attempt at white-washing it would not be good.
posted August 16, 2007 at 9:44 am
I think the Mountain Meadows Massacre is fair game. Especially since the LDS Church has become thoroughly mainstream, transparency about the darker moments of Mormon history is important.
I think, if a church can’t bear to discuss the abuses of power and evil things it might have done in the past, then that church is probably still abusing its power in the present.
posted August 16, 2007 at 10:54 am
I don’t think historical events should be “whitewashed,” but they do need to be understood in historical context. And of course, if this is the worst thing that Mormonism has in its history, it’s pretty tame—heck, one massacre? And they call themselves a religion…
One thing I find kind of silly is from another article I read about the forthcoming movie, where the book/screenplay’s writer said she chose to do this because she thought religious fundamentalism is one of the biggest problems facing the world today. Which is a valid opinion, but come on—do we really need to be warned of the radically violent tendancy of MORMONS? My bet is that Bringham Young’s living descendents attend the movie premier with their wives and dozens of little children, all carrying trays of cookies.
God bless.
posted August 16, 2007 at 11:28 am
Religion is staffed by humans and unfortunately, we’ve got a history or cruelty. The point is to admit it happens and do our best to ensure it never does again.
posted August 16, 2007 at 10:43 pm
There is no religion on the face of this really large earth that hasn’t got “skeletons” in it’s closet somewhere. This is one of the Mormon’s skeletons.
Think of all the deaths that occurred to “convert the heathens” in the Crusades, the Catholics killing non-Catholics in Europe etc. Religion can be very bloody.
posted August 21, 2007 at 2:54 pm
THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM THAT INSPIRED THE MOVIE “SEPTEMBER DAWN” STARRING JON VOIGHT:
“Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre”
Directed by Brian Patrick
~WINNER OF 11 AWARDS~
Played Nationally in Over 20 Film Festivals
****THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM INTERVIEWS WITH BRIAN PATRICK:
*Actor Dean Cain saw “Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre” in 2004 and ordered a copy when it played at the ARPA International Film Festival in Hollywood, and gave it to his father Chris Cain who wrote the screenplay for “September Dawn” and Directed the film. Dean Cain is cast as Joseph Smith in the movie. The theme and survivor narration idea as well as other pieces of “September Dawn” are stolen from “Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre.” After their movie was completed, “September Dawn’s” publicist flew Patrick out to Hollywood and tried to buy some of his footage and get him to sign off, supposedly ruling out a copyright lawsuit without giving him any credit at all. Since Patrick refused to play along and accept no credit for his contribution, Cain has not even acknowledged that the documentary exists let alone inspired the film, and has gone so far as to refer to his film and himself as telling the “untold story” of the massacre. See below for further information on how Helen Whitney, PBS, and the History Channel also liked “Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre” so much after seeing it, they decided to “borrow” the idea.
Speaking of the film’s purpose, Patrick is quoted: “Burying The Past” has taken me six years to complete. I came upon the idea when I saw an article in the Salt Lake Tribune in 1998 about these age-old enemies who were attempting to forgive each other. With all of these warring factions in the world today and the cycle of vengeance they perpetuate, it was inspiring to me to see an attempt at reconciliation. It was the humanity of the story which I found in the descendants of the massacre that I was drawn to, and wanted to bring out. I think that the film shows how difficult it is for opposing cultural groups to come together. If you can show people to other people, you can reduce the prejudice in this world, and in this case, I hope to help heal some of those prejudices. I hope you find the story as fascinating as I have while making it.”
THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM THAT INSPIRED “SEPTEMBER DAWN” AND MORE…
I knew that I was on to something original when I first began making my documentary “Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre” which took 6 years to complete and has now won 11 awards and played in over 20 film festivals. What I did not know was how much other film and television producers would try to steal the idea and present it as their own. It first began with The History Channel When I sent a pre-release copy to them with the hopes of getting it acquired by them for broadcast. I never heard back from them until I discovered that they had commissioned Bill Curtis to re-make my story into an hour segment using their own format with Bill Curtis as the narrator. I ran into him in Las Vegas where I had been invited to accept 2 awards for my film from the Broadcast Education Association for “Best Documentary” and “Best of Festival.” Further, Curtis tried repeatedly tried to get me to sell off portions of my film for use in their History Channel segment, but I refused.
At about this same time in 2003, I had sent a copy to WGBH in Boston for possible PBS Broadcast through their submission format. Again, I never heard back from them. Yet, 6 months later Helen Whitney, an independent public television producer called me and wanted a transcript of my film along with contact names and addresses of all the massacre descendants I had interviewed in my film. It turned out that WGBH had given my film to Helen with the idea that she make a new one especially formatted for PBS, again with no credit whatsoever. Of course, this act completely shot down my film for any consideration for future broadcast on PBS. Later, Helen came to Salt Lake, took me to lunch, and tried unrelentingly to get me to sell her portions of my film. I refused again, and even though she called me repeatedly, used high-ranking, important people to apply pressure on me and force my hand, I would not sell it to her. I have the only footage that exists of the victims remains that were accidentally unearthed, and the forensic analysis of them, and I have an earned trust and loyalty to the descendants of the Arkansas victims and I had promised them that I would not sell off the pictures of their ancestor’s remains or bones which are in my film. Helen’s own piece on the subject came out recently on PBS called the ” The Mormons” with no mention of my film at all or for any of the help that I did give her.
But the most egregious example of film thievery came with the film September Dawn, a Hollywood, dramatic film about the massacre. Again, in 2004, “Burying the Past” played in Hollywood at a film festival where the Master of Ceremonies, Dean Cain, of television Superman fame, saw the film and quickly ordered of copy off my website. About a year later I learned that Dean and his father, Chris Cain (who directed Young Guns) were shooting the massacre story in Calgary, Canada. How nice of them to take all my research and write their own scenario entitled September Dawn and never have the courtesy to contact me. It was my final wake-up call and frustration of being an independent filmmaker with a great idea and 6 years of putting everything I had into it, and someone with money takes advantage of the fact that you very little power and voice, and runs away with your idea and presents it as their own. Co-writer of the “September Dawn” screenplay, Carol Schutter who lives near Aspen, likely saw my documentary at the Breckenridge Film Festival in 2003 or the Denver International Film Festival, although she claims in an article that God told her to write it and gave her the idea(she is a born-again Christian).
Finally, in May of 2006, “September Dawn’s” new marketing agent, Murray Weissman(of “Gangs of New York” marketing infamy), contacted me and apologized for the way I had been dealt with. He flew me out to Burbank where I saw September Dawn for the first time. While watching the film I noted how it contained unmistakable elements of my film which could have only been arrived at with the viewing of Burying the Past. I also noted though, that unlike my film, September Dawn seemed to me as unnecessarily mean-spirited towards Mormons, consciously left out the other side of the story in many instances(my film presents both sides to reveal the truth without an agenda), and contained some strange religious agenda of Mormonism vs. Christianity. Also, my documentary is about healing, whereas “September Dawn” seems only interested in stirring up controversy and exploitation. Afterward at lunch, Murray and Chris Cain discussed the idea of me giving them material out of my film to help them authenticate their film for their marketing strategies. They explained how this excellent idea would help sell more DVD’s of Burying the Past, although they refused to give my film any actual credit.
Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that they did not really want to help me at all and very likely were more concerned with copyright issues and trying to get me to sign everything away to them so they no longer had to worry about me. And they especially did not want to give me any credit as the original inspiration to their film. Yet, after seeing their film twice now, there do appear to be legitimate claims as to where the film’s original inspiration came from, the use of specific story lines—especially the $2,000 horse sequence, along with use of an original story structure of the little girl who survives the massacre. Even Arkansas Democrat-Gazette film critic Philip Martin (who earlier had given “Burying the Past” his highest rating) recalled “a distinct feeling of déjà vu,” after he had screened “September Dawn.” Certainly, no one can own the history on these events and anybody is entitled to make up their own film or book on these historical subjects, yet artistically it is wrong to steal someone else’s hard earned years of research and work on a subject, and present it as their own, and not give any credit to the original inspiration. But when I tell this story, I just seem to get a look that inevitably says, “Welcome to Hollywood, Brian.”
I still get orders off of my website through paypal from around the world, and hundreds of thank you letters from people who have been moved or changed by my film, and in the end, that is most important to me. This is a story that deserves to be told, and the Arkansas descendants have been passing this story on for generations, trying to get their voices heard. What really matters to me is getting this story out there as there is much healing that still needs to take place for descendants on both sides, and if that’s what “September Dawn’s” huge publicity machine and Hollywood money can do, then at least the story is being told, with or without me.
Brian Patrick, Producer/Director
Burying the Past—Legacy of the Mountain Meadows Massacre
The film is available at http://www.buryingthepast.com DVDs include many Special Features like a 23 minute documentary on The Making of The Film, Director’s Commentary, Deleted Scenes & more.
~UNCOVER A STORY YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO KNOW~
“Burying The Past: Legacy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre” Critical Praise:
“Genuinely remarkable . . . BURYING THE PAST is astute and brave and, contrary to the current fashion in documentaries, fastidiously fair to all concerned. I’ll give it an A.” –Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
“Beautifully produced…weaves & tightens into a shocking web of injustice. Five stars!” -Phil Hall
“Brilliantly Honest…they will come back to this film decades from now.” -Will Bagley
Synopsis:
On September 11, 1857, a wagon train of 120 immigrants bound for California were slaughtered under a white flag by Utah Mormons in one of the worst massacres in American history. Through the actual testimony of a young girl who survived, interviews with descendants, and forensic investigations, this compelling film breaks through decades of coverup to expose a story kept out of the history books. Descendants of the massacre, haunted by the tragedy to this day, struggle to find forgiveness and healing.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
“$5,000 Crystal Heart Award” (Heartland Film Festival)
“Broadcast Education Association King Foundation Award Winner” (Best of Festival)
“Broadcast Education Association Best Documentary”
“Best of State Award Utah 2004″
“Accolade Award of Excellence” for Documentary Feature (Accolade Competition)
“Accolade Award of Excellence” for Voiceover (Accolade Competition)
“Best of Festival Award” (Berkeley Film Festival)
“Chris Award” (Columbus International Film Festival)
“Best Musical Score” (Park City Film Music Festival)
“Best Digital Feature” (Stony Brook Film Festival New York)
“Spur Awards” (Western Writer’s Association)
OFFICIAL SELECTION:
“Best of State Competition”
“Broadcast Education Association”
“Accolade Competition”
“Berkeley Film Festival”
“Columbus International Film Festival”
“Park City Film Music Festival”
“Park City Film Series”
“Denver International Film Festival”
“Arizona International Film Festival”
“Santa Fe Film Festival”
“Breckenridge Film Festival”
“Bare Bones International Film Festival”
“Sedona International Film Festival”
“Athens International Film Festival”
“Bend Film Festival”
“SpudFest”
“Idaho International Film Festival”
“Heartland Film Festival”
“ARPA International Film Festival, Hollywood”
“SMMASH Film Festival”
“Ozark Foothills Film Festival”
Director’s Statement
“Burying The Past” took me six years to complete. I came upon the idea when I saw an article in the Salt Lake Tribune about these age-old enemies who were attempting to forgive each other. With all of these warring factions in the world today and the cycle of vengeance they perpetuate, it was inspiring to me to see an attempt at reconciliation. It was the humanity of the story which I found in the descendants of the massacre that I was drawn to, and wanted to bring out. I think that the film shows how difficult it is for opposing cultural groups to come together.
I feel very strongly that this is a story that deserves to be told. The chilling significance of the “September 11th” date of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is also difficult to ignore. Many people have never learned of this tragic event. It is an event that has been kept out of history books, that is not taught to children in schools, even though it is the biggest American massacres before Oklahoma City, and one of the most despicable crimes in the history of the West. It was a difficult and risky film to make in Utah – what took place at Mountain Meadows is still shrouded in controversy, and many people would prefer that the massacre remain forgotten. The truth of what happened has been obscured by the Mormon Church’s cover up, but events unfold in the film revealing evidence that is hard to deny. I’m very proud that the film captures some of the most powerful, documented evidence of what really happened at Mountain Meadows one hundred and forty seven years ago.
It has been quite an incredible journey with this film. I have traveled to many film festivals and taken it around the country introducing the story to audiences for the first time, and have received hundreds of letters and e-mails from people who have been moved or changed by film’s story. I have also been fortunate to show the film to the descendants of the victims for many years every anniversary of the massacre on September 11 when they gather from around the country in Harrison, Arkansas where the wagon train party originated from. When these people respond so emotionally to the film it makes me feel like I really accomplished something. It was very important to me to show the point of view of the Arkansas people in that wagon train, and I think for these people, the film has given them a voice that has never been seen or heard before. I have also been invited to show the film to family reunions of the descendants perpetrators, and have had very emotional, powerful screenings where it felt as though healing was finally beginning to take place for them. The way the descendants of the attackers respond to the film reveal how much pain they still carry with them. In the end, the story of how these two groups came together in a spirit of reconciliation was at the core of why I made the film in the first place. I hope you find the story as fascinating as I have while making it.
Brian Patrick, Producer/Director
“Burying the Past”
posted August 22, 2007 at 2:39 pm
I was brought up in SLC during the 40′s and 50′s and not once was I told about the Mountain Meadow Massacre at school or church. I am not a Mormon but did participate in their church activities. I don’t believe many LDS were aware of it except from 3rd party sources much later. I only learned about it about 4 years ago.
posted September 2, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Mainline Christians have never, never accepted LDS members as Christians. The Mormon church does not teach orthodox Chrisitanity. The Jesus of the Mormon religion is not the Jesus of the Bible, thus the historical Jesus. Because of who they believe Jesus to be, they cannot be called true Christians.
posted October 14, 2007 at 1:53 am
Keith,
Allow me to correct your misconceptions regarding the Mormons.
We believe in Jesus Christ. The full name of our Church is ‘ The Church of Jesus christ of Latter day Saints. As you can see, we felt it was very important for everyone to know that we are Christians, and that we see Christ as our Savior. We know that he died on the cross for us. Thus, we celebrate Easter. We read the King James version of the Bible–that is the same bible widely used by Christians. There was absolutely and positively ONLY ONE JESUS–and we LOVE HIM and ACCEPT HIM and we REJOICE that he was RESURRECTED.
For more information please visit these Websites: http://www.lds.org
or http://www.mormon.org
All of the answers you need will be right there. I promise.
We believe in God, and The Holy Ghost, as well.
We celebrate Christmas. So, it seems to me that we are Christians, just like our fellow Christians from other religions.
Have a wonderful week and may God Bless you all!
posted October 16, 2007 at 6:04 pm
While taking my degree in Idustrial Education at BYU in Religion 342 we studied about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, pages 237 to 242 from a book called Ensign to The Nations by Russell R. Rich. It is admited that men from the Morman Iron Militia from Cedar City were called out to go to mountain Meadows and believed that the Indians had already massacred the emigrant train and they were on a mission to bury the dead. The local Morman leaders held a meeting and decided to send a messenger to Brigham Young to see what they should do about the imigrants. The messanger James Haslam returned on Sunday September13 with a message from Brigham Young stating “that the emigrants must be protected if it take all the men in southern Utah” As we know he was too late! Quotes from Ezekiel 18:1-4 and Jeremiah 31:29-30 show thus that, not a single decendent of any man bears a shred of guilt, nor does any living Latter-day Saint or Brigham Young or General Authority for perpetrating the deed!
posted November 7, 2007 at 5:43 pm
If Brigham Young were the bloodthirsty tyrant that he is being made out to be, then why did he tell the Mormon Militia in Nauvoo, Illinois not to go after the murderers of the Prophet Joseph Smith? The Militia consisted of 5,000 men. They could have leveled the state. But Brigham Young, on returning to Nauvoo, joined others in urging his people to demonstrate that they were a peace-loving people, and stay home. Even when they were persecuted and driven from the state by mobs, they did not fight back. Even after the massacre at Haun’s Mill, they did not fight back. Even when they were persecuted, raped, murdered, pillaged, and driven from the State of Missouri under a gubernatorial extermination order, they did not fight back, outside of a few minor scattered skirmishes, involving people who were just human, on both sides. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught them to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, and turn the other cheek. Brigham Young followed that same course. He told the settlers at Mountain Meadows to let the wagon train pass in peace. I have read the transcript of the trial, which didn’t happen until years later. In time, I have no doubt that all the evidence will vindicate Brigham Young, to the satisfaction of everyone, without room for rebuttal.