American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857

American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857

Book is in very good condition! There is only light wear. The pages are clean with no marks.

In September 1857, a wagon train passing through Utah carrying a large amount of gold was subjected to an attack. An estimated 140 individuals lost their lives, with only 17 children under the age of eight being spared. This shocking event, known as the Mountain Meadows massacre, has sparked intense debate over the years. There is a question as to whether the massacre was orchestrated by high-ranking members of the Mormon community. Sally Denton, in her gripping book, presents a compelling argument that supports this claim. It is worth noting that Denton herself has Mormon ancestry. She begins by tracing the remarkable rise of the Mormons and delves into the lesser-known 19th-century conflicts and tensions between their leaders and the U.S. government. These frictions were fueled by the Mormons' zealous beliefs and exclusive practices. By 1857, the Mormons stood out as a religious group in that they governed a complete American territory, Utah, and had their own autonomous government and army. Denton establishes that immediately after the massacre, the blame was placed on a discredited Mormon named John D. Lee, as well as several Native Americans. Drawing on contemporaneous records and newly discovered documents, Denton contends that the prominent Mormon leader, Brigham Young, actually held significant responsibility for the event. She argues that Young, driven by the church's financial troubles and escalating scrutiny and condemnation from the federal government, incited the crime both through his words and actions. Furthermore, Denton explains how the present-day Mormon church, which has experienced rapid growth and amassed substantial wealth, still grapples with the need to absolve itself of accountability for what may be considered an unprecedented act of religious fanaticism in American history. American Massacre is an enthralling account that vividly portrays a tragic moment in our nation's past.

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