Massacre at Mountain Meadows

After hearing Ron Walker conduct an hour-long Q&A on the book last month, I quickly finished Massacre at Mountain Meadows a couple of weeks ago. The narrative moves quickly, first laying out the historical context of the Utah War and the events in Southern Utah leading up to the massacre, then focusing on the grisly few days at Mountain Meadows. The authors reject the idea that the emigrants incited the attack and also clear Brigham Young of any direct role, placing responsibility squarlely on the locals, especially John D. Lee.

My primary criticism is that the 231-page narrative is too short. Given how controversial MMM has been, I think the authors should have addressed alternative interpretations of the controversial issues more directly, either in the text or in the notes. Bushman did this very effectively in his Joseph Smith biography, Rough Stone Rolling. I know the response is that the authors (or the publisher) didn't want 500 pages of text with another 200 pages of notes, but I really expected more discussion of the disputed points, not just a new and improved narrative.

FAIR is posting some nice analysis of the book: Part 1 includes discussion of John D. Lee, described as an abusive and power hungry zealot. Part 2 is a discussion of Brigham Young's Indian policy, which was covered in enlightening detail in the book and was, I think, one of the stronger treatments in the book.

Comments

[Jacob J]

I haven't read the book yet, but I must admit I was surprised when the book turned out to be so short, and then when the shortness seemed to get a positive reaction in other reviews. I know they couldn't fit this monumental amount of research they are always talking about into a book so short, so where does the rest of that research go if not in their book?

[the narrator]

I haven't yet read Massacre. I do know though that one of the primary purposes of the book was to pull the curtain back that had shielded LDSaints from this tragic aspect of their history. Because of this, they wanted to assure that the book was accessible to the average reader.

Also, Richard Turley will be writing a second volume of this book that will deal with the cover-ups and aftermath of the event.

[Clark]

There was a BYU studies that basically included all the notes and appendiums they wanted in the book but couldn't get in. I assume it's still on the shelves.

[Jessie]

"Also, Richard Turley will be writing a second volume of this book that will deal with the cover-ups and aftermath of the event."

That sounds great! I am very interested in the constructions that were formed in the aftermath and how Mormons and others remember Mountain Meadows.

If you have any additional information on this work, please share it! Thanks.

[bfwebster]

Note, by the way, that when I bought this book at my local (Denver) Deseret Book outlet, it was listed as the #1 bestseller in Deseret Book -- so the desire to get it into the hands of the general Church membership seems to be fulfilled. ..bruce..

[Dave]

Yes, Walker was very gratified that the book has already gone through several printings. It sounds like this is something of a surprise to the publisher. Perhaps it is the result of ten years of advance publicity.

[Stephen M (Ethesis)]

I think is important writing about a controversial subject to establish trust with the intended audience ...

Interesting review, I'd like to see the same attention to other deaths.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_River_Massacre

[the narrator]

stephen,

the victims weren't white. massacres and genocide need to have white victims to get people people to care.

[John Mansfield]

"The authors reject the idea that the emigrants incited the attack"

Can you elaborate on that any? Hopefully it can be taken as a given that any possible actions by the migrants didn't merit having their families erased from face of the earth, but that's not quite the same thing as saying this group from Arkansas was the same as all others headed to California, just unluckier than most. Did Walker show that the stories of provocations by the Fancher group were fabricated?

[Dave]

John, here's a quick summary of what I recall their general approach to be: (1) Yes, there was some friction between the emigrants and some of the towns, created in part by the unwillingness of the town people to trade with the emigrants; (2) it is very difficult to evaluate the veracity of post-massacre reports of such friction (which people would naturally amplify in retrospct); but (3) there is general agreement there was no incident involving killing or injuring any town people along the trail, so there was no incident even alleged that would justify going after the emigrants the way it worked out after they left Cedar City.

[the narrator]

There was some disagreement between the authors about how to deal with the rhetoric of the immigrants that may have provoked some of the violence.

[Justin]

There was a BYU studies that basically included all the notes and appendiums they wanted in the book but couldn't get in. I assume it's still on the shelves.

I assume that the special issue of BYU Studies is still forthcoming. As a subscriber, I haven't received it yet.