John D. Lee was the only man ever tried and convicted for his role in the murders. He was eventually executed at the massacre site.

The episode has been researched for decades by historians with a variety of perspectives on the events. Public discussion in recent years has become more pointed and vocal with the formation of the descendant groups, which have sought to document and publicize what they say is a chapter in U.S. history too long forgotten.

Meeting with the groups in Arkansas "has been a very good thing," Elder Jensen said. "We should have done it earlier. So much in this is timing. It's hard to say why now — it's just the Lord's way of working with all of us."

President Gordon B. Hinckley opened the dialogue in 1999, he said, then descendant groups began talking with the church and each other, and church historians began providing detailed descriptions of events for leaders to consider.

To have a descendant "say the (Friday) meeting was 'a dream come true' is a dream come true for us," he said.

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com