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Massacre services reopen wounds

Sorry but nobody involved with that incident is living at this time. so why should anyone in this day and age be held responsible for a incident that occured 150 years ago?? How do people expect their own sins to be forgiven if they can't forgive others? Especially for something that happened 150 years ago? I think that this situation is now in the hands of the Lord, let him be the judge of those involved. As far as the land is concerned, yes I think that the LDS church will take care of the land and RESPECT it more then any other organization.

I wish my ancestors were wronged somewhere along the way, so I could have something to be bitter and hateful about. I feel so empty without that disdain for someone whom I have never met, or who will never truly affect my life. You decendants of this massacre are lucky to have a reason for that kind of hatred, and the need for an apology for something that has had no true bearing on your life (other than giving you a reason to complain about those lousy Mormons, who do nothing but keep the memorial site maintained). Sarcasm noted? Hope so...

It's important to remember this and similar events in historical context. But what of the Hahn's Mill massacre of innocent Mormons or the murders at the Carthage jail? These were all horrid events be it due to fanaticism, vigilantism, or just in revenge. I know that Missouri issued some sort of apology, but what of other states that drove these pilgrims westward or the churches the murders belonged to? I think we must strive to understand the factors that led to the events, so can we put them to rest. I'm not LDS member, just one desiring fairness in discussion for the greater understanding of all.

I understand where they are coming from, but those involved are no longer around, should the sins of the father be held against the son, or the family. I think not. As Christians and we members of the LDS faith are christians we have tried to heal the wounds. The ball as the saying goes is now in their court, we are waiting for it to be returned so we all can take another step forward. and by doing so heal a wound, and let them all rest in peace.

We live in a Dr Phil world, for sure!

I have read some church history on this incident. Nothing has been said about the background surrounding this event. The Federal authorities at the time, were threatening to invade Utah and the Mormons... again for the umpteenth time. They (the Mormons)were very afraid and made the mistake of thinking this party was part of the invading party from Federal officials. Can we address all the times federal officials did nothing when the mormons were massacred again and again and finally had to leave their homes, etc. in the east, all under the purpose of religious freedom? I feel for the descendants. They along with many others deserve much consolation... which I know they will have one day. For now, let's learn from the past and not repeat it.

Some of my ancestors were Southern slave owners, a fact that I am not proud of. There are people alive today who would have me pay for that history. I had nothing to do with it, yet I should make apologies and reparations? It makes no sense at all to hold people responsible for acts committed 150 years ago. I wish these MMM descendants could realize that yes, a terrible crime was committed, but today's LDS church leaders are not the ones with blood on their hands.

It's a crying shame that people are holding on to grudges that didn't even happen to them. History has shown that it wasn't the prophet of the church that issued the order, yet people aren't going to feel any sense of healing unless the prophet of the church today apologizes for the act? Folks, you need to grow up. All I have to say is this.... for those people in our society that are going to pin this massacre on the church and make a stink about it every year until they hear someone say sorry, I'll say it.......SORRY. There. You've heard a Mormon say sorry for the wrongs that were committed that day. It shouldn't matter to you that I'm not the prophet of the church, since it OBVIOUSLY doesn't matter that the prophet of the church didn't order the massacre. Now will someone please find me someone who is going to say sorry to me for driving the saints out of their lands and homes at gunpoint, murdering their husbands and families, and taking everything that was theirs? Because starting right now I'm gonna be a crybaby and hold my breath until I get redressed my grievances from people that did the same thing to my ancestors progenitors. Sheesh.

How about an apology from the Arkansas contingent for the slaves their ancestors beat, humiliated, and murdered both before and after MMM? And while they are at it, I need an apology from the Baptist and other churches for all those ordained "ministers" in the South who condoned slavery before and after MMM. Has the Baptist Church already apologized for this? I hope not because I smell $$$$$! Ohh, here is another one, my great, great, great grandmother died of exposure on the river banks in Iowa after being driven out of Nauvoo. I need an apology from both the State of Iowa (even if it didn't exist then), and the State of Illinois. When I found out about her last week on the Internet, I became really outraged and now I am suffering. Like I said, I smell $$$$$.

i think its interestint that this on 9/11 a date we will never forget i add this memory to that date 9/11 is a date i always think about because it is my daughters birthday and she died 10 years ago in april so i mourn for the people who died 9/11 2001 and also in 1857

The hateful sentiments expressed by "christians" and descendents of the victims of the Mountian Meadows Massacre seem to me to be in contradiction to the basic tenenats of Judeo/Christian teachings. I have ancestors who were run out of New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois, some even lost family and friends to murderous attacks instigated by governmental and religeous leadership. I have come to believe that those perpetrators of these horrible crimes will be held accountable to God. So what exactly will "an official appology" by current LDS leaders accomplish. Certain peoples from all of our religeons, and from all races and cultures do things that we don't completely understand or agree with, but the modern leaders of those past errors are in no way accountable for actions they had nothing to do with. I would doubt that most critics of LDS leadership, have ever read any histories of these events from sources close to the actual event. Nor have they ever read histories relating to the tragic treatment of early Latter Day Saints written by those more closely related to the actual events. We all need to have more confidence that God is in control of the ultimate judgement of the actions of men, and get on with life!

WOW...Where are the tears for the victims murdered by those fine upstanding Christians at Haun's Mill???????

What's the reference that refers to man not being punished for Adam's transgression but for his own sin? AND - why should the Church apologize when the whole thing was NOT 'ordered' by the church but by individuals who were in fear of their lives, their properties and their way of beliefs? It's just frustrating that these families have allowed the bitterness of their ancestors to come down through the years. Having some American Indian blood in me, I don't hold the US Government of today responsible as a 'conquering force' for moving my ancestors to reservations - there are mitigating circumstances in so many things of history. But it IS history! It's past and cannot be re-lived or fixed. It's done. Let's learn from it and move on.

It is so very difficult for us all to humble ourselves enought to admit that "We did it, and we�re sorry", about anything.

It is time for the church to humble themselves.

Of course anyone with any humanity at all feels terribly sorry for the victims of the MMM--and for all other horrible things that happen to suffering people all over the world. We can work to make sure that our personal actions NEVER add to the suffering of others in any way. BUT--that is all we can do.
Nothing that anyone does today can erase the horror of MMM. I've often wondered, even considering the climate of the day, (maybe this is a question that we should all consider)how and why people whose very faith had been tried again and again, and who had suffered some pretty horrible persecution themselves, could do something so horribly out of character. (Yes, I realize that to some anti-Mormons, this IS our character, but I think the facts of 177 years of institutional life pretty well disprove that idea.)
There is nothing in the rest of the history of the Mormon settlement of the west, or of Brigham Young's actions, to show that this was an official act of the LDS Church. I agree that it is illogical to demand an official apology for what wasn't an official act. Of course modern church leaders, like the rest of church members, are terribly sorry this horrible event happened.
But in today's litigeous society, ANY official "apology" would be used in court action, and maybe that's why it's being demanded--I agree that I smell $$$$$ here.

WHEW!!! Enough is enough. Praises to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for honoring the dead and memorializing the ground upon which this terrible incident occurred. Let the government take care of this site? I've been there and it is well taken care of. When and how would the Federal Government do a better job?

I am sorry that the descendants have so much anguish regarding their loved ones. I am sorry that they feel The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints needs to give another "type" of apology than the ones offered and the memorial to the horrid incident. I am sorry that there are so many who feel vindictive and hateful comments about one another and about other "states" who have "wronged" their ancestors. My family has experienced nasty things that have happened directly to us. I am GRATEFUL for the blessings I have received - but especially the blessing of not having hate in my heart. I am human. I am sure I could nurse revenge to a monetary level. I am grateful that I have had peace spoken to me instead. I sincerely hope eventually even the descendants of the Francher party can work through their pain and no longer have anger at the living for what the dead has done.

I need an "I'm Very Sorry" from the Family's of thoes who Shot and Killed my Great Great Grandfather at Haun's Mill. Then I and my children can have peace in our life.

many innocent women and children were killed in South Dakota, and you are more than welcome to visit and see how the Federal Government maintains their memorial.

The LDS Church is a class act.

I've been a member of the LDS church my whole life and am very proud of most of its history. But after reading most of these comments, I feel a need to apologize for their lack of compassion and sensitivity. These descendents aren't asking for much, just for the Church to say "We're sorry for what happened that day." The argument that no one alive is affected by this and that everyone should just move on, is a ridiculous one. If that is true than I never want to hear another pioneer story again, because you know, it's irrelevant and we should move on. The events that occurred that horrible day were done in the name of God and the church, regardless of perverse justification. I don't understand why the church is so reluctant to step forward and officially apologize that an overzealous group of members of our own organization one day became vigilantes clearly lacked the Christian conviction of which they proclaimed. It's like arguing that the Catholic church shouldn't take responsibility for the actions of some of its representatives. It has stepped forward and has paid out millions of dollars. Are the early saints owed their own apologies? Thousands. But past persecution never justifies the massacre of innocent people.

Anonymous-they mistook the party for Federal officials? Because the U.S. Army always traveled with women and children? Is that how you wash the blood off your hands?