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Mountain Meadows meetings in Arkansas

I too am crossing my fingers that all parties involved can come to an amicable settlement on this matter, one that preserves the site and all its extensions and fosters the feelings of understanding, forgiveness and hope now being nurtured.

HERE WE GO!!

Perhaps we can also arrange for parts of Ohio, Illinios and Missouri to become National Historic Sites, considering the killings that went on around those parts as well; even things up a little.

I do not share the paranoia of some of these other bloggers...

As a lifelong member of the LDS church, I want to see us act responsibly and charitably in this matter. We should give the government the land and let the descendants do what they wish and support the establishment of a national monument. By controlling the land it appears we want to manipulate the history of this affair which only perpetuates the appearance of a coverup. We have nothing to hide. Let's practice what we preach.

Furthermore, whenever these people organize something in our State, we should welcome them with open arms, take them into our homes and treat them as dear friends that we have offended in the worst possible way and with whom we want to make amends.

The topic of the fireside is the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and has been announced in sacrament meetings here in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The fireside is not just for members but also for non-members that may be interested in the subject matter.

I agree. But there is something very Christ-like about remembering we are dealing with human beings. If the decedents of the tragedy, right or wrong, feel hurt by this, I have even more admiration for the Church for working with and supporting these people here and now in 2008, in a spirit of love and service - a pure gesture to bless and help.

The church has monument to remember the fallen victims of the Haun's Mill Massacre where Latter-day Saints were slaughtered legally at the hands of an extermination order from Governor Boggs in Missouri. The monument the Church helps raise will be nothing less than an act of charity - a monument to the Church's commitment to Christ-like love. If WE CAN'T demonstrate and practice it, how can we expect others to? NO, Elder Jensen and Elder Eyring had NOTHING to do with the actions of people a hundred years ago, but I think there is a HUGE lesson of real love and kindness in their actions. This isn't about those people 100 years ago, its about building bridges of love and respect in 2008.

And who will apologize for the massacre, the slaughter, and the murders at Nauvoo?

I don't understand the first comment. Any reasonable reading of the FACTS of the massacre showed clear involvement by church members, stake president Isaac Haight, Apostle George A. Smith, and at least complicity on the part of Brigham Young in the massive coverup afterwards. We were wrong. We were especially wrong afterwards in obstructing justice. Approximately 70 members participated in the murders and only one was brought to justice. That is a massive coverup. History, in this case, is what it is. Sorry that you don't like it. Sorry that it made "us" look bad, but we were bad, in this case. The site should become a national historic landmark and should be managed by the federal government. The deeds performed there "belong to the ages" now and should be given the status appropriate to the events that transpired.

Actually, the Illinois legislature passed a resolution expressing sorrow for what happened in the 1840s:

(from DNews 4/1/2004)
The resolution states that the "biases and prejudices of a less-enlightened age in the history of the state of Illinois caused untold hardship and trauma for the community of Latter-day Saints by the distrust, violence and inhospitable actions of a dark time in our past . . . ."

It also describes members of the LDS Church as "a people of faith and hard work" and asks them to forgive "the misguided efforts of our citizens, chief executive and the General Assembly in the expulsion of their Mormon ancestors" from Nauvoo.

...last month, Burke and his wife, Illinois Appellate Court Judge Anne Burke, returned to Utah with a draft of the resolution that they took to President Hinckley. "He was completely surprised that anyone would undertake to do this," Burke said. "He was very emotional."

...there was no debate over the resolution, either in committee or on the House floor, and...it passed unanimously.
(end quotes)

What could be wrong with our church extending a similar peace offering to the descendants of people massacred by our own?

Stop being victims. Face the music.

Kathryn,
The Immigrants were not lilly white as you seem to imply.

Yes, some misguided Mormons did something both Wrong and Stupid.


But these immigrants also made sure that everyone they came in contact with knew from where they came from. Stating how they participated in the problems of Missouri.

Both sides needs to take a chill pill and remember every group of people have idiots in them.

Don't understand:

You used a good anonymous name. You really do not understand the facts of the issues.

No Brigham Young never condone or even hinted that he wanted it done. In fact all the historical papers suggest the other "Leave them alone". The time frame from when they sent the letter to B.Y. and when the incident happened, means that there was no way for Brigham to give his approval because the riding could not amke the round trip in the timeframe.

Yes, Several LDS leaders was involved and all of them paid the price for their deeds(either in this life or the next).

There is a lot of myths being touted as "Facts" but they have no basis in actual fact.

The behavior and comments of a certain leader after the fact was absolutely shameful.
Both the act AND the behavior after the fact warrent numerous appologies.

Ernest:
There was a lot said and done on BOTH SIDES that descendents from both sides should apologize for and try to work together to put the issue to rest FOREVER!

One can only admire the work of the LDS Church and those in its Historical Department who are working together with the various organizations having an interest in the Mountain Meadows site. Its clearly a very delicate matter, with facts and interests that cannot all be covered in a newspaper story. I look forward to learning more about this particular meeting in Arkansas and hope that all can come to a meaningful understanding on how to go forward.

I seriously doubt John Robert is a member of the church. If you are, shame on you. Tolerance is a virtue that should be displayed on both sides of the aisle. My only gripe with making it a national monument is then the place with go to pot. At least with the Church owning it you know it will be properly cared for and have the funding to take care of it. My guess is these Mountain Meadows organizations would want it to become a National Historic Site and still have the Church pay for it, but have no say about what goes on there. I have problems with that thinking.

Until the Mormon church is willing to admit its fault and publicly apologize to each and every descendant of the massacre's survivors, this will be a stain on the organization. And to the first poster, the Mormon church lied about the massacre for over 140 years; get your facts straight. Even when the proof was excavated, the powers that be tried to put a spin on it in LDS's favor. The truth is out; you can't put it back in the bottle.

That being said, I don't see the church doing the proper thing because it would make the organization look bad.

Nothing postive has ever come from violence, did LDS members do somthing wrong? Yes, I am LDS and have heard the stories over the years, and I am not proud of what happened. Do I understand the frustration of all they had been through, and how they may have felt threatened and reminded of all the autrocities they had been through. Yes! But should they had turned the other cheek like they had so many times before and let this unruly group of people pass? YES! they should have. Just like the many other wagon trains that came through before them and after. I am sorry that we LDS are not perfect. But many of us are trying and have tried to do what our Savior would have us do in difficult situations. I hope our Leaders can bring some peace to all those who were part of this sad history on both sides.

Perhaps we should round up all the descendants of the Mormon Pioneers who participated in the M M Massacre and hang them all! after all it was their ancestors! They are just as much to blame and being descendants of The Brigham Young group of killers. John Doyle Lee was an adopted son of Brigham Young and did everything Brigham Young asked him to do. I suppose we we need a bounty party to find all these descendant's.

I hope they protect the site fully ans ensure public access. It was a very important historical event.

Confused (9:03)
So the victims are supposed to appologize?? For what, getting killed? For being lied to? For being duped by the guys with the weapons?
You truly are confused.