Reader comments
LDS Church will seek landmark designation for Mountain Meadows

Excellent. All good moves to preserve the integrity of the site. I can't imagine anyone wanting to builid a home on the site of the MMM!

I'm very happy with the designation. This should have been a National Historic Site years ago.

On another note, I have to say that I am a bit disgusted with the mormon church posturing itself as if it was THEIR idea.

What hubris.

This was the right thing to do. The land should be out of the hands of the church. This was the express wishes of the descendants, I'm not sure why it took this long to have the church agree to it, but is the right thing to do. Leaving it in the hands of the church is (not exactly, but some have made this comparison...) like have the Nazi party own the land memorializing the vicitms of Auschwitz.

... folks can move on now.

Perhaps there can be closer to descendants on both sides. This has gone on long enough! People only want answers and their seem to be none. It's time to close the lid on this whole terrible event and go forth with all our lives. I hope and pray that the mean angry websites out there, with ugly lies, disappear, because they bring NO PEACE, and only breed hatred. Let there be peace and forgiveness among all our people once and for all. God Bless everyone!

Sounds like the LDS Church is making big steps to reconcile for the acts of its members so many years ago. The lives of those who were murdered can never be restored but they can be honored and remembered. I applaud the LDS Church for this contrite act.

And He saw it and said:
"It is good."

This is wonderful news! Kudos to Elder Jensen, Mormon church leadership and the good people of Arkansas who are decedents of those who were deceived and then killed at Mountain Meadow 150 years ago. This outcome demonstrates that even the most troubled waters can be safely traversed with patience, understanding and a healthy dose of bi-directional charity.

The land might be better off if left under LDS Church control. They've taken steps to preserve the area and will maintain it. We don't know if the Parks Division will always have the resources to maintain it.

I think the church should trade the MMM site for the Martin's Cove site in WY.

My family shed tears of relief and joy at this news!

I am certain most of the LDS who have made insensitive, disparaging comments on these stories for several months have NO IDEA how important this is to those of us who are descendants of the Fancher party. All we can say now is try to learn from your leaders, and soften your hearts.

Hey Matt, where in the article does it give the impression that it was the Church's idea to make this designation? It's pretty obvious that the Church is agreeing to what was requested by the descendent groups. Take your hatred elsewhere...

And, to The right thing to do...comparing the Church's ownership of this land to that of the Nazis owning the land upon which Auschwitz stood is a very, very bold statment to make, and is very far reaching. Totally different things. Statements like that just fuel the fire, and this should have been resolved years ago.

Oh Matt my boy! Give a break and take your contention somewhere else. We only want peace, and a true peace of mind for all those who directly descend down from these people, on both sides. Let it rest... buddy. No one today is responsible for the massacre. It is the past. It is now in Gods hands. So find it in your heart to forgive. If you had an ancestor involved than forgive for the sake of the dead. let it rest.

You generated your own imagined version of what was said, as if the rest of us did not know better.

It certainly appears that President Monson is taking the Church in the right direction.

I am interested in seeing what other changes he brings about.

The LDS Church did not posture itself to indicate that this was their idea. The descendants of the victims met with the Church and asked them to take this step and the LDS Church responded. I understand you may have a strong dislike for the LDS Church, but at least get your facts right. Makes for a more meaningful and intelligent dialogue.

I read an account of what motivated the mormons and indians to kill these settlers from Arkansas were killed in BH Roberts History of the Church.

They poisoned watering holes used by Indians and they taunted the Mormons telling them, I raped your daughter in Missouri, I whipped your people when you were back east, I killed your people.

Killing these people was wrong, they should have been arrested and tried for their crimes.

Ownership,
You have a good point. However, I think they should probably help maintain the site themselves. If it is important to them I think they will do so. Just as we do our family graves. I'm happy the church has given them this opportunity. It will be more peaceful for us all.

My ancestors were the victims (along with many others) of a terrible crime similar to that being discussed here - albeit in another country.

I am dismayed at the attitudes of the ancestors of the victims in this case. I have found great peace and joy in the solace and quiet remembrance of my ancestors who suffered such. I do not expect apologies from the organization(s) whose members committed the atrocities nor do I expect apologies from their descendants - I greet them with compassion. I seek no memorial - rather I would be thrilled to find the area kept well. There is no existing threat from this group now. I do not seek justice. After so many generations, this can only be given by the Almighty.

I find it so sad you, as descendants of victims, have spent so much precious time and energy - your lives seeking the land and apologies. Is this how you define yourselves? How sad!

There is so much more to life.

Ray, I agree with you in the joy of the news, but I have also read extremely hateful comments from both sides of the fence, and even more coming from people who don't belong to the church. I believe now there should be peace and forgiveness from both sides. I have been thinking of joining the Mormons so this has all been quite interesting to me. I pray for peace to come to you as you try to forgive. Good luck!

ALSO: I did a count of all the negative comments on these posts to see where they were mostly coming from... It will surprise you.