Haven't seen the movie but it's history in the past. The Mormons came through Missouri and founded Far West to build a temple. Farmers and MO. Gov. wasn't happy with the people and were told to leave. Mormons bought lots of Mo. land, so I spose Independence, Mo will be their heaven, that I hear.
Stay in Utah. Harry would turn over in his grave!!

I saw the film today. I know the territory near where the massacre occurred, having traveled and camped in the area.

I was troubled by the time discrepancies that I saw in the film and subsequently in your article and others. Apparently the Fancher party entered the area in the spring of 1857 but the massacre didn't occur until September. Even so, the film specifies that the group was given "2 weeks" to rest their people and feed and water their cattle.

The film shows Bishop/General Haight leaving the area (Cedar City? Beaver?) telling his sons he'd be gone "2 days". The film depicts a meeting including Brigham Young and Haight. There was no possible way to get from Cedar City or Beaver to Salt Lake City and return in 2 days in 1857. Was Brigham Young in some location closer to the massacre scene? Not according to the history portrayed in the film or in the accompanying reviews.

I also agree that the movie tended to make the Mormons look very bad (most of them) and the Fancher party look very good. I'm sure it's easier to make the movie that way, but real life doesn't seem to work out that way. I can't imagine that the Fancher party could have done anything heinous enough to deserve having all their adults and children over 6 murdered, however.

lame. It sounds like a man who only cares about putting a religion down and doing so in a potentially historic time period. Was this movie really made to expose a truth that has been locked away, or is someone trying to just make it difficult for a mormon to become president? JFK was a catholic, some were afraid that the pope would influence him more than was appropriate, and he did a pretty good job. He was a popular president. Or is this just a way to speak out against a church that he doesn't understand or even care to understand? Why don't you instead focus on other themes such as the extermination order that Governor Lilbourn Boggs signed allowing his citizens the right of stealing, killing and forcibly expelling all mormons from his state? there are better ways to tell the mormon story than through this hateful manner.

First, I must state that I'm a fifth generation "Mo" (Mormom) and I enjoyed this movie. My only critique being that I felt the premise of the movie (the massacre) was overshadowed by the fictional "Romeo and Juliet" love story. I would have preferred to see more historical insight to events that transpired to convince God-fearing men to commit such an atocity.

For the record, I firmly believe that Brigham Young had full knowledge of the event and directed the church members to carry out his will upon the travelers.

Sadly, those who are true believers in the Mormon faith will never do any reasearch on the subject, unless they purchase a Church-approved book through Deseret Books. Instead, like the Mormons portrayed in the film, they will blindly follow the instructions of their church leaders. However, these same zealots will be the first to chastise and condemn those who speak the truth. Are you listening "Get a life" (the previous person posting a comment here)? This blind devotion (aka religious fanaticism) is the root cause of much of the world's strife, both past and present.

In summary, I strongly encourage all people of the Mormon faith to read and study church history, from non Church-sanctioned sources. Start with recent history, such as the Mark Hofmann case. You will truly be shocked and amazed by the actions of your leaders.

History varies depending on who's telling it. This has to be examined from all sides. This is one of the sides on an extremely multi-faceted chunk of history. So you really have to go in understanding that this is what they opine, and that there are other opinions out there as well. To ignore what the church has published on this event is like looking through binoculars with one eye closed. You have to open the other eye to see the picture brought a little more into focus, even if it's still too far back in history to see its particulars.

Here is my problem with this movie. It is so overwhelmingly one sided. If the movie had been about Catholics or Jews, there would be an outcry from every political and religious leader in the world. Look at the criticism that Mel Gibson took. There was such intense, inflamatory dipiction of Mormons in this movie. I agree that the people of the wagon train were probably innocent, but you can't know the exact conversations that took place during this time. Women and children were raped and killed by "God fearing Christians" in at least two states as the Mormons were run out of town they killed the men, and raped & killed children and women. Why not make a movie about that, instead of inciting more persecution against Mormons. I don't agree with Mormon theology, but I don't agree with those who restrict the right of peopleto worship as they please without persecution. The movie was inflamatory against Mormons. For that, I feel sorry for them, because they will receive greater persecution for somebody's imagination mixed with facts brilliantly put forth in a movie.

to the review above...i'm pretty sure the writer's of the movie had to put dialogue into it...and I don't think anyone is claiming that the conversations are exact. this is a fictitious portrayal of the event. period.

this isn't a mormon, jew or christian issue. the fact, is that people are flawed. the bishop (in the movie) was corrupt, broken, mislead...we need to understand that the problem is in man's portrayal of God and religion.

anyway, i liked the movie. definitely not a feel good movie but it does stir emotions.

Seen the movie been to the site and read all the books and live in the area.The mormons did a nice job rebuilding the site after Brighan tore it down a couple years later and made his comments about the dead souls he murder......