Revision as of 17:40, 1 April 2015

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Response to claims made in "Chapter 6: Sevier River, October 26, 1853"

Response to claim: 79 - Brigham's fortification of villages against attack by the Indians was a reversal of Book of Mormon prophecies regarding the Lamanites

The author(s) of American Massacre make(s) the following claim:

The author claims that Brigham's fortification of villages against attack by the Indians was a reversal of Book of Mormon prophecies regarding the Lamanites.

Author's sources: No source provided, although the author dates this to July 21, 1853.

FAIR's Response

Response to claim: 90 - The author claims that Latter-day Saint elders were "in the habit of confiscating at will younger wives of less ranking members of the church"

The author(s) of American Massacre make(s) the following claim:

The author claims that Latter-day Saint elders were "in the habit of confiscating at will younger wives of less ranking members of the church."

Author's sources: *No source provided.

FAIR's Response

Response to claim: 90 - In the Gunnison death, the Mormons are claimed to have defamed the victims while blaming the Indians

The author(s) of American Massacre make(s) the following claim:

In the Gunnison death, the Mormons are claimed to have defamed the victims while blaming the Indians.

Author's sources: No source provided.

FAIR's Response

Question: Were 19th century Utah Mormons complicit in the deaths of Judge Leonidas Shaver, John Gunnison, and Almon Babbitt?

Two of these individuals were killed by Indians; the other died of natural causes and was not killed at all

Critics of Mormonism credit the story of Judge William W. Drummond of the Mormons' complicity in the death of Judge Leonidas Shaver, John Gunnison, and Almon Babbitt. However, two of these individuals were killed by Indians; the other died of natural causes and was not killed at all. The author ignores the biases of his source.

Noted one reviewer:

[Will] Bagley tries to support his fictional tale of a violent society by crediting the report of Judge William W. Drummond on murders committed by the Mormons. In a report that Norman Furniss and other authorities believe probably tipped the balance in favor of sending the army to Utah, Drummond charged that the Mormons engineered the murders of territorial delegate Almon Babbitt, Capt. John Gunnison, and Judge Leonidas Shaver. In spite of its flaws and prejudice, Bagley cites Drummond's report approvingly (77). In fact, Cheyennes killed Babbitt on the high plains, Gunnison died at the hands of Pahvant Utes, and Shaver died a natural death. ^[1]

Notes

1. ↑ Thomas G. Alexander, "Review of Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows," Brigham Young University Studies 31 no. 1 (January 2003), 167–. off-site