I'm ex-Mormon myself. I knew about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but not this one. So nice (sarcasm) to know my ancestors were such genocidal white colonizers. I did know about the native American slave trade the Mormons participated in. I have a first cousin, thrice removed, who was full Paiute and "adopted" by my family. He was taught to hate himself and his people. He was used as slave labor. And he was only given the full ordinance of my former religion after his adopted father died. Then he was murdered when he was 49. Surprise surprise, no one was even investigated for that. I was taught earlier in life that he was celebrated for who he was, but my own research into his life told a very different story.
Thanks for bringing visibility to this ugly chapter in my state's history. It needs to be told.
This is aptly timed for me... I'm heading to a conference in Provo which will be held about 12 blocks away from the Provo River and this shit is going into a land acknowledgment at the start of my presentation. Also, I will be reminded of this and feel a bit sick to my stomach when I see that mountain.
Thank you again, James, for educating an immigrant. Didn't go to school here, although the comments I have read in other posts, & columns that many who did, didn't learn this real history but just the whitewashed one. It's interesting how across the world they invaded, trampled, killed and taken over countries. And made sure to create chaos to last forever, e.g. Bharat/pakistan, when they were forced to leave after looting and stripping countries of their treasures and after bloody battles.
I'm picturing those young Mormon men in shirts with their sleeves ripped off aka Mormon muscle shirts rather than short-sleeved shirts. Years ago, two young Mormons came to the gym every morning. One dutifully sat there reading his bible while the other worked out. He was a hot Mormom. We dubbed him the "The Edgy Mormon" which would have also been a great band name. We were sure the other guy was there to make sure the older women didn't steal him.
I chuckled when I read the post and then giggled when I read your comment. I was, sadly, raised a Mormon, and I've seen so many of those white shirts. Fortunately, I decided to think for myself and began my recovery from mormonism at age 16. My mother has always sworn I'd go back to the church. I'm 50...still not interested in the church lol.
I like this post, but I really didn’t like it if you know what I mean. Thank you for sharing the story – I’ve never heard it before. I always get so angry when I read about these massacres even though there’s not a goddamn thing I can do about it because it happened so long ago. What really sucks is that it’s still happening, just now on the other side of the world. And if you call it out, people accuse you of all kinds of things.
I knew some of the Mormon atrocities, but didn't remember this, even though I've been to Mount Timpanogous and taken the tour through the cave there. Beautiful country tainted by colonial barbarity.
Because Mormons are unfortunately very heavy in their denial about how racist he was. I used to believe in the religion and they SCRUPULOUSLY avoid any mention of things like this. Or that one of his sons was a drag queen.
Mmmm... There are some that just embrace the racism. The whole if you're brown God burnt you as a warning to the rest of us thing isn't exactly subtle. My brown kids and I lived in Utah, and there were many times people drove by and threw cans out their windows at our kids in the 90s. Yeah. Nice place, Utah. I'm hoping it's changed somewhat. My grandkids live there and seem to be ok? But they are one generation paler, just sayin'
Oh yes, the members can be very racist, and the leaders used to be. Most of the leaders avoid mention of that and advise against it. Though some of the leaders are very homophobic.
I'm ex-Mormon myself. I knew about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but not this one. So nice (sarcasm) to know my ancestors were such genocidal white colonizers. I did know about the native American slave trade the Mormons participated in. I have a first cousin, thrice removed, who was full Paiute and "adopted" by my family. He was taught to hate himself and his people. He was used as slave labor. And he was only given the full ordinance of my former religion after his adopted father died. Then he was murdered when he was 49. Surprise surprise, no one was even investigated for that. I was taught earlier in life that he was celebrated for who he was, but my own research into his life told a very different story.
Thanks for bringing visibility to this ugly chapter in my state's history. It needs to be told.
Oh, and the cousin's name was Pautaunt, renamed to Richard Nebeker, known around town as "Indian Dick."
This is aptly timed for me... I'm heading to a conference in Provo which will be held about 12 blocks away from the Provo River and this shit is going into a land acknowledgment at the start of my presentation. Also, I will be reminded of this and feel a bit sick to my stomach when I see that mountain.
This is all brand new, horrible information to me. Thank you for sharing.
Another reason I despise religion.
Thank you again, James, for educating an immigrant. Didn't go to school here, although the comments I have read in other posts, & columns that many who did, didn't learn this real history but just the whitewashed one. It's interesting how across the world they invaded, trampled, killed and taken over countries. And made sure to create chaos to last forever, e.g. Bharat/pakistan, when they were forced to leave after looting and stripping countries of their treasures and after bloody battles.
Fuck all religions
I'm picturing those young Mormon men in shirts with their sleeves ripped off aka Mormon muscle shirts rather than short-sleeved shirts. Years ago, two young Mormons came to the gym every morning. One dutifully sat there reading his bible while the other worked out. He was a hot Mormom. We dubbed him the "The Edgy Mormon" which would have also been a great band name. We were sure the other guy was there to make sure the older women didn't steal him.
I chuckled when I read the post and then giggled when I read your comment. I was, sadly, raised a Mormon, and I've seen so many of those white shirts. Fortunately, I decided to think for myself and began my recovery from mormonism at age 16. My mother has always sworn I'd go back to the church. I'm 50...still not interested in the church lol.
Yet another piece of horrible, racist American history.
I just keep hoping one of the massacre stories will end with the natives turning around and killing off their attackers. Sigh.
I knew about this because John Krakauer wrote about it in Under the Banner of Heaven. I consider that book essential reading.
And that's another reason to despise religions, they don't act like religious people , you know , love thy neighbors !
But the Indigenous people were not the Mormon’s neighbors! It was THEIR land!!
No shit ! And instead of getting along , they ( the morons murdered them !
"Love thy neighbors," unless they have something you covet. Hey, wasn't there a commandment about that? /snark
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._Morris_Young
I'm a historian and I love it when I learn something new. Thank you!
I like this post, but I really didn’t like it if you know what I mean. Thank you for sharing the story – I’ve never heard it before. I always get so angry when I read about these massacres even though there’s not a goddamn thing I can do about it because it happened so long ago. What really sucks is that it’s still happening, just now on the other side of the world. And if you call it out, people accuse you of all kinds of things.
I knew some of the Mormon atrocities, but didn't remember this, even though I've been to Mount Timpanogous and taken the tour through the cave there. Beautiful country tainted by colonial barbarity.
And yet, they still named a University after him.
Because Mormons are unfortunately very heavy in their denial about how racist he was. I used to believe in the religion and they SCRUPULOUSLY avoid any mention of things like this. Or that one of his sons was a drag queen.
One of Brigham Young's sons was a drag queen?? Wow.
Yeah, B. Morris Young. Also known as Madame Pattirini https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._Morris_Young.
What color was his favorite lipstick, I wonder! Drag Queens Rule! They’d sure be better at governing than donny “hairy orange beastie” trump!
Mmmm... There are some that just embrace the racism. The whole if you're brown God burnt you as a warning to the rest of us thing isn't exactly subtle. My brown kids and I lived in Utah, and there were many times people drove by and threw cans out their windows at our kids in the 90s. Yeah. Nice place, Utah. I'm hoping it's changed somewhat. My grandkids live there and seem to be ok? But they are one generation paler, just sayin'
Oh yes, the members can be very racist, and the leaders used to be. Most of the leaders avoid mention of that and advise against it. Though some of the leaders are very homophobic.
Crazy, ain’t it?!?