Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857
The Mountain Meadows Massacre, was a serial attacking on an emigrant wagon train in the South of Utah.
Roughly 120 people were killed during this event, causing an up rise in the influence of religious freedom nationwide. |
These attacks occurred on September 11, 1857. These people were killed by a group of Mormons, along with the help of a few Paiute Indians.
|
Mountain Meadows is located near Cedar City, Utah, about 35 miles SW. Of the emigrants that were attacked, 17 children survived and were adopted by failies near the area. However, this situation was only temporary. Two years later, in 1859, these children were reunited with their families with the aid of the government.
Why would Mormons kill innocent emigrants?
This question has been brought up several times. Why would Mormons participate in such a cruel and unusual act? And what was their reasoning? Mormons have a history of being persecuted, killed, and driven out of their originated areas. Long ago, the governor of Missouri sent a calling to either force out all Mormons or exterminate them. Over 1500 U.S. troops were sent to Utah to complete this task. Joseph Smith, the LDS Church founder, had been accused of several crimes, imprisoned on and off, and killed alongside his brother. They committed this heinous act out of paranoia and fear that this could happen to them once again.
|