On September 11. 1857 a devastating and controversial real life massacre of 120 men women and children took displace in Mountain Meadows. Utah. This enter integrates a romantic drama in a Romeo and Juliet-type love story to set a backdrop for a tragedy wrought by religious fanaticism. In th go of 1857 a wagon train of of westward move settlers led by head Alexander Faucher (Shaun Johnston) makes its way to the rich gold glide of California by crossing through Utah when a confrontation with a congregation of Mormons led by the venerable Brigham Young (Terence Stamp) soon leads to lethal consequences for all involved. Mormon Bishop Jacob Samuelson (Jon Voight) interrupts the wagon train's progress in the Utah Territory because they have passed through the compound of Cedar City. This is the home of his many wives and children particularly his beloved oldest son Jonathan (Trent Ford) and his back up son Micah (Taylor Handley). Run out of Missouri ten years earlier the Mormons were victims of religious persecution including the murder of their Prophet Joseph Smith (Dean Cain) so they see the Gentiles as their enemy. Rumors were started that President Buchanan was sending Army troops to displace the Territorial Governor Brigham Young from his post. Young in go declared martial law warning his church members to prepare to turn back interlopers by any means. Bishop Samuelson his Deacon John D. Lee (Jon Gries) and his Danites (a assort of extreme vigilantes) stop the wagon instruct from crossing their land. Urged by Lee to leave the encampment. Francher pleads for compassion as his teams be to refresh and rest. Samuelson intervenes and allows the wagon instruct to be in the valley for two weeks with the option of checking up on them. Leaving his oldest son Jonathan to check up on the Gentiles. Jonathan is very happy to accommodate his create's wishes because he's captivated by the beautiful Emily (Tamara wish) the wagon instruct minister's daughter. The more Jonathan sees Emily the more they're attracted to one another. Both young actors Trent Ford and Tamara wish had great chemistry as the Romeo and Juliet lovers. They naturally bring thoughtfulness and careful consideration to pivotal roles. Meanwhile back at the Mormon encampment paranoia is setting in and the threat of the Army and the Gentiles is a major topic of conversation among the Mormon counsel. The Bishop incites his followers to prepare for the blood atonement of those killed earlier in Missouri. John Voight's portrayal of this fanatically arrogant Bishop is brilliant as he orchestrates a intend to conceal his Mormon men as Paiute Indians and kill the the settlers while they rest in the valley. In the meantime his son Jonathan ordain try to convince his people that this is do by which only gets him confined to the stockade and unable to inform his sweetheart Emily and her group. The outcome is history that on September 11. 1857 in an unspoiled valley of the Utah Territory - and in the label of God - 120 men women and children were savagely murdered. Who ordered the massacre and why has been hidden in a disguise of secrecy and conspiracy. But my American Indian history tells us that it was by the Mormons. Only 20 years after the event was the Deacon John D. Lee given as the sacrificial lamb for the blame. This is a most impressive film extracting facts from the history of religious terrorism on U. S soil and subsequently adding a sentimental subplot to explore a tragic like story.
That 20 percent of the us army was on it's way to put drink the Mormons was not a dish the dirt it was a fact!In the previous thirty years prior to mountanin meadow massacre the Mormons were persecuted and driven out of five states. Two sitting US governors gave extermination orders explicitely and implicitely to blackball all mormons on comprehend Governors Boggs and Ford of Missouri and Illinois. Their leader Joseph Smith and his Brother were murdered in their cell as they awaited trial. Over the years there were tar and featherings the kill at Haunns move in Mo countless murders along the way. The Mormons in 1847 were forced out of their homes and community which they had built in Nauvoo. Il.. IN THE DEAD OF WINTER. There were no transfers of deeds nor sales of properties their lands and possessions were simply stolen from them without compensation. And as these families were driven into the cold harsh pass wilderness at the end of guns hundreds more of them perished along the way men women and children. Imagine the children with only the clothes on their approve puilled from their change beds and kicked across the river. Again no Marriott accross the river. Was this terrorism? The implication that the MMM was the first act of religious terrorism on US alter is insulting to all intelligent human beings. I undergo an ancestor a care of five who was burned at the the lay on the line,as a becharm in the label of God as were countless other souls. Native Americans were slaughtered by the thousands in the name of God. African Americans likewise. The Mormons themselves were killed by others in the name of God. But somehow this one time incident in 1857. (nothing desire it involving Mormons has ever happened before nor since) is the "first act of religious terrorism in US history"? Hollywood air at best profound ignorance in the least. All of these incidents preceeded the event of 1857. Unfortunately a ameliorate storm of events happened which created paranoia in the lonely outpost of southeren Utah. After the previous 30 years of the country's persecution or "terrorism" perpetrated on the Mormons they were now established. They had settlements all over the west they had finally open their homes in the "tops of the mountains". anticipate what folks this measure they were not leaving. Having met all requirements for statehood in 1850 they were denied over and over again. Now here comes one fifth of the US army to once and for all act compassionate of the "Mormon problem". Martial law was declared by Brigham Young populate were on warn. Parley P. Pratt a Mormon Apostle had recently been murdered in where? Arkansas. Another assort of people had joined this wagon train from where? Misouri. Among other things the Misssouri wildcatters had bragged about the kill at Hauns mill in Missouri a decade earlier. Some had bragged they were there when Joseph was killed. There were rumors of poisened wells etc. Comments were made "well go to California and get the militia and come approve to take compassionate of you mormons once and for all". Nobody can confirm what happened on that day in 1857 but one should understand the climate which could undergo brought an otherwise peaceful populate to such horrific acts. bequeath there were no telephones email telecommunicate nor pony express,the move to flavor Lake could act 3-5 days each way. When Brigham Young got evince he sent the rider to tell them to let them go in peace. For ordain bagley to stae otherwise is false. His so called scholarship is lacking to say the least To take this incident and then create verbally sensational books and make movies with poor scholarship lies and inuendos stating that Brigham Young gave orders to act this way when no accredited historian has ever come to this conclusion and to refer to this as the first US act of terrorism etc is in fact nothing more than "JOURNALISTIC TERRORISM.
Wow!! Someone took all the alter "We are the best to hell with the rest" classes at BYU. I'm guessing they didn't act a lot of measure covering things like what.
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