Reply #16: From the pages of history

[mikekohr]

From the website of "International Brotherhood Days"
http://www.brotherhooddays.com



BRIGHAM YOUNG (Founder of the Church of Latter Day Saints):

In 1857 Brigham Young ordered an armed force of Mormon men under the command of Mormon elder John D. Lee to, "...waylay our enemies, attack them from ambush, stampede their animals , take their supply trains.... to waste away our enemies." Elder Lee followed Young's order in his attack on a wagon train in the infamous Mountain Meadows massacre. The attack was deliberately fashioned to blame the attack on the Paiute Indians, which helped inflame public attitudes against the First People of Utah.

Twenty years later the truth of the conspiracy was brought to light. It was widely reported at the time, that Brigham Young believed that sacrificing Lee would pave the way for Utah's admittance as a state to the United States. Lee was taken to the site of the Mountain Massacre and made to sit on his coffin. As the firing squad drew aim Lee cried out, "Center on my heart boys. Don't mangle my body." 55).

On the 150th anniversary of the slaughter, in September of 2007, Mormon Apostle, Henry B. Eyring, issued an official expression of "regret" to the Paiute People for the actions of the church that orchestrated the murders and then conspired to place primary blame on the tribe for the massacre. 80).

The Mormon faith decrees that American Indians are direct descendants of ancient Israelites. Mormon anthropologist, Thomas Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, conducted a scientific DNA study to determine the validity of this claim, which came up negative. On December 8, 2002, the church started excommunication hearings against Mr. Murphy for his attempts to bring light to the truth. 57). The Bible states in John 8:32 that, "The truth shall make you free." In this case the truth freed Mr. Murphy, against his will, from the Mormon Church.

http://www.brotherhooddays.com/HEROES.html#BRIGHAM%20YOUNG