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The Mountain Meadows Massacre
In the Fall of 1857, some 120 California-bound emigrants were killed in lonely Mountain Meadows in southern Utah; only eighteen young children were spared. The men on the ground after the bloody deed took an oath that they would never mention the event again, either in public or in private. The leaders of the Mormon church also counseled silence. The first report, soon after the massacre, described it as an Indian onslaught at which a few white men were present, only one of whom, John D. Lee, was actually named. With admirable scholarship, Mrs. Brooks has traced the background of conflict, analyzed the emotional climate at the time, pointed up the social and military organization in Utah, and revealed the forces which culminated in the great tragedy at Mountain Meadows. The result is a near-classic treatment which neither smears nor clears the participants as individuals. It portrays an atmosphere of war hysteria, whipped up by recitals of past persecutions and the vision of an approaching "army" coming to drive the Mormons from their homes.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 1967
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May 8, 2018
"I owe it to myself and to my readers to tell all the truth, for truth suppressed is its own kind of a lie.”
-- Juanita Brooks in a letter to Justice Jesse Udall, 1961
"It seems to be a clear case of how a group, stirred and angered by reports perhaps only half true, frenzied by mistaken zeal to protect their homes and families and to defend their church , were led to do what none singly would have done under normal circumstances, and for which none singly can be held responsible."
-- Juanita Brooks, The Mountain Meadows Massacre
My father is an interesting case. His own father is descended from a group of anti-Mormon Methodists from Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri. This is a geography that since the mid-1800s has never been very kind to the Mormons. His mother, however, came from a long-line of Mormons, stretching back to the Kirtland temple days and before. Through my paternal grandmother, my 5th great-grandmother (Abigail Woolsey), who was the mother of both my 4th great-grandfather (Richard Woolsey), was also the polygamist wife of John D. Lee. It doesn't stop there. So, John D. Lee was married to my 5th great-grandmother (Abigail), and her two daughters (Agatha, John D. Lee's first wife) and (Rachael, John D. Lee's third wife). Confused? That's OK.
Basically, it means I'm not genetically kin to John D. Lee, but my 5th great-grandmother was married to him (but had no kids with him), and so were her two daughters (who did have a bunch of kids with him). Or said differently, my 4th great-grandfather's mother and two sisters were ALL married to John D. Lee. Why am I spending a paragraph describing some esoteric Mormon polygamist genealogy of a guy named John D. Lee? Well, because as my father would put it, prior to the Oklahoma City Bombing, John D. Lee and some other Mormons and Indians in Southern Utah were responsible for the largest act of domestic terror on American soil.
Juanita Brooks' book, 'The Mountain Meadows Massacre' is an early historical attempt to explain why this horrible event happened. There were a lot of things that happened that led to this horrible end. The Mormon War was just starting and Buchanan had sent an army to quash the Mormon Rebellion. Mormon's having fled Missouri because of persecution were wound up, thinking they were going to be set upon by the US Government. The Mormon Reformation was underway and there existed a certain level of religous hysteria and paranoia that was stoked at the church/state-level by Brigham Young and his apostles and at the local level by people who remembered the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and the persecutions in Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri. These things and more, prepared the ground and ignited a blaze that led to the death of 120 California-bound emigrants at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah. Only 18 young children were spared.
Juanita Brooks, despite a lot of opposition in the Church set out to tell this story using primary sources (the diaries and letters of those who participated). The story is chilling and is even more dark because these are almost directly MY people. It reminds you that given the right circumstances nice people can do wicked things, the abused can become abusers, and that given the opportunity those in power will always find a scapegoat. In this case, the scapegoat was my 5th great-grandmother's 2nd husband (and double son-in-law). A powerful book. It is a bit dated, so I will next need to read Massacre at Mountain Meadows and Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows to see what they have added and how the story has progressed these last couple decades. But we can't under-appreciate the influence that Juanita Brooks had on Mormon History. Her efforts at openness with LDS History are still relevant today. For a religion whose history is practically its doctrine, this is no small thing.
-- Juanita Brooks in a letter to Justice Jesse Udall, 1961
"It seems to be a clear case of how a group, stirred and angered by reports perhaps only half true, frenzied by mistaken zeal to protect their homes and families and to defend their church , were led to do what none singly would have done under normal circumstances, and for which none singly can be held responsible."
-- Juanita Brooks, The Mountain Meadows Massacre
My father is an interesting case. His own father is descended from a group of anti-Mormon Methodists from Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri. This is a geography that since the mid-1800s has never been very kind to the Mormons. His mother, however, came from a long-line of Mormons, stretching back to the Kirtland temple days and before. Through my paternal grandmother, my 5th great-grandmother (Abigail Woolsey), who was the mother of both my 4th great-grandfather (Richard Woolsey), was also the polygamist wife of John D. Lee. It doesn't stop there. So, John D. Lee was married to my 5th great-grandmother (Abigail), and her two daughters (Agatha, John D. Lee's first wife) and (Rachael, John D. Lee's third wife). Confused? That's OK.
Basically, it means I'm not genetically kin to John D. Lee, but my 5th great-grandmother was married to him (but had no kids with him), and so were her two daughters (who did have a bunch of kids with him). Or said differently, my 4th great-grandfather's mother and two sisters were ALL married to John D. Lee. Why am I spending a paragraph describing some esoteric Mormon polygamist genealogy of a guy named John D. Lee? Well, because as my father would put it, prior to the Oklahoma City Bombing, John D. Lee and some other Mormons and Indians in Southern Utah were responsible for the largest act of domestic terror on American soil.
Juanita Brooks' book, 'The Mountain Meadows Massacre' is an early historical attempt to explain why this horrible event happened. There were a lot of things that happened that led to this horrible end. The Mormon War was just starting and Buchanan had sent an army to quash the Mormon Rebellion. Mormon's having fled Missouri because of persecution were wound up, thinking they were going to be set upon by the US Government. The Mormon Reformation was underway and there existed a certain level of religous hysteria and paranoia that was stoked at the church/state-level by Brigham Young and his apostles and at the local level by people who remembered the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and the persecutions in Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri. These things and more, prepared the ground and ignited a blaze that led to the death of 120 California-bound emigrants at Mountain Meadows in southern Utah. Only 18 young children were spared.
Juanita Brooks, despite a lot of opposition in the Church set out to tell this story using primary sources (the diaries and letters of those who participated). The story is chilling and is even more dark because these are almost directly MY people. It reminds you that given the right circumstances nice people can do wicked things, the abused can become abusers, and that given the opportunity those in power will always find a scapegoat. In this case, the scapegoat was my 5th great-grandmother's 2nd husband (and double son-in-law). A powerful book. It is a bit dated, so I will next need to read Massacre at Mountain Meadows and Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows to see what they have added and how the story has progressed these last couple decades. But we can't under-appreciate the influence that Juanita Brooks had on Mormon History. Her efforts at openness with LDS History are still relevant today. For a religion whose history is practically its doctrine, this is no small thing.
May 18, 2015
Interesting read, although a bit dry and full of huge footnotes that I felt distracted from the flow of the chapters (or maybe I'm just not cut out to read historical non-fiction).
A couple quick thoughts: 1) kudos to Brooks for having the courage to write this at a time when all the details were essentially filed away and locked up, and 2) the wild, wild west was a crazy time and basically uncivilized by today's standards. This event took place in that setting, yet I'm trying to understand it through the lens of my current world view, which makes it really hard to understand how these otherwise upstanding people could have done something so awful. I find that contradiction compelling and confounding.
In any case, I look forward to visiting the monument next time I'm in southern Utah.
A couple quick thoughts: 1) kudos to Brooks for having the courage to write this at a time when all the details were essentially filed away and locked up, and 2) the wild, wild west was a crazy time and basically uncivilized by today's standards. This event took place in that setting, yet I'm trying to understand it through the lens of my current world view, which makes it really hard to understand how these otherwise upstanding people could have done something so awful. I find that contradiction compelling and confounding.
In any case, I look forward to visiting the monument next time I'm in southern Utah.
March 11, 2016
Juanita Brooks was a wonderfully brave woman to have composed this book at a time when the massacre was commonly thought of as either having never happened, or simply "an Indian Massacre." The readership of this book owes a great deal to Brooks' great contribution to historical scholarship. Few historians have attempted to dissect the Mountain Meadows Massacre without coming away with polemic bias or ignorance. By all counts, Juanita rose above the cynicism in producing such a great work.
March 26, 2025
I don't have enough words to express how I feel about this work and how proud I am of my Grandma Juanita.
July 23, 2013
Not at all impressed with the mentality of this book. The author informs the readers she is and always has been LDS (Latter-Day Saint), which means the church allowed her to publish this and accept her in doing so. The fact remains she did not bring any blood to the surface and resolve any fantastic crime... she compiled facts that were already published and like the artist she is, created her own picture.
John D. Lee was by no means an unwavering paperboy and scout, waiting at the corner to help old women across the street. But he was orphaned very young, given to his mother's sister and drunken husband to be beaten and raised. There was no room for love, which every person needs.
After stopping to help some freezing Mormon missionaries at the side of the road, he wound up converting. (Keep that picture in mind) He served in protecting, worked from a young age, got married, and converted to the church under Brigham Young. Nothing happens without his consent, especially from his adopted son, wanting nothing more than to be loved. John D. Lee had a huge estate in the east, picking it up to follow his newly found father, Brigham Young, who trusted him enough to give him several official positions in the church. The ONLY people to get positions are faithful followers.
He leaves his home to struggle out here without any possessions, to speak of, and then takes it upon himself to kill a bunch of people, without his adoptive father consenting? To what end? Why would he travel all the way out to Utah to throw everything he'd been taught to the wind? John D. Lee is in no way innocent--however, he is a scapegoat for the brutal killing of these people committed by the Mormons. Plus, they used the Paiutes to take the blame by dressing as them to attack. If the public hadn't been sold on just killing one man, John D. Lee, in connection with this atrocity, where would the church be today?
Anyone who believes this boldly cockamamie story to be true, without embellishment of a Mormon's mind, needs a bath in ice cubes and a reality check. The most ridiculous thing I've ever read, and I read an awful lot with an open mind.
I'm doing a report on John D. Lee and was in search of incriminating evidence. This book did not supply it at all. I only see ruthless Americans pretending to be Christians and using one faithful man's life to escape punishment.
John D. Lee was by no means an unwavering paperboy and scout, waiting at the corner to help old women across the street. But he was orphaned very young, given to his mother's sister and drunken husband to be beaten and raised. There was no room for love, which every person needs.
After stopping to help some freezing Mormon missionaries at the side of the road, he wound up converting. (Keep that picture in mind) He served in protecting, worked from a young age, got married, and converted to the church under Brigham Young. Nothing happens without his consent, especially from his adopted son, wanting nothing more than to be loved. John D. Lee had a huge estate in the east, picking it up to follow his newly found father, Brigham Young, who trusted him enough to give him several official positions in the church. The ONLY people to get positions are faithful followers.
He leaves his home to struggle out here without any possessions, to speak of, and then takes it upon himself to kill a bunch of people, without his adoptive father consenting? To what end? Why would he travel all the way out to Utah to throw everything he'd been taught to the wind? John D. Lee is in no way innocent--however, he is a scapegoat for the brutal killing of these people committed by the Mormons. Plus, they used the Paiutes to take the blame by dressing as them to attack. If the public hadn't been sold on just killing one man, John D. Lee, in connection with this atrocity, where would the church be today?
Anyone who believes this boldly cockamamie story to be true, without embellishment of a Mormon's mind, needs a bath in ice cubes and a reality check. The most ridiculous thing I've ever read, and I read an awful lot with an open mind.
I'm doing a report on John D. Lee and was in search of incriminating evidence. This book did not supply it at all. I only see ruthless Americans pretending to be Christians and using one faithful man's life to escape punishment.
January 5, 2024
A mind-blowing book to read as someone who has heard bits and pieces of oversimplified explanations of this event throughout my life.
August 23, 2012
This was my first in-depth study of the Mountain Meadows massacre. I knew very little about the incident previous to reading this book and now I feel much more aware of the conditions within the Mormon Church as well as in the state of Utah, etc., leading up to the massacre. I think Juanita Brooks did a great job describing the local atmosphere and attitudes previous to, during, and after the massacre, and she cited available sources whenever possible. She showed how the tension and fear in Southern Utah was fueled by the sermons of George A. Smith, how the Saints were striving to have peaceful relations with the Indians while securing their support and manpower for the upcoming Utah war, and how most of Brigham Young's attention was riveted on the approaching U.S Army sent to suppress the Mormons.
I was amazed to learn about how many people were truly involved in the incident, how the blame could be traced up the ladder of church hierarchy, and how horribly John D. Lee was treated in being forced to take the sole blame for the massacre - betrayed by his other cohorts in crime to save face and to save the image of the church.
The whole incident was horrible and devastating, and the controversy surrounding it is ongoing and intriguing. I thought Juanita Brooks said it so well when she described the church's refusal to acknowledge the truth of the situation in the light of new evidence and obvious historical discrepancies with their official record. The following statement is profound in this instance, and I think also accurately describes the methods of the church in many of its other controversies:
pg 217 "It seems that, once having taken a stand and put forth a story, the leaders of the Mormon church have felt that they should maintain it, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary. In their concern to let the matter die, they do not see that it can never be finally settled until it is accepted as any other historical incident, with a view only to finding the facts. To shrink from it, to discredit any who try to inquire into it, to refuse to discuss it, or to hesitate to accept all the evidence fearlessly is not only to keep it a matter of controversy, but to make the most loyal followers doubt the veracity of their leaders in presenting other matters of history. This is especially true in dealing with college students and people trained in research."
I agree wholeheartedly with the above statement in regards to probably every controversial issue within the church. I think the church needs to acknowledge the facts about its history and then start with a clean slate and a clear conscience. Then its members could do so as well.
I was amazed to learn about how many people were truly involved in the incident, how the blame could be traced up the ladder of church hierarchy, and how horribly John D. Lee was treated in being forced to take the sole blame for the massacre - betrayed by his other cohorts in crime to save face and to save the image of the church.
The whole incident was horrible and devastating, and the controversy surrounding it is ongoing and intriguing. I thought Juanita Brooks said it so well when she described the church's refusal to acknowledge the truth of the situation in the light of new evidence and obvious historical discrepancies with their official record. The following statement is profound in this instance, and I think also accurately describes the methods of the church in many of its other controversies:
pg 217 "It seems that, once having taken a stand and put forth a story, the leaders of the Mormon church have felt that they should maintain it, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary. In their concern to let the matter die, they do not see that it can never be finally settled until it is accepted as any other historical incident, with a view only to finding the facts. To shrink from it, to discredit any who try to inquire into it, to refuse to discuss it, or to hesitate to accept all the evidence fearlessly is not only to keep it a matter of controversy, but to make the most loyal followers doubt the veracity of their leaders in presenting other matters of history. This is especially true in dealing with college students and people trained in research."
I agree wholeheartedly with the above statement in regards to probably every controversial issue within the church. I think the church needs to acknowledge the facts about its history and then start with a clean slate and a clear conscience. Then its members could do so as well.
January 24, 2021
This was not an easy read. It is very dense with information and has so many footnotes, it detracts from the main reading material. That being said, kudos to Juanita Brooks for having the “balls” to write this book! So much history to comb through, even she doesn’t dare to point fingers, giving many possible explanations for things. But this taught me so much more than what I had previously known about the mountain meadows massacre. What a tragic event and poor John D. Lee for being the only fall guy, his church turning their back on him and condemning him to die. Now I need to go find the historical marker for myself.
November 3, 2019
I’m a little biased, because the author is my wife’s great-grandma. My 5-star review is partly a reflection of the quality of the read — it’s well-written, exhaustively sourced, and fairly succinct.
However, the books really earns its plaudits because of the author’s courage. She went up against strong opposition throughout the writing and publication process (the truth is inconvenient) but she undauntedly laid the facts out. Mad respect, Juanita!
However, the books really earns its plaudits because of the author’s courage. She went up against strong opposition throughout the writing and publication process (the truth is inconvenient) but she undauntedly laid the facts out. Mad respect, Juanita!
March 19, 2025
Another hard book to read. I knew nothing of the Meadow Mountain Massacre. Now I am well informed. It was a horrible think to happen, but the author, Juanita Brooks, did a great job of the extenuating circumstances that led up to it. The book was well documented and accurate. I'm sure that there was a lot of coverup in those early years, and a lot of myths and legends that came from it. It seemed senseless to execute a man after 20 years, but that's what happened. I'm glad I read this book and glad that someone did the work to try and make sense of it.
Want to read
January 28, 2025I probably don’t actually want to read anymore about the MMM, but if I do, this is the one I’ll read.
June 16, 2014
I dated a Jack Mormon (one who has left the church) for awhile and the only time it came up was when he met me and when he said he had done a mission just out of high school. On my birthday one year he took me out and let me get stinking drunk, so drunk that I passed out and woke up in his bed the next morning with him and his roommate both watching me strangely. Apparently I had gone crazy and got up, screaming and ran to the closet where I continued screaming "don't hurt my daughter! Don't hurt my daughter!" I wouldn't let them touch me for quite awhile but they finally got me back to bed. What I remember is dreaming that I was a pioneer in a wagon train when Indians attacked and started killing us. All of a sudden I realized that there were white men with them, killing also and I recognized that these whites were Mormons.
Ok, so Freud would say I was afraid of Mormons and that my boyfriend was "killing" me somehow. I was more than a little embarrassed by my behavior but didn't dwell on it or the dream. Just went back to regular.
Several years later I heard about the Mountain Meadows Massacre - not the details, just that a wagon train heading through southern Utah in 1857 was attacked and destroyed by Indians AND MORMONS.
I believe with neuroscience that what we have is what we've got and only what we've got - no pseudoscience involved. I've never "channeled" anyone from ancient times and I don't go around saying that I was Marie Antoinette in my last life. But this was disturbing. I've never tried to reconcile it, just left it alone.
But it did lead me to reading about the massacre. This book is the best of the lot. Although it was written in 1950, when the book was reprinted in 1962 the author added some small items that she had uncovered in the meantime. Nothing changed the basic story however.
When Utah became a territory, US government officials were sent. Because of their background (persecution and being murdered by "regular" US citizens before relocating in Utah), the officials in Utah gave them a hard time. Usually their actions were done simply to annoy the officials, but the officials did not see them that way and as each one resigned and moved back East, he reported that the Mormons were "rebelling" against the US government. So the President called out the troops to put down the rebellion.
Imagine hearing this in Utah, especially since a great number of the current residents had witnessed the murder of Joseph Smith, their founder, and the forced, violent, relocations until Utah. Added to that, Brigham Young ordered resident to stockpile food and prepare their weapons, join into militia groups and be ready to attack. They were also ordered NOT to sell any supplies to the wagon trains traveling through to California. These people were on tenterhooks.
Than add the wagon train that came through at this moment and discovered they couldn't buy supplies. Some of them - a few hangers-on, not the main group - made extremely violent anti-Mormon remarks and one even claimed to have the pistol that shot Joseph Smith right there with him.
Recipe for disaster and disaster happened. Apparently the Indians were supposed to handle the whole thing but after the first attacks demanded the whites join in. And they did.
It's been a hush-hush episode in the Church history and was only acknowledged years later. The Mormon Church finally took responsibility for the massacre and gave money to help set up a memorial for those who died. It's actually a beautiful spot in Utah and must have been even more beautiful when it was green and grassy at that time.
So what really happened? No one can ever know for sure. Those who participated or were on the fringes were happy to pawn off their responsibility and so personal accounts are not always accurate. Brooks has done extensive study on the event (she is a Mormon herself) and slams the Church with complete responsibility. Her research is impeccable and she never makes a judgment without backing it up.
This is both a great read and an excellent study in how historical research should be done. Anyone who is interested in the history of the West, the growth of the Mormon Church or the Massacre itself should take the time to read this. It's informative and the style is not at all scholarly. It reads fast.
Ok, so Freud would say I was afraid of Mormons and that my boyfriend was "killing" me somehow. I was more than a little embarrassed by my behavior but didn't dwell on it or the dream. Just went back to regular.
Several years later I heard about the Mountain Meadows Massacre - not the details, just that a wagon train heading through southern Utah in 1857 was attacked and destroyed by Indians AND MORMONS.
I believe with neuroscience that what we have is what we've got and only what we've got - no pseudoscience involved. I've never "channeled" anyone from ancient times and I don't go around saying that I was Marie Antoinette in my last life. But this was disturbing. I've never tried to reconcile it, just left it alone.
But it did lead me to reading about the massacre. This book is the best of the lot. Although it was written in 1950, when the book was reprinted in 1962 the author added some small items that she had uncovered in the meantime. Nothing changed the basic story however.
When Utah became a territory, US government officials were sent. Because of their background (persecution and being murdered by "regular" US citizens before relocating in Utah), the officials in Utah gave them a hard time. Usually their actions were done simply to annoy the officials, but the officials did not see them that way and as each one resigned and moved back East, he reported that the Mormons were "rebelling" against the US government. So the President called out the troops to put down the rebellion.
Imagine hearing this in Utah, especially since a great number of the current residents had witnessed the murder of Joseph Smith, their founder, and the forced, violent, relocations until Utah. Added to that, Brigham Young ordered resident to stockpile food and prepare their weapons, join into militia groups and be ready to attack. They were also ordered NOT to sell any supplies to the wagon trains traveling through to California. These people were on tenterhooks.
Than add the wagon train that came through at this moment and discovered they couldn't buy supplies. Some of them - a few hangers-on, not the main group - made extremely violent anti-Mormon remarks and one even claimed to have the pistol that shot Joseph Smith right there with him.
Recipe for disaster and disaster happened. Apparently the Indians were supposed to handle the whole thing but after the first attacks demanded the whites join in. And they did.
It's been a hush-hush episode in the Church history and was only acknowledged years later. The Mormon Church finally took responsibility for the massacre and gave money to help set up a memorial for those who died. It's actually a beautiful spot in Utah and must have been even more beautiful when it was green and grassy at that time.
So what really happened? No one can ever know for sure. Those who participated or were on the fringes were happy to pawn off their responsibility and so personal accounts are not always accurate. Brooks has done extensive study on the event (she is a Mormon herself) and slams the Church with complete responsibility. Her research is impeccable and she never makes a judgment without backing it up.
This is both a great read and an excellent study in how historical research should be done. Anyone who is interested in the history of the West, the growth of the Mormon Church or the Massacre itself should take the time to read this. It's informative and the style is not at all scholarly. It reads fast.
July 17, 2016
Juanita Brooks was a very brave person.
Writing less than a hundred years after the massacre and--as she states clearly--being a devout and loyal Mormon, she had the courage to (a) ask questions, (b) find answers, and (c) publish what she found, despite the fact that her findings were not favorable to the Mormon Church or many of its important early members, including Brigham Young. The book is fascinating as, in-and-of-itself, a historical artifact and as a work of historiography, talking about how history is made.
It is not a perfect book. I don't find Brooks a particularly compelling writer, stylistically, and she has the problem endemic to historians of her generation, of assuming that the motivations of Native Americans are irrecoverable and incomprehensible (and, yes, she does at one point compare the Paiutes to children). And hers is a first pass at the historiographical archaeology of the massacre at Mountain Meadows; historians coming after her, who had her work to build on, were able to dig deeper and extract more delicate shades of nuance. But she proves that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was the brainchild of the Mormons and that Mormon men participated, and held positions of leadership, in the massacre; and she proves that John D. Lee got thrown under the bus by his religious brethren. He was certainly guilty, but if he was guilty, so were a host of other men, all of whom walked away scot free while Lee was executed. The massacre exhibits one of the lows that human nature can sink to; the aftermath demonstrates another.
Writing less than a hundred years after the massacre and--as she states clearly--being a devout and loyal Mormon, she had the courage to (a) ask questions, (b) find answers, and (c) publish what she found, despite the fact that her findings were not favorable to the Mormon Church or many of its important early members, including Brigham Young. The book is fascinating as, in-and-of-itself, a historical artifact and as a work of historiography, talking about how history is made.
It is not a perfect book. I don't find Brooks a particularly compelling writer, stylistically, and she has the problem endemic to historians of her generation, of assuming that the motivations of Native Americans are irrecoverable and incomprehensible (and, yes, she does at one point compare the Paiutes to children). And hers is a first pass at the historiographical archaeology of the massacre at Mountain Meadows; historians coming after her, who had her work to build on, were able to dig deeper and extract more delicate shades of nuance. But she proves that the Mountain Meadows Massacre was the brainchild of the Mormons and that Mormon men participated, and held positions of leadership, in the massacre; and she proves that John D. Lee got thrown under the bus by his religious brethren. He was certainly guilty, but if he was guilty, so were a host of other men, all of whom walked away scot free while Lee was executed. The massacre exhibits one of the lows that human nature can sink to; the aftermath demonstrates another.
November 27, 2016
Juanita Brooks, an active member of the Mormon religion, delved deeply into the Mormon historical archives to write about the Mountain Meadow Massacre of Sept. 1857. The Mormons had been chased out of many eastern areas due to their unique religious views, finally reaching Utah Territory with hopes of being left alone. News of possible U.S. Army interference reached the Mormons and they began to organize their own army for protection. In doing so, they also believed that they had to protect themselves from the migration of "outsiders" who were making their way westward by wagon train. That Sept. in 1857, they attacked the Baker-Rancher wagon train killing all but 17. The Mormons militia killed the men while cooperating Paiute Indians killed the women and children except for 17 small children believed to be too young to remember the details. The attack began on September 7 and continued till September 11 resulting in the deaths of approximately 120 men, women and children. The wagon train, comprised of families from Arkansas, was bound for California at a time that is known as the Utah War. The massacre was not investigated till after the end of the Civil War and resulted in 9 indictments but only one made it to a court of law, eventually resulting in the execution by firing squad of John D. Lee, believed to be the one chosen to take the blame for all the militia and the governing body of the Mormons including Brigham Young. Brooks brings into the history a deep research from the Mormon archives as well as accounts from some who were present.
February 27, 2018
I borrowed this book from my mother. I knew almost nothing of this whole thing and was curious. As far as the author Juanita Brooks is concerned she did an incredible job of researching and writing this history. How she managed to acquire all the information, diary quotes etc. etc. is beyond me. The story is both compelling and at the same time uncomfortable, horrifying and heart wrenchingly sad. in the course of reading the book we actually visited the Mountain Meadows location while down visiting friends who live in Cedar City. We took pictures of us holding the book at the site, so now my mother's copy of The Mountain Meadows Massacre has actually been to the location of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
December 15, 2017
I read this because, after reading Blood of the Prophets I had an admiration for Junita Broooks' research on the subject and persistence at seeking. Her work has probably been a foundational source for anyone who has written on the Mountain Meadows Massacre since 1967.
Ms. Brooks' work is the work of an historian, not a bombardment of implications by someone with an ax to grind. But if you've read one of those 'ax to grind' books, you'll probably find that Ms. Brooks practically treats the church with kid gloves.
More information has come to light since she wrote her book, but if you are going to read about Mountain Meadows, you practically owe it to her to read her work.
Ms. Brooks' work is the work of an historian, not a bombardment of implications by someone with an ax to grind. But if you've read one of those 'ax to grind' books, you'll probably find that Ms. Brooks practically treats the church with kid gloves.
More information has come to light since she wrote her book, but if you are going to read about Mountain Meadows, you practically owe it to her to read her work.
June 18, 2007
I grew up in St. George and I had always heard about the massacre but had not spent the time to read about it. After reading Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven" it rekindled my interest on this subject. I found it to be a very interesting book. Brooks did a great job of placing the reader in the moment which allows the reader to decide for themselves where to place blame for the events.
May 6, 2025
Juanita Brooks has to be admired for her commitment to history and her willingness to tell it. She starts out with young Joseph’s claim to a first vision. We move forward quickly and find many of the Mormons had fled Nauvoo out of fear of the anti-Mormons' bold moves against the religious group. The exiled Saints left in droves. The first started out in frigid temperatures in February. They established two temporary settlements: Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah. Here, elders were assigned to clear land, build cabins and plant crops for those who were on the road, or soon to be on the road from Nauvoo. The general gathering place on the west bank of the Missouri river, known as Winter Quarters, was another several hundred miles across Iowa. Here, a small community of cabins and dugouts was built with the expectation to halt their journey for the winter months. Improvements would be made before the heavy snow fell.
One year and five months later, Brigham Young looked over the Great Salt Lake Valley and pronounced: ‘this is the place’. The elders had found a new home for the Saints in Mexico. It offered a promise of the right to practice their religion as they saw fit, free from mobs and their actions, and free from government intervention. Seven months later, after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been signed and the Mexican American war had ended, the Saints found themselves, along with eight other territories, linked to the United States.
Juanita Brooks did a massive amount of original research to prepare for the writing of this story. One story she tells still sticks in my mind: when she went to the LDS church library and spoke with the librarian who told of how she destroyed any material that was not complimentary to the church. Most historians find, when they search deep enough, Mormon history written by Mormons is pretty much history they way they wished it to be. Juanita tells the story like it was.
The events leading to the Mountain Meadows Massacre are complex. It is a very sad story on both sides. Some believe that Brigham Young ordered it, although Juanita does not. I think its safe to say that he did not order the massacre, but knowing it had been done, he did not punish anyone and hardly acknowledged that it happened. It harrowed his feelings so that he could not discuss it, until the very end at the second trial of John D. Lee (his adopted son) when he sat quietly knowing he had allowed him to be placed before a firing squad. Someone had to pay. Brigham arranged for it to be his faithful servant, John D. Lee.
Juanita Brooks was an excellent historian, faithful to her work. She wrote an important book and presented the story in a very believable way. It definitely deserves five stars.
One year and five months later, Brigham Young looked over the Great Salt Lake Valley and pronounced: ‘this is the place’. The elders had found a new home for the Saints in Mexico. It offered a promise of the right to practice their religion as they saw fit, free from mobs and their actions, and free from government intervention. Seven months later, after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been signed and the Mexican American war had ended, the Saints found themselves, along with eight other territories, linked to the United States.
Juanita Brooks did a massive amount of original research to prepare for the writing of this story. One story she tells still sticks in my mind: when she went to the LDS church library and spoke with the librarian who told of how she destroyed any material that was not complimentary to the church. Most historians find, when they search deep enough, Mormon history written by Mormons is pretty much history they way they wished it to be. Juanita tells the story like it was.
The events leading to the Mountain Meadows Massacre are complex. It is a very sad story on both sides. Some believe that Brigham Young ordered it, although Juanita does not. I think its safe to say that he did not order the massacre, but knowing it had been done, he did not punish anyone and hardly acknowledged that it happened. It harrowed his feelings so that he could not discuss it, until the very end at the second trial of John D. Lee (his adopted son) when he sat quietly knowing he had allowed him to be placed before a firing squad. Someone had to pay. Brigham arranged for it to be his faithful servant, John D. Lee.
Juanita Brooks was an excellent historian, faithful to her work. She wrote an important book and presented the story in a very believable way. It definitely deserves five stars.
June 25, 2025
The Mountain Meadows Massacre is an incident that almost never gets talked about in the mainstream LDS church... and when it is, it's always by apologists who either make excused for the actions of the perpetrators or try to sweep the entire thing under the rug. Scholars who have tried to look more deeply at the horrific event have always been turned away. But Juanita Brooks refused to be rebuffed, and through careful examination of documents, letters, and journals, she's put together an incomplete but still haunting account of one of the biggest stains on the Mormon church's past.
In 1857, a wagon train of immigrants en route to California passed through southern Utah... and were attacked and slain by Mormon militia members and members of the local Native American tribes. That much is known... but Brooks not only examines the attack, but the circumstances surrounding it. She paints a picture not of bloodthirsty saints or of innocent settlers just trying to protect their land, but of a people whipped into a frenzy by their leaders preaching war from the pulpits. And as the dust from the gruesome attack settled, Mormon leaders cast about for a scapegoat as the rest of the nation screamed for justice.
This book can be a heavy read at times. It's quite footnote-heavy -- Juanita Brooks included quotes from various letters and records in the text, but entire letters in the footnotes as if eager to prove she wasn't cherry-picking quotes to serve her point. And she doesn't flinch away from the sordid facts of the day -- that innocent women and children were murdered, that Mormon settlers participated in the attack, that the Mormons tried to raise the young children of the dead settlers as their own, and that they intended to make scapegoats of the Native Americans. This is an informative read, but a grim one.
Brooks also makes it clear that Mormon leaders of the time, including Brigham Young, were not blameless. They were responsible for preaching fire and war and inciting a mob mentality in their followers, and even if Brigham didn't order the attack (and Brooks found no evidence of this in her research), he certainly was guilty of trying to cover it up after the fact. I applaud her for her courage in coming forward with this story, even if it risked her good standing in her church.
This book was first published in 1963, so it's possibly outdated now as more information about the massacre has come to light. But this book serves as a good primer for the incident, and makes me want to read further. If the events of American Primeval made you curious about this horrific incident, this is a good starting point.
In 1857, a wagon train of immigrants en route to California passed through southern Utah... and were attacked and slain by Mormon militia members and members of the local Native American tribes. That much is known... but Brooks not only examines the attack, but the circumstances surrounding it. She paints a picture not of bloodthirsty saints or of innocent settlers just trying to protect their land, but of a people whipped into a frenzy by their leaders preaching war from the pulpits. And as the dust from the gruesome attack settled, Mormon leaders cast about for a scapegoat as the rest of the nation screamed for justice.
This book can be a heavy read at times. It's quite footnote-heavy -- Juanita Brooks included quotes from various letters and records in the text, but entire letters in the footnotes as if eager to prove she wasn't cherry-picking quotes to serve her point. And she doesn't flinch away from the sordid facts of the day -- that innocent women and children were murdered, that Mormon settlers participated in the attack, that the Mormons tried to raise the young children of the dead settlers as their own, and that they intended to make scapegoats of the Native Americans. This is an informative read, but a grim one.
Brooks also makes it clear that Mormon leaders of the time, including Brigham Young, were not blameless. They were responsible for preaching fire and war and inciting a mob mentality in their followers, and even if Brigham didn't order the attack (and Brooks found no evidence of this in her research), he certainly was guilty of trying to cover it up after the fact. I applaud her for her courage in coming forward with this story, even if it risked her good standing in her church.
This book was first published in 1963, so it's possibly outdated now as more information about the massacre has come to light. But this book serves as a good primer for the incident, and makes me want to read further. If the events of American Primeval made you curious about this horrific incident, this is a good starting point.
January 4, 2024
This book took quite a while for me to slog through. It is an information dense non-fiction book that is about an event that was intentionally covered up for decades. Only one person (John Lee) was ever held accountable in a court of law and that was about 20 years after the massacre took place. This is not the best book I've read on the subject but it is the oldest. Juanita Brooks was extremely courageous to write and publish the book in 1950 and it was amazing that she was able to do it in that era. Her own grandfather was at the massacre. She said her purpose in writing the book was to present the truth. I think her book did help open the way for more widespread dissemination of the truth and acceptance of responsibility.
Some passages from the book:
“...there is ample evidence that this was definitely not the crime of a single individual, not the responsibility of only one man. Even the most superficial research would show the utter ridiculousness of such a statement.”
“It seems that, once having taken a stand and put forth a story, the leaders of the Mormon Church have felt that they should maintain it, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary. In their concern to let the matter die, they do not see that it can never be finally settled until it is accepted as any other historical incident, with a view only to finding the facts. To shrink from it, to discredit any who try to inquire into it, to refuse to discuss it, or to hesitate to accept all the evidence fearlessly, is not only to keep it a matter of controversy, but to make the most loyal followers doubt the veracity of their leaders in presenting other matters of history.”
“Perhaps when all is finally known, the Mountain Meadows Massacre will be a classic study in mob psychology or the effects of war hysteria. It seems to be a clear case of how a group, stirred and angered by reports perhaps only half true, frenzied by mistaken zeal to protect their homes and families and to defend their church, were led to do what none singly would have done under normal conditions, and for which non singly can be held responsible. “
Some passages from the book:
“...there is ample evidence that this was definitely not the crime of a single individual, not the responsibility of only one man. Even the most superficial research would show the utter ridiculousness of such a statement.”
“It seems that, once having taken a stand and put forth a story, the leaders of the Mormon Church have felt that they should maintain it, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary. In their concern to let the matter die, they do not see that it can never be finally settled until it is accepted as any other historical incident, with a view only to finding the facts. To shrink from it, to discredit any who try to inquire into it, to refuse to discuss it, or to hesitate to accept all the evidence fearlessly, is not only to keep it a matter of controversy, but to make the most loyal followers doubt the veracity of their leaders in presenting other matters of history.”
“Perhaps when all is finally known, the Mountain Meadows Massacre will be a classic study in mob psychology or the effects of war hysteria. It seems to be a clear case of how a group, stirred and angered by reports perhaps only half true, frenzied by mistaken zeal to protect their homes and families and to defend their church, were led to do what none singly would have done under normal conditions, and for which non singly can be held responsible. “
September 11, 2020
Finally finished this book and it took me a moment to realize I picked it up to finish it on the day this event took place, September 11th. Although I’ve studied much of this history I felt compelled to read the book that was the first and probably the most scholarly work on the subject. I think it’s sad, tragic actually that this massacre happened in the first place and second that due to the powers that be, much of the history was hushed, purposely mischaracterized and to many never heard of. It’s a disgrace that this happened when so many violently lost their lives that day. Growing up I heard about this in hushed voices and always knew something happened that people didn’t dare speak of it’s controversy. Many spoke of this book as something of an anti Mormon book. The truth is, it’s just history and although people sometimes don’t like the truth, doesn’t mean it didn’t occur as told, or at least as well as we can study. Juanita Brooks never had any action against her because studying the history and documenting it as truthfully and honestly as she could didn’t warrant discipline. Which sounds Orwellian to even say. There’s a saying in the church that we are to “protect the good name of the church.” In my youth I found this innocuous but as I’ve grown and learned a few things I find this dangerous. If the ends of protecting the church from embarrassment or harm are covering murder or sexual abuse from leaders, it is wicked. One of the saddest lines in summation in the book and one that I have seen repeated is this, “It seems that, once having taken a stand and put forth a story, the leaders of the Mormon church have felt that they should maintain it, regardless of all the evidence to the contrary.” I applaud Brooks for her courage and her willingness honor those who died by telling their story.
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November 7, 2021Even though Juanita Brooks is an avowed Mormon and strives ever to present the Mormons and Mormon leaders in as positive a light as possible, the evidence against them is still clear and damning. I went into this book knowing that it would be biased in favor of her own religion, and all other readers should be aware of this fact as well. Keep in mind that she was not excommunicated for this work, unlike Fawn Brodie who was excommunicated for writing No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith. This seems to raise the suspicion, at least in my eyes, that the narrative could have been much, much harsher, or perhaps, that some facts were left aside.
Certainly, Brooks does an admirable job attempting to convince the reader that part of the blame for this atrocity can be ascribed to "mass hysteria." I argue that the many correspondences, deliberate war councils, the fact that all property, down to the bloody clothes, were sold at auction, and the careful tallying of the profits, among other things... suggest otherwise. This is the first book I have read on the subject, and I plan to read American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857 next.
Certainly, Brooks does an admirable job attempting to convince the reader that part of the blame for this atrocity can be ascribed to "mass hysteria." I argue that the many correspondences, deliberate war councils, the fact that all property, down to the bloody clothes, were sold at auction, and the careful tallying of the profits, among other things... suggest otherwise. This is the first book I have read on the subject, and I plan to read American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857 next.
April 14, 2025
The Mountain Meadows Massacre by Juanita Brooks is a meticulously researched account of the 1857 tragedy in southern Utah, where around 120 emigrants headed to California were killed—only 18 children were spared. The attack was carried out by Mormon settlers under the guise of an “Indian” assault, with John D. Lee ultimately becoming the scapegoat. Brooks, herself a member of the LDS Church, took on the difficult task of uncovering the truth using primary sources like letters and journals, despite facing backlash from within her community.
I picked this up after reading both None Left to Tell by Noelle W. Ihli and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. While Krakauer’s book gave a broad overview of Mormon history and extremism, Brooks’ work dives deeply into the emotional climate, war hysteria, and social structures that led to this horrifying event. It's not sensationalist—Brooks neither clears nor condemns the perpetrators outright—but it’s incredibly informative.
That said, this wasn’t an easy listen. The prose is quite dry, and the frequent footnotes disrupted the narrative flow. At times, it felt more academic than engaging. Still, I appreciated the effort to explain how ordinary people, shaped by trauma, fear, and obedience, could commit something so awful. It’s a sobering reminder of how dangerous us-vs-them thinking and blind loyalty can be.
If you’re interested in early Mormon history or want a more nuanced companion to Under the Banner of Heaven, this book is worth your time—just be prepared for a dense, demanding read.
I picked this up after reading both None Left to Tell by Noelle W. Ihli and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. While Krakauer’s book gave a broad overview of Mormon history and extremism, Brooks’ work dives deeply into the emotional climate, war hysteria, and social structures that led to this horrifying event. It's not sensationalist—Brooks neither clears nor condemns the perpetrators outright—but it’s incredibly informative.
That said, this wasn’t an easy listen. The prose is quite dry, and the frequent footnotes disrupted the narrative flow. At times, it felt more academic than engaging. Still, I appreciated the effort to explain how ordinary people, shaped by trauma, fear, and obedience, could commit something so awful. It’s a sobering reminder of how dangerous us-vs-them thinking and blind loyalty can be.
If you’re interested in early Mormon history or want a more nuanced companion to Under the Banner of Heaven, this book is worth your time—just be prepared for a dense, demanding read.
November 24, 2021
This book is a real fact and it tells the story of a group of immigrants during the 1800 traveling through Utah to another state. This book states that this group of people were not mormons but were a threat to the mormon settlement in Utah after the killing of their prophet Joseph Smith. This massacre was blamed on the natives in that area but in reality it was some of the mormon settlement men who dressed up as natives. They killed women children and all the men and left their bodies to rot in the sun. This book was very hard for me to read as i was raised as a mormon and never believed that someone like a mormon would do such a awful crime even in those times. But what i found was there were many facts that she used to prove her point but they weren't what i was told by my mormon family. I was told that the group that was massacred were a group of mormon families that found life in salt lake city was hard and they were ruled by a iron fist of the prophet at that time. So a group of families decided to leave the mormon settlement . They were killed on their way so no one would find out what was really going on in the settlement of Salt lake city. now because of this book i will research more of this happening.
December 10, 2021
While it contains obvious bias this was a very thoughtful and well researched document. I disagree with much of the evidence that is given about the Indian involvement and the braggadocio of the francher party, however I agree that the church was very heavily responsible and likely ordered the act. I am sorry for Lee that he took the entire blame but I don’t think that ultimately he was a victim. He participated in a heinous act that literally decoyed people into slaughter and then is surprised when he himself is decoyed into the same trap? 🤔 I would like to see documents that exist today about the forensic evidence gathered from the bodies which were recently rediscovered in their mass graves. I certainly think an archaeological study should be engaged but I fear the site still exists on private property. So much tragedy and still not fully resolved. Hats off to brooks for trying to clear up some of the confusion. One thing is crystal clear—the LDS church really destroyed a lot of evidence to make the written record so very murky!
July 13, 2023
I must admit I am having trouble reading the small print so I have stopped reading the book for now. I appreciate and enjoy reading all of the research that was done in regards to the topic. However, it appears the author started with her assumptions and then tried to justify her assumptions. The author describes a war time situation yet from what I can tell there was never a bullet fired in an actual war with the military. Back then the military took pride in their uniforms; the members of the wagon train were not wearing uniforms. A military unit going to war does not take women and children, the wagon train had women and children. The massacre happened at an area approximately a two day ride away from Cedar City. Clearly, after leaving Cedar City the people were not a threat to the town of Cedar City. Knowing the history of the LDS church and how the adversary tries to corrupt people, leads me to a different conclusion as to why the massacre occurred.
November 24, 2022
“Perhaps, when all is finally known, the Mountain Meadows Massacre will be a classic study in mob psychology or the effects of war hysteria. It seems to be a clear case of how a group, stirred and angered by reports perhaps only half true, frenzied by mistaken zeal to protect their homes and families and to defend their church, were led to do what none singly would have done under normal conditions, and for which none singly can be held responsible.”
Difficult to read about such a terrible tragedy. This is an important study and was the first serious history given of the event. It’s crazy to think that Juanita Brooks published this book in 1950, four years before my dad was born. Writing the history no doubt came with personal costs to Brooks, being a St. George resident and member of a LDS church that preferred silence on issues uncomfortable and inconvenient.
Difficult to read about such a terrible tragedy. This is an important study and was the first serious history given of the event. It’s crazy to think that Juanita Brooks published this book in 1950, four years before my dad was born. Writing the history no doubt came with personal costs to Brooks, being a St. George resident and member of a LDS church that preferred silence on issues uncomfortable and inconvenient.
December 30, 2024
Wow! I've heard of the Mountain Meadows Massacre all of my life and finally took the time to research this event, rather than just a simplified summary. I cannot believe the bravery it would take for a Mormon to write this book today, let alone 60 years ago, and I'm further impressed that the author is female. Juanita is fair in her evaluation of this historic event, and shows great integrity for her dedication to dissect this event and face it head on, but to also still remain a faithful Mormon. This certainly put the event into perspective for me, and additionally, I have a new-found respect for Juanita Brooks for taking on this challenge.
"I owe it to myself and to my readers to tell all the truth, for truth suppressed is its own kind of a lie.”
-- Juanita Brooks in a letter to Justice Jesse Udall, 1961
"I owe it to myself and to my readers to tell all the truth, for truth suppressed is its own kind of a lie.”
-- Juanita Brooks in a letter to Justice Jesse Udall, 1961
August 26, 2018
An exhaustively researched and well-written work on a troubling, violent, and yet relatively unheard of portion of American history. As a Mormon, the author was given access to many documents which non-Mormons might never have a chance to see, and as a historian she analyzed the many conflicting sources and claims to present an extraordinarily honest work, at the risk of angering both the Mormon leadership and many others who felt the church would be best served by silence.
February 15, 2023
Highlights the dangers of herd mentality, unquestioning obedience, us vs them attitudes, and the merging of church and state. Really made me reflect on the trauma of the early mormons, violence supported by the church, and how that has trickled down into today’s culture and vocabulary. Many men participated in this mass murder, not many were truthful about what happened. The church leaders should have supported honesty and not “lying for the Lord.”
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