When one thinks of religious intolerance in this country probably the first thought is of New England and Puritans. They are known to have forced dissidents such as Anne Hutchinson to leave the colonies for the wilderness. They are also known for the infamous Salam Witch Trials. But the Puritans were minor league compared to the later residents of this country.
THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE
THE 1857 MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE
"If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats." Brigham Young 1
"The Mountain Meadows Massacre stands without a parallel amongst the crimes that stain the pages of American history. It was a crime committed without cause or justification of any kind to relieve it of its fearful character... When nearly exhausted from fatigue and thirst, [the men of the caravan] were approached by white men, with a flag of truce, and induced to surrender their arms, under the most solemn promises of protection. They were then murdered in cold blood." William Bishop, Attorney to John D. Lee. 2 ">http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds_mass.htm
A wagon train with 142 men, women and children were attacked by "Indians" or men dressed as Indians. It must be mentioned here that they had over 40 wagons and 1000 head of cattle. They held out for four days until their water and ammunition were almost gone. At this time Bishop John D. Lee approached under flag of truce promising them protection if they would leave their possessions. After agreeing the settlers were separated by age and gender. All above the age of 10 (some accounts say 8) were then murdered.
For many years the Mormons blamed the massacre on the Indians. Finally 20 years later after some witnesses confessed Lee admitted guilt and was executed. The Mormons painted Lee as a rogue acting independently, but he was the adopted son of Brigham Young. And Young had preached the doctrine of Blood Atonement (see below).
There are no shortage of motivations for the deaths. Greed is obvious, but it is also said that the "ungodly" ways of the settlers annoyed the Mormons. An early battle in the ongoing culture war?
http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/brondel/
http://www.rickross.com/groups/mormon.html
http://www.rickross.com/reference/mormon/mormon106.html
http://www.rickross.com/reference/mormon/mormon65.htm
Blood Atonement killing the sinful to "save" them
Brigham Young explained this in a sermon given on September 21, 1856:
"There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world.
"I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them....
"And further more, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins.
"It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit.... There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, or a calf, or of turtle dove, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pages 53-54); also published in the Mormon Church's Deseret News, 1856, page 235) http://www.xmission.com/~country/reason/blood.htm
Violence and Child marriage in modern times in offshoot fundamentalist Mormon cults continues.
In August 1972, followers of Ervil Morel LeBaron murdered his brother, Joel LeBaron as part of a power struggle for control of their particular polygamist church group. Ervil LeBaron quickly became the leader of the Church of the Lamb of God and proceeded to direct his followers in the murders of more than thirty people, all of them members of various polygamist groups. These murders included the execution style killing of prominent Salt Lake City polygamist leader Rulon Allred, as well as several members who tried to leave the LeBaron sect. (2)
Before LeBaron died in the Utah State Penitentiary in 1981, he authored a book entitled "The Book of New Covenants," which detailed a list of former followers who were to die in the name of God. Throughout the 1980's, children of LeBaron murdered several former church members in Dallas, Houston, Utah, and Mexico.(3)
In July 1978, the former David Longo, who had himself re-christened Immanuel David, drove a truck up a canyon east of Salt Lake City and proceeded to commit suicide by asphyxiating himself on the exhaust of the vehicle. Three days later, his wife ordered or pushed each of their seven children off the 11th floor balcony of a prominent Salt Lake City hotel to their deaths on the pavement below. She finally jumped herself, thus ending the grisly multiple homicide/suicide scene.(4)http://www.exmormon.org/violence.htm
Religious sanctioned child molestation
Quotations:
"Utah state Senator Ron Allen says: 'We have thousands of women pulled out of school at an early age, forced into marriages with older men, kept isolated from society, constantly impregnated, and often placed on public assistance with no financial means of their own. They are forgotten citizens facing abuse and fear. On top of it all, the victims are constantly taught that God is just pleased as punch about the whole deal. It has to stop'." 1
"Salt Lake City writer John Llewellyn, a former fundamentalist Mormon, says: 'The key factor in controlling a polygamist cult is in brainwashing the young women to inculcate upon their impressionable minds that everything not condoned by the prophet is evil, that they cannot go to the celestial kingdom unless they live in a plural marriage, and that the gates of heaven will be closed to the disobedient'." 1
http://www.religioustolerance.org/flds.htm
http://www.childpro.org/
http://www.helpthechildbrides.com/