That does not make it right...but it does add an important perspective.
In addition, the Federal government was in the process of raising and sending an Army to Utah at the time because the Federal officials there did not feel they were being recognized and because of the ill feeling between the church leadership and those officials. That feeling was understandable given the things that had occurred which had driven the Mormon population out of Missouri and then Illinois at the point of a gun with their land stolen and their members killed.
All of this resulted in tensions being at a fevered pitch throughout the territory precisely at the time this was going on. Many Mormon settlers believed they were about to be in a fight for their land, their way of life, their very lives and religion all over again and they were committed to not being driven out again.
Again, not an excuse for what happened at Mountain Meadows in the least, but still the backdrop for those reprehensible events.
The lack of support for a trial was certainly due in part to the Mromon population not cooperating with the Federal government at the time, but it was also due to the outbreak of the civil war and the era immediately following it.
When the first trial was held, Lee and the others were acquited. The second trial found Lee guilty, who by that time had been excommunicated from the church. He was executed by firing squad
It was the US attorney in the second trial that chose to bring charges only against Lee. Did he feel in the environment that this was the best he could get? Probably. Was he under political pressure from Washington to get some conviction out of the entire affair? Perhaps...maybe even probably. Did he "cut a deal" with Brigham Young at the time to get his "sanction" on this trial at the cost of closing the case as some infer? Knowing what I know of Young, I personally do not think so.
It was a sad affair, from the late 1830s through the 1840s and then with this terrible event, of killing and murder, and persecutuin of a people and then some of them exacting a dispicable revenge against this party which was contrary to the teachings of their own faith.
When I contrast it to that of the good that the many millions of LDS members do who do live their faith, day in and day out their life long, it is clear that the fruit of the faith (as evidenced by those who live it, not by those who violate it) is Christian compassion and service...and a testimony of, commitment to, and faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.
It is that witness that I bear to you now, sincerely and in the integrity of my heart.
Jeff,
I guess I take a more grim view of the whole event.
However, I do agree that 99.999% of Mormons now are good-hearted people as I've said before. My wife and children and brother are members of the LDS Church, so I know from experience.
I just can't forgive what happened at Mountain Meadows by a group of people who put what they felt was their religious duty and justification above their own common sense of decency and humanity, and they happened to call themselves Mormons. I think we all need to learn to discern when someone in a religious position of authority (Lee) tells us it's our duty to do something that is against humanity. Critical thinking.
We agree to disagree on that issue.
*** By the way, I just noticed that you are the author of a couple of books. Kudos for those accomplishments! I have a lot of admiration for people who can achieve such things. Writing a good book is an immense challenge and an incredible achievement. It's an honor to speak with you. ***