“Really? Then why was Johnston’s 1,500 man army marching towards them with no advanced warning or stated purpose? “
Perhaps because Brigham Young was a murderous cutthroat?
“Mormons in Utah were in a state of high tension, expecting one more massacre at the hands of the Americans.”
It wasn’t like they hadn’t brought their own extermination orders with them, starting with Sydney Rigdon’s extermination order, Joseph Smith’s involvement with the Danites, the plunder of Davies county, leading to their near annihilation at Far West. Once Joseph Smith succeeded in having Governor Boggs executed, and Smith destroyed the Nauvoo Expositor Press (because he’d been wife stealing, land speculating and running a tinpot army), the events at Carthage were preordained and only halted by Governor Ford or they’d all have been killed. Brigham Young did his own deeds, inciting Blood Atonement and the Meadows Mountain Massacre.
“The first movements of the Utah War were taking place. Scouts were sent out to empede the advance of the troops.”
Think about that, what other group had been continually waging a militia war AGAINST THE U.S. since 1838??
“Mormons were gathering their grain and supplies together wondering what more they had to endure.”
Nothing is EVER their fault. That’s one explanation. The other is that Smith and Young were tinpot dictators out to fornicate and make themselves rich and were little different than outlaws. No wonder so many MORMONS got sick of them and apostasized left and right, including most of the Witnesses and Apostles! ! ! But it’s always their fault, not bank cheat Smith or murderer Young.
“They were ready to even abandon homes and move on once again, to Mexico if necessary. The Fancher emigrant train moved through Utah angry with the Mormons because they would not sell them grain or supplies.”
I’d say so, because it meant they’d die between there and California, even though the Utah harvest had been plentiful. Nice Brigham, starving out a pioneer wagon train as part of Blood Atonement. And please tell the whole story, Parley Pratt was killed because HE WAS WIFE AND CHILD STEALING and the jilted husband caught up with the bum.
“Tensions grew between the Mormons and the emigrant train. There were threats and counter threats. There were boasts from some of the Fancher party that they had been part of early Mormon persecutions. There were threats that when the Fancher party got to California, they would send back more troops.”
Well, when you run a paranoid anti-American outfit like Young did, there were bound to be conflicts with normal people who still thought law and order existed in U.S. territories.
“When Brigham Young heard of the gathering conflict, he sent a fast rider with word to let the party go unharmed. It was too late. The massacre had already occurred.”
Like anyone except true-believers think Brigham Young, who had dicatorial powers, didn’t himself order the massacre.
“Mormons will always be embarrassed by the event. However, they are also angry when the story is told without the context. You refer to this story as a way Mormons handle dissidents. Actually it is a story of how many Americans handle dissidents. In fact, you can see that same spirit on FR today.”
Butchery of 152 men women and children needs context? Does Haun’s Mill also need context??
Of course, you can see the same atmosphere of Blood Atonement here today. Oh, maybe you aren’t calling for murders, but you certainly have your enforcers out trying to shut up anyone who presents an alternative history (one which I’ve taken pains to find from Mormons as well as Gentiles).
So please, keep your head in the sand and ONLY present the view straight from the mothership. Never read any of the other accounts, that way you’ll never be accused of actually thinking.