They were making the journey to the West. Don't blame them for the murder the Mormons did. Remember, they were the victims, not the ones who did the crime.
All feel very bad for the lost of those innocent folks and they were told before hand do not take that route, because of the tentions in the area.
So the fact that the Mormons couldn't control themselves isn't a problem. Once more it the victim's fault they were murdered by the Mormons.
They ignore good advice before they traveled in the area. Sady they were mistaked for who were chasing the Mormons.
What? These people were camped and were told that they would not be harmed. When they let their defenses down, the Mormons slaughtered them. There was no mistake about it.
Don't try to minimize what happened.
You only have one side to this issue and it has been taken from a Horrible Tragedy to be milked to stir up more contempt towards the Mormons. Until words like yours and apostates someday escalates to the point of killing of more LDS. You may not be a descendand of those who killed the prophet or try to EXTERMINATE the LDS, forcing the LDS to flee across country, but you might as well be!
If I was leading a people across country and was told to stay away from an area that was very intents that the Mormons were living under the threat of extermination. I would stay clear and not put those folks in harm way!
Not all have the Mormons were able to have their wits about them John Lee was living a natural man thing, and not listening to the councle of the Lord. Yes he was a Mormon but he was acting ON his OWN.