The Mountain Meadows Massacre took place on September 11, 1857 about 40 miles southwest of Cedar City, Utah. This tragic event marks the worst massacre of Americans by other Americans in our history prior to the Oklahoma City bombing.
One hundred twenty men, woman, and children from Northwest Arkansas, known as the Fancher/Baker wagon train headed for California, were slaughtered by local Mormon settlers and their Indian allies on that fateful day.
The exact cause of this horrific deed has remained mysterious, contentious, and largely unresolved, especially to the descendants of the victims. It is thought that fear of a military invasion, revenge against anti-Mormon sentiments, and greed all played a role. Afterward, the close-knit Mormon society closed ranks to protect its guilty members and only one man was deemed the scapegoat, convicted, and executed for the massacre-John D. Lee.
This little-known story of one of the most despicable crimes in the American West, is told through the actual documented account of a four year old girl named Nancy Saphrona who survived the massacre. Interviews with noted historians and descendants of the 17 children whose young lives were spared, visits to eccentric family reunions, anthropologists analyzing bullet-riddled skulls, plus the reenactment of the wagon train battle and massacre, make this documentary a fascinating, early pioneer story.
The film explores issues of forgiveness, reconciliation, and religious intolerance with the descendants from all sides of this massacre.
“Burying the Past” discusses the involvement, cover-up, and responsibility of the Mormon Church for this horrific event.
Those damn Mormons!
Get more info at the “Burying the Past” website.
