Church History
Church HistoryMountain MeadowsviolenceUtah War

Mountain Meadows Massacre

Does Mountain Meadows prove that the Church is violent at its core?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Exodus 20:13

KJV + NRSVUE

King James Version

Thou shalt not kill.

NRSVUE

You shall not murder.

Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon answers

Alma 48:14

The Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.

Faithful answers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Peace and Violence among 19th-Century Latter-day Saints

Gospel Topics Essays

Brigham Young’s wartime rhetoric was fierce; his late message to let the company pass did not arrive in time. John D. Lee was executed. The massacre is not temple theology, not the Articles of Faith, and not the Savior’s sermon. Faithful history names the sin without baptizing it.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre is a shameful episode in Latter-day Saint history. No explanation can ever justify it.

  • The gospel forbids murder; this event violated it.
  • The Church has published the history rather than burying it.
  • A crime by some Saints is not a revelation to the Church.
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