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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/American Massacre/Chapter 5
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| Chapter 4 | A FAIR Analysis of: American Massacre A work by author: Sally Denton
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Chapter 6 |
Claims made in "Chapter 5: Salt Lake City, August 24, 1849"
67
Claim
The author notes that several new federal officials fled the Utah Territory because they felt threatened.
Author's source(s)
- House Exec. Doc. 25, 15 quoted in David L. Bigler, Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West, 1847–1896 (Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1998), 59. (bias and errors) Review
Response
- This claim is also made in One Nation Under Gods: p. 227-228 . Both authors rely upon the same source for this claim.
- For a detailed response, see: Threats to early federal officials?
68-69
Claim
Blood atonement
Author's source(s)
- Gunnison, 83.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Mormonism and doctrine/Repudiated concepts/Blood atonement
69
Claim
The author claims that apostasy and adultery were punishable by beheading.
Author's source(s)
- Gunnison, 72.
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Utah/Crime and violence/Crimes critics allege to have been "worthy of death" in the 1800's
70
Claim
Brigham is claimed to have said that the revelation on polygamy said that "all worthy men" should cleave to as many women as possible.
Author's source(s)
- According to the author, this was said by Brigham Young at "an emergency conference of Young's apostles organized in August 1852."
Response
70
Claim
Brigham said that Adam was God and was a polygamist.
Author's source(s)
- According to the author, this was said by Brigham Young at "an emergency conference of Young's apostles organized in August 1852."
Response
- For a detailed response, see: Mormonism and doctrine/Repudiated concepts/Adam-God
73
Claim
Brigham is said to have threatened to "unsheathe" his bowie knife against the Gladdenites.
Author's source(s)
- No source provided.
Response
- Although the author provides no source, this reference is found in Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 1:83. Brigham says,
I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath my bowie knife, and conquer or die. [Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. [Voices, generally, "go it, go it."] If you say it is right, raise your hands. [All hands up.] Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work.
- For a detailed response, see: Brigham and "unsheathing the bowie knife"