Criticism of Mormonism/Books/American Massacre/Chapter 4

Chapter 3

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Sally Denton

Chapter 5

Claims made in "Chapter Four: Winter Quarters—Council Bluffs, 1846"

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
42	The author blames Col. Thomas Kane for helping to cover up the Massacre.	Thomas Kane: cover-up?	[ATTENTION!]
47	The author claims that in 1846, the U.S. military planned to "seize New Mexico, California, and much of Utah."	That members of the Church volunteered for U.S. military service as part of the "Mormon Batallion" is a strange act for people who were "sworn enemies" of the U.S.A. (as she claims above).	No source provided.
53	The author claims that John D. Lee was sent by Brigham to intercept the payroll from the Mormon battalion in order to consecrate it to the Church.	Prejudicial or loaded language: This puts an ominous spin on something benign. Members joined the Mormon battalion in part to provide needed funds for the Church and their families (most of whom remained with the church) to help with the migration west. According to the cited source: On August 28, about dark, President Young visited John D. Lee in his tent. "I have a very dangerous but responsible mission for you to perform," he said. "I want you to to follow up the Mormon Batallion and be at Santa Fe when they receive their payment. Can you go?" "I am willing to do whatever I can to further the cause," Lee answered without hesitation. . . . "Go, and God will protect you," Brother Brigham said, laying a firm hand on his shoulder. "I shall see that your families do not want. It is most important that we have what money we can get if we are to have food to survive this winter. Even then I have a heavy heart when I think of what is ahead.." Then Lee accepted one of the most important assignments of his career. Template:HistoricalDistortion: It should be noted that there is no use of the words "intercept" or "consecrate it" anywhere in the chapter.	Brooks, John Doyle Lee, 95.
53	The author claims that Brigham "used the battalion earnings to purchase food to stock a store he owned, which he then sold back to his starving Saints at inflated prices." The author claims that one of the battalion members said that "Some of the women, being entirely destitute, desired their husband's share, and some cried for the want of it."		No source provided. Possibly Lee in Henrie, 183.
54	The author claims that Brigham declared "his own death and resurrection."		DeVoto, 454 Kelly, 90.
55	The author claims that Brigham "overcame resistance" from the Council of the Twelve and "finalized his own ascendancy" in order to be "elevated to a deity."		No source provided.
54	Author's quote: Young broke the tedium by courting Indian women along the way. Having been "sealed" to two Sioux squaws before leaving winter Quarters, he attempted to persuade others he met to unite with him on the spiritual journey.		No source provided. Possibly Werner, 220?
59	The author claims that in Brigham's very first address to the Saints after arriving in the Salt Lake valley that he "gave an ominous warning to all who had come. From this point forward, anyone who refused to live the laws about to be set forth was free to leave."	Internal contradiction: This contradicts what the author states on page 106, where she says that anyone that wanted to leave was "hunted down and killed"	No source provided.
59	The author claims that Brigham used a divining rod that once belonged to Oliver Cowdery to select the site for the Salt Lake Temple.	This claim is also made in One Nation Under Gods: p. 89, 518n49 Divining rods to Kimball and Young?	No source provided. Likely Quinn.