Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Chapter 11

Claims made in "Chapter 11: Bloody Brigham"

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
236-237, 563n53 (HB)	"Apostates certainly were viewed as the worst of sinners, although every reprobate received the same penalty. As Brigham instructed his flock: 'If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats.'"	Use of sources: Brigham Says to "Cut Their Throats"	Brigham Young, July 8, 1855, in JOD, vol. 2., 311.
244-245, 566n82 (HB)	"...as the wagon-train traversed the southern route, conflict erupted between the emigrants and the Mormons, who refused to sell badly needed food and supplies to the travelers. Such conduct was unthinkable to the Baker-Fancher company. They had no idea that the refusals were in obedience to Brigham's prohibition on trading with the Gentiles."	Use of sources: Orders to Starve Gentiles	On August 2, 1857, just one month before the massacre, Brigham Young wrote to [sic] a letter to church leaders telling them to make sure that no one sold as much as "one kernal" of food to the Saints "enemies" (Brigham Young letter to Bronson and Haight, August 2, 1857, MS 1234 LDSCA).