A Bigoted Fantasy: Why American Primeval IS NOT History

Key Concepts

• Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857): A historical event where a wagon train of settlers was attacked and killed in Southern Utah.
• Latter-day Saints (LDS) / Mormons: Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Brigham Young: Leader of the LDS Church during the time of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
• Misinformation and Hysteria: Key factors contributing to the massacre.
• Historical Context: The circumstances surrounding the event, including past persecution of Mormons.
• Generalization and Stereotyping: The danger of applying the actions of a few to an entire group.
• American Primeval: A Netflix series that inaccurately portrays the Mountain Meadows Massacre and LDS pioneers.

The Problem with "American Primeval"

The video addresses the Netflix series "American Primeval" and its portrayal of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in relation to the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The core argument is that the series presents a historically inaccurate and biased depiction, generalizing the actions of a few individuals to the entire LDS community and perpetuating harmful stereotypes. The video creator argues that such misrepresentations can have real-world consequences, fueling prejudice and misunderstanding.

• Inaccurate Portrayal: The series is criticized for depicting LDS pioneers as "bloodthirsty monsters" based on a distorted version of events.
• Generalization: The video highlights the danger of generalizing the actions of a few "bad actors" to an entire population, comparing it to portraying all Jewish people as genocidal or all Muslims as supporting 9/11.
• Historical Consultant's Admission: Even the historical consultant for the series admitted that it is "in no way based on actual history."
• Viewer Perception: The video includes a viewer comment stating that the show made them believe Mormons were "serial killers in the wild west," demonstrating the potential impact of such misrepresentations.

The Historical Context of the Mountain Meadows Massacre

The video provides crucial historical context often omitted in popular portrayals of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. This context is essential for understanding the complexities of the event and avoiding simplistic narratives.

• Past Persecution: The video emphasizes that Latter-day Saints had been driven from Missouri and Illinois due to violence and persecution, including events like the Haun's Mill Massacre. The governor of Missouri even issued a Mormon extermination order.
• Federal Government Threat: In 1857, the US government was threatening to drive the Mormons from Utah, adding to their sense of vulnerability and siege mentality.
• Leonard Arrington's Account: The video quotes historian Leonard Arrington's account, which details the presence of "Missouri Wildcats" in the wagon train who boasted about participating in anti-Mormon violence.
• Indian Involvement: Arrington's account also mentions that local Native Americans believed members of the wagon train had poisoned their wells, leading them to seek revenge. They then asked local Mormons for help.

Brigham Young's Role and Response

The video directly addresses the portrayal of Brigham Young, the leader of the LDS Church at the time, in "American Primeval." It presents evidence contradicting the series' implication that he ordered or condoned the massacre.

• Brigham Young's Letter: The video highlights Brigham Young's letter instructing local leaders not to interfere with the wagon train and to maintain good relations with the Native Americans. The letter stated, "In regard to the immigration trains passing through our settlements we must not interfere with them. The Indians we expect will do as they please but you should try and preserve good feelings with them while we should be on the alert on hand and always ready we should also possess ourselves in patience."
• Messenger's Testimony: The video cites the testimony of the messenger, Haslam, who stated that Brigham Young urged him to "go with all speed" to prevent any harm to the immigrants.
• Brigham Young's Reaction: The video describes Brigham Young's emotional response upon learning the details of the massacre, stating that he "wept" at the gruesome details.
• John Turner's Analysis: The video quotes John Turner, a biographer of Brigham Young, who concludes that "there is no satisfactory evidence that Young ordered the massacre."
• Accountability: The video mentions that Brigham Young took action against those responsible, with the leader of the group being excommunicated and executed by firing squad.

Church's Modern-Day Response and Apology

The video emphasizes the modern-day efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to acknowledge and atone for the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

• 1999 Memorial: The video mentions the 1999 dedication of a monument to the victims of the massacre, led by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
• President Eyring's Statement: The video quotes President Henry B. Eyring's statement expressing "profound regret for the massacre" and acknowledging it as a "terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct."
• Focus on Reconciliation: The video highlights the church's efforts to reconcile with the descendants of the victims.

Religion vs. Individual Actions

The video concludes by emphasizing the distinction between religious teachings and the actions of individuals who may deviate from those teachings.

• "Because of" vs. "In Spite Of": The video poses the question of whether individuals commit terrible acts "because of" their religion or "in spite of it."
• Misinformation as a Cause: The video argues that misinformation and hysteria were significant contributing factors to the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
• Real-World Consequences: The video warns that misinformation and biased portrayals, like those in "American Primeval," can have "very real and terrible consequences."

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video effectively critiques the Netflix series "American Primeval" for its historically inaccurate and biased portrayal of the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Latter-day Saint community. By providing crucial historical context, presenting evidence about Brigham Young's actions, and highlighting the Church's modern-day efforts to acknowledge and atone for the tragedy, the video challenges the series' narrative and warns against the dangers of generalization and misinformation. The key takeaway is that understanding the complexities of historical events and avoiding simplistic stereotypes is crucial for fostering tolerance and preventing future tragedies.