Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows/Index

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows A work by author: Will Balgey

Claims made in SECTION TITLE

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
50-52	Blood atonement is presented as an active teaching, as prelude to the Massacre.	Blood atonement	[ATTENTION!]
51	Blood atonement to be implemented for those guilty of "the unpardonable sin."	Use of sources: unpardonable sin Blood atonement	[ATTENTION!]
77	Author credits the report of Judge William W. Drummond on Mormon "murders."	The author's claim is false: William W. Drummond and murders	[ATTENTION!]
99	"[A]ll information about the emigrants' conduct came from men involved in their murder or cover-up."	Junaita Brooks pointed out that accounts of provocation from the immigrants appeared within days as far away California, and from |multiple sources.  Double standard Double standard of skepticism	[ATTENTION!]
117 and others	The author frequently refers to dubious, anonymous, or folklore evidence without much skepticism.	Use of sources: double standards of skepticism	[ATTENTION!]
119-120	Account of William Hawley	Use of sources: William Hawley account	[ATTENTION!]
143	Account of William Hawley	Use of sources: William Hawley account	[ATTENTION!]
151	It is claimed that Jacob Hamblin's adoptive son Albert raped two women at the Massacre, which tales "cannot be discounted entirely."	Use of sources: Rape by Albert Hamblin?	[ATTENTION!]
196	Brigham gave a gift of salt to the U.S. army, which it was implied was poisoned.	Use of sources: Gift of salt?	[ATTENTION!]
220	Bagley claims to have found another source by John D. Lee, upon which he relies.	"Anonymous sources are usually worthless....Blood of the Prophets...spends several pages with the "Discursive Remarks,"...[and] attributes the work to John D. Lee, as if another Lee account can be trusted."[1]	"Discursive remarks," anonymous manuscript in Utah State Historical Society archives. [ATTENTION!]
304-305	It is claimed that Jacob Hamblin's adoptive son Albert raped two women at the Massacre, and Hamblin would later blame this on John D. Lee.	Use of sources: Rape by Albert Hamblin?	[ATTENTION!]
367	Author says that historian Thomas Alexander claimed that "the Indians made them do it."	Misrepresentation of source: Use of sources: Alexander on reasons	Thomas G. Alexander, Utah, the Right Place: The Official Centennial History (Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith, 1995), 132.  [ATTENTION!]

Endnotes

1. [note]  Robert D. Crockett, "A Trial Lawyer Reviews Will Bagley's Blood of the Prophets," FARMS Review 15/2 (2003): 199–254. off-site