| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | History |
| Author: | Ronald W. Walker, Richard E. Turley |
This book was terrific. It was written by church historians that have access to texts that most other historians did not. It was a fairly even-handed approach, one that understood the religion, times and context.
It did absolve Brigham Young of any direct involvement. This was due mainly to the distances involved. BY simply was too far away to direct anyone. What was established was that BY did ask for the church members to let the emigrants go.
It didn't absolve the members of the church in relation to drumming up people to get ready for a war with the US. That certainly came into play. The poverty of the people in Southern Utah and the relative wealth of the train also was pronounced.
It really made me angry how members of the church treated each other. A brother gave a member of the train, whom he knew, some fruit and was beaten senseless by other members because of it.
The train was already on their way out of the state when they conspired to kill them all, except for the children. I couldn't read in one sitting the account of the killing. It was abhorant what they did. I never can understand what goes on in a person's head when murder becomes a viable solution.
Very good book. Highly recommended.
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