Hey everybody, this is Tim Chavez from Faith Matters.

Before we get into today's episode, we just want to mention that both the introduction

you're about to hear and the conversation itself contains straightforward descriptions

of violence.

We wanted to give you a chance to consider that for anyone listening in before we go ahead.

In September of 1857, one of the greatest atrocities in the history of Mormonism was carried

out.

Now known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a group of Latter-day Saints led a siege

in southern Utah against a wagon train of immigrants on their way from Arkansas to

California.

After the siege had dragged on for several days, and under the guise of a truce, leaders

of the Mormon Party lured the immigrants out of their protective circle of wagons, and

marched them a short distance across the valley before turning on them in surprise and slaughtering

at least 120 unarmed men, women, and children.

The details of this evil are difficult to talk about at all, much less dive deep on, but

at the same time, historians Richard E. Turley and Barbara Jones Brown believe that it's

important that we confront history, even its most difficult episodes, with as much honesty

and depth as we can.

As it pertains to history, Rick says we should drink deeply or drink not at all.

Rick has served in many roles at the church over many years, including as managing director

of the Family and Church History Department and managing director of the Public Affairs

Department.

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