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Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows/Use of sources
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Selected analysis of sources used in Blood of the Prophets
| Index of claims | A FAIR Analysis of: Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows, a work by author: Will Bagley
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Selected analysis of sources used in Blood of the Prophets by Will Bagley
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- Response to claim: 51-52 - Brigham Young and others taught blood atonement for the "unpardonable sin"
- Response to claim: 58, 63 - The supposedly violent society in Utah
- Response to claim: 77 - The author credits the story of Judge William W. Drummond of the Mormons' complicity in the death of Judge Leonidas Shaver, John Gunnison, and Almon Babbitt
- Response to claim: 98 - Critics who wish to exploit the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church frequently cite an anonymous source signed "Argus"
- Response to claim: 114 - Dimmick Huntington's journal discusses Indians raising "allies" to help in the massacre
- Response to claim: 117 - The author draws on dreams, anonymous sources, family traditions, folklore and other such speculative or dubious evidence to condemn the Church
- Response to claim: 151, 304–305 - Jacob Hamblin's son Albert raped two women at the Mountain Meadows Massacre
- Response to claim: 196 - A gift of salt given to Johnston's army by Brigham which he is presumed to have implied was poisoned
Response to claim: 51-52 - Brigham Young and others taught blood atonement for the "unpardonable sin"
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
The author claims that Brigham Young and others taught blood atonement for the "unpardonable sin," which set the stage for the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
FAIR's Response
Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources
Even if this was a doctrine that was implemented (of which there is scant evidence), the Fancher party cannot have been subject to it, since none were Mormons whose "calling and election" had been "made sure."- For a detailed response, see: Unpardonable sin
Response to claim: 58, 63 - The supposedly violent society in Utah
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
Critics are inconsistent in their treatment of the supposedly violent society in Utah when compared to the massacred immigrants.
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Double standard: violence in immigrants
Response to claim: 77 - The author credits the story of Judge William W. Drummond of the Mormons' complicity in the death of Judge Leonidas Shaver, John Gunnison, and Almon Babbitt
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
Author credits the story of Judge William W. Drummond of the Mormons' complicity in the death of Judge Leonidas Shaver, John Gunnison, and Almon Babbitt.
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: William W. Drummond and murders
Response to claim: 98 - Critics who wish to exploit the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church frequently cite an anonymous source signed "Argus"
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
Critics are often less than selective in their use of historical sources. Critics who wish to exploit the Mountain Meadows Massacre to attack the Church frequently cite an anonymous source signed "Argus."
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Anonymous source: "Argus"
Response to claim: 114 - Dimmick Huntington's journal discusses Indians raising "allies" to help in the massacre
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
The author claims that Dimmick Huntington's journal discusses Indians raising "allies" to help in the massacre at Mountain Meadows which he claims Brigham is orchestrating.
FAIR's Response
Fact checking results: This claim is false
Huntington's journal entry for 1 September 1857 actually says they were "afraid to fight the Americans & so would raise grain.- For a detailed response, see: Allies or grain?
Response to claim: 117 - The author draws on dreams, anonymous sources, family traditions, folklore and other such speculative or dubious evidence to condemn the Church
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
The author draws on dreams, anonymous sources, family traditions, folklore and other such speculative or dubious evidence to condemn the Church or its members in the matter of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Double standards of skepticism
Response to claim: 151, 304–305 - Jacob Hamblin's son Albert raped two women at the Mountain Meadows Massacre
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
It is claimed that Jacob Hamblin's son Albert raped two women at the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and Jacob was later to blame these on John D. Lee.
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Rape by Albert Hamblin
Response to claim: 196 - A gift of salt given to Johnston's army by Brigham which he is presumed to have implied was poisoned
The author(s) of Blood of the Prophets make(s) the following claim:
Critics mention a gift of salt given to Johnston's army by Brigham which he is presumed to have implied was poisoned.
FAIR's Response
Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources
Brigham did not try to poison the army, and his behavior was not suspicious enough to keep the troops from using the gift.- For a detailed response, see: Gift of salt