Is the Church to Blame for Mountain Meadows?

As I have written elsewhere, it is impossible for the Church to say that it has nothing to do with the Mountain Meadows Massacre. We are quick to tell people to judge us by our fruits. Usually that argument works in our favor. If we are to be consistent then we must also accept the argument when it doesn't make us look so good such as in the case of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. But how much culpability do we, as a Church, bear for these criminal acts?

The following is an account of what happened when the leaders of this conspiracy presented their plan to a council of civic and church leaders. Isaac Haight referred to in this quote is a Stake President (local leader).

On Sunday, September 6, Haight presented the plan to a council of local leaders who held Church, civic, and military positions. The plan was met with stunned resistance by those hearing it for the first time, sparking heated debate. Finally, council members asked Haight if he had consulted with President [Brigham] Young about the matter. Saying he hadn’t, Haight agreed to send an express rider to Salt Lake City with a letter explaining the situation and asking what should be done.

William Dame, another Stake President and district commander of the militia, advised Haight and others. “Do not notice their threats,” words are but wind—they injure no one." He later convened another council under pressure from Haight and that second council decided that "men should be sent to help the beleaguered emigrants continue on their way in peace." These local councils never authorized the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

Haight would not be placated and later cornered Dame, sharing with him additional information, and without the moderating influence of the council, managed to persuade Dame to rescind his earlier order. This was the fatal decision that later left Haight lamenting that "I would give a world if I had it, if we had abided by the deci[s]ion of the council."

An Ensign article of September 2007 describes Brigham Young's reply to the dispatch as follows:

President Young’s express message of reply to Haight, dated September 10, arrived in Cedar City two days after the massacre. ...

“In regard to emigration trains passing through our settlements,” Young continued, “we must not interfere with them untill they are first notified to keep away. You must not meddle with them. The Indians we expect will do as they please but you should try and preserve good feelings with them. There are no other trains going south that I know of[.] [I]f those who are there will leave let them go in peace. While we should be on the alert, on hand and always ready we should also possess ourselves in patience, preserving ourselves and property ever remembering that God rules.”

When Haight read Young’s words, he sobbed like a child and could manage only the words, “Too late, too late.

In the interest of brevity I have summarized this story but there is no credible critic who denies the events as I have detailed them. While it is true that some local Church leaders were tragically involved, the Church as an institution both in its councils, and by direction of its Church President Brigham Young, were innocent of any involvement in this horrible tragedy. In each instance, the Church as an institution through its councils and its leader counseled against the action and refused to sanction it. As much as they were able, they did their best to prevent this tragedy from ever happening.

Individuals committed this crime. Were some of them also local Church leaders? Yes, they were. Did this series of actions have anything to do with their official church duties? Absolutely not.