Main Page: Latter-day Saint Racial History
The LDS Church and Native Americans
Nineteenth Century
Note: The Book of Mormon's teachings on Native Americans, and their interpretations by church leaders and members over the years, are covered in "The Lamanite Curse in the Book of Mormon".
Joseph Smith had a special place in his heart for Native Americans, probably because of their link to Book of Mormon peoples. On January 25, 1842, when his anti-slavery position was quite solidified, he recorded "In the evening debated with John C. Bennett and others to show that the Indians have greater cause to complain of the treatment of the whites, than the negroes or sons of Cain." Overall, the church he founded went on to treat Native Americans with greater respect and dignity than most of the contemporary United States.
Joseph Smith had a special place in his heart for Native Americans, probably because of their link to Book of Mormon peoples. On January 25, 1842, when his anti-slavery position was quite solidified, he recorded "In the evening debated with John C. Bennett and others to show that the Indians have greater cause to complain of the treatment of the whites, than the negroes or sons of Cain." Overall, the church he founded went on to treat Native Americans with greater respect and dignity than most of the contemporary United States.
Mission to the Indian Territory
Elder Parley P. Pratt recalled in his autobiography, "It was now October, 1830. A revelation [D&C 32:1-3] had been given through the mouth of this Prophet, Seer and Translator, in which Elders Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, Ziba Peterson and myself were appointed to go into the wilderness, through the western States, and to the Indian territory. Making arrangements for my wife in the family of the Whitmers, we took leave of our friends and the church late in October, and started on foot.
"After travelling for some days we called on an Indian nation at or near Buffalo; and spent part of a day with them, instructing them in the knowledge of the record of their forefathers. We were kindly received, and much interest was manifested by them on hearing this news. We made a present of two copies of the Book of Mormon to certain of them who could read, and repaired to Buffalo....
"We now pursued our journey for some days, and at length arrived in Sandusky, in the western part of Ohio. Here resided a tribe, or nation of Indians, called Wyandots, on whom we called, and with whom we spent several days. We were well received, and had an opportunity of laying before them the record of their forefathers, which we did. They rejoiced in the tidings, bid us God speed, and desired us to write to them in relation to our success among the tribes further west, who had already removed to the Indian territory, where these expected soon to go.
"Taking an affectionate leave of this people, we continued our journey to Cincinnati... In the beginning of 1831 we renewed our journey; and, passing through St. Louis and St. Charles, we travelled on foot for three hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds of snow... After much fatigue and some suffering we all arrived in Independence, in the county of Jackson, on the extreme western frontiers of Missouri, and of the United States... Two of our number now commenced work as tailors in the village of Independence, while the others crossed the frontier line and commenced a mission among the Lamenites, or Indians.
"Passing through the tribe of Shawnees we tarried one night with them, and the next day crossed the Kansas river and entered among the Delawares. We immediately inquired for the residence of the principal Chief, and were soon introduced to an aged and venerable looking man, who had long stood at the head of the Delawares, and been looked up to as the Great Grandfather, or Sachem of ten nations or tribes.
"He was seated on a sofa of furs, skins and blankets, before a fire in the center of his lodge; which was a comfortable cabin, consisting of two large rooms.
"His wives were neatly dressed, partly in calicoes and partly in skins; and wore a vast amount of silver ornaments. As we entered his cabin he took us by the hand with a hearty welcome, and then motioned us to be seated on a pleasant seat of blankets, or robes. His wives, at his bidding, set before us a tin pan full of beans and corn boiled tip together, which proved to be good eating; although three of us made use alternately of the same wooden spoon.
"There was an interpreter present and through him we commenced to make known our errand, and to tell him of the Book of Mormon. We asked him to call the council his nation together and give us a hearing in full. He promised to consider on it till next day, in the meantime recommending us to a certain Mr. Pool for entertainment; this was their blacksmith, employed by government.
"The man entertained us kindly and comfortably. Next morning we again called on Mr. Anderson, the old chief, and explained to him something of the Book. He was at first unwilling to call his council; made several excuses, and finally refused; as he had ever been opposed to the introduction of missionaries among his tribe.
"We continued the conversation a little longer, till he at last began to understand the nature of the Book. He then changed his mind; became suddenly interested, and requested us to proceed no further with our conversation till he could call a council. He despatched a messenger, and in about an hour had some forty men collected around us in his lodge, who, after shaking us by the hand, were seated in silence; and in a grave and dignified manner awaited the announcement of what we had to offer. The chief then requested us to proceed; or rather, begin where we began before, and to complete our communication. Elder Cowdery then commenced as follows:
'Aged Chief and Venerable Council of the Delaware nation; we are glad of this opportunity to address you as our red brethren and friends. We have travelled a long distance from towards the rising sun to bring you glad news; we have travelled the wilderness, crossed the deep and wide rivers, and waded in the deep snows, and in the face of the storms of winter, to communicate to you great knowledge which has lately come to our ears and hearts; and which will do the red man good as well as the pale face.
'Once the red men were many; they occupied the country from sea to sea - from the rising to the setting sun; the whole land was theirs; the Great Spirit gave it to them, and no pale faces dwelt among them. But now they are few in numbers; their possessions are small, and the pale faces are many.
'Thousands of moons ago, when the red men's forefathers dwelt in peace and possessed this whole land, the Great Spirit talked with them, and revealed His law and His will, and much knowledge to their wise men and prophets. This they wrote in a Book; together with their history, and the things which should befall their children in the latter days.
'This Book was written on plates of gold, and handed down from father to son for many ages and generations. It was then that the people prospered, and were strong and mighty; they cultivated the earth; built buildings and cities, and abounded in all good things, as the pale faces now do.
'But they became wicked; they killed one another and shed much blood; they killed their prophets and wise men, and sought to destroy the Book. The Great Spirit became angry, and would speak to them no more; they had no more good and wise dreams; no more visions; no more angels sent among them by the Great Spirit; and the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their last wise men and prophets, to hide the Book in the earth, that it might be preserved in safety, and be found and made known in the latter day to the pale faces who should possess the land; that they might again make it known to the red man; in order to restore them to the knowledge of the will of the Great Spirit and to His favor. And if the red man would then receive this Book and learn the things written in it, and do according thereunto, they should cease to fight and kill one another; should become one people; cultivate the earth in peace, in common with the pale faces, who were willing to believe and obey the same Book, and be good men and live in peace.
'Then should the red men become great, and have plenty to eat and good clothes to wear, and should be in favor with the Great Spirit and be his children, while he would be their Great Father, and talk with them, and raise up prophets and wise and good men amongst them again, who should teach them many things.
'This Book, which contained these things, was hid in the earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which hill is now in the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario County.
'In that neighborhood there lived a young man named Joseph Smith, who prayed to the Great Spirit much, in order that he might know the truth; and the Great Spirit sent an angel to him, and told him where this Book was hid by Moroni; and commanded him to go and get it. He accordingly went to the place, and dug in the earth, and found the Book written on golden plates.
'But it was written in the language of the forefathers of the red man; therefor this young man, being a pale face, could not understand it; but the angel told him and showed him, and gave him knowledge of the language, and how to interpret the Book. So he interpreted it into the language of the pale faces, and wrote it on paper, and caused it to be printed, and published thousands of copies of among them; and then sent us to the red men to bring some copies of it to them, and to tell them this news. So we have now come from him, and here is a copy of the Book, which we now present to our red friend, the chief of the Delawares, and which we hope he will cause to be read and known among his tribe; it will do them good.'
"We then presented him with a Book of Mormon.
"There was a pause in the council, and some conversation in their own tongue, after which the chief made the following reply:
'We feel truly thankful to our white friends who have come so far, and been at such pains to tell us good news, and especially this new news concerning the Book of our forefathers; it makes us glad in here' - placing his hand on his heart.
'It is now winter, we are new settlers in this place; the snow is deep, our cattle and horses are dying, our wigwams are poor; we have much to do in the spring - to build houses, and fence and make farms; but we will build a council house, and meet together, and you shall read to us and teach us more concerning the Book of our fathers and the will of the Great Spirit.'
"We again lodged at Mr. Pool's, told him of the Book, had a very pleasant interview with him, and he became a believer and advocate for the Book, and served as an interpreter.
"We continued for several days to instruct the old chief and many of his tribe. The interest became more and more intense on their part, from day to day, until at length nearly the whole tribe began to feel a spirit of inquiry and excitement on the subject.
"We found several among them who could read, and to them we gave copies of the Book, explaining to them that it was the Book of their forefathers.
"Some began to rejoice exceedingly, and took great pains to tell the news to others, in their own language.
"The excitement now reached the frontier settlements in Missouri, and stirred up the jealousy and envy of the Indian agents and sectarian missionaries to that degree that we were soon ordered out of the Indian country as disturbers of the peace; and even threatened with the military in case of non-compliance.
"We accordingly departed from the Indian country, and came over the line, and commenced laboring in Jackson County, Missouri, among the whites. We were well received, and listened to by many; and some were baptized and added to the Church.
"Thus ended our first Indian Mission, in which we had preached the gospel in its fullness, and distributed the record of their forefathers among three tribes, viz: the Catteraugus Indians, near Buffalo, N. Y., the Wyandots of Ohio, and the Delawares west of Missouri.
"We trust that at some future day, when the servants of God go forth in power to the remnant of Joseph, some precious seed will be found growing in their hearts, which was sown by us in that early day."
"After travelling for some days we called on an Indian nation at or near Buffalo; and spent part of a day with them, instructing them in the knowledge of the record of their forefathers. We were kindly received, and much interest was manifested by them on hearing this news. We made a present of two copies of the Book of Mormon to certain of them who could read, and repaired to Buffalo....
"We now pursued our journey for some days, and at length arrived in Sandusky, in the western part of Ohio. Here resided a tribe, or nation of Indians, called Wyandots, on whom we called, and with whom we spent several days. We were well received, and had an opportunity of laying before them the record of their forefathers, which we did. They rejoiced in the tidings, bid us God speed, and desired us to write to them in relation to our success among the tribes further west, who had already removed to the Indian territory, where these expected soon to go.
"Taking an affectionate leave of this people, we continued our journey to Cincinnati... In the beginning of 1831 we renewed our journey; and, passing through St. Louis and St. Charles, we travelled on foot for three hundred miles through vast prairies and through trackless wilds of snow... After much fatigue and some suffering we all arrived in Independence, in the county of Jackson, on the extreme western frontiers of Missouri, and of the United States... Two of our number now commenced work as tailors in the village of Independence, while the others crossed the frontier line and commenced a mission among the Lamenites, or Indians.
"Passing through the tribe of Shawnees we tarried one night with them, and the next day crossed the Kansas river and entered among the Delawares. We immediately inquired for the residence of the principal Chief, and were soon introduced to an aged and venerable looking man, who had long stood at the head of the Delawares, and been looked up to as the Great Grandfather, or Sachem of ten nations or tribes.
"He was seated on a sofa of furs, skins and blankets, before a fire in the center of his lodge; which was a comfortable cabin, consisting of two large rooms.
"His wives were neatly dressed, partly in calicoes and partly in skins; and wore a vast amount of silver ornaments. As we entered his cabin he took us by the hand with a hearty welcome, and then motioned us to be seated on a pleasant seat of blankets, or robes. His wives, at his bidding, set before us a tin pan full of beans and corn boiled tip together, which proved to be good eating; although three of us made use alternately of the same wooden spoon.
"There was an interpreter present and through him we commenced to make known our errand, and to tell him of the Book of Mormon. We asked him to call the council his nation together and give us a hearing in full. He promised to consider on it till next day, in the meantime recommending us to a certain Mr. Pool for entertainment; this was their blacksmith, employed by government.
"The man entertained us kindly and comfortably. Next morning we again called on Mr. Anderson, the old chief, and explained to him something of the Book. He was at first unwilling to call his council; made several excuses, and finally refused; as he had ever been opposed to the introduction of missionaries among his tribe.
"We continued the conversation a little longer, till he at last began to understand the nature of the Book. He then changed his mind; became suddenly interested, and requested us to proceed no further with our conversation till he could call a council. He despatched a messenger, and in about an hour had some forty men collected around us in his lodge, who, after shaking us by the hand, were seated in silence; and in a grave and dignified manner awaited the announcement of what we had to offer. The chief then requested us to proceed; or rather, begin where we began before, and to complete our communication. Elder Cowdery then commenced as follows:
'Aged Chief and Venerable Council of the Delaware nation; we are glad of this opportunity to address you as our red brethren and friends. We have travelled a long distance from towards the rising sun to bring you glad news; we have travelled the wilderness, crossed the deep and wide rivers, and waded in the deep snows, and in the face of the storms of winter, to communicate to you great knowledge which has lately come to our ears and hearts; and which will do the red man good as well as the pale face.
'Once the red men were many; they occupied the country from sea to sea - from the rising to the setting sun; the whole land was theirs; the Great Spirit gave it to them, and no pale faces dwelt among them. But now they are few in numbers; their possessions are small, and the pale faces are many.
'Thousands of moons ago, when the red men's forefathers dwelt in peace and possessed this whole land, the Great Spirit talked with them, and revealed His law and His will, and much knowledge to their wise men and prophets. This they wrote in a Book; together with their history, and the things which should befall their children in the latter days.
'This Book was written on plates of gold, and handed down from father to son for many ages and generations. It was then that the people prospered, and were strong and mighty; they cultivated the earth; built buildings and cities, and abounded in all good things, as the pale faces now do.
'But they became wicked; they killed one another and shed much blood; they killed their prophets and wise men, and sought to destroy the Book. The Great Spirit became angry, and would speak to them no more; they had no more good and wise dreams; no more visions; no more angels sent among them by the Great Spirit; and the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their last wise men and prophets, to hide the Book in the earth, that it might be preserved in safety, and be found and made known in the latter day to the pale faces who should possess the land; that they might again make it known to the red man; in order to restore them to the knowledge of the will of the Great Spirit and to His favor. And if the red man would then receive this Book and learn the things written in it, and do according thereunto, they should cease to fight and kill one another; should become one people; cultivate the earth in peace, in common with the pale faces, who were willing to believe and obey the same Book, and be good men and live in peace.
'Then should the red men become great, and have plenty to eat and good clothes to wear, and should be in favor with the Great Spirit and be his children, while he would be their Great Father, and talk with them, and raise up prophets and wise and good men amongst them again, who should teach them many things.
'This Book, which contained these things, was hid in the earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which hill is now in the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario County.
'In that neighborhood there lived a young man named Joseph Smith, who prayed to the Great Spirit much, in order that he might know the truth; and the Great Spirit sent an angel to him, and told him where this Book was hid by Moroni; and commanded him to go and get it. He accordingly went to the place, and dug in the earth, and found the Book written on golden plates.
'But it was written in the language of the forefathers of the red man; therefor this young man, being a pale face, could not understand it; but the angel told him and showed him, and gave him knowledge of the language, and how to interpret the Book. So he interpreted it into the language of the pale faces, and wrote it on paper, and caused it to be printed, and published thousands of copies of among them; and then sent us to the red men to bring some copies of it to them, and to tell them this news. So we have now come from him, and here is a copy of the Book, which we now present to our red friend, the chief of the Delawares, and which we hope he will cause to be read and known among his tribe; it will do them good.'
"We then presented him with a Book of Mormon.
"There was a pause in the council, and some conversation in their own tongue, after which the chief made the following reply:
'We feel truly thankful to our white friends who have come so far, and been at such pains to tell us good news, and especially this new news concerning the Book of our forefathers; it makes us glad in here' - placing his hand on his heart.
'It is now winter, we are new settlers in this place; the snow is deep, our cattle and horses are dying, our wigwams are poor; we have much to do in the spring - to build houses, and fence and make farms; but we will build a council house, and meet together, and you shall read to us and teach us more concerning the Book of our fathers and the will of the Great Spirit.'
"We again lodged at Mr. Pool's, told him of the Book, had a very pleasant interview with him, and he became a believer and advocate for the Book, and served as an interpreter.
"We continued for several days to instruct the old chief and many of his tribe. The interest became more and more intense on their part, from day to day, until at length nearly the whole tribe began to feel a spirit of inquiry and excitement on the subject.
"We found several among them who could read, and to them we gave copies of the Book, explaining to them that it was the Book of their forefathers.
"Some began to rejoice exceedingly, and took great pains to tell the news to others, in their own language.
"The excitement now reached the frontier settlements in Missouri, and stirred up the jealousy and envy of the Indian agents and sectarian missionaries to that degree that we were soon ordered out of the Indian country as disturbers of the peace; and even threatened with the military in case of non-compliance.
"We accordingly departed from the Indian country, and came over the line, and commenced laboring in Jackson County, Missouri, among the whites. We were well received, and listened to by many; and some were baptized and added to the Church.
"Thus ended our first Indian Mission, in which we had preached the gospel in its fullness, and distributed the record of their forefathers among three tribes, viz: the Catteraugus Indians, near Buffalo, N. Y., the Wyandots of Ohio, and the Delawares west of Missouri.
"We trust that at some future day, when the servants of God go forth in power to the remnant of Joseph, some precious seed will be found growing in their hearts, which was sown by us in that early day."
Native American Slavery
Before the Latter-day Saint pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, warring Native Americans in the area often captured women and children from rival tribes and sold them to nearby Mexicans (Utah was part of Mexico at the time). Brigham Young stopped this practice and told them that it was illegal to trade slaves, so the angered Paiute Chief Arrapine said that the Latter-day Saints were obligated to compensate them by purchasing the women and children themselves. According to Daniel Jones in Forty Years Among the Indians, "[s]everal of us were present when he took one of the children by the heels and dashed his brains out on the hard ground, after which he threw the body toward us telling us we had no hearts or we would have saved its life." Charles Decker quickly traded his rifle and pony for the remaining child.
John R. Young wrote, "She was the saddest-looking piece of humanity I have ever seen. They had shingled her head with butcher knives and fire brands. All the fleshy parts of her body, legs, and arms had been hacked with knives, then fire brands had been stuck into the wounds. She was gaunt with hunger, and smeared from head to foot with blood and ashes. After being washed and clothed, she was given to President Young and became as one of his family. They named her Sally."
As a result of this pre-existing slave trade, the "Act in Relation to Service", which legalized African slavery on February 4, 1852 in the hope of easing Utah's path to statehood, also legalized Native American slavery so the Saints could buy children who would otherwise be abandoned or killed. This slavery was more a form of indentured servitude, as it was not allowed to exceed twenty years. The owners were also obligated to demonstrate their qualifications to raise the children, provide three months of schooling every year for children aged seven to sixteen, clothe them as comfortably as financial circumstances allowed, and take responsibility for their behavior.
John R. Young wrote, "She was the saddest-looking piece of humanity I have ever seen. They had shingled her head with butcher knives and fire brands. All the fleshy parts of her body, legs, and arms had been hacked with knives, then fire brands had been stuck into the wounds. She was gaunt with hunger, and smeared from head to foot with blood and ashes. After being washed and clothed, she was given to President Young and became as one of his family. They named her Sally."
As a result of this pre-existing slave trade, the "Act in Relation to Service", which legalized African slavery on February 4, 1852 in the hope of easing Utah's path to statehood, also legalized Native American slavery so the Saints could buy children who would otherwise be abandoned or killed. This slavery was more a form of indentured servitude, as it was not allowed to exceed twenty years. The owners were also obligated to demonstrate their qualifications to raise the children, provide three months of schooling every year for children aged seven to sixteen, clothe them as comfortably as financial circumstances allowed, and take responsibility for their behavior.
Wakara
The Timpanogos chief Wakara was probably the most powerful Native American in Utah when the Saints arrived. He was known to them as Walker. Though suspicious of the new arrivals, he tried to maintain a pragmatic peace with them and went so far as being baptized into the Church in 1850. He was angered by Brigham Young's refusal to aid the Timpanogos in an retaliatory raid against the Shoshone. A few years later in 1853 he was angered again when a Timpanogos was killed and two wounded by Latter-day Saints in a trade dispute. The Saints refused to hand over the killers for justice, as they had insisted the Timpanogos do when the situation was reversed.
Wakara commenced a series of raids on Latter-day Saint communities that became known as the Walker War. The Utah Territorial Militia responded with superior numbers and weaponry, the settlers holed up in forts, and the Timpanogos quickly realized they had no hope of winning the conflict. Brigham Young gave Wakara's sick daughter a priesthood blessing and then negotiated a surrender that restored peaceful relations between the natives and settlers. On July 27, 1854, stake president Welcome Chapman directed the baptisms of 103 males and seventeen females of the Timpanogos tribe in the City Creek in Manti. Wakara may have also been baptized during this time following the now-abandoned practice of re-baptism.
On January 29, 1855, David Lewis wrote a letter to Brigham Young that was published in the February 8 Deseret News. "Dear Brother-
"I improve this the earliest opportunity to inform you of the death of Captain Walker, the Utah Chief after a sickness of 10 days; he died on the 29th inst ., at Meadow Creek about 6 miles from Fillmore. His complaint seemed to be a cold settled on his lungs.
"I arrived at Fillmore on the 28th inst ., I started the next morning for Walker’s lodge, and met the Utah’s coming with Walker, and supporting him on his horse. He held out his hand, and shook hands, and seemed very glad to see me. He asked me if Brigham talked good and if I was going with him to the Navijoes [sic]. I told him that Br. Brigham talked very good and perhaps I would go with him. I showed him the letter you sent to him, and I gave him all the articles you sent to him.He seemed greatly pleased with them and wanted me to come the next morning to Meadow Creek, and read the letter for him.
"On the next morning, before day, the Pauvans came running into the Fort, and said that Walker was dead, and the Utah’s were mad, that they had killed two Squaws, and two Piede children. Ka-no-she [Kanosh], the Pauvan Chief, sent us word to drive up all our horses, and cattle, and keep out of the canyons; that the Utahs intended to kill two Pauvans, and two Mormons and a great many cattle.
"About eighteen of our people went out in the morning, and found that the Utahs had killed two Squaws, Piede prisoners, (slaves) and two Piede children, and about twelve to fifteen of Walker’s best horses. The Pauvans had said twenty horses.
"They had buried Walker with the letter and articles you sent him.
"Yours as ever, in the Gospel of Christ,
David Lewis
"P.S. Walker’s last words to his people were, not to kill the Mormon cattle, nor steal from them. I was with him until he was struck with death. He was in his senses, and greatly desired to live. He possessed a good spirit and shook hands twice with me. As I was starting for the Fort, he pressed my hand and said, 'Come and see me again tomorrow, for I wish to have a long talk with you… [unreadable]'"
On August 4, 1857, Brigham Young wrote to Elder Jacob Hamblin, "You are hereby appointed to succeed Elder R. C. Allen (whom I have released) as president of the Santa Clara Indian Mission. I wish you to enter upon the duties of your office immediately.
"Continue the conciliatory policy towards the Indians which I have ever commended, and seek by works of righteousness, to obtain their love and confidence. Omit promises where you are not sure you can fill them; and seek to unite the hearts of the brethren of that mission, and let all under your direction be united together in the holy bonds of love and unity."
Wakara commenced a series of raids on Latter-day Saint communities that became known as the Walker War. The Utah Territorial Militia responded with superior numbers and weaponry, the settlers holed up in forts, and the Timpanogos quickly realized they had no hope of winning the conflict. Brigham Young gave Wakara's sick daughter a priesthood blessing and then negotiated a surrender that restored peaceful relations between the natives and settlers. On July 27, 1854, stake president Welcome Chapman directed the baptisms of 103 males and seventeen females of the Timpanogos tribe in the City Creek in Manti. Wakara may have also been baptized during this time following the now-abandoned practice of re-baptism.
On January 29, 1855, David Lewis wrote a letter to Brigham Young that was published in the February 8 Deseret News. "Dear Brother-
"I improve this the earliest opportunity to inform you of the death of Captain Walker, the Utah Chief after a sickness of 10 days; he died on the 29th inst ., at Meadow Creek about 6 miles from Fillmore. His complaint seemed to be a cold settled on his lungs.
"I arrived at Fillmore on the 28th inst ., I started the next morning for Walker’s lodge, and met the Utah’s coming with Walker, and supporting him on his horse. He held out his hand, and shook hands, and seemed very glad to see me. He asked me if Brigham talked good and if I was going with him to the Navijoes [sic]. I told him that Br. Brigham talked very good and perhaps I would go with him. I showed him the letter you sent to him, and I gave him all the articles you sent to him.He seemed greatly pleased with them and wanted me to come the next morning to Meadow Creek, and read the letter for him.
"On the next morning, before day, the Pauvans came running into the Fort, and said that Walker was dead, and the Utah’s were mad, that they had killed two Squaws, and two Piede children. Ka-no-she [Kanosh], the Pauvan Chief, sent us word to drive up all our horses, and cattle, and keep out of the canyons; that the Utahs intended to kill two Pauvans, and two Mormons and a great many cattle.
"About eighteen of our people went out in the morning, and found that the Utahs had killed two Squaws, Piede prisoners, (slaves) and two Piede children, and about twelve to fifteen of Walker’s best horses. The Pauvans had said twenty horses.
"They had buried Walker with the letter and articles you sent him.
"Yours as ever, in the Gospel of Christ,
David Lewis
"P.S. Walker’s last words to his people were, not to kill the Mormon cattle, nor steal from them. I was with him until he was struck with death. He was in his senses, and greatly desired to live. He possessed a good spirit and shook hands twice with me. As I was starting for the Fort, he pressed my hand and said, 'Come and see me again tomorrow, for I wish to have a long talk with you… [unreadable]'"
On August 4, 1857, Brigham Young wrote to Elder Jacob Hamblin, "You are hereby appointed to succeed Elder R. C. Allen (whom I have released) as president of the Santa Clara Indian Mission. I wish you to enter upon the duties of your office immediately.
"Continue the conciliatory policy towards the Indians which I have ever commended, and seek by works of righteousness, to obtain their love and confidence. Omit promises where you are not sure you can fill them; and seek to unite the hearts of the brethren of that mission, and let all under your direction be united together in the holy bonds of love and unity."
The Mountain Meadows Massacre
On September 7, 1857, several Southern Paiute Native Americans (though some historians believe they were in fact white men disguised as Native Americans) were incited by John D. Lee and other Latter-day Saints to attack the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train that was resting in Mountain Meadows en route from Arkansas to California. The Saints may have held a grudge against Arkansas because Apostle Parley P. Pratt had recently been assassinated there, but more significantly they were in a state of panic due to advancing federal troops and memories of the mob violence they had suffered years earlier. The Paiute attack resulted in a stalemate, with several killed on both sides, and the emigrants circled their wagons and dug into a rifle pit while the Paiutes sent out for reinforcements.
Local leaders in Cedar City had received word of the imminent Paiute attack and had dispatched a messenger, James H. Haslam, to Salt Lake City to ask Brigham Young what they should do about it. The attack commenced shortly after he left, and he arrived in Salt Lake three days later. Brigham Young gave him a letter reading in part: "In regard to the emigration trains passing through our settlements, we must not interfere with them until 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." Haslam did not return with the letter until September 13, two days after several Saints had massacred most of the emigrants under a flag of truce and an offer to help them get past the Native Americans. The Saints massacred the men themselves while the Paiutes under their direction killed the women and children.
Speaking at a memorial service one hundred fifty years later, Elder Henry B. Eyring said, "A separate expression of regret is owed to the Paiute people who have unjustly borne for too long the principal blame for what occurred during the massacre. Although the extent of their involvement is disputed, it is believed they would not have participated without the direction and stimulus provided by local Church leaders and members."
Local leaders in Cedar City had received word of the imminent Paiute attack and had dispatched a messenger, James H. Haslam, to Salt Lake City to ask Brigham Young what they should do about it. The attack commenced shortly after he left, and he arrived in Salt Lake three days later. Brigham Young gave him a letter reading in part: "In regard to the emigration trains passing through our settlements, we must not interfere with them until 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." Haslam did not return with the letter until September 13, two days after several Saints had massacred most of the emigrants under a flag of truce and an offer to help them get past the Native Americans. The Saints massacred the men themselves while the Paiutes under their direction killed the women and children.
Speaking at a memorial service one hundred fifty years later, Elder Henry B. Eyring said, "A separate expression of regret is owed to the Paiute people who have unjustly borne for too long the principal blame for what occurred during the massacre. Although the extent of their involvement is disputed, it is believed they would not have participated without the direction and stimulus provided by local Church leaders and members."
Mass Baptisms
Elder Spencer W. Kimball explained, "There was a period back in 1875-1876 when there were great numbers of Indians who came into the Church. There was Chief Poko-Tel-Lo [Pocatello] from the Snake River, who, with his entire band, was baptized into the Church, and they left Salt Lake City going back to their homes determined to refrain from all evil practices. The old chief said that the other Indians were interested, and there would be many who would be baptized. There were fifty from the north who came down. Chief Alma with twenty-two of his people from the Salmon River country came down and were baptized into the Church. The chief made the prediction that there would be hundreds and thousands of the Indians come into the Church. Orson Pratt baptized fifty-two and blessed nine papooses down at Mount Pleasant in June of that year. In July there were eighty-five of Kanosh's band who were baptized into the Church, and the following year there were forty-one men and thirty-nine women, Indians, baptized down at Kanab. It seems that there were a great many baptisms also up in the Malad country.
"I quote from the Deseret News of July 22 1875: 'Yesterday we met with Brother G. W. Hill, who has charge of a colony of several hundred Indians, mostly of the Shoshone, Bannock, and Pah Ute tribes. They are Indians who have come forward and demanded to be baptized. The location is in Malad Valley, Idaho Territory... They declare their intention to wander about no more, but to lead industrious lives, at peace with all their fellow creatures, refraining from stealing and from all manner of bad practices, and abide by the conditions of their baptism, which are that they shall cease every species of wrongdoing. Elder Hill has baptized about three hundred since last spring.' And then it was stated that these Indians had already shown their good faith. They were all blessing their food; they were having their family prayers; and they were attending their regular Sabbath meetings."
Next: The LDS Church and Native Americans Twentieth Century
Main Page: Latter-day Saint Racial History
"I quote from the Deseret News of July 22 1875: 'Yesterday we met with Brother G. W. Hill, who has charge of a colony of several hundred Indians, mostly of the Shoshone, Bannock, and Pah Ute tribes. They are Indians who have come forward and demanded to be baptized. The location is in Malad Valley, Idaho Territory... They declare their intention to wander about no more, but to lead industrious lives, at peace with all their fellow creatures, refraining from stealing and from all manner of bad practices, and abide by the conditions of their baptism, which are that they shall cease every species of wrongdoing. Elder Hill has baptized about three hundred since last spring.' And then it was stated that these Indians had already shown their good faith. They were all blessing their food; they were having their family prayers; and they were attending their regular Sabbath meetings."
Next: The LDS Church and Native Americans Twentieth Century
Main Page: Latter-day Saint Racial History