September Dawn

[joeaverage]

Powerful performances by well-knowns and newcomers propel the story of this horrible, tragic event. The damage that results when religious delusion meets blind obedience is starkly laid out on the screen, under the tight direction of Christopher Cain. This is a movie that doesn't end in the theater, and invites further personal investigation. Telling a story many don't want told is a courageous undertaking, particularly with the solid writing and effective location ambiance in this movie. 4 stars out of 5.

[DonaldMark54]

It is difficult to believe, even by today’s standards, that a Hollywood movie could have so little regard for the truth. This movie is filled with half truths, misrepresentations, and out and out lies about the true facts of how the Mormons acted in September 1857.

The real truth about this story starts not in Utah, but in Missouri. The reason they were afraid is because of the many attaches that Mormons had suffered in Missouri. The U.S. Governor of Missouri, Governor Boggs had ordered an extermination of all Mormons.

This fear continued in Utah. A main by the name of Issac Haight who was yes a Militia leader, a Mormon Church leader, and the Mayor of Cedar City went to a Church Council in Cedar City Utah on September 9th 1857 and made his case for attacking the Oklahoma travelers going through the territory. The Council after hearing his plan were stunned and told him to do nothing until they received word from Brigham Young himself. The Council sent a rider to Salt Lake City with a letter asking what they should do.

However, Issac Haight believing that he was in the right went ahead and made the attach before hearing back from Brigham Young. Unfortunately, his letter did not arrive until September 13, 1857 two days too late. This is what Brigham Young said in the letter. Dated: September 10, 1857

“In regard to 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. There are no other trains going south that I know of. If 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

Yes, this was a terrible tragedy, but NO Brigham Young had nothing to do with it. The movie didn’t even mention or even try to explain the letter, they just went ahead and demonized him. This is not history, this probably more about a certain presidential candidate coming up in November.

[elaina]

Unable to view this movie because it is not being shown in Utah where I live. We moved here for the hiking and skiing and did not realize that the Mormons controlled what played in our movie theatres. Is it known that this movie is not playing at a single theatre in So. Utah. I did drive out to the actual site of the massacre and was moved by the beauty of the place and could not imagine such a horrible thing happening there.

[WestHistoryBuff]

It is difficult to believe, even by today’s standards, that a Hollywood movie could have so little regard for the truth. This movie is filled with half truths, misrepresentations, and out and out lies about the true facts of how the Mormons acted in September 1857.

The real truth about this story starts not in Utah, but in Missouri. The reason they were afraid is because of the many attaches that Mormons had suffered in Missouri. The U.S. Governor of Missouri, Governor Boggs had ordered an extermination of all Mormons.

This fear continued in Utah. A main by the name of Issac Haight who was yes a Militia leader, a Mormon Church leader, and the Mayor of Cedar City went to a Church Council in Cedar City Utah on September 9th 1857 and made his case for attacking the Oklahoma travelers going through the territory. The Council after hearing his plan were stunned and told him to do nothing until they received word from Brigham Young himself. The Council sent a rider to Salt Lake City with a letter asking what they should do.

However, Issac Haight believing that he was in the right went ahead and made the attach before hearing back from Brigham Young. Unfortunately, his letter did not arrive until September 13, 1857 two days too late. This is what Brigham Young said in the letter. Dated: September 10, 1857

“In regard to 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. There are no other trains going south that I know of. If 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

Yes, this was a terrible tragedy, but NO Brigham Young had nothing to do with it. The movie didn’t even mention or even try to explain the letter, they just went ahead and demonized him. This is not history, this probably more about a certain presidential candidate coming up in November.

Quite the traditional defensive LDS historical position refutted by the published and peer-reviewed historians. There are no Missouri-based excuses for either description of the massacre. There is more evidence that the act was as much booty motivated as it was misguided revenge. As one of the noted historians, said, "There was literally nothing that went on in the Utah territory in 1857 that Brigham Young didn't know about." There were severe consequences for any assumed delegation.