Why do these discussions always have to turn into polemic diatribes full of half-truths, distortions and - sometimes - flat-out fabrications? I wrote my thesis at Harvard on Manifest Destiny, with an emphasis on religious ideology and the Mormons. I also began my professional career as a History teacher. I have read just about everything written on most events from the 18th Century related to Mormonism, and the following is some of what I learned - and what is backed by every credible, non-biased (on both sides) historian of whom I am aware.

1) I will never defend what happened at Mountain Meadows Massacre, but almost every non-biased historian who looks closely at the evidence agrees that it was an isolated
incident perpetrated by otherwise law-abiding citizens who were terrified of being killed and driven from their homes once again. It was inexcusable - simply heinous and horrific, but it was an aberration - and it does not appear to have been condoned by the leadership in Salt Lake City.

2) Dark Angels killing those who left the faith? Not a shred of credibility - at any time.

3) Fundamentalists running around the desert . . . Polygamists haven't been associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mitt Romney's church) for over a hundred years. His great-grandfather was a polygamist - and many Americans' ancestors were slave owners. We and they have left those practices behind; bringing them up in regard to Romney is selective bias at its worst.

I get so tired of these tired arguments. Yes, we have some peculiar beliefs, but so do others of every Christian denomination and other religion. We're ordinary people, trying to find a way to live extraordinary lives by becoming more like He whom we worship as Lord and God and Savior and Redeemer - just like every other dedicated Christian in the world and, in essence, just like every other dedicated religionist in the world. If you want to judge us by what our ancestors were, please consider their successes and good attributes - not just their failings - and do the same for your own ancestors.