| 171 If the conviction and consequent punishment of John D. Lee for murder, should justly work the downfall of all phases of "Mormonism," because all have the principles of error, wrong, and crime in them, we shall say, amen. But if it shall be made to appear, as we believe that it will be, that the principles of "Mormonism" so-called, as taught by Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and their compeers, in their lifetime, are in no wise responsible for the outgrowth manifested in the massacre for which John D. Lee was executed, it will be one more link forged in the chain of the law of compensation to which we look for the righting of things now wrong. Many things transpiring of late confirm our trust in the ultimate lifting of the cloud of ignominy under which the truth has so long been hid.
Our duty, as to those to whom has been committed the "true riches," is to remain steadfast in the truth which we have received. For one we do not fear what may be beyond the confession of John D. Lee.
At eleven o'clock in the forenoon on the 23d of March, at the scene of the Mountain Meadow Massacre, two hundred ninety miles from Salt Lake City, John D. Lee was shot, five bullets piercing his heart, for his participation in that terrible deed of twenty years ago, whereby about one hundred twenty men, women, and children suffered death. Before his execution he declared that he had not designed to do wrong in that affair, but that, contrary to his feelings, he acted in the scene of crime under his superiors, and by his allegiance to the church of Brigham Young. His last words are significant and show his recognition of the contrast between the teachings of Joseph Smith and those of B. Young. He said: "I do not believe everything that is now taught and practiced by Brigham Young. . . . I believe that he is leading the people astray. But I do believe in the gospel as taught in its purity by Joseph Smith in former days. I used to make this man's [B. Y.'s] will my pleasure, and did so for thirty years, but see what I have come to this day. I have been sacrificed in a cowardly, dastardly manner. But there are thousands of people in the church, who are honorable and good hearted, whom I treasure in my heart."
His written confession charges Brigham Young, George A. Smith (now dead), William H. Dame, Isaac C. Haight, J. M. Higby, Philip K. Smith, and many others with being the planners, aiders, and abettors of that bloody deed, and claiming that he stood out against the council which convened the day of the massacre, and just before the emigrants were decoyed out with a false flag of truce to their deaths, but that, through fear for his own life, and in blind submission to the teachings of those in charge, he gave up his opposition. He said that it was stated by Colonel Dame, Lieutenant-colonel Haight, and Major Higby, that by order of the president (Brigham Young) none of the emigrants "who could talk" were to be spared. They taught also that the words of their leaders to them "were as the will of God," and that they had "no right to question," but must obey "as commanded."-The Saints' Herald, vol. 24, pp. 120, 121.
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