Is anyone watching American Primeval?

He married 56 women and coupled with religion that sounds a bit cult to me. I haven’t watched it yet but I plan to.

Where are you watching this? It sounds interesting!

Being from Utah, I do, of course, know of this, although what I was taught in Utah History classes growing up has since been deemed as inaccurate.

I watched the first couple of episodes a few days ago. The fictionalized version they showed is actually, IMO, toned down quite a bit.

The reality is that the siege went on for multiple days and the Mormon militia members were the main protagonists, but had their faces painted to make it seem like it was only Native Americans attacking. They eventually went in under a white flag as “mediators” and persuaded the wagon party to surrender and turn over their weapons, promising they’d be safe.

Once they had surrendered their weapons, they slaughtered everyone. The only ones spared were kids under the age of 6, who were then handed out to local Mormon families to be raised.

Any valuable belongings of the deceased wagon train members (livestock, jewelry, etc) was also auctioned off and/or handed out to Mormons.

Incidentally, it happened on 9/11. The leader of the militia, John Lee, was (IIRC) the only one ever prosecuted for this, and he was sentenced to death by a firing squad. Mike Lee, one of the current Utah senators (and a total rightwing douchebag), is his great-great-grandson.

We watched it but had no idea of its accuracy.

I had no idea what an awful man he was.

Steve Young and Orson Card (author of Ender’s Game) are the only two I know of off the top of my head, and I wouldn’t call them “in positions of power,” but I’m sure there are a ton! Especially since there have to be so many freaking descendants by now, and they wouldn’t all have the last name Young.

And yes, you’re right about a biased history. The hard thing here in Utah is that it translates into the schools, so it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned the truth of a lot of what I was taught as “facts” as a kid.

It’s also difficult for me to separate what I learned in school versus church, but as part of our Utah History classes we definitely learned about the Mormon migration, which included their time living in Illinois and Missouri and the conflicts there.

For example, the church’s stance is that Joseph Smith was a martyr, killed by an angry mob. I learned in school that he ordered a printing press destroyed for “printing lies,” which is what led to his arrest, but it never went into what was printed (that he was a polygamist, which the church now admits is true) or that some of their party had guns and it was actually a gunfight. They also don’t mention that they were drinking alcohol and playing cards the night he died, because that goes against current church teachings.

I actually haven’t talked with anyone locally that has watched it, and if people here do watch it, I suspect they are more likely to be exmo like me. Active Mormons are counseled to avoid watching movies or tv shows that have violence, sex, etc., and this was definitely very violent. (My MIL, for example, has never watched anything with a stronger rating than PG in her life and is very proud of that, but most just avoid R or TV-MA.)

They would also likely avoid it because it seems to be “antimormon,” which is a common phrase for anything that isn’t church-approved or directly from the church. None of my active family members watched Under The Banner of Heaven, but my exmo family and friends all really liked it. 😜

It’s a weird place to be in. Culturally I am Mormon, and that will never go away. It’s hard to get past the conditioning I was raised with, especially when so many of my family members are still active and I have to try to be respectful of their beliefs. But… it’s crazy. 😬

it soo good and thought provoking. what a brutal life for all that were involved. will /would we be able to endure the hardships...I doubt it. Humans are so violent.

I may check it out. I could use a new series.

I didn't realize you were raised LDS.

I am a Utah raised mormon, now Ex-Mo as well. My great great (great?) grandfather came over with Brigham Young so the indoctrination was deep in my family. I didn't know anything about the militia until I was leaving the church and reading everything I could get my hands upon. Up until then, we were always taught the LDS members were never the problem and they were always attacked. It was quite a wake up call for me when I started researching the "truth". 

She is a hot mess. I'm not done yet but I hope we get to see her get to the outpost. I get the feeling she isn't going to be welcomed by the boys dad. 

I do like Abish.