[Fr_Chuck]

I have been reading about Utah Mormon Wars in 1857 to 1858. It appears that the US government invaded Utah, that was governed by the Mormon Church, In the War the US government took all of the assets of the church and forced them to change their religious teachings on plural marriage.

Why is so little mentioned about this, how does our government justify using military force against a religious group, and attack and take over of an area and removed their legally appointed leader.

And how and when could something like this happen again, When we start speaking out against things that are politically correct, when will the government be our doors.

[450donn]

So, instead you would like the federal government to look the other way, AKA Jim Jones, Rashnishies, Waco until it is so late in the game that a lot of people die?

[Athos]

Those events are available to anyone who takes the time and trouble to read US history.

At the time, the Mormons were seen as a group trying to establish a separate government within the already established jurisdiction of the United States.

The US simply couldn't allow that. The polygamy issue served to make the anti-Mormon movement very popular among the rest of the US.

[cdad]

What you have to remember about history is that it is always written by the victor. That's why they call it HIStory.

At the times the mormans had completed a recent journey from being ousted and had found a place to settle. To those that had a grudge at the time that didn't settle well. Also because of their "radical" belief system there were a lot that looked upon them as heritics. A cancer to chistians. So as has been typical of most govenments in history there was an attempt to shut them down.

[NeedKarma]

...It appears that the US government invaded Utah, that was governed by the Mormon Church,

...And how and when could something like this happen again, When we start speaking out against things that are politically correct, when will the government be our doors.

So you support theocracy in the US?

[Fr_Chuck]

But they formed their own government, and their leader was officially appointed by the US President. It was not part of the US, did not have statehood, nor was it asking for statehood.

But we allow other nations to be ruled by their religious leaders , do we invade any nation that has a theocracy ?

I just wonder when will they be at the door of the Catholic Church for not allowing women priests, or at the door of the local Baptist Church for not allowing women or homosexual ministers.

[RickJ]

Chuck this sort of thing (unfortunately) happened a lot in our history back then.

Greed and Zealousness trumped Faith in many areas. We cannot be proud, or in any way justify many things that happened in the 19th century.

"Native American" Indians were booted off their lands.
Catholics were made outlaws in many territories and colonies.
Protestants were likewise made "criminals".
Non-Christians were, in many areas, also treated as "brutes", "heathens", "witches", etc.

And sadly many lost their lives over their beliefs.

Yes, it could certainly happen again. We can only hope, pray and vote: that the USA continues to be a nation that
a) allows freedom of religion and expression, and
b) does not allow Zeal or Greed to get in the way of justice.

[NeedKarma]

Greenie for you Rick.

[Fr_Chuck]

And of course the Anglicans who were forced to give up their faith at the founding of our nation. Even as we wrote on paper that people were to have religious freedom, we denied it to people at the same time.

We are studying Utah with my son, and we try to make it interesting, this thread was to show him different people view on this