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Mormon public relations have evolved with respect to the Mountain Meadows massacre since it occurred on September 11, 1857. After a period of official public silence concerning the massacre, and denials of any Mormon involvement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) took action in 1872 to excommunicate some of the participants for their role in the massacre. Since then, the LDS Church has consistently condemned the massacre, though acknowledging involvement by some local Mormon leaders. Beginning in the late mid-to-late-20th century, the LDS Church has made efforts to reconcile with the descendants of John D. Lee, who was executed for his role in the massacre (reinstating him posthumously to full fellowship in the church), as well as with the descendants of the slain Baker–Fancher party. The church erected a monument at the massacre site in 1999, and has opened many of its previously-confidential archival records about the massacre to scholars. ==LDS position in the 1800s== The first semi-official public statement by a church official concerning the massacre was by George Q. Cannon, then president of the LDS California Mission. In the October 13, 1857 edition of Cannon's San Francisco newspaper ''The Western Standard'', Cannon responded to initial news reports of involvement by Mormons by charging the responsible journalists with writing "reckless and malignant slanders", despite knowing that the southern Utah Mormons were "as innocent of (massacre ) as the child unborn".〔(Uncle Dale's Old Mormon Articles: California 1857-1859 ) from Uncle Dale's Old Mormon Articles Gateway〕 The church's official newspaper in Salt Lake City, ''The Deseret News'', was initially slow to comment on the massacre, and remained largely silent until 1869, when it again denied involvement by Mormons.〔 ("Our silence upon this subject is frequently construed as an evidence of the inability of the people of this Territory to defend themselves against the cruel charges which have been made against them in connection with the tragedy. It is almost a pity to break this silence now.").〕 In the 1870s, Brigham Young excommunicated John D. Lee and Isaac C. Haight for their roles in the massacre.〔Brooks, Juantia The Mountain Meadows Massacre〕 In 1877, soon after Lee was executed for the massacre, Young was interviewed by a reporter, and told him that he considered Lee's fate just. He denied personal involvement, and denied that the doctrine of blood atonement played a role in the massacre, but stated that he believed in the doctrine, "and I believe that Lee has not half atoned for his great crime."〔.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mountain Meadows massacre and Mormon public relations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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