Expert Says Letter Condemning Brigham Young is Forged - Christianity Today (2024)

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Todd Hertz

Human Rights Watch accuses Indian officials of role in Gujarat violence and other stories from online sources around the world

Examiner: Lee document is the work of jailed forger.A National Park Service volunteer cleaning out a fort on the Colorado River earlier this year found a rolled piece of lead with a shocking statement etched on it. The letter appeared to be written by John D. Lee, the lone person tried and executed for the 1857 massacre of 120 people in Utah. The letter said the killings were on the orders of Mormon leader Brigham Young.

This week a private forensics examiner announced the document is a fraud. Though examinations are not complete, William Flynn says the etching on the sheet does not match Lee’s handwriting, was made with a tool Lee could not have used, and may be the work of imprisoned forger Mark Hofmann.

Both of the experts hired by the park service to inspect the sheet, Flynn and George Throckmorton, manager of the Salt Lake City police crime lab, helped to convict Hofmann in 1986. Hofmann was found guilty of forging Mormon historical documents. When he was about to be exposed, he murdered two people in a bomb explosion.

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Gujarat officials accused in the death of hundreds of Muslims.Human Rights Watch has accused state officials of Gujarat, India of covering up their involvement in the Hindu-Muslim conflict that rocked the area in February.

“What happened in Gujarat was not a spontaneous uprising, it was a carefully orchestrated attack against Muslims,” said the group’s South Asia senior researcher, Smita Narula, in a press release. “The attacks were planned in advance and organized with extensive participation of the police and state government officials.”

A 75-page report written by Narula says police officials not only stood by while the violence occurred but also led charges, pointed out Muslims to attackers, and delivered victims into the hands of the mobs.

Charges of state involvement in the massacre have sent ripples through the country’s government. The ruling BJP government has survived votes of no confidence this week, but reports claim the partyis now divided. In an intense 16-hour censure debate yesterday, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee ruled for an aid package to go to victims and denied charges of being anti-Muslim. Said Vajpayee: “It is being said I am against Islam. I take that as a slur against my image.”

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Expert Says Letter Condemning Brigham Young is Forged - Christianity Today (2024)

FAQs

What are the accusations against Christianity? ›

The arguments against Christianity include the suppositions that it is a faith of violence, corruption, superstition, polytheism, homophobia, bigotry, pontification, abuses of women's rights and sectarianism.

What did Brigham Young say about the word of wisdom? ›

President Young said that “we are commanded to observe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,” including the Word of Wisdom. (See also D&C 89:2.) How has knowing that the Word of Wisdom is a commandment and not just good advice helped you to live according to its principles?

What is the most persecuted religion in the world? ›

Statistics. Statistics from Pew Research Center show that Christianity and Islam are persecuted in more countries around the world than other religions, and that Jews and Muslims are "most likely to live in countries where their groups experience harassment".

What were three accusations commonly brought against Christians? ›

In justifying this persecution, the Romans made all sorts of charges against the Christian community. We learn from the second-century Christian apologists Justin Martyr and Athenagoras that the three main accusations levied against Christians were atheism, incest, and cannibalism.

What religion did Brigham Young lead? ›

An early convert to Mormonism, Brigham Young succeeded founder Joseph Smith as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1847; he led the church until his death in 1877.

What was the most important problem Brigham Young was trying to solve? ›

He spent years trying to resolve conflicts between the Latter-day Saints and the United States government over the Saints' desire for political independence.

What did Brigham Young say when they got to Salt Lake? ›

Three days later, Brigham Young and the rest of his group came out of the mountains and looked down on the valley. When Brigham Young saw it, he knew it was the place where the Lord wanted the Saints to live. He said, “This is the right place. Drive on.” The Saints drove their wagons down into the valley.

What are the opposition against Christians? ›

Anti-Christian sentiment, also referred to as Christophobia or Christianophobia, constitutes the fear of, hatred of, discrimination, and/or prejudice against Christians, the Christian religion, and/or its practices.

What are the major conflicts of Christianity? ›

  • Crusades.
  • Witch hunts in Europe and the Americas (and protestants did no shortage of this so don't hide behind “Catholics aren't christians”, which is utter nonsense anyway)
  • Conquistadors.
  • Mistreatment of indegenous people of the Americas.
  • Inquisition.
May 10, 2022

What is the great controversy in Christianity? ›

This epic battle is sometimes referred to as the “Great Controversy,” the conflict between God and Satan. And all humanity is caught up in it due to our free will, and the fact we chose the “knowledge of good and evil” back in the Garden of Eden.

What are the controversial debates in Christianity? ›

What are Christians' thoughts on homosexual marriage? Are spiritual talents biblically sanctioned? Can Christians have alcohol? These are some of the issues that frequently spark passionate debate inside the church today.

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