Editorial: Let the Dead Be
To: James E. Shelledy
Editor
Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City UT
Dear Mr. Shelledy:
After reading a series of articles in the Salt Lake Tribune by
Christopher Smith I feel my ancestors are once again under siege
and their
grievous deaths are being exploited.
142 years ago my Great Grandfather, John T. "Capt.
Jack"
Baker, along
with many other relatives, was murdered at Mountain Meadows. I
ask for no
sympathy. I seek no vengeance. I want no "official"
apology. I
need no
reparation for lost goods or wrongful death. I do not want to
know every
bloody, gruesome detail of how my family died for it is much too
painful to
contemplate. I do not want to be embroiled in the fundamental
virtues and
shortcomings of the Mormon religion. Weather or not the "truth"
concerning
the Massacre is ever revealed to everyone's satisfaction, or
how history is
taught in Utah is immaterial to me. I do not want our beloved
dead to be
forever embroiled in perpetual controversy. Our families have
suffered
enough.
The only thing I want is to be able to honor our dead,
protect their
graves and allow them to rest undisturbed forevermore.
When President Hinckley proposed to rebuild the old cairn,
which was
beginning to slide down a gully, and make it a fit burial site
for our
ancestors I urged the Mountain Meadows Association to accept his
generous
offer. I voted on a design and watched eagerly as the ground was
carefully
searched for remains and hundreds of volunteers cleared the site,
cleaned the
rocks, built roads, re-laid the stones and worked tirelessly to
make
everything ready for the dedication September 11, 1999.
When skeletal remains were accidentally uncovered I felt they
should have
been re-buried immediately. After all, everyone knew these were
victims from
the wagon train, not Native Americans. I still cringe at the
thought of my
ancestors having to endure yet another indignity - having their
remains
examined by strangers like prized dinosaurs. The direct
descendants of the
victims depended upon Ron Loving to do whatever he could to
rectify this
intolerable situation as discretely and quickly as possible. We
did not want
to see this private family matter sensationalized or distorted in
the press.
Alas, it was.
At the last possible moment the families were notified that
we would be
able to re-enter the remains and hold a memorial service for them
on
September 10, 1999, as planned. Those who have lost loved ones
can surely
understand our need to lay our dead to rest in a dignified,
respectful
Christian ceremony. That is all we wanted.
After 142 years we were finally able to hold the family
funeral service
the victims had never had. It would start the healing process
and help
bring closure. I can't help but believe the remains were
uncovered for this
purpose by a God who knows our every need. I thank all of you
who helped
make that day possible, who encircled us in your loving arms to
cry and
grieve with us. Your comfort was immeasurable.
Our precious dead now rest on soil brought from their native
Arkansas. I
beg you to respect our wishes and allow them to rest in peace.
Mary Baker Ledbetter,
Fort Smith, Arkansas
