Utah’s Bloodiest Secret: Mormonism and the Black Hawk War [Mormonism Live 230]

Utah’s Bloodiest Secret: Mormonism and the Black Hawk War [Mormonism Live 230]

Author: Mormon Discussion Inc May 1, 2025 Duration: 2:32:38

This episode of Mormonism Live, we dive into a forgotten battlefield of Utah history — the Black Hawk War — a brutal and devastating conflict between Mormon settlers and Native American tribes that has been largely buried under pioneer myths and whitewashed storytelling. Far from a few isolated raids, the Black Hawk War (1865–1872) was Utah’s deadliest and most destructive conflict, costing hundreds of lives, displacing entire tribes, and forcing Mormon settlements to be abandoned across southern Utah. We’ll explore how this violent chapter unfolded, why the LDS Church worked so hard to minimize it, and the staggering story of Antonga Black Hawk — the baptized Ute leader who fought for his people’s survival and whose remains were later put on public display like a trophy. In this episode, we ask the uncomfortable questions: How did religious manifest destiny fuel the bloodshed? Why was this “war” covered up for so long? And what does reckoning with this history reveal about Mormonism’s legacy of colonization? Get ready — this is the real Mormon history they never taught you in Sunday School.


There's a conversation happening about the Latter-day Saint experience from a perspective you might not find in a Sunday school manual. Mormonism Live!-Radio Free Mormon, from Mormon Discussion Inc, operates like a weekly dispatch from within a complex faith tradition, examining its history, doctrines, and cultural impact with a critical yet often personal eye. Each episode feels like a deep dive into the topics that members and former members grapple with, from historical analysis to current events within the community. The hosts and their guests bring a blend of scholarly research and lived experience to the table, creating discussions that are as informative as they are provocative. Tuning into this podcast means hearing unfiltered dialogue about the realities and challenges of Mormonism, presented by those who know it intimately. It’s for anyone who wants to look beyond the surface, whether they are questioning, believing, or simply curious about one of the most distinctive American religious movements. The tone is direct and the content is unflinching, making it a unique voice in the spheres of religion and spirituality.
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