According to Black Diamond Pictures Mormon Apology Supports Motion Picture September Dawn’s Account

According to Black Diamond Pictures, an apology issued by the Mormon Church on September 11, 2007—to coincide with the 150-year anniversary of the massacre of an Arkansas wagon train in Utah by local Mormons—supports the incident’s depiction in controversial Black Diamond Pictures release September Dawn, starring Jon Voight and Terence Stamp. The film, which is playing in select theaters nationwide, will be released to video in early 2008. September Dawn garnered both acclaim and criticism for its portrayal of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, in which 120 men, women, and children were killed in cold blood by local Mormons, who pinned blame on the Paiute Indians. The Mormon Church continues to deny the involvement of church leader Brigham Young, while the film depicts him as being complicit.

During the memorial, Lora Tom, Chairwoman of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Southern Utah—in reference to the Paiute’s reluctance to speak up, until now, due to fear of Mormon reprisal—said, ''That was a time not to confront this story, but now is the time… People have got to understand the cover up. For most of the one-hundred-and-fifty years, no one asked us our account and we remained silent… We all need each other to work through this story.”

“September Dawn was instrumental in renewing interest in the massacre,” says Patty Norris, President of the Mountain Meadows Massacre Descendants. “Having researched the event myself through historical records and family oral histories, I can support the account presented in the film. The negative responses of critics and the Mormon Church to the film overlook well-documented facts. The descendants are indebted to the filmmakers for helping to bring national attention to this incident.”

Director Chris Cain, whose previous films include Young Guns and Pure Country, comments, “We feel the Paiute Indians have been vindicated in light of the apology issued by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We hope that, moving forward, the groundwork is laid for reconciliation—and recognition of the dangers of religious extremism in any form.”

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