"Don't bother us"
That's what the nice lady from the L.D.S. church P.R. department told the writer from the Salt Lake Tribune when he tried to talk to them about Captain Charles Brewer.
Who was Charles Brewer?
Captain Charles Brewer was a U.S. Army Surgeon stationed at Camp Floyd. He saved the life of Howard Orson Spencer (my third great grandfather) in March of 1859. Howard was the son of Orson Spencer, Brigham Young's confidant and first Chancellor of the University of Utah. Brewer saved Howard after he was nearly killed by Ralph Pike. You can read about the Pike-Spencer Affair for the full story.
Surveyor James Simpson's 1859 Survey of the Great Basin named a spring in Tooele County after Doctor Brewer, honoring his life-saving service. But it's not labeled on modern state maps.
Brewer Springs
At some point in history, the name of the spring was erased by the current property owner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The reasons why the name was changed make for an interesting story itself.
Current state policy requires the property owner's permission before the Board of Geographic Names committee can add a name or a physical I.D. can be placed on private land. The Church owns the spot where the spring bubbles to the surface.
After trying for six weeks to get an audience with a decision maker at the Church, I asked Brian Maffly, the Salt Lake Tribune's “Public Lands and Environment” reporter, if he could help me, at least to get a reason for the Church's rejection. Brian's quarter-page story appears on page A-4 of the Tribune's October 13, 2022, edition. If you don't have access to the Trib's archives, you can also read it here.
The reason the P.R. department spokesperson gave Brian for refusing to discuss Brewer Springs was that Dr. Brewer fought on the Confederate side in the Civil War, and--drum roll--he was the first to make public the Mormon Church's recurring 1857 nightmare, when he discovered and reported on the state of the remains of the bodies of the victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Then she added, "And please don't bother us." Strange thing for the Public Relations Department to say to their home state's leading newspaper and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.
You can read Brewer's report in the appendix at the end of this webpage.
What we're trying to do
This little webpage is a very transparent and sincere attempt to get the Church to change its position. I was at a dedication cermenoy in September, 1990, with Dr. Glen Leonard of the Church History Department (a neighbor and friend) and Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. President Hinckley dedicated the beautiful new monument at Mountain Meadows, and called for love, understanding, and acceptance of wrongs committed, and spoke on the principle of forgiveness. I wonder what has changed.
"Let the book of the past be closed. Let peace come into our hearts. Let friendship and love be extended. May the peace of heaven be felt over this hallowed ground is my prayer." --President Gordon B. Hinckley, speaking to about 1,000 people gathered in a remote corner of Utah.
We will be collecting signatures and/or endorsement from the following organizations:
THE PAIUTE INDIAN NATION
CORRINA BOW - PRESIDENT
cbow@utahpaiuts.org
JOHN D. LEE FAMILY ORGANIZATION
449 S. 300 E. ST. GEORGE, UT. 84770
WADE LI – PRESIDENT
www.johndleefamily.org
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS ASSOCIATION
TERRY FRANCHER – PRESIDENT
mountainmeadowsassoc@aol.com
est. 1989
MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MONUMENT FOUNDATION
PHIL BOLINGER – PRESIDENT
mmmfboard@gmail.com
RICHARD SADLER
EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF HISTORY
WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY
Author: HYRUM, ORSON and DANIEL SPENCER
rsadler@weber.edu
Email Duane Carling for additional information or to add your endorsement.
APPENDIX: Brewer's report
