Mormonism Unveiled

Mormonism Unveiled; or The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee (Written by Himself) is a book by John D. Lee, first published in 1877, just after the author's execution for his complicity in the Mountain Meadows massacre. It was dictated to, and edited by, Lee's attorney, William W. Bishop.[1]

Not to be confused with the 1834 book Mormonism Unvailed [sic] by Eber D. Howe.
Mormonism Unveiled
First edition
EditorWilliam W. Bishop
AuthorJohn D. Lee
Original titleMormonism Unveiled; or The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee (Written by Himself)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectLDS Church, Brigham Young, Mountain Meadows massacre
PublisherBryan, Brand & Company (St. Louis)
Publication date
1877
ISBN0826327885

The book was composed between Lee's second trial (with its subsequent conviction) and his execution. It includes Lee's autobiography up until 1847, his confession to Bishop, the transcript of the 1876 trial, an account of Lee's death by firing squad, and a biographical sketch of Brigham Young. Lee portrays himself as a true believer who was set up as a scapegoat by Young and other church leaders.

Some details have been brought into question, if they were not Lee's words, but rather inserted by the editor.[2]

The book was out of print for almost a century.[3]

References
  1. Clampitt, John Wesley (1888). Echoes from the Rocky Mountains. Chicago: National Book Concern. p. 388. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  2. Walker, Ronald W.; Turley, Richard E.; Leonard, Glen M. (9 February 2011). Massacre at Mountain Meadows. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0199747563. there is speculation that Lee’s lead attorney and editor, William W. Bishop, added Macfarlane’s name to Lee’s original manuscript because of a personal dislike for him.
  3. Dinges, Bruce J. (Summer 2002). "Book Notes". The Journal of Arizona History. 43 (2): 202. JSTOR 41696712.
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