The 1856 handcart tragedy remains a defining, painful moment in Latter-day Saint history, and the question of “who is responsible?” has echoed for generations. We often settle for simple answers or familiar myths. However, a recent interview at the Latter-day Saint history blog, From the Desk, with Don H. Smith and Mark C. Austin, authors of Bring Them to Zion, challenges these easy narratives. Their analysis argues that the disaster cannot be blamed on any single individual. Instead, the...
