Hatch was a graduate student at Utah State University in 1999 when he completed his thesis dealing with the subject of this book. His interest was motivated in part by family connections (the Hatch name is well known in Mormondom), but largely by his fascination with the whole idea of Mormonism and Mormon history.

The thesis was first published in 2003 under the title Mormons in the Southern States: A Century of Religious Bigotry, Murder and Civil Mayhem, 1831-1923 -- quite a mouthful. It now appears in a revised and enlarged format under the present name.

Chapter 1 is titled "Understanding the Southern Mind." In it he surveys southern sensitivities, mores and customs, and how the Southern people interacted with, and received, the Mormon missionaries. It forms the foundation for what follows.

Chapter 2, "An Overview of Mormon Persecution and Reciprocal Retaliation, 1833-1923," summarizes the content of the rest of the book, giving the reader a bird's eye view of Mormon civil relations in the South during the years given. Hatch marks the 1833 date as important:

Throughout earlier ordeals of personal, often brutal attacks against Smith and his followers, both in Ohio and Missouri, the prophet had always admonished his Saints "to turn the other cheek," and to "bear it patiently." However, after November 1, 1833, when armed Missouri mobs destroyed the Church's grist mill in Independence and attacked the Saints' homes there, Smith ordered his followers, by revelation, (D. & C. 98:29-37) to fight back." (p. 7)

Hatch sees this as a turning point in the Church's interaction with Southern society, one that will be marked by the shedding of much blood throughout the next ninety years.

Chapter 3, "Beginnings of Southern Resistance: The Missouri Period, 1833-1839," takes us through this volatile period, including the Haun's Mill Massacre, the voting effort at Gallatin, etc. It's a fast-paced, exciting chapter. Rather than a detailed accounting, is offers a quick survey of the various incidents.

This brings us to Chapter 4, "The Parley P. Pratt Affair: A Murder in Arkansas." The chapter title explains the content. His marriage to Eleanor J. McLean is seen as the proximate cause of his murder. As with the account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre in the next chapter, the Pratt story receives a fairly detailed treatment.

Chapter 5 offers what seems to be the author's main interest, the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Hatch's telling of the story is terse and brutal. Later, in his summation, he makes no bones about his conclusions with regard to Brigham Young and his complicity in the Massacre:

The Mormon Church has always denied that Brigham Young was involved in the massacre. My research has proved otherwise. Brigham Young was totally involved in the planning and implementation of the massacre; however, Young's plans went astray, that is, the Indians proved unreliable, being unable to follow through with their instructions from Young. Thus, the Indians fell back upon their local Mormon agents to come to their assistance. The Mormons reluctantly did so, but only because their leadership knew that it was Young's plan. It is preposterous to entertain that any high priesthood holder would give orders to kill 120, or more, human beings on their own authority regardless of cause unless those leaders knew beforehand that the prophet, or perhaps through his agent, the apostle, George Albert Smith, had so commanded. Brigham Young had to live with this for the remainder of his life; thus, he was surely obligated to cover up and protect those who were only carrying out his orders. In the end, though, Young turned on his adopted son, John D. Lee, turning Lee over to his enemies like a lamb to the sacrifice. For Young, the Church was saved and that was far greater than a single life, even one's own son.

The question warrants an answer: "Why did the prophet, Brigham Young, instruct the native tribes to attack and massacre the Fancher/Baker train?" My research will point out that the Iron County Militia was led to believe that these Arkansans were, in large part, actually "Missourians" bent on destroying the whole of Mormondom. The prophet knew that the Fancher/Baker wagon train was fat, rich, and ripe for the picking. His greed was all too obvious. Gold, provisions, cattle and all other such booty were needed by the people to aid the perpetual immigration fund. Who better to furnish such amenities than their old enemies? Further, these Arkansas pioneers were believed to be the murderers of their beloved apostle, Parley P. Pratt; therefore, justifiably so, "vengeance is mine, saith the Lord!" (p. 163-4)

Quite a series of statements, wouldn't you say? The author speaks with certainty, leaving no room for other interpretations. Future publications will no doubt reach different conclusions. (in his acknowledgements section, he bemoans the fact that Will Bagley's book, Blood of the Prophets, was not yet available as a source for his research. He nonetheless reaches the same general conclusions as does Bagley.)

Chapter 6, "Effects of the Massacre on Missionary Activities in the Southern States," is a brief introduction to the rest of the text of the book, a series of case studies of individuals whose lives were lost in missionary service in the South, from Joseph Standing in 1879 to John Dempsey in 1900.

Nearly half the book is occupied by appendices, footnotes and an extensive index. The appendices constitute several documents and copies of letters that have relevance to the subject.

The author presents his topic in terse, spare prose, and with much conviction. Sadly, the entire work is marred by poor editing and clumsy sentence structure. Problems with omitted words, improperly punctuated subordinate clauses, etc., make the reading of this book a bit of a chore. The subject is sufficiently interesting, however, to keep the reader motivated to persevere. Readers of these reviews will recognize my complaint -- please, if you're going to write a book, get thee to an editor!

When Push Came to Shove is an interesting read. Historians won't find much of anything new here, but there is much to offer the rest of us in its study and explication of a volatile period in Mormon history.

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Jeff Needle
August 6, 2005