John Doyle Lee
September 6, 1812 – March 23, 1877
I’ve studied countless stories of early Mormons in my lifetime. I’ve spent time listening to stories of gone-by eras from my own relatives and read diaries and history books of others. While each story is significant, there are a few that have stuck with me over the years and I would imagine the life of John Doyle Lee will be added to that list.
A sense of ominous doom and spiritual oppression, I feel, is the best way to describe this man’s life. His legacy is unparalleled in the annals of Mormon history and if ever there was a fit definition of blind faith, this man’s life should be the poster child for that.
No matter what the Church told him to do or how high to jump, Mr. Lee would ask how high. Giving up rich farm land with prosperous cattle ranches he moved his family to the almost God forsaken territory of southern Utah to appease his master, Brigham Young. When that wasn’t good enough he moved yet again and financed half of a wood mill project.
He became the lone scapegoat for the Mountain Meadows Massacre and was unceremoniously ex-communicated for his participation under the direction of Brigham Young. And even after all that he obeyed orders from Brigham to move to an even more desolate portion of Utah to fund and operate a ferry system for the Colorado River known as Lee’s Ferry.
His behavior reminds me of a battered woman who just keeps going back for more even though she knows her life is in danger. The tragic part of this is how his actions testified to his numerous family members this false gospel was from God.
Lee was married to 19 women although many divorced him. The majority of the sites we retrieved info from repeat the same message that he fathered 52 kids, but we find when you add correctly the number tops 64.
If the Massacre wasn’t bad enough, his outlandish behavior of marrying so many wives rivals what happened at America’s first 9-11. He married the children of his converts in Tennessee and Kentucky; he married sets of sisters and their mother, the cousins of other wives in addition to the fact that many of his wives were very, very young. And when I say young I mean 12 to 14 year old little girls. Not surprisingly, the Church and its members make excuses for his behavior or outright lie by saying he never had conjugal visits with them.
What always amazes me (and I don’t know why) is how the Church publishes information on all these people with no shame. They make searching for the whole story like a scavenger hunt by not reporting clear information on everyone, but they also don’t hide anyone’s background either. It reminds me of when someone tries to lie – they’re only going to give you a little bit of info and if you want more then it’s your responsibility to drag it out of them.
You can read a short bio on him in our ongoing series Polygamy and Mormon Church Leaders here.
This makes me sick. How can anyone from that organization not be screaming from the roof tops like you are? Thank you for your tireless witnessing.
You’re welcome and thanks for your kind words. 🙂 Thankfully we don’t understand it because Jesus has renewed us and we’re blessed by seeing many who keep writing in or calling to tell us they’re leaving as well. Thank You Jesus!!!
“It reminds me of when someone tries to lie – they’re only going to give you a little bit of info and if you want more then it’s your responsibility to drag it out of them.”
INDEED!!!!!! Absolutely the definition of the LDS!!!
But when a person starts asking questions from their Bishops etc., they are told to get out and leave the church. Members have to pick through all that history and the are shocked.
Very, very sad.
Unfortunately the bishops are either blinded as well or they’re not being honest w/ the members. I’ve known a few former bishops (Lee Baker for example) who were totally sold out to the Church and haven’t a clue but eventually that changed. It’s up to them to heed the Lord’s voice or ignore Him.
Thankfully the Lord is merciful and provides for those who obey Him. It’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but He is faithful! Lee’s story is a beautiful example of that!