General Custer and the Mormons

General George A. Custer

General George A. Custer was the youngest General in the Union army at the time of the Civil War. He fought at the first Bull Run and also at Gettysburg. His claim to fame was his fatal error in attacking the Sioux in South Dakota, not realizing of course that he was grossly outnumbered. We all know the end result. However, he was once asked why the Mormons were successful at living in close proximity to the Lamanites. What was his answer?

a.      “Mormons, Indians . . . what’s the difference?”

b.      “If you read the Gold Bible, you know the Mormons love the natives.”

c.       “If the Mormons fed me the way they do the Indians, I’d like them too.”

d.      “They [Mormons] buy, and are slow to extend their boundaries.”

Yesterday’s answer:

a.      Vincent Price

In 1959 Vincent Price spoke at BYU. Among other things he stated:

“I feel very at home in Utah for I have been here many times. I had the great pleasure a few years ago . . . of playing the part of Joseph Smith in the great motion picture, Brigham Young. I had a marvelous correspondence during those years with the late President Heber J. Grant, so believe me, I have the most profound admiration for this state and the wonderful people of this Church.”

Price, Vincent. “The Enjoyment of Great Art,” address given on 30 November 1959, in BYU Miscellaneous Speeches, 1959, Provo, UT: BYU Extension Publishers, 1959, 2.