In about 1927 a small group of John D.Lee descendants met with President Heber J. Grant while the mormon prophet was visiting Arizona. They complained about the treatment of Lee in Apostle Joseph Fielding Smiths' "Essentials in Church History", a textbook used in LDS church schools. Heber J. Grant aknowledged he had authorized Smiths book but admitted that he had never read it and promised it would no longer be used as a text in church schools.
He then told a chilling story about the massacre. Grant said that Joseph F. Smith told him had he not been in Hawaii at the time of the massacre but in southern Utah, Smith "Would have no doubt been in the midst of the fray."
Grant added, "I would have been in it too, or I hope I would."
He advised, "This affair should never be mentioned."
(statement of Anton Lee in Brimhalls book Gleanings Concerning John D. Lee, 2)
I wonder if he really meant what he said, or if he was just schmoozing the Lee family? You know, let loose a little bit of a conspiratorial air so as to win their trust, and make them believe he had their interests at heart.
Personally I would not doubt that he said it, but I wonder why he said it- was he really that vile, or was he just a manipulative liar?