September Dawn 2007

In 1857, as a wagon train departing from Arkansas and a fervent group of Mormons approached Cedar City, Utah, they were destined for a tragic encounter that would change lives forever. Amidst this tension, two young souls found themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. The moment Jonathan Samuelson laid his eyes on the captivating Emily Hudson, he felt an instant connection. Likewise, Emily was enchanted by Jonathan, a kindhearted young Mormon with a remarkable affinity for horses.

However, their blossoming romance faced insurmountable obstacles, primarily due to Jonathan’s father, Jacob Samuelson, who believed the Gentile settlers posed a threat to their community. Driven by fear, Jacob instructed Jonathan to infiltrate the settlers and sought counsel from the church elders. His paranoia escalated when he claimed to receive divine confirmation of his worst fears, compelling him to send a horrifying directive to John D. Lee, the adopted son of Brigham Young, instructing him to annihilate everyone in the wagon train, sparing only the youngest.

In a desperate bid to avert this impending massacre, Jonathan turned against his church’s teachings. He attempted to warn both the settlers and their leader, Captain Fancher, of the looming danger. Unfortunately, he was thwarted by his father’s imprisonment, helplessly watching as his younger brother, Micha, was swept up in the fanaticism and bloodshed that ensued.

Finally breaking free from his restraints, Jonathan sprinted towards the site of the unfolding horror, only to be met by an unimaginable scene filled with grief and despair. Haunted by his love for Emily, Jonathan was forced into a heart-rending decision—would he choose love, even in the face of such death, or succumb to the fate that loomed over them all?