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My Journey to Understand ... Black Hawk’s Mission of Peace
The Timpanogos were first discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Revera in 1765, and later Dominguez and Escalante in 1776. They describe in their journals having met “the bearded ones” who spoke Shoshone.
Some seventy thousand Timpanogos Indians – the aboriginal people of Utah – died from violence, starvation, and disease after Mormon colonists stole their land and destroyed their culture over a twenty-one-year timeframe, but few people know anything about them, who they are, or what they believed in.
Timpanogos leader Black Hawk witnessed the worst kind of man’s inhumanity to man, and himself dying from a gunshot wound traveled a hundred and eighty miles on horseback to make peace with the white man, and apologizes for the pain and suffering he caused them, asking them to do the same and end the bloodshed.
This is not a book that is just about the Black Hawk War, but a boy who became his nations leader believing that love can overcome hate. Hypocritical morality. One who respected himself and appreciated others because we are all human. He understood the natural order that all inhabitants of Mother Earth are connected. He loved unconditionally, and forgave unconditionally, that being born human makes you superior to nothing. He knew that true freedom meant being in harmony with his fellow man and all that our Creator gave us. He fought to protect the sacred, his people, and human equality.
Phillip B Gottfredson, who has spent decades living among First Nations people seeking to understand Native American culture, provides a detailed synopsis of the Black Hawk War of Utah that decimated the Timpanogos Nation from 1849 and 1873.
His account brings a much-needed perspective to a war that has historically been examined from the one-sided perspective of the Mormons. In collaboration with tribal leaders, he shares the Timpanogos version of the story, writing from the vantage point of the native peoples of Utah – a reference point that has been deliberately ignored.
Join the author as he shares his extraordinary spiritual journey into the Native America culture. and highlights a war that has been overlooked and misunderstood for far too long.
Some seventy thousand Timpanogos Indians – the aboriginal people of Utah – died from violence, starvation, and disease after Mormon colonists stole their land and destroyed their culture over a twenty-one-year timeframe, but few people know anything about them, who they are, or what they believed in.
Timpanogos leader Black Hawk witnessed the worst kind of man’s inhumanity to man, and himself dying from a gunshot wound traveled a hundred and eighty miles on horseback to make peace with the white man, and apologizes for the pain and suffering he caused them, asking them to do the same and end the bloodshed.
This is not a book that is just about the Black Hawk War, but a boy who became his nations leader believing that love can overcome hate. Hypocritical morality. One who respected himself and appreciated others because we are all human. He understood the natural order that all inhabitants of Mother Earth are connected. He loved unconditionally, and forgave unconditionally, that being born human makes you superior to nothing. He knew that true freedom meant being in harmony with his fellow man and all that our Creator gave us. He fought to protect the sacred, his people, and human equality.
Phillip B Gottfredson, who has spent decades living among First Nations people seeking to understand Native American culture, provides a detailed synopsis of the Black Hawk War of Utah that decimated the Timpanogos Nation from 1849 and 1873.
His account brings a much-needed perspective to a war that has historically been examined from the one-sided perspective of the Mormons. In collaboration with tribal leaders, he shares the Timpanogos version of the story, writing from the vantage point of the native peoples of Utah – a reference point that has been deliberately ignored.
Join the author as he shares his extraordinary spiritual journey into the Native America culture. and highlights a war that has been overlooked and misunderstood for far too long.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2020
9 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Phillip B Gottfredson
1 book2 followersThe Timpanogos were first discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Revera in 1765 and later by Dominguez and Escalante in 1776. They describe in their journals having met “the bearded ones” who spoke Shoshone.
Some seventy thousand Timpanogos Indians – the aboriginal people of Utah – died from violence, starvation, and disease after Mormon colonists stole their land and destroyed their culture over a twenty-one-year timeframe. Still, few people know anything about them, who they are, or what they believe in.
Timpanogos leader Black Hawk witnessed the worst kind of man’s inhumanity to man, and himself dying from a gunshot wound traveled a hundred and eighty miles on horseback to make peace with the white man and apologize for the pain and suffering he caused them, asking them to do the same and end the bloodshed. Phillip B Gottfredson, who has spent decades living among First Nations people seeking to understand Native American culture, provides a detailed synopsis of the Black Hawk War of Utah that decimated the Timpanogos Nation between 1849 and 1873.
His account brings a much-needed perspective to a war that has historically been examined from the one-sided perspective of the Mormons. In collaboration with tribal leaders, he shares the Timpanogos version of the story, writing from the vantage point of the native peoples of Utah – a reference point that has been deliberately ignored.
Join the author as he shares his extraordinary spiritual journey.
*Published by Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster
Some seventy thousand Timpanogos Indians – the aboriginal people of Utah – died from violence, starvation, and disease after Mormon colonists stole their land and destroyed their culture over a twenty-one-year timeframe. Still, few people know anything about them, who they are, or what they believe in.
Timpanogos leader Black Hawk witnessed the worst kind of man’s inhumanity to man, and himself dying from a gunshot wound traveled a hundred and eighty miles on horseback to make peace with the white man and apologize for the pain and suffering he caused them, asking them to do the same and end the bloodshed. Phillip B Gottfredson, who has spent decades living among First Nations people seeking to understand Native American culture, provides a detailed synopsis of the Black Hawk War of Utah that decimated the Timpanogos Nation between 1849 and 1873.
His account brings a much-needed perspective to a war that has historically been examined from the one-sided perspective of the Mormons. In collaboration with tribal leaders, he shares the Timpanogos version of the story, writing from the vantage point of the native peoples of Utah – a reference point that has been deliberately ignored.
Join the author as he shares his extraordinary spiritual journey.
*Published by Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 11, 2025
A co-worker leant me his signed copy of Phillip Gottfredson’s ‘My Journey to Understand … Black Hawk’s Mission of Peace. This book is a non-fiction, personal journey of the author and his 20+ years learning about Native Americans, living with and experiencing their culture, spirituality, ceremonies, and learning of their struggles living amongst the white man. Phillip’s recollection of his journey is filled with empathy, love, and true curiosity of those indigenous to America.
His focus is trying to bring to the forefront in America’s history the true story of Black Hawk & the Timpanogos people. He speaks on how the Mormons (Bingham Young) who settled in Utah took away the land, freedoms, food, water, and oil from these people. They slaughtered innocent women, children and elderly people to try and scare the Timoanogos people into leaving their, which was really the Timoanogos’, land or to forget their culture and join the Mormon church & speak English. Black Hawk was among one of the children they kidnapped and made him live a Mormon life until he could escape back to his people. He tried for peace but it lead to fighting. The Native Americans of Utah still live in fear to this day.
My favorite passage from the book is:
“It isn’t about the war. It isn’t about religion. It isn’t about owning land and having material wealth. It’s not about power. In the end, it’s about the human condition. There is no such thing as races. Race is a white man’s invention to create divisions and separations, the building of walls and fences to segregate us from one another, to have power over each other. There is but one race, the human race. It’s about humanity, human equality, aboriginal rights, and a sovereign people. It’s about one world, one prayer, and one heart. “
I will say the message in the book is very good but the writing, regarding the history, especially in the beginning of the book, was super confusing. I respect the author’s story but it the book didn’t flow very well.
His focus is trying to bring to the forefront in America’s history the true story of Black Hawk & the Timpanogos people. He speaks on how the Mormons (Bingham Young) who settled in Utah took away the land, freedoms, food, water, and oil from these people. They slaughtered innocent women, children and elderly people to try and scare the Timoanogos people into leaving their, which was really the Timoanogos’, land or to forget their culture and join the Mormon church & speak English. Black Hawk was among one of the children they kidnapped and made him live a Mormon life until he could escape back to his people. He tried for peace but it lead to fighting. The Native Americans of Utah still live in fear to this day.
My favorite passage from the book is:
“It isn’t about the war. It isn’t about religion. It isn’t about owning land and having material wealth. It’s not about power. In the end, it’s about the human condition. There is no such thing as races. Race is a white man’s invention to create divisions and separations, the building of walls and fences to segregate us from one another, to have power over each other. There is but one race, the human race. It’s about humanity, human equality, aboriginal rights, and a sovereign people. It’s about one world, one prayer, and one heart. “
I will say the message in the book is very good but the writing, regarding the history, especially in the beginning of the book, was super confusing. I respect the author’s story but it the book didn’t flow very well.
February 15, 2020
Amazing Book!!
This book was truly inspired! It was powerful, filled with emotions,truths and love. I appreciated the care the author took to give us the reader of the beauty of the Native American people. Thank you Phillip Gottfredson
For writing this compilation of history and your inspired moments. This truly touched my soul.
This book was truly inspired! It was powerful, filled with emotions,truths and love. I appreciated the care the author took to give us the reader of the beauty of the Native American people. Thank you Phillip Gottfredson
For writing this compilation of history and your inspired moments. This truly touched my soul.
September 22, 2025
I ordered this book after visiting the author's website to learn more about the Black Hawk War.
I was expecting more of a scholarly historical narrative about the Timpanogos, the conflicts with the early Mormon pioneers and settlers, and the "Black Hawk War" itself.
Unfortunately the website turned out to be more helpful and informative than the book. The book is a bit more of a memoir, and it seems to be written in confusing circles, making it difficult to follow timelines both in the author's personal life as well as in the history he is so eager to share.
I appreciate the author's heart for bringing this tragic history out into the light. Having grown up in Utah, I had no idea about these atrocities until recently, and have discovered my own ancestors were involved to some degree or another, so I am interested to learn more, seek to make amends, and heal generational trauma.
I was expecting more of a scholarly historical narrative about the Timpanogos, the conflicts with the early Mormon pioneers and settlers, and the "Black Hawk War" itself.
Unfortunately the website turned out to be more helpful and informative than the book. The book is a bit more of a memoir, and it seems to be written in confusing circles, making it difficult to follow timelines both in the author's personal life as well as in the history he is so eager to share.
I appreciate the author's heart for bringing this tragic history out into the light. Having grown up in Utah, I had no idea about these atrocities until recently, and have discovered my own ancestors were involved to some degree or another, so I am interested to learn more, seek to make amends, and heal generational trauma.
May 19, 2021
This is a book of a good person and coming to his self-realization of the Native Way. It has great information on Utah history that i was never taught in all my life living in Utah. This is meant to be read by European people whose culture has white washed the indigenous people and way of life.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews