Charles William Penrose (4 February 1832 - 16 May 1925) was a professor of theology at Brigham Young Academy and the editor of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City. He was also a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and later a member of the First Presidency of the church until his death.In this talk that he later published he offers a defense of the Mormon religion and Brigham Young, President of the church, pinning the entire blame for the massacre at Mountain Meadows on John D. Lee and Isaac Haight.