ANSWERS: 10
  • No, this is NOT TRUE. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/5988 However, Some people believe in capital punishment others dont.
  • YES! Blood Atonement Preached and Enforced The doctrine of blood atonement was taught by Joseph, as indicated by Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. (10th prophet): "Just a word or two now, on the subject of blood atonement. What is that doctrine? Unadulterated, if you please, laying aside the pernicious insinuations and lying charges that have so often been made, it is simply this: Through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Salvation is twofold: General -- that which comes to all men irrespective of a belief (in this life) in Christ -- and, Individual -- that which man merits through his own acts through life and by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. "But man may commit certain grievous sins -- according to his light and knowledge -- that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone -- so far as in his power lies -- for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail. "Do you believe this doctrine? If not, then I do say you do not believe in the true doctrine of the atonement of Christ. This is the doctrine you are pleased to call the "blood atonement of Brighamism." This is the doctrine of Christ our Redeemer, who died for us. This is the doctrine of Joseph Smith, and I accept it." (McConkie, Bruce R., ed. Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, pp. 133 - 135, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1955) Brigham Young clearly explained the doctrine of blood atonement in a sermon given on September 21, 1856: "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. "I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them… "And further more, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further; "I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit.... There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, or a calf, or of turtle dove, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man." (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 53-54); also published in Deseret News, 1856, p. 235) On another occasion Brigham Young made this chilling statement regarding a person's obligation to spill the blood of those who committed serious sins: "Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved…and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, 'shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?' "All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers and sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? That is what Jesus Christ meant… "I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance…if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the Devil…I have known a great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them… "This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the earth in order that he may be saved, spill it…if you have sinned a sin requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind." (Sermon by Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, February 8, 1857; printed in the Deseret News, February 18, 1857; also reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 219-220) Consider the case spoken of by John D. Lee, who was sealed to Brigham Young and was a member of Brigham's secret Council of Fifty: "The most deadly sin among the people was adultery, and many men were killed in Utah for the crime. "Rasmos Anderson was a Danish man who came to Utah…He had married a widow lady somewhat older than himself…At one of the meetings during the reformation Anderson and his step-daughter confessed that they had committed adultery…they were rebaptized and received into full membership. They were then placed under covenant that if they again committed adultery, Anderson should suffer death. Soon after this a charge was laid against Anderson before the Council, accusing him of adultery with his step-daughter. This Council was composed of Klingensmith and his two counselors; it was the Bishop's Council. Without giving Anderson any chance to defend himself or make a statement, the Council voted that Anderson must die for violating his covenants. Klingensmith went to Anderson and notified him that the orders were that he must die by having his throat cut, so that the running of his blood would atone for his sins. Anderson, being a firm believer in the doctrines and teachings of the Mormon Church, made no objections... His wife was ordered to prepare a suit of clean clothing, in which to have her husband buried... she being directed to tell those who should inquire after her husband that he had gone to California. "Klingensmith, James Haslem, Daniel McFarland and John M. Higbee dug a grave in the field near Cedar City, and that night, about 12 o'clock, went to Anderson's house and ordered him to make ready to obey Council. Anderson got up... and without a word of remonstrance accompanied those that he believed were carrying out the will of the "Almighty God." They went to the place where the grave was prepared; Anderson knelt upon the side of the grave and prayed. Klingensmith and his company then cut Anderson's throat from ear to ear and held him so that his blood ran into the grave. "As soon as he was dead they dressed him in his clean clothes, threw him into the grave and buried him. They then carried his bloody clothing back to his family, and gave them to his wife to wash…She obeyed their orders…Anderson was killed just before the Mountain Meadows massacre. The killing of Anderson was then considered a religious duty and a just act. It was justified by all the people, for they were bound by the same covenants, and the least word of objection to thus treating the man who had broken his covenant would have brought the same fate upon the person who was so foolish as to raise his voice against any act committed by order of the Church authorities." (Confessions of John D. Lee, Photo-reprint of 1877 edition, pp. 282-283) In the same book John D. Lee made this startling statement: "I knew of many men being killed in Nauvoo…and I know of many a man who was quietly put out of the way by the orders of Joseph and his Apostles while the Church was there." (Ibid., p. 284) Lee revealed another cruel practice which took place both in Nauvoo, Illinois, and in early Utah: "In Utah it has been the custom with the Priesthood to make eunuchs of such men as were obnoxious to the leaders. This was done for a double purpose: first, it gave a perfect revenge, and next, it left the poor victim a living example to others of the dangers of disobeying counsel and not living as ordered by the Priesthood. "In Nauvoo it was the orders from Joseph Smith and his apostles to beat, wound and castrate all Gentiles that the police could take in the act of entering or leaving a Mormon household under circumstances that led to the belief that they had been there for immoral purposes…In Utah it was the favorite revenge of old, worn-out members of the Priesthood, who wanted young women sealed to them, and found that the girl preferred some handsome young man. The old priests generally got the girls, and many a young man was unsexed for refusing to give up his sweetheart at the request of an old and failing, but still sensual apostle or member of the Priesthood. As an illustration…Warren Snow was Bishop of the Church at Manti, San Pete County, Utah. He had several wives, but there was a fair, buxom young woman in the town that Snow wanted for a wife…She thanked him for the honor offered, but told him she was then engaged to a young man, a member of the Church, and consequently could not marry the old priest…He told her it was the will of God that she should marry him, and she must do so; that the young man could be got rid of, sent on a mission or dealt with in some way…that, in fact, a promise made to the young man was not binding, when she was informed that it was contrary to the wishes of the authorities. "The girl continued obstinate…the authorities called on the young man and directed him to give up the young woman. This he steadfastly refused to do…He remained true to his intended, and said he would die before he would surrender his intended wife to the embraces of another…The young man was ordered to go on a mission to some distant locality…But the mission was refused… "It was then determined that the rebellious young man must be forced by harsh treatment to respect the advice and orders of the Priesthood. His fate was left to Bishop Snow for his decision. He decided that the young man should be castrated; Snow saying, 'When that is done, he will not be liable to want the girl badly, and she will listen to reason when she knows that her lover is no longer a man.' "It was then decided to call a meeting of the people who lived true to counsel, which was held in the school-house in Manti…The young man was there, and was again requested, ordered and threatened, to get him to surrender the young woman to Snow, but true to his plighted troth, he refused to consent to give up the girl. The lights were then put out. An attack was made on the young man. He was severely beaten, and then tied with his back down on a bench, when Bishop Snow took a bowie-knife, and performed the operation in a most brutal manner, and then took the portion severed from his victim and hung it up in the school-house on a nail, so that it could be seen by all who visited the house afterwards. "The party then left the young man weltering in his blood, and in a lifeless condition. During the night he succeeded in releasing himself from his confinement, and dragged himself to some hay-stacks, where he lay until the next day, when he was discovered by his friends. The young man regained his health, but has been an idiot or quite lunatic ever since… "After this outrage old Bishop Snow took occasion to getup a meeting…When all had assembled, the old man talked to the people about their duty to the Church, and their duty to obey counsel, and the dangers of refusal, and then publicly called attention to the mangled parts of the young man, that had been severed from his person, and stated that the deed had been done to teach the people that the counsel of the Priesthood must be obeyed. To make a long story short, I will say, the young woman was soon after forced into being sealed to Bishop Snow. "Brigham Young... did nothing against Snow. He left him in charge as Bishop at Manti, and ordered the matter to be hushed up." (Ibid., pp. 284-286) D. Michael Quinn found documented evidence showing that President Young supported Bishop Warren S. Snow's cruel mistreatment of the young man: "In the midsummer of 1857 Brigham Young also expressed approval for an LDS bishop who had castrated a man. In May 1857 Bishop Warren S. Snow's counselor wrote that twenty-four-year-old Thomas Lewis 'has now gone crazy' after being castrated by Bishop Snow for an undisclosed sex crime. When informed of Snow's action, Young said: 'I feel to sustain him...' In July Brigham Young wrote a reassuring letter to the bishop about this castration: 'Just let the matter drop, and say no more about it,' the LDS president advised, 'and it will soon die away among the people.' "(The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Vol. 2, pp. 250-251) On November 30, 1871, T. B. H. Stenhouse received a letter by an individual who was present at a meeting in Provo, Utah. The letter indicated that Bishop Blackburn was also strongly pushing for the emasculation of men who were disobedient to their leaders: "'Dear Stenhouse: I Have read carefully the accompanying statement about the "Reformation."…If you want to travel wider and show the effect in the country of the inflammatory speeches delivered in Salt Lake City at that time, you can mention the Potter and Parrish murders at Springville, the barbarous castration of a young man in San Pete, and, to cap the climax, the Mountain-Meadows massacre…Threats of personal violence or death were common in the settlements against all who dared to speak against the priesthood, or in any way protest against this "reign of terror." "'I was at a Sunday meeting in the spring of 1857, in Provo, when the news of the San Pete castration was referred to by the presiding bishop-Blackburn. Some men in Provo had rebelled against authority in some trivial matter, and Blackburn shouted in his Sunday meeting-a mixed congregation of all ages and both sexes-"I want the people of Provo to understand that the boys in Provo can use the knife as well as the boys in San Pete. Boys, get your knives ready, there is work for you! We must not be behind San Pete in good works." The result of this was that two citizens, named Hooper and Beauvere, both having families at Provo, left the following night…Their only offence was rebellion against the priesthood. "'This man, Blackburn, was continued in office at least a year after this… "'The qualifications for a bishop were a blind submission and obedience to Brigham and the authorities, and a firm unrelented government of his subjects." (The Rocky Mountain Saints, by T. B. H. Stenhouse, 1873, pp. 301-302) This is an important letter because it throws additional light upon Brigham Young's knowledge regarding emasculation in early Utah. According to Wilford Woodruff's journal, not long after Warren S. Snow's cowardly attack on Thomas Lewis, President Young discussed the matter of castration being used to save people: "I then went into the president office & spent the evening. Bishop Blackburn was present. The subject Came up of some persons leaving Provo who had Apostatized. Some thought that Bishop Blackburn & President Snow was to blame. Brother Joseph Young presented the thing to presidet Young. But When the Circumstances were told Presidet Brigham Young sustained the Brethren who presided at Provo… "The subjects of Eunuchs came up…Brigham Said the day would Come when thousands would be made Eunochs in order for them to be saved in the kingdom of God." (Wilford Woodruff's Diary, June 2, 1857, Vol. 5, pp. 54-55) In a public discourse President Young acknowledged that the church had use for some very mean devils who resided in early Utah: "And if the Gentiles wish to see a few tricks, we have 'Mormons' that can perform them. We have the meanest devils on the earth in our midst, and we intend to keep them, for we have use for them; and if the Devil does not look sharp, we will cheat him out of them at the last, for they will reform and go to heaven with us." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, p. 176) Orrin Porter Rockwell was certainly one of Brigham Young's "meanest devils." Rockwell, who had served as a bodyguard for Joseph Smith, did not hesitate to shed blood…Bill Hickman was another ruthless man who killed many people. In his book Brigham's Destroying Angel, Hickman confessed that he had committed murders for the church. In 1858, an extremely grotesque double murder was committed. Henry Jones and his mother were both put to death. These murders were obviously the direct result of Brigham Young's doctrine of "blood atonement." Two months before Henry Jones was actually murdered, he was viciously attacked. Hosea Stout, a very dedicated Mormon defender, wrote the following regarding the first attack on Jones: "Saturday 27 Feb 1858. This evening several persons disguised as Indians entered Henry Jones' house and dragged him out of bed with a whore and castrated him by a square & close amputation." (On the Mormon Frontier; The Diary of Hosea Stout, Vol. 2, p. 653) One would think that this would have ended the vendetta against Jones. Unfortunately, this was not the case. On April 19, 1859, the newspaper Valley Tan printed an affidavit by Nathaniel Case which contained a statement implicating a bishop and other Mormons who lived in Payson: "Nathaniel Case being sworn, says: that he has resided in the Territory of Utah since the year 1850; lived with Bishop Hancock (Charles Hancock) in the town of Payson, at the time Henry Jones and his mother were murdered…The night prior to the murder a secret council meeting was held in the upper room of Bishop Hancock's house; saw Charles Hancock, George W. Hancock, Daniel Rawson, James Bracken, George Patten and Price Nelson go into that meeting that night…About 8 o'clock in the evening of the murder the company gathered at Bishop Hancock's…They said they were going to guard a corral where Henry Jones was going to come that night and steal horses; they had guns. "I had a good mini rifle and Bishop Hancock wanted to borrow it; I refused to lend it to him. The above persons all went away together…Next morning I heard that Henry Jones and his mother had been killed. I wnet [sic] down to the dug-out where they lived…The old woman was laying on the ground in the dugout on a little straw, in the clothes in which she was killed. She had a bullet hole through her head… In about 15 or 20 minutes Henry Jones was brought there and laid by her side; they then threw some old bed clothes over them and an old feather bed and then pulled the dug-out on top of them… "The next Sunday after the murder, in a church meeting in Payson, Charles Hancock, the bishop, said, as to the killing of Jones and his mother he cared nothing about it, and it would have been done in daylight if circumstances would have permitted it.-This was said from the stand; there were 150 or 200 persons present. He gave no reason for killing them. And further saith not. Nathaniel Case. "Sworn to and signed before me this 9th day of April, 1859. John Cradlebaugh, Judge 2nd Judicial District." Those who murdered Henry Jones and his mother may have remembered Brigham Young's sermon, which was delivered just two years prior to these murders: "Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God. I would at once do so in such a case; under such circumstances. I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247) In his book, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Dr. Quinn presented compelling evidence showing that "blood atonement" was endorsed by church leaders and actually practiced by the Mormon people. Quinn gave the names of a number of violent men who served as "enforcers" for Brigham Young. In addition Quinn wrote: "During this period Brigham Young and other Mormon leaders also repeatedly preached about specific sins for which it was necessary to shed the blood of men and women. Blood-atonement sins included adultery, apostasy, 'covenant breaking,' counterfeiting, 'many men who left this Church,' murder, not being 'heartily on the Lord's side,' profaning 'the name of the Lord,' sexual intercourse between a 'white' person and an African-American, stealing, and telling lies… "Some LDS historians have claimed that blood-atonement sermons were simply Brigham Young's use of 'rhetorical devices designed to frighten wayward individuals into conformity with Latter-day Saint principles' and to bluff anti-Mormons. Writers often describe these sermons as limited to the religious enthusiasm and frenzy of the Utah Reformation up to 1857. The first problem with such explanations is that official LDS sources show that as early as 1843 Joseph Smith and his counselor Sidney Rigdon advocated decapitation or throat-cutting as punishment for various crimes and sins. "Moreover, a decade before Utah's reformation, Brigham Young's private instructions show that he fully expected his trusted associates to kill various persons for violating religious obligations. The LDS church's official history still quotes Young's words to 'the brethren' in February 1846: 'I should be perfectly willing to see thieves have their throats cut.' The following December he instructed bishops, 'when a man is found to be a thief, he will be a thief no longer, cut his throat, & thro' him in the River,' and Young did not instruct them to ask his permission. A week later the church president explained to a Winter Quarters meeting that cutting off the heads of repeated sinners 'is the law of God & it shall be executed...' A rephrase of Young's words later appeared in Hosea Stout's reference to a specific sinner, 'to cut him off-behind the ears-according to the law of God in such cases.'… "When informed that a black Mormon in Massachusetts had married a white woman, Brigham Young told the apostles in December 1847 that he would have both of them killed 'if they were far away from the Gentiles.'"(The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Vol. 2, pp. 246-247) The following are some extracts from Quinn's book: "In September 1857 Apostle George A. Smith told a Salt Lake City congregation that Mormons at Parowan in southern Utah 'wish that their enemies might come and give them a chance to fight and take vengeance for the cruelties that had been inflicted upon us in the States.' Smith had just returned from southern Utah where he had encouraged such feelings by preaching fiery sermons about resisting the U.S. army and taking vengeance on anti-Mormons. Just days before his talk in Salt Lake City, members of Parowan's Mormon militia participated in killing 120 men, women, and children in the Mountain Meadows Massacre… "Although most accounts claimed that the militia killed only the adult males and let their Indian allies kill the women and children, perpetrator Nephi Johnson later told an LDS apostle that 'white men did most of the killing.' Perpetrator George W. Adair also told another apostle that 'John Higbee gave the order to kill the women and children,' and Adair 'saw the women's and children's throats cut.'… "As late as 1868 the Deseret News encouraged rank-and-file Mormons to kill anyone who engaged in sexual relations outside marriage… "Under such circumstances the Mormon hierarchy bore full responsibility for the violent acts of zealous Mormon[s] who accepted their instructions literally and carried out various forms of blood atonement. 'Obviously there were those who could not easily make a distinction between rhetoric and reality,' a BYU religion professor has written…It is unrealistic to assume that faithful Mormons all declined to act on such repeated instructions in pioneer Utah…Neither is it reasonable to assume that the known cases of blood atonement even approximated the total number that occurred in the first twenty years after Mormon settlement in Utah…LDS leaders publicly and privately encouraged Mormons to consider it their religious right to kill antagonistic outsiders, common criminals, LDS apostates, and even faithful Mormons who committed sins 'worthy of death.'" (The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Vol. 2, pp. 251-53, 56-57, 60) References Blood Atonement in the Mormon Church Mormon Blood Atonement: Fact or Fantasy? Apologist Response According to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, blood atonement was never official church doctrine nor was it sanctioned by the church: "Several early Church leaders, most notably, Brigham Young, taught that in a complete theocracy the Lord would require the voluntary shedding of a murderer's blood--presumably by capital punishment--as part of the process of atonement for such grievous sin. This was referred to as 'blood atonement.' Since such a theocracy has not been operative in modern times, the practical effect of the idea was its use as a rhetorical device to heighten the awareness of Latter-day Saints of the seriousness of murder and other major sins. This view is not a doctrine of the Church and has not been practiced by the Church at any time. "Early anti-Mormon writers charged that under Brigham Young the Church practiced 'blood atonement,' by which they meant Church-instigated violence directed at dissenters, enemies, and strangers. This claim distorted the whole idea of blood atonement--which was based on voluntary submission by an offender--into a supposed justification of involuntary punishment. Occasional isolated acts of violence that occurred in areas where Latter-day Saints lived were typical of that period in the history of the American West, but they were not instances of Church-sanctioned blood atonement." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 1, p. 131) References Blood Atonement
  • Mormons have NEVER practiced blood atonement, beyond the atoning blood of Christ. Refer to Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie pgs 92-93. On page 93 it says: "The doctrine can only be practiced in it's fulness in a day when the civil and ecclesiastical laws are administered in the same hands. It was, for instance, practiced in the days of Moses, but it was not and could not be practiced in this dispensation, except that persons who understood its provisions could and did use their influence to get a form of capital punishment written into the laws of the various states of the union so that the blood of murderers could be shed." Too often I see a scan of page 92 being spread around, and they claim it says one thing, but if you read it through to the end you see that those mormon bashers are being deceptive, and it says the opposite of what they try to claim.
  • by Anonymous1 on Jul 6, 2007 at 4:57 pm Permalink Avatar Here is some history for you, your own history, I didn't make this up and it's not propaganda. It's from your church. Read it, it's saying that Christ Blood is not good enough for us.....Mormon Doctrine 1966 by Brue R. McConkie. if someone joins the church because of this, then they are not christians. Is there any historical evidence that supports the Book of Mormon?: by John Pacella : Picture 1 Comments Afterlife Jul, 11 2007 at 03:52 PM You are guilty of deception, which is the same as bearing false witness, which is a sin. It's against one of the ten commandments, in fact. I have that very book open before me, and I have the page you cut off. Yes, it looks bad, taken out of context the way you did. But that's just it, you took it out of context by excluding the latter half of the document. Afterlife Jul, 11 2007 at 03:58 PM Copied from page 93 of Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R McConkie, the part that changes the meaning entirely of what you were implying at: This doctrine can only be practiced in its fullness in a day when the civil and ecclesiastical laws are administered in the same hands. It was, for instance, practiced in the days of Moses, but it was not and could not be practiced in this dispensation, except that persons who understood its provisions could and did use their influence to get a form of capital punishment written into the laws of the various states of the union so that the blood of murderers could be shed. Afterlife Jul, 11 2007 at 04:04 PM [Edit] Now that I found this post of yours again and answered your blunt lies, I have flagged this post as offensive. Deceiving is the same as bearing false witness, I repeat, and I call you unto repentance, and suggest that you live your own life and leave Mormons alone. Your only recourse against us if to state bold-face lies, which will in no way ingratiate you to Our God. The image he uploaded. As you can see from my response to this know-nothing, this is attacked quite often in the same manner, citing this page, taken so unbelievably far out of context it's shameful. At least the lies the guy here is spreading aren't so obvious, it was downright shameful.
  • The year 1857 was not a very good year for the Latter-day Saints. Even though they had just celebrated the tenth anniversary of their arrival into Utah, there were still fears that the government would interfere in their affairs. Misunderstandings and hard feelings on both sides continued to prevail as they had when the Mormons lived in the east. Mormonism had become a political pariah in the election of 1856. In order to make sure that the Democratic Party had no positive connections whatsoever with the LDS Church, newly elected President James Buchanan decided to replace Utah Governor Brigham Young with Alfred Cumming. To ensure that Young's replacement would be accepted, Buchanan also dispatched a large military contingency. Apparently Buchanan's big mistake was in not officially notifying Young of the change or of the approaching army. Given past circumstances, it is difficult to fault the LDS people with the mistaken notion that trouble was again about to take place. Brigham Young declared martial law and ordered the Nauvoo Legion to prepare for what was called the "big fight." In a classic case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, a wagon train of around 140 emigrants from Arkansas chose to go through Utah on their way to California. Their hopes of buying needed supplies from the Mormons were rejected, but their refusal is somewhat understandable since the Mormons were expecting a siege from federal troops. Supplies would be at a premium for their own survival if such a siege became a reality. The Fancher/Baker party turned south towards Cedar City and camped at a well-known resting-place called the Mountain Meadows. Here, they could feed their animals prior to crossing the desert on the way to California. Exacerbating suspicions were rumors that some of the party had expressed joy in the thought of the coming army possibly annihilating the Mormons. Adding fuel to the fire was talk that some of the party had actually participated in the killing of Joseph Smith, including one of them who supposedly had a gun used in their prophet's death. Statements such as these must be accepted with a great deal of caution given the fact that just about everything we know about the massacre comes from the perpetrators of the crime. Circumstances, either real or imagined, led local Mormons to concoct a plan to eliminate the emigrants by involving local Paiute Indians, no doubt hoping that they would receive the blame. On the morning of September 7th, Indians attacked the camp. Wagons were drawn into a circle and a standoff that would last five days ensued. According to the Comprehensive History of the Church (CHC), "two men left their camp in the Meadows, evaded the watchfulness of the Indians and were making their way to Cedar for help." Along the way, "they met three white men to whom they told their errand, but were immediately attacked and one of them was killed. The other escaped and returned to the emigrant camp, with his news, of course, that the white settlers were doubtless in league with the Indians for their destruction, since his companion had been killed by white men." (4:153). When it was apparent that the Indians could not successfully complete the job, the Mormons schemed to kill the emigrants by another means. John D. Lee was chosen to speak with the emigrants. On September 11, 1857, under a flag of truce and a promise of armed protection to Cedar City, he successfully convinced the besieged party to give up their arms and load their wounded in a wagon. The women, older children, and men would follow behind in that order. LDS historian and Seventy, B.H. Roberts describes the tragedy in the following manner: "Meantime the Indians, several hundred in number, had been concealed in patches of scrub oaks and cedars behind a swell of the hillside, out of view from the emigrant camp, but beside the road over which this forming procession would move. A short distance from the emigrant camp the settlers from Cedar City and the Clara valley were drawn up in double file, and between the files the procession of wagons, women and children and men passed. The file of settlers was then changed from double to single order, an armed settler by this arrangement marching on the right of each unarmed emigrant man. When the wagons and the women and children had reached the stretch of road beside which the Indians were in ambush, the signal agreed upon was given, and in from three to five minutes the Mountain Meadows Massacre was made a horrible fact of history" (CHC 4:157). When the site was later visited by Major James Carleton, he erected a wooden cross with the words, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord." According to reliable accounts, Brigham Young, upon reading the inscription some time later, said, "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, and I have repaid!" (CHC 4:176). All of the Mormons involved took an oath of secrecy. It would take 20 long years before the whole story would be told and punishment would be met. Of all of the Mormons who were involved, only John D. Lee faced the ultimate wrath of the courts. On March 23, 1877, Lee was escorted back to the Mountain Meadows and executed by a firing squad. In 1932 a marker was placed on the site, but the information it contained was very vague. In 1990 a new marker was placed at the site located off Highway 18 north of St. George. Unfortunately this information was even more vague than the marker it replaced. A person with no knowledge of the incident would scarcely understand what really took place there in the mid-nineteenth century. This changed for the better in the late 1990s when the descendants of the murdered families worked with the LDS Church to provide a new memorial that included plaques that give a more detailed account of the massacre. The new memorial site was dedicated in 1999, but as of this writing the LDS Church continues to place the blame on local LDS officials and has yet to formally apologize to descendants for the deaths of their ancestors. For many, the thought of devout LDS members taking it upon themselves to kill 120 people without orders from Salt Lake City seems incredibly unreasonable. Descendants of the victims have tried to have the massacre site placed under federal stewardship because they believe the LDS Church was complicit in the murders. Phil Bolinger of the Arkansas-based Mountain Meadows Monument Foundation asks, "How do you think the Kennedy family would feel if the Lee Harvey Oswald family had control of the Kennedy tomb?" The foundations's request was rejected by the LDS Church in June of 2007. ("Mountain Meadows site focus of dispute," Deseret News, 6/26/07).
  • It is true, that Brigham Young did preach a doctrine similar to this. However, this was not his personal doctrine, nor did it originate with the "Mormon" Church. This was taught by the Lord many years ago. I refer you to Gen.9;6.."Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." I would suggest if anyone has a problem with this doctrine, they take it up with the author, and not the Church. If the Church was guilty of any inappropriate deeds, regarding this doctrine, those responsible will answer to the Lord. Not to man...Later
  • Not in so many words, no. Blood Atonement taught that if someone was found of a particularly heinous sin (such as murder), the sinner could elect capital punishment in order to enter purgatory earlier. The belief was that one cannot fully repent of murder in this life; there will be more purging after death. Many outside the Church have twisted Blood Atonement to make it sound like capital punishment was forced on the sinner, or that it extended to beyond members of the Church.
  • I believe he did favor capital punishment for some crimes, but as a civil matter. Such punishments fall outside the province of the church.
  • SHORT ANSWER: Yes. LONG ANSWER: And Brigham Young was NOT the only LdS Leader to teach the LdS Doctrine of "Blood Atonement" - which is what you're referring to. Please note that the quotes that follow are all, without exception, either from neutral or Mormon friendly sources. No Anti-Mormon sources were used JOSEPH SMITH In a manuscript written in 1839, it was reported that Joseph Smith claimed he had a revelation in which Apostle Peter told him that he had killed Judas. "He [Joseph Smith] talked of dissenters and cited us to the case of Judas, saying that Peter told him in a conversation a few days ago that himself hung Judas for betraying Christ..." (The Reed Peck Manuscript, p.13) Joseph Smith: Split blood should be the law! "In debate, George A. Smith said imprisonment was better than hanging. I replied, I was opposed to hanging, even if a man kill another, I WILL SHOOT HIM, OR CUT OFF HIS HEAD, SPILL HIS BLOOD on the ground, and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God; and if ever I have the privilege of making a law on that subject, I will have it so." (History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, Vol. 5, p. 296) BRIGHAM YOUNG Christ's blood can not atone for some sins - you must die to atone for them. "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world. I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine, but it is to save them, not to destroy them.... I know there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day... There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days, and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man. That is the reason why men talk to you as they do from this stand; they understand the doctrine and throw out a few words about it. You have been taught that doctrine, but you do not understand it (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54; also published in the Deseret News, October 1, 1856, p.235) Brigham Young teaches when one should stab their brother and their wife. "Let me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, and PUT A JAVELIN THROUGH BOTH OF THEM, YOU WOULD BE JUSTIFIED, AND THEY WOULD ATONE FOR THEIR SINS, AND BE RECEIVED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would DO IT WITH CLEAN HANDS... There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, YOUR OWN BLOOD MUST ATONE FOR IT..." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247) Women's closest relative must kill her seducer. "The principle, the only one that beats and throbs through the heart of the entire inhabitants of this Territory, is simply this: The man who seduces his neighbors wife MUST DIE, and her nearest relative MUST KILL HIM!" (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 97) Shooting people can be as important as baptizing them. "If you will cause all those whom you know to be THIEVES, to be placed in a line before the mouth of one of our largest CANNON, well loaded with chain shot, I WILL PROVE BY MY WORKS WHETHER I CAN METE OUT JUSTICE to such persons, or not. I WOULD CONSIDER IT JUST AS MUCH MY DUTY TO DO THAT, AS TO BAPTIZE A MAN for the remission of his sins." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, pp. 108-109) Non-believers must die. "The time is coming when justice will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet; when we shall ask, 'Are you for God?' and if you are not heartily on the Lord's side, YOU WILL BE HEWN DOWN." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, page 226) Liars and Thieves must die. Brigham Young made this statement in 1846: "I ... warned those who lied and stole and followed Israel that they would have their heads cut off, for that was the law of God and it should be executed" ("Manuscript History of Brigham Young," December 20, 1846, typed copy; original in LDS church archives) Those who condemning Joseph Smith must die. "A man may live here with us and worship what God he pleases or none at all, but he must not blaspheme the God of Israel or damn old Joe Smith or his religion, for we will salt him down in the lake" (Norton Jacob quoted in Quest for Empire, p.127) Thieves and Counterfeiters must die. "We investigated several orders purporting to be drawn byJ. Allen, Lieut. Col., signed by James Pollick; which I requested should be burned. I swore by the Eternal Gods that if men in our midst would not stop this cursed work of stealing and counterfeiting THEIR THROATS SHOULD BE CUT." ("Manuscript History of Brigham Young"; Feb. 24,1847, typed copy) Interracial couples must die. "Shall I tell you the LAW OF GOD in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the PENALTY, under the LAW OF GOD IS DEATH ON THE SPOT. This will ALWAYS BE SO." (Journal of Discourses, v. 10, p. 110) Any man having children with a black woman must be beheaded, and his children must be killed. "And if any man mingle his seed with the seed of Cane [sic] the ownly [sic] way he could get rid of it or have salvation would be to come forward and have his head cut off & spill his Blood upon the ground it would also take the life of his children..." (Wilford Woodruff's Journal, recording a speech by Brigham Young, January 16, 1852, typed copy; original located in LDS Church Archives) Brigham Young: Apostates must leave Salt Lake City, or they must die. "I say, rather than that APOSTATES should flourish here, I WILL UNSHEATH MY BOWIE KNIFE, and CONQUER OR DIE. (Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.) Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. {Voices, generally, 'go it, go it.'} If you say it is right, raise your hands. (All hands up.) Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, page 83) Do you love your brothers and sisters enough to kill them? "Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved ... and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say "shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?" All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers and sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? I could refer you to plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the devil ... I have known a great many men who left this Church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them, the wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbids this principle's being in full force, but the time will come when the law of God will be in full force." (Deseret News, February 18, 1857; also reprinted in Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.219-20) The way to love your neighbors is to kill them. "THIS IS LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES; if he needs help, help him; and if he wants salvation and it is NECESSARY TO SPILL HIS BLOOD on the earth in order that he may be saved, SPILL IT. Any of you who understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin REQUIRING THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD, except the sin unto death, would not be satisfied nor rest until your blood SHOULD BE SPILLED, that you might gain that salvation you desire. THAT IS THE WAY TO LOVE MANKIND." (Sermon by Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, Feb. 8, 1857, printed in the Deseret News, Feb. 18, 1857; also reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pp. 219-220) Blood must be spilled or sins will stick to a man. "There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to HAVE THEIR BLOOD SPILT upon the ground, that the smoke there of might ascend to heaven as an OFFERING FOR THEIR SINS; and the smoking incense would ATONE for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235) Killing people is for their own good. "I know, when you hear my brethren telling about CUTTING PEOPLE OFF FROM THE EARTH, that you consider it is strong doctrine,but it is to SAVE them, not to destroy them...." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235) If some people knew what was good for them, they would beg the Mormons to kill them. "And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the ONLY CONDITION upon which they can obtain forgiveness, WOULD BEG OF THEIR BRETHREN TO SHED THEIR BLOOD, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an OFFERING to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235) Brigham had people coming to him asking to be killed: "I will say further; I HAVE HAD MEN COME TO ME AND OFFER THEIR LIVES TO ATONE FOR THEIR SINS." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235) Killing animals works sometimes, but other times the sinner himself must be killed. "It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet MEN CAN COMMIT SINS WHICH IT CAN NEVER REMIT. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the people do not understand them; yet the law is precisely the same. There are sins that can be ATONED for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but THEY MUST BE ATONED FOR BY THE BLOOD OF THE MAN. (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses,Vol. 4, pages 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, page 235) From the Salt Lake Tabernacle, it is proposed to select executioners and a place to kill people. "I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, AND LET THAT COMMITTEE SHED THEIR BLOOD.?We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those WHO NEED TO HAVE THEIR BLOOD SHED, forwater will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye.?You may think that I am not teaching you Bible doctrine, but what says the apostle Paul? I would ask how many COVENANT BREAKERS there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are COVENANT BREAKERS we need a place designated, WHERE WE CAN SHED THEIR BLOOD." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pages 49-50) Using the Name of the Lord in Vain requires Blood Atonement. "... I tell you the time is coming when that man uses the name of the Lord is used the penalty will be affixed and immediately be executed on the spot ..." (Journal of Hosea Stout, vol. 2, p.71; p.56 of the typed copy at Utah State Historical Society) Brigham Young validates that blood atonement was practiced in Utah "[Brigham Young insisted that there were] plenty of instances where men have been righteously slain in order to atone for their sins" (quoted by Klaus J. Hansen in Quest for Empire, p.70) HEBER C. KIMBALL Heber C. Kimball, a member of the First Presidency, said that Ex-Mormons will have their bowels kicked out. "Judas lost that saving principle, and they took him and killed him. It is said in the Bible that his bowels gushed out; but they actually KICKED HIM until his bowels came out. 'I will suffer my bowels to be taken out before I will forfeit the covenant I have made with Him and my brethren.' Do you understand me? Judas was like salt that had lost its saving principles good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.... It is so with you, ye Elders of Israel, when you forfeit your covenants.... I know the day is right at hand when men will forfeit their Priesthood and turn against us and against the covenants they have made, and they will be DESTROYED as Judas was." (December 13,1857 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, pages 125-126) If I commit adultery do me a favor - decapitate me! "These are my views, and the Lord knows that I believe in the principles of sanctification; and when I am guilty of seducing any man's wife, or any woman in God's world, I say, sever my head from my body." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.20) Adulterers must be slain . . . " But they cannot whore it here; for, gentlemen, if there is anything of that kind, we will slay both men and women. We will do it, as the Lord liveth -- we will slay such characters. Now, which would be the most worthy to be slain the woman that had had her endowments and made certain covenants before God, or the man that knew nothing about it? The woman, of course." (Ibid., vol. 6, p.38) . . . it cleanses the land. " ... our females ... are not unclean, for we wipe all unclean ones from our midst: we not only wipe them from our streets, but we wipe them out of existence ... so help me God, while I live, I will lend my hand to wipe such persons out: and I know this people will." (Millennial Star, vol. 16, p.739; also printed in the Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.19) Blood Atonement should be as common as eating an apple. "... when it is necessary that blood should be shed, we should be as ready to do that as to eat an apple ... we will let you know that the earth can swallow you up, as it did Korah with his host; and as brother Taylor says, you may dig your graves, and we will slay you, and you may crawl into them" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, pp.34-35) To save Covenant Breakers you must kill them. "... if men turn traitors to God and His servants, their blood will surely be shed, or else they will be damned, and that too according to their covenants" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, p.375) JEDEDIAH M. GRANT J. M. Grant, who was a member of the First Presidency under Brigham Young lobbies for formal blood atonement laws. "Some have received the Priesthood and a knowledge of the things of God, and still they dishonor the cause of truth, commit adultery, and every other abomination beneath the heavens,... they will seek unto wizards that peep,... get drunk and wallow in the mire and filth, and yet they call themselves Saints,... there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood." "We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye. You may think that I am not teaching you Bible doctrine, but what says the apostle Paul? I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.49-50; also published in Deseret News, Oct. 1, 1856) J.M. Grant agrees with H.C. Kimball that to save Covenant Breakers you must kill them. "What disposition ought the people of God to make of covenant breakers ... What does the Apostle say? He says they are worthy of death .... Putting to death transgressors would exhibit the law of God, no difference by whom it was done; that is my opinion.... people will look into books of theology, and argue that the people of God have a right to try people for fellowship, but they have no right to try them on property or life That makes the devil laugh, saying, I have got them on a hook now; ... has not the people of God a right to carry out that part of his law as well as any other portion of it? It is their right to baptize a sinner to save him, and it is also their right to kill a sinner to save him, when he commits those crimes that can only be atoned for by shedding his blood.... We would not kill a man, of course, unless we killed him to save him.... Do you think it would be any sin to kill me if I were to break my covenants? ... Do you believe you would kill me if I broke the covenants of God, and you had the Spirit of God? Yes; and the more Spirit of God I had, the more I should strive to save your soul by spilling your blood, when you had committed sin that could not be remitted by baptism." (Deseret News, July 27, 1854) J.M. Grant agrees AGAIN with H.C. Kimball that to save Covenant Breakers you must kill them. "I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed ... I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood.... I go for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, not only in word, but in deed ... you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, let your blood be shed, and let the smoke ascend, that the incense thereof may come up before God as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be afraid." (Deseret News, October 1, 1856, p.235; also Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.49-51) CHARLES W. PENROSE Blood Atonement was only ceased due to the influx of 'gentiles' into Utah but in the Millenium it WILL return. In 1888, apostle Charles W. Penrose observed that: "Because of the laws of the land and the prejudices of the nation, and the ignorance of the world, this law can not be carried out, but when the time comes that the law of God shall be in full force upon the earth, then this penalty will be inflicted for those crimes committed by persons under covenant not to commit them." (quoted by Klaus J. Hansen in Quest for Empire, p.70) JOSEPH F. SMITH Mormon prophet Joseph F. Smith (Joseph Smith Jr.'s nephew) nearly kills a man with his pocket knife. "About 4:30 p.m. this meeting adjourned and was followed by a meeting of Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and SMITH and Bros. Lyman and Grant....Bro. JOSEPH F. SMITH was traveling some years ago near Carthage when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause the man answered, 'Just as I have always looked upon it?that it was a d?d cold-blooded murder.' The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his OPEN POCKET KNIFE GRASPED IN HIS HAND in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets HE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY STRUCK HIM TO THE HEART." (Daily Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, Dec. 6, 1889, pages 205-206) JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH Joseph Fielding Smith explains WHY blood atonement was incorporated into Utah State law. "Just a word or two now, on the subject of blood atonement ... man may commit certain grievous sins ?according to his light and knowledge?that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone?so far as in his power lies?for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail.... Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressor beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf.... And men for certain crimes have had to atone as far as they could for their sins wherein they have placed themselves beyond the redeeming power of the blood of Christ." (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp.133-36) Joseph Fielding Smith explains HOW blood atonement was incorporated into Utah State law. "...the founders of Utah incorporated in the laws of the Territory provisions for the capital punishment of those who wilfully shed the blood of their fellow men. This law, which is now the law of the State, granted unto the condemned murderer the privilege of choosing for himself whether he die by hanging, or whether he BE SHOT, AND THUS HAVE HIS BLOOD SHED IN HARMONY WITH THE LAW OF GOD; AND THUS ATONE, so far as it is in his power to atone, for the death of his victim. Almost without exception the condemned party chooses the latter death." (Doctrines of Salvation, by Joseph Fielding Smith, Vol. 1, p. 136) BRUCE R. MCCONKIE Christ's blood is NOT sufficient for all sins - the sinner's blood is sometimes required as well. "... under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must have their own blood shed to atone for their sins..." (Mormon Doctrine, 1958, p.87) Mormon Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, on the proper way to kill people. "As a mode of capital punishment, hanging or execution on a gallows does not comply with the law of blood atonement, for the blood is not shed." (Mormon Doctrine, by Bruce R. McConkie, 1958 ed., p. 314) Bruce R. McConkie laments that the government does not kill adulterers. "Modern governments DO NOT TAKE THE LIFE OF THE ADULTERER, and some of them have done away with the supreme penalty where murder is involved-all of which is further evidence of the direful apostasy that prevails among the peoples who call themselves Christians." (Mormon Doctrine, 1958 ed., p. 104) GUSTIVE O. LARSON BYU history professor also validates that blood atonement was practiced. "To whatever extent the preaching on BLOOD ATONEMENT may have influenced action, it would have been in relation to Mormon disciplinary action among its own members. In point would be a verbally reported case of a Mr. Johnson in Cedar City who was found guilty of adultery with his step-daughter by a BISHOP'S COURT and SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR ATONEMENT OF HIS SIN. According to the report of reputable EYEWITNESSES, judgment was executed with consent of the offender who went to his UNCONSECRATED GRAVE IN FULL CONFIDENCE OF SALVATION THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD. Such a case, however primitive, is understandable within the meaning of the doctrine and the emotional extremes of the Reformation." (Utah Historical Quarterly, January 1958, p.62, footnote 39) AND, DESPITE THE PROTESTS OF MODERN MORMONS, BLOOD ATONEMENT WAS INDEED PRACTICED: These presentations are very enlightening. Highest recommendation! SL01371, Violence on the Mormon Frontier: Fact or Fiction? PANEL: Polly Aird, Willam Bagley, Edward Lyman, D. Michael Quinn Elder Bruce R. McConkie insisted: 'There is not one historical instance of so-called blood atonement in this dispensation," yet recent researchers have concluded that Brigham Young's support of "holy murder" helped create a "culture of violence" that promoted crimes ranging from individual murders to massacres. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism characterized blood atonement as a "rhetorical device" that "has never been practiced by the Church at any time." Yet historian Juanita Brooks concluded blood atonement was a "literal and terrible reality." What was the actual level of religously motivated violence in frontier Mormonism? https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/audio/SL01371.mp3 SL03363, The other massacres that could have occurred with Edward Leo Lyman and Todd M. Compton In the early autumn of 1857, many Southern Paiute Indians and some fanatical Latter-day Saint militiamen came to believe they had permission to attack and loot not just the Fancher-Baker Party, whose members became the victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but several other emigrant groups then also traveling through southern Utah territory. This paper focuses on the efforts (some might even be considered heroic) of Amasa M. Lyman, Jacob Hamblin, and Pauvant Ute Chief Kanosh inMormon Quest for Utah Statehood and San permission to attack and loot not just the Fancher-Baker Party, whose members became the victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but several other emigrant groups then also passing through Utah. https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/audio/SL03363.mp3
  • I don't know what he believed. I think it's acceptable for certain crimes.

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