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DOCTRINE - BLOOD ATONEMENT - CONTRADICTIONS
Mormon leaders have taught the doctrine of "blood atonement," but other Mormon leaders have denied that it was ever taught. Practicing Mormons followed-though on this doctrine, and killed apostates and others in early Utah to fulfill the doctrine - but some Mormon leaders deny that the doctrine was ever practiced.
| CLAIMING IT WAS NOT TAUGHT OR PRACTICED | CLAIMING IT WAS TAUGHT AND PRACTICED |
| "From the days of Joseph Smith to the
present, wicked and evily-disposed persons
have fabricated false and slanderous stories
to the effect that the Church, in the early
days of this dispensation, engaged in a practice
of blood atonement whereunder the blood of
apostates and others was shed by the Church
as an atonement for their sins. These claims
are false and were known by their originators
to be false. There is not one historical
instance of so-called blood atonement in
this dispensation, nor has there been one
event or occurrence whatever, of any nature,
from which the slightest inference arises
that any such practice either existed or
was taught." - Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd Ed., 1979 |
"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." - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.53-54; also published in the Deseret News, October 1, 1856, p.235). |
| "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." - Apostle Charles W. Penrose, 1888 | "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,...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." - J.M. Grant, First Presidency Counsel to Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.49-50; also published in Deseret News, Oct. 1, 1856). |
| "But that the Church practices 'Blood
Atonement' on apostates or any others,
which
is preached by ministers of the 'Reorganization'
is a damnable falsehood for which the
accusers
must answer... Did you not know that not a single individual was ever 'blood atoned,' as you are pleased to call it, for apostasy or any other cause?...Do you know of anyone whose blood was ever shed by the command of the Church, or members thereof, to 'save his soul?'... Never in the history of this people can the time be pointed to when the Church ever attempted to pass judgement on, or execute an apostate as per your statement." - President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, pp. 136-137 |
"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...Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that man may commit, that they will place the transgressors 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." - President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, pp. 134-135 |
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"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. 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." - Brigham Young, (Deseret News, February 18, 1857; also reprinted in Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.219-20) |
|
| "...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." - Heber C. Kimball, First Presidency Counsel to Brigham Young, (Millennial Star, vol. 16, p.739; also printed in the Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.19) |
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| "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."
- Gustive O. Larson, professor of church history, BYU, Utah Historical Quarterly, January 1958, p.62, note 39 |
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| See Instances of Blood Atonement |