Blood Atonement (AKA, Jesus wasn't enough)

Issue #5. Blood Atonement

            There is another topic that was taught by early prophets of the church that has now been disavowed as a theory and is labeled as not doctrine now. This is the subject of the blood atonement. It’s easiest to explain this one by just going to some of the teachings.

“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 blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine, and is taught in all the standard works of the Church.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1954, vol. 1, pp. 135-136)

            Brigham Young took the doctrine of blood atonement even further. While Joseph might have emphasized the practice of blood atonement against sinful Mormons, Brigham inspired his followers to murder in God’s name, both Mormons and non-Mormons alike. Brigham Young stated:

“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 the 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.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol.1, pp.108-109)

“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... 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....” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp.219-220)

“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...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." (Sermon by Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pages 53-54)

“This is loving your 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."  (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol.4, p.220) 

            This is horrifying. I couldn’t even imagine living under such conditions. President Young acknowledges that elders in the church have murdered, in the name of God, those assumed to have sinned. Imagine if Thomas S. Monson were to preach this at general conference and tasked local authorities to follow through with this council. Who of our neighbors or ward members would be killed? Would they have a special hit squad for the church? The Mormon Mafia jokes I heard on my mission are starting to come to mind.

            As it turns out, again it seems that what Brigham started, other prophets followed along. So the horror can continue, why not.

Heber C. Kimball

“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.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol.4, p.375)

“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.... 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.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol.6, pp.125-26)

“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.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, vol.7, p.20)

Jebediah M. Grant

“I say, there are men and women that I would advise to go to the Presidency immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their care; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood. We have 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 too deep a dye... 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... Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins. And 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.” (Apostle Jebediah M. Grant, 2nd counselor to Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol.4, pp.49-51)

Joseph Fielding Smith

“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 blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. This is scriptural doctrine, and is taught in all the standard works of the Church.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1954, vol.1, pp.135-136)

            To recall the words of Dallin H. Oaks, “…our policies are determined by the truths God has declared to be unchangeable.” Many terrorist organizations around the world commit terrible acts in the name of their God(s). Should they get a free pass for their actions? Then why should our Church? It is obvious why the Church would not want this part of the history to become common knowledge. Does the Church acknowledge that this practice was truly taught by inspired prophets? As it turns out, they have confirmed that they were indeed taught. In the essay titled, “Peace and Violence Among the 19^th-Century Latter-Day-Saints” it does address that this subject was at least taught. Again though, this subject that was taught by multiple prophets, from the pulpit, has now been disavowed by the church. It is no longer considered doctrine. This topic though has had an interesting history, particularly as noted in the New Era in 1972. Here it is trying to pass off these teachings as something that was possibly said in passing, then used by Anti-Mormons to spread lies. But when it truly boils down to it, this was a topic taught and preached by multiple prophets and apostles, from the pulpit and in church writings, and was indeed 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 stepdaughter 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 [Mormon] Reformation." (Utah Historical Quarterly, January, 1958, page 62)

            John D Lee was an early church pioneer, friends with Joseph Smith, and was even a sealed/adopted son of Brigham Young. He has been linked to the Dannites, a sort of vigilante paramilitary group under the direction of Brigham Young. He was an LDS leader in southern Utah, and most famously was executed for his role in the Mountain Meadows massacre. Near the end of his life he wrote a book titled, Mormonism Unveiled: Or, The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee. The following are some taken from this book.  

"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. (Mormonism Unveiled: Or, The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee)

            This is yet another story showing how it was not only taught, but expected of church members to shed blood, their own or others, when it was required of them from their church leaders. The worst part of this, we don’t know how many people died because of this! We do have evidence that it did happen, but as we know, not everything that is done, is written down.

Another point that should be brought up here as well, it was not just murders that happened. Along with fully murdering those, spilling their blood, there were also beatings and even castrations. Yes, castrations. Back to that book, Mormonism Unveiled: Or, The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee.

“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 houseold under circumstances that led to the belief that they had been there for immoral purposes. I knew of several such outrages while there. 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 I will refer to an instance that many a good Saint knows to be true.

“Warren Snow was Bishop of the church at Manti, Sanpete County, Utah. He had several wives, but there was a fair, buxom young woman in the town that Snow wanted for a wife. He made love to her with all his powers, went to parties where she was, visited her at her home, and proposed to make her his wife. She thanked him for the honor offered, but told him she was engaged to a young man, a member of the church and consequently could not marry the old priest. This was no sufficient reason to Snow. 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 as to release her from her engagement-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 "teachers" of the town visited her and advised her to marry Bishop Snow. Her parents, under the orders of the Counselors of the Bishop, also insisted that their daughter must marry the old man. She still refused. Then the authorities called on the young man and directed him to give up the young woman. This he steadfastly refused to do. He was promised Church preferment, celestial rewards, and everything that could we thought of - all to no purpose. He remain true to his intended, and said he would die before he would surrender his intended wife to the embraces of another.

 “This unusual resistance of authority by the young people made Snow more anxious than ever to capture the girl. The young man was ordered to go on a mission to some distant locality, so that the authorities would have no trouble in effecting their purpose of forcing the girl to marry as they desired. But the mission was refused by the still contrary and unfaithful young man.

“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 council, which was to be held in the school-house in Manti, at which place the young man should be present, and dealt with according to Snow's will. The meeting was called. 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 with 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 schoolhouse on a nail, so that it could be seen by all who visited the house afterwards.

“The party then left the old 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 quiet lunatic ever since, and is well known by hundreds of both Mormons and Gentiles in Utah.

“After this outrage old Bishop Snow took occasion to get up a meeting at the school house, so as to get the people of Manti, and the young woman that he wanted to marry, to attend the meeting. When all had assembled, the old man talked to the people about their duties 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, when he heard of this treatment of the young man, was very mad, but did nothing against Snow. He left him in charge as Bishop at Manti, and order the better to be hushed up. This is only one instance of many that I might give to show the danger of refusing to obey counsel in Utah.”

(Mormonism Unveiled: Or, The Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee. Pages 284-286)

            OK, that was a really long story, but not the only one of its kind unfortunately. It could be said that this area was still the “frontier” town type of living, and things like this are not out of the reach of this kind of lifestyle. What is not grasped in this interpretation is the fact that all of this was done under the direction of the Priesthood. Brigham Young knew of these things going on, but kept quiet. Personally I’m against allowing a bishop to interview my kid alone in the office together, but this is on a whole different plane altogether. I have been hesitant to do this up to this point. Now it does seem clear to me, the LDS church was/is a Cult. It was not enough to throw a fit that you didn’t get the girl you wanted, the local leaders had to go ahead and castrate the guy she would rather be with. This is just sick. This goes beyond what I can see for the blood atonement. The only thing that these kids did was to disobey a dirty old man. Only problem for them, this dirty old man has “authority” over them, and thus handed out a punishment that he saw fit. I guess the young man should be happy that he was allowed to live at all, I guess it could have been worse.