"Judas lost that saving principle, and they took him and killed him. Itis said in the Bible that his bowels gushed out; but they actually KICKEDHIM 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 butto be cast out and trodden under foot of men.... It is so with you, ye Eldersof Israel, when you forfeit your covenants.... I know the day is right at handwhen men will forfeit their Priesthood and turn against us and against thecovenants 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)
Blood must be spilled or sins will stick to a man:
“There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receiveforgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had theireyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing toHAVE THEIR BLOOD SPILT upon the ground, that the smoke thereofmight ascend to heaven as an OFFERING FOR THEIR SINS; and thesmoking incense would ATONE for their sins, whereas, if such is not thecase, 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 CUTTINGPEOPLE 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 theyknew themselves, and the ONLY CONDITION upon which they canobtain forgiveness, WOULD BEG OF THEIR BRETHREN TO SHEDTHEIR BLOOD, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as anOFFERING to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that thelaw 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 COMETO 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 a man must be killed:
“It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins throughthe fall and those committed by men, yet MEN CAN COMMIT SINSWHICH IT CAN NEVER REMIT. As it was in ancient days, so it is in ourday; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still thepeople do not understand them; yet the law is precisely the same. Thereare sins that can be ATONED for by an offering upon an altar, as inancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or ofturtle doves, cannot remit, but THEY MUST BE ATONED FOR BY THEBLOOD 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 wouldadvise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint acommittee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, ANDLET THAT COMMITTEE SHED THEIR BLOOD.“We have those amongst us that are full of all manner ofabominations, 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 whatsays the apostle Paul? I would ask how many COVENANT BREAKERSthere are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a greatmany; and if they are COVENANT BREAKERS we need a placedesignated, WHERE WE CAN SHED THEIR BLOOD.” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, pages 49-50)
Joseph Smith prefers cutting heads off over hanging people:
“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
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)
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 cheaters
“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 apostacy that prevails among the peoples who call themselves Christians.” (Mormon Doctrine, 1958 ed., p. 104)
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 is 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)
“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)
“We investigated several orders purporting to be drawn byJ. Allen, Lieut. Col., signed by James Pollick; which I requested should beburned. I swore by the Eternal Gods that if men in our midst would notstop this cursed work of stealing and counterfeiting THEIR THROATS SHOULD BE CUT.” (“Manuscript History of Brigham Young,” Feb. 24,1847, typed copy)
“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?
“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 or 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. (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)
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)
“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 )
BYU history professor refers to a specific case of blood atonement:
“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)
