Blood Atonement and Capital Punishment

What is blood atonement?

It is the belief that Jesus did not atone for certain types of sins,[1] so the sinner must atone for these sins by voluntarily being killed.[2] This was first taught[3] by Church leaders in the mid-1850s but was never put into practice.[4] Blood atonement is often associated with capital punishment.[5]

Doesn't this fundamentally contradict the idea that all sins are atoned by the blood of Christ?

Yes.

Does the Church still teach this?

No. The Church denounced this teaching in 1889,[6] and again most recently in 2010.[7]

Timeline of Blood Atonement Teachings

Reformation Era[8]

March 3, 1849

John D. Lee[BIO] records a Council of Fifty meeting in which shedding blood was referenced as a method to atone for crimes.[9]

February 5, 1852

In an address to Utah Territorial Legislature about slavery, Brigham Young[BIO] first introduces the concept of killing as a method of atonement.[10]

1854–1859

Various Church leaders make public statements related to "blood atonement."[11]

Post Reformation[12]

1873–1877

Critics of the Church publish books that accuse the Saints of practicing blood atonement by killing apostates of the Church.[13]

April 30, 1877

In an interview, Brigham Young responds that he does believe in blood atonement.[14]

January 1884

John Taylor[BIO] says that "some crimes can only be atoned for by the life of the guilty party" but executions should be done by officers of the law.[15]

December 14, 1889

The First Presidency issues a statement that denounces the rumor that the Church believes in killing apostates.[16]

Modern Era[17]

1954–1958

Joseph Fielding Smith[BIO] and Bruce R. McConkie[BIO] write in support of blood atonement.[18][19]

June 18, 2010

The Church publishes a statement denouncing blood atonement.[20]

Is blood atonement the same thing as capital punishment?

Sometimes, it seems. Some Church leaders taught that under a religious form of government that blood atonement could be practiced as a form of capital punishment.[21] However, this was never put into practice.[22]

Timeline of Capital Punishment as it related to Blood Atonement

Capital Punishment

March 4, 1843

In a Nauvoo city council meeting, Joseph Smith[BIO] voices his opinion that execution by shedding blood is preferable to hanging.[23]

January 19, 1851

State of Deseret criminal code is passed into law which directs murderers to be executed by firing squad, hanging, or beheading.[24]

March 23, 1877

John D. Lee is executed for his role in the Mountain Meadows Massacre.[25] John claimed that his execution was an implementation of blood atonement.[26]

April 30, 1877

While answering a question on blood atonement, Brigham states that capital punishment for "offenses deserving death" should be done "by the shedding of blood instead of by hanging."[27]

December 14, 1889

The Church releases a statement denying the claim that apostates are killed by the Church but supporting the civil and legal process as it relates to capital punishment.[28]

2004

Utah removes firing squads as a possible execution method in most instances.[29]

Did Joseph Smith teach blood atonement?

No, probably not. There are no contemporary records of him teaching something like this. However, there are records that indicate that Joseph Smith favored capital punishment[30] and gave the example of Peter killing Judas.[31]

When was blood atonement first taught?

The earliest indication of the blood atonement was in the March 3, 1849 minutes of the Council of the Fifty,[32] but the earliest explicit teaching was from Apostle Jedediah Grant in 1854.[33] Brigham Young and other Church leaders began teaching this principle after 1855[34] during what historians refer to as the "Mormon Reformation" period.[35] Scholars characterized this period as one where Church leaders used fiery rhetoric in hopes it would prompt repentance or cause people to voluntarily leave Utah if they would not abide by the teachings of the Church.[36]

Was the practice of blood atonement ever Church policy?

No. Historical records indicated that although the idea of blood atonement was taught, Church leadership specifically stated that it should not be practiced.[37]

For example, in 1856, when specifically asked if a man should be killed to atone for his fornication, Brigham said he should instead be rebaptized for his sins.[38] This was consistent with other contemporary letters from his private correspondence.[39]

Was it practiced by individuals?

Probably. There are purported accounts of killings related to blood atonement by members of the Church.[40]

Read More Difficult Questions

133 Primary Sources

Footnotes

BIOJohn Doyle Lee
John Doyle Lee (1812–1877) was born in Kaskasia, Illinois. Lee was an early Latter-day Saint leader and the adopted son of Brigham Young. He served a mission and was ordained a Seventy in 1839. He was admitted to the Council of Fifty in 1845. Lee practiced polygamy and was married to 19 women. Lee participated in Mountain Meadows Massacre in 1857 and was found guilty and executed for his role in the massacre in 1870. He was reinstated to full blessings by the Church in May 1961.
BIOBrigham Young
Brigham Young (1801–1877) was an early Latter-day Saint leader. He was born in Whitingham, Vermont. and joined the faith in his twenties after two years of deliberation. He became the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles following the fractionalization of the Church in Kirtland, Ohio. After Joseph Smith's martyrdom in 1844, Young assumed the presidency and led the Latter-day Saints to settle in the Great Basin region. He was married to fifty-five women and fathered fifty-nine children from sixteen of his wives. He also served as the Territorial Governor for Utah Territory until 1857 and as the prophet until his death.
BIOJohn Taylor
John Taylor (1808–1887) was born in Westmorland, England. He was the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He moved to Canada in 1832 and joined the Church four years later. Taylor was soon appointed to the apostleship and became a prominent advocate for Latter-day Saint doctrine during his mission to the United Kingdom. Taylor accompanied Joseph Smith to Carthage Jail in 1844, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. Taylor received a bullet wound to the thigh. He served in the apostleship and First Presidency until his appointment to the Presidency in 1880. Taylor oversaw the Church administration as the Church faced sustained prosecution from federal authorities for the practice of polygamy. He died while in hiding from federal authorities in Kaysville at the age of 79.
BIOJoseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith (1876-1972) was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve in 1910 and served in this capacity until he became a member of the First Presidency in 1965. He was the Church Historian and Recorder from 1921 until 1970. He became president of the Church following the death of David O. McKay in 1970.
BIOBruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie (1915-1985) was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His family moved back to Utah when he was an infant. McConkie served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission and was involved in the first Hill Cumorah Pageant. McConkie married Amelia Smith, the daughter of Joseph Fielding Smith, in 1937. He graduated with a degree in law from the University of Utah in 1939. McConkie served as an officer in Army Intelligence during WWII. He was called as a Seventy in 1946. McConkie edited and published many sermons and teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith. He published the controversial compendium Mormon Doctrine in 1958. He then served as president of the Southern Australian Mission in 1961. McConkie was called as an apostle and served on the Quorum of the Twelve from 1972 until his death in 1985.
BIOJoseph Smith, Jr.
Joseph Smith (1805–1844) organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Sharon, Vermont, he began to experience visions of deity and angels at a young age. One vision featured the Angel Moroni, who revealed the location of gold plates with an account of ancient Americans. He translated this record and published it as The Book of Mormon. He continued to receive revelations throughout his life which serve as the foundation for the Church's doctrine today. He led the Latter-day Saints across the country from New York to Illinois. In 1844, he was martyred while awaiting trial in Carthage, Illinois.
BIOGeorge A. Smith
George Albert Smith (1817-1875) was born in Potsdam, New York. His father was John Smith, a younger brother of Joseph Smith Sr., and was baptized in 1832. His family moved to Kirtland, Ohio in 1833. Smith participated in Zion's Camp and also served several missions. Smith was ordained as an apostle in 1839. He married Bathseba Wilson Bigler in Nauvoo in 1841. Smith came to Utah in 1847 and was involved in various settlement efforts. He served in the First Presidency from 1868 until his death. Smith was also Church Historian and Trustee-in-Trust for the church.
[1]↩︎
Different Church leaders had different ideas about which sins might qualify for blood atonement. Murder, adultery, interracial marriage, and breaking temple covenants were frequently mentioned.
[2]↩︎
Jedediah Grant and Brigham Young both said that blood atonement was to only be done when formally authorized by a council or Church leadership and gave specific steps to be taken to initiate the process.
- JMG advises some to go have their blood shed by a committee appointed by BY to atone for their sins.
- BY claims men have come to him requesting blood atonement for themselves.
[3]↩︎
Brigham spoke on multiple occasions about death penalties for various crimes, including murder (particularly the murder of Joseph Smith), adultery, mixed-race marriage, and stealing.
[4]↩︎
In 1884, Charles Penrose taught that "because of the laws of the land, and the prejudices of the nation, and the ignorance of the world, this law cannot be carried out."
And in 1958, Bruce R. McConkie wrote that blood atonement "was not and could not be practiced in this dispensation."
- Charles W. Penrose says that blood atonement cannot be performed now because the law will not permit it, but someday that will change.
- McConkie teaches the doctrine of blood atonement.
[5]↩︎
Church leaders have often referenced blood atonement in the context of state-sanctioned capital punishment, including Brigham Young, Charles Penrose and Joseph F. Smith.
[6]↩︎
The 1889 statement from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve apostles refuted the idea that apostates should be killed, which was a common interpretation of the idea of blood atonement. The statement read:
We denounce as entirely untrue the allegation which has been made that our Church favors or believes in the killing of persons who leave the Church or apostatize from its doctrines. We would view a punishment of this character for such an act with the utmost horror, it is abhorrent to us and is in direct opposition to the fundamental principles of our creed.
- First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve denies the church condones death for apostates.
[7]↩︎
The Church stated that blood atonement "is not a doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
They then noted:
We believe in and teach the infinite and all-encompassing atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes forgiveness of sin and salvation possible for all people.
- 2010 official Church statement on blood atonement.
[8]↩︎
There was an intense religious revival from 1856 to 1857 among Latter-day Saints, a period historians have labeled "The Mormon Reformation."
- Paul H. Peterson says Brigham's rhetoric was calculated to bring about results.
- Gustive O. Larson gives an overview of the Mormon Reformation of 1856-7.
[9]↩︎
John D. Lee recorded notes from a Council of Fifty meeting on March 3, 1849:
Mercy will Rob Justice of its claims, Suffering infernals, thieves, Murderers, Whoremongers & every other wicked curst to [exist?]. . .their Blood ought to floow [sic] to atone for their crimes. I want their cursed heads to be cut off that they may atone for their Sins, that mercy may have her claims upon them in the day of redemption.
He did not specify who made the statement but said that Brigham Young did not feel like talking much due to "evesdroppers".
- Lee records a possible reference to blood atonement at a Council of 50 meeting.
[10]↩︎
Regarding interracial marriages, Brigham said that killing the family "would do a great deal towards atoning for the sin." He continued:
A man <would> shudder should they here us take about killing folk, but it is one of the greatest blessings to some to kill them, although the true principles of it are not understood . . . .
- Brigham says those in mixed-race marriages should have their blood shed as an atonement.
[11]↩︎
Jedediah M. Grant first taught in 1854 that "It is [the people of God's] 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."
In 1857, both Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young taught the principle of blood atonement.
Kimball said that apostates' blood should be shed "according to their covenants" if they wished to avoid damnation.
And Brigham taught that killing neighbors for their sins was "loving our neighbor as ourselves."
[12]↩︎
Though the Mormon Reformation ended in 1857 with the arrival of the US Army and the "Mormon War," the long-term effects of the reformation remained for many decades.
- Howard Clair Searle details the long-term effects of the Mormon Reformation.
[13]↩︎
For example, in 1876 Stenhouse wrote, "There are a few notable cases in Utah history, but only a few, that have properly illustrated the blood-atonement doctrine as taught by Brigham."
In her expose Wife No.19, Ann Eliza Young reported, "Another victim to the Blood-Atonement was a young man named Jesse Earl, a musician of rare talent and great promise . . . The reason of his death has never been given."
John D. Lee gives several examples, including one of Rosmos Anderson sentenced to blood atonement for adultery.
He wrote:
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.
[14]↩︎
In response to the direct question "Do you believe in blood atonement?", Brigham Young responded:
I do, and I believe that Lee has not half atoned for his great crimes. The Saviour died for all the sins of the world by shedding his blood, and then I believe that he who sheds the blood of man willingly, by man shall his blood be shed. In other words, capital punishment for offenses deserving death, according to the laws of the land. And we believe the execution should be done by the shedding of blood instead of by hanging.
- Deseret News interview with Brigham Young that discusses blood atonement.
[15]↩︎
Taylor said, "We hold, further, that all culprits worthy of death—and we believe some crimes can only be atoned for by the life of the guilty party—should be executed by the proper civil officer."
- Taylor says executions atone for sins, but should be performed by officers of the law; church courts can only withdraw membership.
[16]↩︎
The Deseret News published the statement. The Church noted:
This Church views the shedding of human blood with the utmost abhorrence. That we regard the killing of a human being, except in conformity with the civil law, as a capital crime which should be punished by shedding the blood of the criminal, after a public trial before a legally constituted court of the land.
They continued:
We denounce as entirely untrue the allegation which has been made that our Church favors or believes in the killing of persons who leave the Church of apostatize from its doctrines.
- First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve denies the church condones death for apostates.
[17]↩︎
Church leaders continued to defend some of the statements and rhetoric surrounding blood atonement well into the twentieth century, but the Church has formally denounced blood atonement.
[18]↩︎
In a longer entry on "Blood Atonement," Joseph Fielding Smith said:
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 . . . Therefore their only hope is to have their own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf" and declared that legal execution by firing squad was to "have [the condemned's] 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."
- Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that Joseph Smith taught the doctrine of blood atonement, but denies the practice of killing apostates.
[19]↩︎
McConkie writes that blood atonement proper "can only be practiced in its fulness in a day when the civil and ecclesiastical laws are administered in the same hands."
He added, "It was, for instance, practiced in the days of Moses, but it was not and could not be practiced in this dispensation."
- McConkie teaches the doctrine of blood atonement.
[20]↩︎
The Church stated:
"Blood atonement," by which individuals would be required to shed their own blood to pay for their sins, is not a doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We believe in and teach the infinite and all-encompassing atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes forgiveness of sin and salvation possible for all people.
- 2010 official Church statement on blood atonement.
[21]↩︎
B. H. Roberts and Bruce R. McConkie looked to "the days of Moses" as an example where the state and religion were more closely linked. Jedediah Grant stated that he wished he lived in a theocracy so God's laws could be fully followed.
[22]↩︎
B.H. Roberts noted, "Said law of God is not now in force, and the 'ignorance' of the nations now in power will not permit it to go into force." Bruce R. McConkie said, "This doctrine can only be practiced in its 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."
- McConkie teaches the doctrine of blood atonement.
- B.H. Roberts gives an overview of blood atonement issues in his History of the Church.
[23]↩︎
The city council was discussing a current event of the mutiny of the USS Somers. Captain Alexander Slidell Mackenzie convened a court and hanged the mutineers.
Smith said that "spilling [the mutineers] blood on the ground and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God" was preferable to hanging.
- In discussing a US Naval mutiny in the news, Joseph says he prefers shooting or throat cutting as a means of execution to hanging.
[24]↩︎
The law was passed by the legislative body and approved by Governor Brigham Young.
- Utah Territorial Legislature passes execution by firing squad, hanging, and beheading.
[25]↩︎
On October 10, 1876, Judge Jacob Boreman sentenced Lee to death. Lee chose a firing squad as the means of execution.
- Jacob Boreman passed the death sentence on John Doyle Lee who chooses to be shot as his method of execution.
[26]↩︎
In his final confession before his execution, Lee said, "My blood cannot help them [the Mountain Meadows Massacre victims], neither can it make that atonement required."
- John D. Lee's final confession says he cannot atone for the sins of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
[27]↩︎
In a Deseret News interview, Brigham Young was asked "Do you believe in blood atonement?" He responded:
I do, and I believe that Lee has not half atoned for his great crimes. The Saviour died for all the sins of the world by shedding his blood, and then I believe that he who sheds the blood of man willingly, by man shall his blood be shed. In other words, capital punishment for offenses deserving death, according to the laws of the land. And we believe the execution should be done by the shedding of blood instead of by hanging.
- Deseret News interview with Brigham Young that discusses blood atonement.
[28]↩︎
The Deseret News published the statement. The Church noted:
This Church views the shedding of human blood with the utmost abhorrence. That we regard the killing of a human being, except in conformity with the civil law, as a capital crime which should be punished by shedding the blood of the criminal, after a public trial before a legally constituted court of the land.
They continued:
We denounce as entirely untrue the allegation which has been made that our Church favors or believes in the killing of persons who leave the Church of apostatize from its doctrines.
- First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve denies the church condones death for apostates.
[29]↩︎
Death Penalty Provisions bill stated:
This bill repeals use of a firing squad as a means of carrying out the death penalty, except in specified situations.
- USL removes firing squad as a method of execution in Utah.
[30]↩︎
Smith reportedly said:
If a man kill another, shoot him or cut his throat, spilling his blood on the ground and let the smoke thereof ascend up to God. And if I ever have the privilege of making a law on this point I will have it so.
- In discussing a US Naval mutiny in the news, Joseph says he prefers shooting or throat cutting as a means of execution to hanging.
[31]↩︎
After Sidney Rigdon suggested that very punishment for church dissenters, Smith reportedly said that Peter hung Judas.
- RP recalls that JS approved of SR's speech on apostates, and that JS said Peter hung Judas Iscariot.
[32]↩︎
John D. Lee's diary recorded the meeting and the statement that the blood of "infernals, thieves, Murderers, Whoremongers" and others "ought to floow [sic] to atone for their crimes."
- Lee records a possible reference to blood atonement at a Council of 50 meeting.
[33]↩︎
Jedediah M. Grant was the earliest to fully articulate the idea of blood atonement in his July 27, 1854 sermon published in the Deseret News. He taught that there are certain sins that cannot be atoned for except by the shedding of the sinners' blood.
- BY claims men have come to him requesting blood atonement for themselves.
- Grant teaches that there are certain sins that cannot be atoned for except by the blood of the sinner.
[34]↩︎
In 1855, Brigham Young taught that the men that killed Joseph Smith would benefit from being killed to atone for their sins:
If they had any respect for their own welfare. . .they would be willing to have their heads chopped off, that their blood might run upon the ground, and the smoke of it rise before the Lord as an incense for their sins.
And in 1856, he taught:
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.
[35]↩︎
The "Mormon Reformation" is generally identified as early 1856 to mid-1857. It ended just before word came of the impending arrival of the US Army and the beginning of the "Utah War."
[36]↩︎
For example, Paul H. Peterson stated:
Brigham Young's motive in preaching blood atonement during the Reformation was not theological — it was practical. The Mormon prophet was not above using hyperbole or incendiary talk to bring about desired results.
Other scholars give similar commentary about this period of time.
[37]↩︎
For example, Thomas G. Alexander reported that Brigham Young had George A. Smith and Amasa Lyman preach against blood atonement in 1859.
Brigham repeated this instruction at other times.
[38]↩︎
Isaac Haight said, of the young man:
I think he has clearly repented of the sin and says that if the Law of God requires his Blood to be spilled he will most willingly comply with Anything required that he may be saved.
Brigham replied:
Tell the young man to go and sin no more repent of all his sins and be baptized for the same
A few years later in 1859, apostles under the direction of Brigham Young preached against blood atonement.
- Brigham Young instructs Isaac C. Haight that an unnamed man guilty of fornication should be rebaptized, not killed for blood atonement.
- George A. Smith and Amasa Mason Lyman were said to have preached against blood atonement in 1859.
[39]↩︎
In letters to local Church leaders, Brigham consistently advocated for sinners to confess and forsake their sins to obtain the blessings of the gospel, and made no mention of blood atonement as a means of obtaining forgiveness.
- Brigham Young tells Isaac C. Haight that remission and pardon are promised to all that repent of their sins.
- Brigham says to Bishop Philo T. Farnsworth that sinners should confess and forsake their sins.
[40]↩︎
From 1857 to 1877, several critics of the Church published these accounts.
For example, Stenhouse spoke of an anonymous woman who committed adultery and confessed to her husband, who cut her throat himself.
In 1858, Mary Smith reported on a secondhand account of a widow whose non-Latter-day Saint husband was killed trying to escape Utah.
In 1877, John D. Lee gave an account of a man killed for adultery with his step-daughter.
[41]↩︎
Brigham used phrases like "the time is coming when justice will be laid to the line" (1856) or "and that is near at hand" (1857) when referencing blood atonement.
Grant said:
I wish we were in a situation favorable to our doing that which is justifiable before God, without any contaminating influences of Gentile amalgamation, laws, and traditions, that the people of God might lay the axe to the root of the tree, and every tree that bringing forth not good fruit might be hewn down.
[42]↩︎
Apostle Charles W. Penrose gave a speech on the subject in 1884. It was reprinted in 1916 by the Deseret News.
- Charles W. Penrose says that blood atonement cannot be performed now because the law will not permit it, but someday that will change.
[43]↩︎
After a first trial ended in a hung jury, Lee was convicted and sentenced in 1876 under Judge Jacob Boreman.
- Jury convicts Lee of murder for the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
- Jacob Boreman passed the death sentence on John Doyle Lee who chooses to be shot as his method of execution.
[44]↩︎
Talking about the leaders of the Church, Lee said:
No doubt they thought they could lull me to sleep, until they could kill and make a scape-goat of me, to atone for the sins of the whole Church.
- JDL says the members of the church wanted him to die to atone for their sins.
- In MMM statement, John Doyle Lee says his death will not atone for those who perished.
[45]↩︎
While discussing the book "Mormonism Unveiled," Richard Turley noted:
The book, purportedly written by Lee, includes his personal history and a confession about the massacre. Though the title hints at exposé rather than history, many authors continue to view the book as an accurate primary source. Other massacre scholars have debated the authorship of the book, ascribing a role to Lee’s attorney, William W. Bishop.
Turley added, "Evidence indicates that while Lee composed much of the book’s underlying text, Bishop added sensationalized and erroneous details to the manuscript."
- Richard E. Turley Jr notes that many scholars think John Doyle Lee's autobiography was sensationalized by his lawyer, William Bishop.
[46]↩︎
The Deseret News reprinted the article from the New York Herald. The interviewer asked Brigham "Do you believe in blood atonement?" and he replied:
The Saviour died for all the sins of the world by shedding his blood, and then I believe that he who sheds the blood of man willingly, by man shall his blood be shed. In other words, capital punishment for offenses deserving death, according to the laws of the land.
- Deseret News interview with Brigham Young that discusses blood atonement.
[47]↩︎
After the flood, God instructs Noah that capital punishment is required for those who kill other men.
- God instructs Noah that capital punishment is required of murderers.
[48]↩︎
The Joseph Smith Translation strengthens the commandment after the flood to Noah. Humans are not to be killed except in capital punishment cases.
- God commands Noah that man's blood should only be shed in capital punishment cases.
[49]↩︎
Numbers outlines different means how murder can occur, and prescribes the death penalty for those cases.
- The Bible describes different means how murder can occur, and prescribes the death penalty for those cases.
[50]↩︎
Jacob instructs the Nephites on sins and their consequences, including murder.
- Jacob pronounces woes on sinners, including murderers, who should die.
[51]↩︎
Alma tells Nehor that he will be legally executed for murdering Gideon.
- Alma condemns Nehor to death for murdering Gideon.
[52]↩︎
Priestcraft spread in Nephite society, but other sins carried fixed legal punishments.
- Alma details punishable crimes in Nephite society under the reign of the judges.
[53]↩︎
Amulek refers to the death penalty during a discussion of Christ's atonement for sins.
- Amulek speaks of how the law requires the life of murderers.
[54]↩︎
The Lord gives the Church "the law" in Kirtland, OH, which includes a provision that may be a reference to a type of spiritual death or a form of death penalty.
- The Lord gives the Church "the law" in Kirtland, OH, including instructions on how to treat murderers.
[55]↩︎
J. H. Beadle wrote Life in Utah: or the Mysteries and Crimes of Mormonism, Being an Expose of the Secret Rites and Ceremonies of the Latter Day Saints and reported that participants swear to "having their blood spilt upon the ground in atonement for their sin" if they reveal parts of the ceremony.
An anonymous report printed in the Salt Lake Tribune in 1879 said that "the penalty for this grip and oath was disembowelment."
- J. H. Beadle describes the endowment, and asserts that its penalties were for atoning for sins.
- Salt Lake Tribune exposes endowment's oath against US Government and its people.
[56]↩︎
In 1906, the Salt Lake Tribune reported language from the endowment was "that you will pray, and never cease to pray, Almighty God to avenge the blood of the prophets upon this nation."
However, an 1879 anonymous report printed by the Salt Lake Tribune said that temple patrons swore an oath to avenge the death of Joseph Smith.
[57]↩︎
J. H. Beadle wrote an expose on Mormonism where he wrote "there is testimony that some of these unfortunate apostates were actually sacrificed in the Endowment House."
John D. Lee reported that an attempt to kill an endowed member failed, "but as he was fully initiated into the mysteries of the Church, he knows that he will yet be killed if his life can be taken with safety."
- J. H. Beadle alleges that blood atonement murders have occurred in the endowment house.
- John Doyle Lee asserts a failed attempt to kill William Laney for blood atonement.
[58]↩︎
The following violent incidents have been characterized as examples of blood atonement:
- the castration of Thomas Lewis (1857)
- the Aiken party executions (1857)
- the murder of Henry Jones and his mother (1859)
- the Potter-Parrish murders (1859)
Later incidents, such as the lynching of Thomas Coleman (1866) and the murder of S. Newton Brassfield (1866) have also been suggested as examples.
The murder of Lillie Kingston–Pulitzer (1902) had vague connections to blood atonement that were dismissed by prosecuting attorneys.
[59]↩︎
The Church's statement read:
In the mid-19th century, when rhetorical, emotional oratory was common, some church members and leaders used strong language that included notions of people making restitution for their sins by giving up their own lives. However, so-called "blood atonement," by which individuals would be required to shed their own blood to pay for their sins, is not a doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We believe in and teach the infinite and all-encompassing atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes forgiveness of sin and salvation possible for all people.
- 2010 official Church statement on blood atonement.
[60]↩︎
This statement was signed by: Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith of the First Presidency, as well as Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Jr., Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, M. W. Merrill, A. H. Lund, and Abraham H. Cannon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with John W. Young, a Counselor to the Quorum.
- First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve denies the church condones death for apostates.
[61]↩︎
The statement reiterated that Church courts "are purely ecclesiastical, and their punitive powers go no further than the suspension or excommunication of members from Church fellowship." It did not discuss atonement for sin.
- First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve denies the church condones death for apostates.
[62]↩︎
In 1843, Joseph Smith said he opposed hanging. He said, "If a man kill another, shoot him or cut his throat, spilling his blood on the ground."
Brigham Young said to a reporter in 1877 that "we believe the execution should be done by the shedding of blood instead of by hanging."
In an 1884 address in Salt Lake City, Charles Penrose said that to when it comes to murder, "the only way to atone is to shed his blood. Hanging is not the proper method."
In a 1905 letter to Richard C. Evans of the Reorganized Church, Joseph Fielding Smith said, "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."
[63]↩︎
Firing squads were one of the legal methods of execution starting in 1851. It was removed as a method of execution in 2004 but was then reinstated in 2015.
[64]↩︎
In a conversation with George A. Smith, Joseph Smith indicated he preferred execution methods that actually shed blood. George A. Smith went on to write an early draft of Utah's laws.
- In discussing a US Naval mutiny in the news, Joseph says he prefers shooting or throat cutting as a means of execution to hanging.
- GAS wrote the early criminal code for the Saints in what is now Utah.

Scripture	Text
Genesis 9:6[47]	Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
JST Genesis 9:12–13[48]	And whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for man shall not shed the blood of man. For a commandment I give, that every man’s brother shall preserve the life of man, for in mine own image have I made man.
Numbers 35:16–19[49]	And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.
2 Nephi 9:35[50]	Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.
Alma 1:13–14[51]	And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance. Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law.
Alma 1:18[52]	And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that murdered was punished unto death.
Alma 34:12[53]	But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
D&C 42:18–19[54]	And now, behold, I speak unto the church. Thou shalt not kill; and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come. And again, I say, thou shalt not kill; but he that killeth shall die.