The only atonement the murderer can give for his crime is the pouring out of his own blood as an offering to offended justice To this extent we believe in "blood atonement"—outside of the Great Sacrifice on the mount of crucifixion. Murder is a "sin unto death," which prayers and repentance and ordinances will not wash away. Our enemies who seek to misinterpret everything in our creed which gives them the slightest opportunity to falsity, can make what use they please of this avowal. But we do not believe in the illegal infliction of a legal punishment. He that breaks the law is amenable to the law, and the slayer of man should be punished by the shedding of his blood at the hands of the lawfully appointed executioner. Private vengeance is forbidden by the divine word and is barred by human enactment.