It comes as no major surprise to any well-studied member of the Church that Brigham Young taught some things which today would be considered strange. Some might be aware of his beliefs in extraterrestrial life, for example (specifically that of life existing on the Sun.)
“So it is with regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain.” [1]
Perhaps this quote is neither here nor there. After all, Brigham Young was not an astronomer. He was, though, a Prophet. (At least he was believed to be one.) His religious beliefs, then, are very much here, and very much there. They do matter. If he was expected to know and understand one thing, it would be the gospel and the doctrine of God.
In the early days of the Church, there was a doctrine, widely taught, known as “Blood Atonement.” The doctrine was this: there are some sins which are so deep that the atoning blood of Jesus Christ is insufficient to heal. Thus, the sinner must be required to shed his own blood upon the earth in atonement for his sins.
There has been an attempt by modern Church leaders and apologists to place this teaching in a dark, recessed corner of Church history. Some have claimed that the doctrine was rarely taught, and when it was, it was merely “theoretical.”
This is not the case.
The doctrine was frequently taught regarding the members of the mob which killed the Prophet Joseph. Brigham Young spoke of the mobsters, saying that they ought to “chop” their own heads in atonement for their crime.
“I will tell you how much I love those characters. If they had any respect to their own welfare, they would come forth and say, whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, ‘We shed his blood, and now let us atone for it;’ and 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.” [2]
Brigham’s doctrine went further. Those who were caught in adultery were told to shed their own blood as well.
“The time has been in Israel under the law of God, the celestial law, or that which pertains to the celestial law, for it is one of the laws of that kingdom where our Father dwells, that if a man was found guilty of adultery, he must have his blood shed, and that is near at hand.” [3]
Brigham Young taught it again, this time claiming that some sins could not be atoned for without the shedding of one’s own blood:
“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? That is what Jesus Christ meant.”
“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 or rest until your blood should be spilled, that you might gain the salvation you desire. This is the way to love mankind.” [4]
In his Journal of Discourses, he repeated the principle.
“Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved… and suppose that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin and may be saved and exalted with the God, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, ‘shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?”
“I know that 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 might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course.”
“This is loving your neighbour 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.” [5]
Apologists have claimed that this doctrine was one which was only taught by Brigham Young, and Brigham Young, being a product of his times and an eccentric human being, was not to blame for preaching a false doctrine.
Again, this is false.
While Brigham Young laid the foundation for the doctrine to be taught, the doctrine was preached again and again by numerous Church leaders.
Apostle Jebediah M. Grant, Brigham Young’s second counselor, taught the same doctrine to Latter-day Saints.
“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.” [6]
Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith taught the doctrine again, in his “Doctrines of Salvation.”
“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.”[7]
Blood Atonement was not a secret doctrine, taught in small circles. It was the doctrine of Christ. It was “scriptural doctrine…taught in all the standard works of the Church.”
Today, the doctrine is no longer taught. In fact, it has been condemned by modern Church leaders. In 2010, Church officials published a statement regarding Blood Atonement, calling it a false doctrine.
“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.” [8]
Blood Atonement is a rather heinous file in the archive of abandoned Church Doctrines. What happened to it? Where’s it gone? It, like so many other doctrines, has been buried by time. “But,” you say, “the doctrines of Christ should never be buried! They are the gospel, and what truth can a dynamic gospel have? Wouldn’t Christ step in if his doctrines were being covered up, or if incorrect doctrines were being taught?”
There seems to be no simple answer to these questions. What of the Saints who followed their leaders’ teachings? Was their blood shed in vain? Were their lives lost for nothing?
[1] Brigham Young, “The Gospel—The One-Man Power,” 24 July 1870, Journal of Discourses 13:270
[2] Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 2, p. 179, February 18, 1855
[3] Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 4, p. 219
[4] Brigham Young, Deseret News, April 16, 1856
[5] Sermon by President Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, printed in the Deseret News, February 18, 1857
[6] Jebediah M. Grant, Journal of Discourses, v. 4, pp. 49-51
[7] Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, v. 1, pp. 135-136, 1954
[8] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret News, Thursday, June 17, 2010
