The doctrine of blood atonement was early inculcated by the church, as a sacrifice necessary for salvation, and not, as many have asserted, in order to legalize murder. There were the altars and the offerings of the old testament, and the great god-man sacrifice of the new. Christ made the atonement for the sins of the world by the shedding of his blood. By the laws of the land, he who commits murder must atone for it by his own death.^ There are sins of various de-
- The theory of blood atonement is that for certain sins the blood of the
transgressor must be shed to save his soul. Among these sins are apostasy, the shedding of innocent blood, and unfaithfulness to marriage obligations on the part of the wife. Says Brigham, in a discourse delivered in Salt Lake City: 'There are sins which men commit for which they cannot receive for- giveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilled 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 re- main upon them in the spirit world. 1 know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from tiie earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save them, not to destroy them. . .1 do know that there are sins committed, of such a nature that if the people did understand the doctrine of salvation they would tremble because of their situation. And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors who, if they knew them- selves and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof m.ight as- cend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further: I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. . .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, of a calf, or of turtle-doves cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man.' And at another time: 'All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known l)y 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 can- not 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 Chi-ist meant... 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 if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the almighty. . .1 have known a great many men who have left "this church for whom there is no chance wliatcver for exaltation; but if their blood had been spilled it would have been better for them. This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; it he needs help, help liim; 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.' JJef^eret News, Oct. 1, 185G, Feb. 18, 1857. Following Brigham 's lead, Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah M. Grant taught the same doctrine during the religious revival, or so-called reformation, in Utah, in 185G-7, of which more later, Grant being the most vehement of the three. The reader will find these discourses reported at length in the Deseret News. Tlie doctrine is very clearly explained in Pen-
