Blood Atonement – Mormonism Exposed

Published on Oct 8, 2011

The doctrine of Blood Atonement states that there are sins that the Atonement of Jesus Christ does not cover. Therefore the sinner himself must be sacrificed to receive forgiveness for their sins like the animal sacrifices made in the Old Testament. The sacrifice must include the shedding of the sinner’s blood. For example, hanging is not sufficient because it does not shed the sinner’s blood. Only modes of death that shed blood like gun shots, stabbing, decapitation, etc are sufficient. Brigham Young taught the doctrine of Blood Atonement while he was Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Brigham Young stated that if killing a sinner would save that sinner then it was just as much his duty to kill that sinner as it was to baptize that sinner. Furthermore Brigham Young stated that executing a sinner for their sins was what Jesus Christ meant when he said “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”
Mark 12:31
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Brigham Young uses the Old Testament Law as a basis for the doctrine of Blood Atonement and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness as an example of when God sacrificed people for their sins. Heber C. Kimball stated that Judas was killed as a sacrifice for his sins (breaking his covenant). “Judas lost that saving principle, and they took him and killed him. It is said in the Bible that his bowels gushed out; but they actually kicked him 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 but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. It is just so with you men and women, if you do not honour your callings and cultivate the principles you have received. It is so with you, ye Elders of Israel, when you forfeit your covenants.”
JD 6:126, Heber C. Kimball, December 13, 1857

The doctrine of Blood Atonement amounts to human sacrifice and is completely unChristian. Jesus Christ was the only sacrifice necessary for mankind to receive forgiveness for their sins.
Hebrews 10:10-14
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

In the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the law was completed and no more sacrifice of animals was needed.
Matthew 5:17
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Notice the immense difference between what Jesus Christ taught and what Brigham Young taught.
John 8:7-11
“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Jesus Christ did not condemn the adulterous women or want her stoned to death. Brigham Young taught that she must have her blood shed to atone for her sins.