By Jerald and Sandra Tanner

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In The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, pages 31-42, we show that the early Mormon leaders taught the doctrine of “Blood Atonement.” The Church’s own newspaper, the Deseret News, quoted Brigham Young, the second President of the Mormon Church as saying:

Now take a person in this congregation . . . and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, 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 his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, 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?”

All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by 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 brother or 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?

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 there will be) if their lives had been taken and their blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but who are now angels to the devil . . . I have known a great many men who left this church for whom there is no chance whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would have been better for them . . .

This is loving our neighbor 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 . . . that is the way to love mankind. (Sermon by Brigham Young, delivered in the Mormon Tabernacle, February 8, 1857, printed in the Deseret News, February 18, 1857)

In The Mormon Kingdom, vol. 1, we list ten offenses for which a person might have been put to death by the early Mormon leaders. They are: murder, adultery or immorality, stealing, using the name of the Lord in vain, refusing to receive the gospel, marrying an African, covenant breaking, apostasy, lying and counterfeiting.

Joseph Fielding Smith, who recently became the tenth President of the Mormon Church, made this statement concerning the doctrine of Blood Atonement:

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 own blood shed to atone, as far as possible, in their behalf. (Doctrine of Salvation, vol. 1 page 135)

Although Joseph Fielding Smith admits that Joseph Smith taught “Blood Atonement,” he is willing to admit that the Mormon people never actually practiced it:

But that the Church practices “Blood Atonement” on apostates or any others, which is preached by ministers of the “Reorganization” is a damnable falsehood for which the accusers must answer. . . .

Did you not know that not a single individual was ever “blood atoned,” as you are pleased to call it, for apostasy or any other cause? (Ibid., pages 136-137)

In volume 2 of The Mormon Kingdom we plan to show that Joseph Fielding Smith’s statement is far from the truth. We feel that we can document the fact that well over 100 people lost their lives because of the Mormon doctrine of “Blood Atonement” and the idea that those who opposed the Church should be put to death.

One case of “Blood Atonement” was reported by Sarah S. Leavitt in her record book:

The first person I spoke to after I entered Salt Lake was Dr. Vaun. He came running out of a house and appeared much pleased to see me. He said, “Well, Mrs. Leavitt, I have joined the church.” Of course, I was glad and was in hopes he had repented of his sins and would forsake them. But in this I was disappointed, for he sought the women’s company and with the help of love powders succeeded in gratifying his hellish desires. He was called up before the authorities more than once and confessed his sins and asked forgiveness. He was forgiven and he said if he was ever found guilty again his life should be the penalty. He knew the law of God required it. He was guilty again and was shot and killed. Oh, the weakness and depravity of man, to sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, or in other words, sell their souls’ salvation for a few moments of carnal pleasure. (Sarah S. Leavitt Journal, page 41)

This was probably the same case which Hosea Stout recorded in his journal on February 15, 1851:

They bring news that M.D. Hambleton on last Sunday killed Dr. J. M. Vaughan for similar conduct with Mrs. H. as took place with Dr & Foots wife last summer. (On The Mormon Frontier, The Diary of Hosea Stout, edited by Juanita Brooks, vol. 2, pages 393)

Gustive O. Larson, Professor of Church History at Brigham Young University, admits that “Blood Atonement” was actually practiced by the Mormons:

To whatever extent the preaching on blood atonement may have influenced action, it would have been in relation to Mormon disciplinary action among its own members. In point would be a verbally reported case of a Mr. Johnson in Cedar City who was found guilty of adultery with his stepdaughter by a Bishop’s Court and sentenced to death for atonement of his sin. According to the report of reputable eye witnesses, judgement was executed with consent of the offender who went to his unconsecrated grave in full confidence of salvation through the shedding of blood. Such a case, however primitive, is understandable within the meaning of the doctrine and the emotional extremes of the Reformation. (Utah Historical Quarterly, January, 1958, page 62, footnote 39)

Recently the journals of Abraham H. Cannon came to light. These journals—now located in the Special Collections Department of the Brigham Young University Library—contain some very revealing information regarding the doctrine of Blood Atonement. Under the date of December 6, 1889, the Mormon Apostle Abraham H. Cannon (son of George Q. Cannon, a member of the First Presidency) recorded the following in his journal:

About 4:30 p.m. this meeting adjourned and was followed by a meeting of Presidents Woodruff, Cannon and Smith and Bros. Lyman and Grant . . . In speaking of the recent examination before Judge Anderson Father said that he understood when he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the Martyrs. The Prophet charged Stephen Markham to avenge his blood should he be slain: after the Prophet’s death Bro. Markham attempted to tell this to an assembly of the Saints, but Willard Richards pulled him down from the stand, as he feared the effect on the enraged people.—Bro. Joseph F. Smith was traveling some years ago near Carthage when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause the man answered, “just as I have always looked up on it—that it was a d__d cold-blooded murder.” The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his open pocket knife grasped in his hand in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets he would have immediately struck him to the heart. (“Daily Journal of Abraham H. Cannon,” December 6, 1889, pages 205-206)

Photographs of the journals of Abraham H. Cannon were made before they were taken to the Brigham Young University Library. We have been offered photographs from three different sources, and therefore we are able to provide photocopies of four important pages—i.e., the pages cited above and two pages concerning the Adam-God doctrine—from these journals free upon request.

The statement cited above from the journal of the Mormon Apostle Abraham H. Cannon tends to verify our work in The Mormon Kingdom concerning the doctrine of Blood Atonement. On pages 131-137 of vol. 1, we demonstrated that the early Mormons had an “Oath of Vengeance” in their Temple ceremony in which they pledged themselves to avenge Joseph Smith’s blood. This is verified in the quotation above by the Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, when he states that his father (George Q. Cannon, a member of the First Presidency) admitted that when “he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the martyrs.”

The statement that Joseph F. Smith was about to murder a man with his “pocket knife” if he expressed approval of Joseph Smith’s death reveals the intense hatred which the early Mormon leaders felt toward their enemies. Joseph F. Smith later became the sixth President of the Mormon Church, and his son Joseph Fielding Smith recently became the tenth President of the Mormon Church.

Statements like the ones quoted above led to the death of many people in Utah. We will have a great deal more to say about this subject in our work, The Mormon Kingdom.

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