The cardinal doctrine taught in the Bible is that of the atonement for the sins of man through the
shed blood and death of Jesus Christ. According to the Bible, the atonement, or death of Jesus
Christ, became necessary because of the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Between
God and man, there is a great alienation. A Holy God is unapproachable by a sinful man, and
therefore the reconciliation to God by all of humanity, who have rebelled and violated the
commands of the Creator, cannot be accomplished without the action of an intermediary. God
has demanded a penalty for the sins of mankind and that penalty is physical and spiritual death.
However, that penalty is eternal in the state in which humanity finds itself, namely in sin and
alienation. The inability of humanity to meet the holy standards of God, precludes that humanity
can approach or become reconciled to God through any method of human
achievement.
Light and erroneous views of the atonement come from light and erroneous views of sin. If sin is
regarded as merely an offense against man, a weakness of human nature, a mere disease, rather
that as rebellion, transgression, and enmity against God, and therefore something condemning
and punishable, we shall not, of course, see any necessity for the atonement. We must see sin as
the Bible depicts it, as something which brings wrath, condemnation, and eternal ruin in its train.
We must see it as guilt that needs expiation. We must see sin as God sees it before we can
denounce it as God denounces it. We confess sin today in such light and easy terms hat it has
almost lost its terror.
In view of these two thought, the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man, the question
naturally arises: How is the mercy of God to be manifested so that His holiness will not be
compromised by His assuming a merciful attitude towards sinful men in the granting of
forgiveness, pardon, justification? The answer is: The only way in which this can be done is by
means of the atonement.
The Scriptures set forth this fact in the following statements:"And He is the propitiation for our
sins: and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2). Christ's death
was the ground on which God, who is absolutely holy, could deal with the whole race of men in
mercy, and pardon their sins.
The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans, Moody Press, p. 78, 79
Mormon doctrine does not teach that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has any
consequence in relation to sin in the life of an individual Mormon. The death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ have only two affects on mankind, according to Mormon teaching:
1. His death is effectual, or efficacious, in the forgiveness of the sins of Adam and Eve only,
2. His resurrection provides for, and guarantees that all men will be resurrected after death, only
to be judged.
We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his blood; but the truth is that that blood
has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action.
Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299,
1859
I want you to see this, and to comprehend that the whole matter of our salvation is your own
business and work. What else has Jesus done? ...you examine principle in the gospel as it is
taught to you, and what requirement of that Gospel has been obeyed for you [by Christ]?
None.
Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 297,
1859
The Mormon doctrine regarding the forgiveness of sin has no connection with the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of sin and "salvation", according to Mormon doctrine,
is accomplished by the individual Mormon himself, through good works, and doing the things
demanded in the teachings of the Mormon church.
However, the Mormon church believes that there are some sins that cannot be forgiven by doing
good works or by doing what is demanded by the Mormon church. Among those sins are,
murder, adultery, marriage to a Black person, apostasy, breaking Mormon oaths of secrecy,
apostasy and many other acts. In these cases, the actual death of the individual, through the
shedding of their blood, is demanded by the Mormon church. That death is to be accomplished
by means of suicide or as an execution by members of the Mormon church.
It is true that the blood of the Son of god was shed for sins through the fall and those committed
by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit.
Prophet and president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 54,
1856
There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their god, that will not be
required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must
atone for it...
Prophet and president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p. 247,
1856
I know when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you
consider it is strong doctrine, but it is to save them not to destroy them... I know 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 thereof might ascend
to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might
have its course.
Prophet and president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p.
53
Men, who have been warned and forewarned, but who will associate with the wicked and take a
course to commit whoredom...with a view to gratify their cursed passions; we will take them and
slay them before this people.
Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 173, 1857
The doctrine of blood atonement was used as a means to justify the committing of murder,
without any authority from God. The doctrine was certainly a benefit to Brigham Young as he
used it to absolve himself from any moral violation in the numerous murders that he
commanded to be committed on behalf of the Mormon church, which he denied were even
accomplished under his authority.
Not only did the Mormon church teach the doctrine of blood atonement by man, but they also
taught that what Jesus Christ meant by "love your neighbor" was to murder your neighbor when
necessary because he has committed sins that require that the doctrine of blood atonement be
applied.
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.
Prophet and president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 220,
1857
The Bible denies that blood atonement can be accomplished by men through their own deaths. It
is the death of men that forever seals their condition in which they died. The unregenerate,
unsaved man will die in his sins.
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you
will die in your sins.
The Holy Bible, John 8:24 (NAS)
The Mormon church taught the doctrine of blood atonement as a law or command that had to be
obeyed, therefore they placed themselves under law and their attempt to gain atonement for sin
was a legalistic act. This type of accomplishment is denied by the Bible:
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of god, who loved me and gave
Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law,
then Christ died needlessly.
The Holy Bible, Galatians 3:20-21
It is not through good works, or blood atonement by suicide or murder, that men are justified by
God, but by the work or Jesus Christ in His atoning death on behalf of mankind.
I you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct
yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed
with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your
forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of
Christ.
The Holy Bible, 1 Peter 1:17-19
When the United States Government finally brought Utah under federal control and
implemented the laws of the United States, the Mormon church could no longer practice the
doctrine of blood atonement without fear of prosecution. This certainly did not make the
Mormon leadership happy in any manner. The reality of what Mormon leadership had planned
came out in their statements regarding the doctrine. The Mormon leadership envisioned that
Utah would be a separate country, disassociated from the control and laws of the United States.
The doctrine of blood atonement could then be practiced freely, being used to justify any
number of murders because of claimed infractions, including, disagreement with Mormon
leadership, apostasy and refusing to accept the Mormon beliefs. Far from being a doctrine that
was designed to save mens souls, it was to be used, and was used by Brigham Young, as a
political tool to coerce and maintain an attitude of fear in regards to the leadership and authority
of the Mormon church.
Although prevented from carrying out their doctrine of blood atonement, Mormon leaders
looked forward to the day when they believed that once again they could engage in the practice
with impunity:
The time is coming when justice will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet; when
we shall ask, 'Are you for God?' and if you are not heartily on the Lord's side, you will be hewn
down.
Prophet and president Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10, p.
110
Because of the laws of the land and the prejudices of the nation, and the ignorance of the world,
this law can not be carried out, but when the time comes that the law of God shall be in full
force upon the earth, then this penalty will be inflicted for those crimes..."
Apostle Charles W. Penrose, , p. 70
It was certainly the vision of the Mormon leadership that their country be maintained through a
pure and absolute belief in the doctrines of the Mormon church. Any person that was found in
the country that did not accept the Mormon church would be murdered - not after a trial - but on
the spot. If they had been given the ability to carry out their doctrine to its logical end, it would
have meant the death of every non-Mormon, not only in the United States, but in the entire
world
END OF ARTICLE
|
COPYRIGHT © 2001 by ON
DOCTRINE & ONDOCTRINE.COM, All Rights Reserved