Capital Punishment
The issue of capital punishment is often filled with strong opinions and heated debate. From a moral standpoint weighing the relative cases is easy and to come to different conclusions, each using their own rationalization. I find it interesting that with all of the discussion on capital punishment, how is it that no one has referred to the vast resource of material written by leaders of the LDS Church.
One article discussing the issue mentioned that the LDS Church has made no official statement concerning the death penalty. From a political view it is logical to avoid giving anyone a precedence, whether real or imagined, to take the law into their own hands. Despite this approach, there is no shortage of statements on capital punishment, from a theological point of view.
Looking back into biblical history, we find repeated accounts of mandated execution. Exodus 21:12 clearly states, "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death." Even before the time of the Law of Moses God declared in the time of Noah, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed" (Gen 9:6). In the Book of Mormon, living under the Law of Moses, they mandated execution for crimes defined as capital offences. "And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death. And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law" (Alma 62:9-10). In the current dispensation the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, "Thou shalt not kill; but he that killeth shall die" (D&C 42:19). In the same section we are informed that such a responsibility is upon the civil authorities. We can however see that capital punishment is not without a scriptural precedent.
The question often arises why the Lord, infinitely loving and merciful, would kill anyone. John Taylor explains, "the inhabitants of the old world, and of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, because it was better for them to die, and thus be deprived of their agency, which they abused, than entail so much misery on their posterity, and bring ruin upon millions of unborn persons" (The Government of God, Ch. 6). This explanation is but a beginning. In times when a theocracy is established, the execution of the criminal is an aid to his repentance. Joseph Fielding Smith commented on this with, "We do not have power to pass sentences upon [men] which involve capital punishment. In the days when there was a theocracy on the earth, then this decree was enforced. What the Lord will do in lieu of this, because we cannot destroy in the flesh, I am unable to say, but it will have to be made up in some other way" (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p. 96-97). In the day of the Christ’s second coming, the wicked will be destroyed, not merely out of justice, but also mercy. Those killed will avoid the misery of dwelling with a holy and just God under a consciousness of their own guilt (Morm 9:4).
The purpose of capital punishment is not to take revenge on the offender. It is not to relieve over crowding in the jails. It is only partially to prevent the wicked from continuing their wickedness. "It was intended to be a benefit to the murderer himself"(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers . . . Vol. 3, p.104). President Charles W. Penrose declared, "This divine law for shedding the blood of a murderer has never been repealed. It is a law given by the Almighty and not abrogated in the Christian faith. It stands on record for all time--that a murderer shall have his blood shed. He that commits murder must be slain. ‘Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.’ I know there are some benevolent and philanthropic people in these times who think that capital punishment ought to be abolished. Yet I think the Lord knows better than they. The law he ordained will have the best results to mankind in general" (Blood Atonement, p25-26, quoted by J. Fielding Smith, Answers . . . Vol. 1, p. 189).
Capital punishment does not currently work in the way God intended it. Until inspired civil authority executes judgment in righteousness, it will not meet its designed objectives: civil or religious.
P.S. Other references considered
(Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, p.136)
In pursuance of and in harmony with this scriptural doctrine, which has been the righteous law from the days of Adam to the present time, the founders of Utah incorporated in the laws of the Territory provisions for the capital punishment of those who wilfully shed the blood of their fellow men. This law, which is now the law of the State, granted unto the condemned murderer the privilege of choosing for himself whether he die by hanging, or whether he be shot, and thus have his blood shed in harmony with the law of God; and thus atone, so far as it is in his power to atone, for the death of his victim. Almost without exception the condemned party chooses the latter death.
Editorial from Deseret News, Feb 26, 1972, p. 16
Spencer W Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 129-30
James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.1, p.195 - p.196
The Government has once flourished under the guidance of trusty servants; and the Hon. Mr. Monroe, in his day, while speaking of the Constitution, says, "Our commerce has been wisely regulated with foreign nations and between the States. New States have been admitted into our Union. Our Territory has been enlarged by fair and honorable treaty, and with great advantage to the original States; the States respectively protected by the national Government, under a mild paternal system against foreign dangers, and enjoying within their separate spheres, by a wise partition of power, a just proportion of the sovereignty, have improved their police, extended their settlements, and attained a strength and maturity which are the best proofs of wholesome laws well administered. And if we look to the condition of individuals, what a proud spectacle does it exhibit! On whom has oppression fallen in any quarter of our Union? Who has been deprived of any right of person or property? -- who restrained from offering his vows in the mode which he prefers to the Divine Author of his being? It is well known that all these blessings have been enjoyed in their fullest extent; and I add, with peculiar satisfaction, that there has been no example of a capital punishment being inflicted on any one for the crime of high treason." What a delightful picture of power, policy, and prosperity! Truly the wise man's proverb is just -- Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
OFFICIAL DECLARATION. Salt Lake City, December 12th, 1889. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.3, p.184
In consequences of gross misrepresentations of the doctrines, aims and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the "Mormon" Church, which have been promulgated for years, and have recently been revived for political purposes and to prevent all aliens, otherwise qualified, who are members of the "Mormon" Church for acquiring citizenship, we deem it proper on behalf of said Church to publicly deny these calumnies and enter our protest against them.
We solemnly make the following declarations, viz:
That this Church views the shedding of human blood with the utmost abhorrence. That we regard the killing of a human being, except in conformity with the civil law, as a capital crime which should be punished by shedding the blood of the criminal, after a public trial before a legally constituted court of the land.
WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q. CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LORENZO SNOW, FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS, BRIGHAM YOUNG, MOSES THATCHER, FRANCIS M. LYMAN, JOHN HENRY SMITH, GEORGE TEASDALE, HEBER J. GRANT, JOHN W. TAYLOR, M. W. MERRILL, A. H. LUND, ABRAHAM H. CANNON, Members of the Council of the Apostles.
Copyright 1996
Last updated 9 Nov 1996
