Denying Blood Atonement…Kind Of

Mormon Doctrine, p. 92; “From the days of Joseph Smith to the present, wicked and evilly‑disposed persons have fabricated false and slanderous stories to the effect that the Church, in the early days of this dispensation, engaged in a practice of blood atonement whereunder the blood of apostates and others was shed by the Church as an atonement for their sins… there is not one historical instance of so‑called blood atonement in this dispensation, nor has there been one event or occurrence whatever, of any nature, from which the slightest inference arises that any such practice either existed or was taught…. But under certain circumstances there are some serious sins for which the cleansing of Christ does not operate, and the law of God is that men must then have their own blood shed to atone for their sins.” – Bruce R. McConkie

Mormonism Unveiled – Confessions of John D. Lee; “The Mormons believe in blood atonement. It is taught by the leaders, and believed by the people, that the Priesthood are inspired and cannot give a wrong order.” (p 279) “It is the belief of all that I ever heard talk of these things — and I have been with the Church since the dark days in Jackson County — that the authority that orders is the only responsible party and the Danite who does the killing only an instrument, and commits no wrong (p279)…. Punishment by death is the penalty for refusing to obey the orders of the Priesthood.”  (p 281) John D. Lee Diaries

”I do not believe everything that is now being taught and practiced by Brigham Young. I do not care who hears it. It is my last word… I have been sacrificed in a cowardly, dastardly manner.” – Last words and the execution of John D. Lee as reported by his attorney, William W. Bishop, in Mormonism Unveiled; or the Life and Confession of John D. Lee, p 388

You can find the quote above on our site in the ‘Blood Atonement’ section here.

McConkie’s claim that blood atonement wasn’t practiced, nor preached, is an outrageous lie. Even today, Utah still engages in this principle with their method of capital punishment. Our question today is this:

If they believe so strongly in something, why do they make excuses for and/or lie about it? Are they ashamed?