DonBradley wrote:And, KA, is it just my imagination or has the subject raised by Bond come up before?
Yes, it's come up before, it's up again now, and no doubt it will be raised again later. I can sometimes have that effect on men.
The early Utah period, when castrations apparently occurred, is not my area of specialization. I'd heard of BY's teachings on many becoming "eunuchs," but didn't know the full context. This harsh punishment and the apparent associated theology could be seen as extensions of the doctrine of blood atonement.
Also, while this is merely rumor to me, I've heard the claim that the final "penalty" of the early endowment ceremony was relevant to the thread topic, and could explain these harsh punishments occasionally administered in early Utah. I have a couple friends who claim to have evidence for this, but have never looked into it in detail myself.
Also of possible peripheral interest is the alleged near-castration of Joseph Smith by one of Nancy Marinda Johnson's brothers. And, of course, Smith's doctrine that all those not achieving exaltation would be eternally celibate might have contributed an additional rationale for castration as a punishment.
Don
Hmmm...I haven't heard of the alleged near castration of Smith until now, unless I've read it and forgotten it, which is entirely possible. I'll have to check it out.
Thank you, Don (Juan) Bradley.
KA