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General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:47 pm
by I Have Questions
Elder Sumway at a devotional in Utah.
As followers of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints believe in the “sanctity of human life,” no matter whose it is and what they believe, said a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as he spoke Sunday in a building just minutes from where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
“Life and death are sacred,” he said, “and it must be left to God to give or to take away.”
That’s pretty unequivocal. A clear message to the judicial system that’s about to try Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer. He’s also telling Trump to stop calling for the death penalty.
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 1:10 pm
by malkie
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:47 pm
Elder Sumway at a devotional in Utah.
As followers of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints believe in the “sanctity of human life,” no matter whose it is and what they believe, said a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as he spoke Sunday in a building just minutes from where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
“Life and death are sacred,” he said, “and it must be left to God to give or to take away.”
That’s pretty unequivocal. A clear message to the judicial system that’s about to try Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer. He’s also telling Trump to stop calling for the death penalty.
Of course, the Church and its leaders have not always been against the death penalty. According to Brigham Young, certain deeds can be atoned for only by the death
and shedding of the blood of the perpetrator.
wikipedia: Blood atonement wrote:The blood atonement doctrine was the impetus behind laws that allowed capital punishment to be administered by firing squad or decapitation in both the territory and the state of Utah. Though people in Utah were executed by firing squad for capital crimes under the assumption that this would aid their salvation, there is no clear evidence that Young or other top theocratic Mormon leaders enforced blood atonement for apostasy. There is some evidence that the doctrine was enforced a few times at the local church level without regard to secular judicial procedure. The rhetoric of blood atonement may have contributed to a culture of violence leading to the Mountain Meadows massacre.
wikipedia: Blood atonement
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 1:24 pm
by drumdude
Although Mormonism has a very disturbing and violent past history, I think a lot of Mormons would resonate with the opinion that the death penalty is unnecessary.
I think Mormonism can be a safe harbor from the more extreme elements of the modern day conservative movement. I’m happy to see church leaders provide a moderating voice.
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:00 pm
by I Have Questions
drumdude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 1:24 pm
Although Mormonism has a very disturbing and violent past history, I think a lot of Mormons would resonate with the opinion that the death penalty is unnecessary.
I think Mormonism can be a safe harbor from the more extreme elements of the modern day conservative movement. I’m happy to see church leaders provide a moderating voice.
Especially after Jeff Holland’s ridiculous musket fire analogy.
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:27 pm
by drumdude
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:00 pm
drumdude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 1:24 pm
Although Mormonism has a very disturbing and violent past history, I think a lot of Mormons would resonate with the opinion that the death penalty is unnecessary.
I think Mormonism can be a safe harbor from the more extreme elements of the modern day conservative movement. I’m happy to see church leaders provide a moderating voice.
Especially after Jeff Holland’s ridiculous musket fire analogy.
He went to a pretty good school, but that man sure is a Dodo sometimes.
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:44 pm
by sock puppet
drumdude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:27 pm
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:00 pm
Especially after Jeff Holland’s ridiculous musket fire analogy.
He went to a pretty good school, but that man sure is a Dodo sometimes.
Oh, how can that be? Holland himself has said he's not a dodo.
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:51 pm
by drumdude
sock puppet wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:44 pm
drumdude wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 6:27 pm
He went to a pretty good school, but that man sure is a Dodo sometimes.
Oh, how can that be? Holland himself has said he's not a dodo.
According to DCP, whatever an apostle says is true by definition. Checkmate, anti's!
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:25 pm
by huckelberry
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:47 pm
Elder Sumway at a devotional in Utah.
As followers of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints believe in the “sanctity of human life,” no matter whose it is and what they believe, said a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as he spoke Sunday in a building just minutes from where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
“Life and death are sacred,” he said, “and it must be left to God to give or to take away.”
That’s pretty unequivocal. A clear message to the judicial system that’s about to try Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer. He’s also telling Trump to stop calling for the death penalty.
Questions, I can certainly see how you can see these implications in the comments. Curious I read through the link and there was no mention of capitol punishment. There was no mention of firing squad or other methods in Utah law.
Perhaps the speaker was more interested in people's stability in troubled times. Perhaps directly addressing capitol punishment was a step too far now, ever?
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2025 6:56 am
by I Have Questions
huckelberry wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:25 pm
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 12:47 pm
Elder Sumway at a devotional in Utah. That’s pretty unequivocal. A clear message to the judicial system that’s about to try Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer. He’s also telling Trump to stop calling for the death penalty.
Questions, I can certainly see how you can see these implications in the comments. Curious I read through the link and there was no mention of capitol punishment. There was no mention of firing squad or other methods in Utah law.
Perhaps the speaker was more interested in people's stability in troubled times. Perhaps directly addressing capitol punishment was a step too far now, ever?
He implicitly includes any and all methods of capitol punishment by stating “Life and death are sacred,” he said, “and it must be left to God to give or to take away.”
Re: General Authority says the Church and its members are against the death penalty
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 12:35 am
by huckelberry
I Have Questions wrote: ↑Wed Sep 24, 2025 6:56 am
huckelberry wrote: ↑Tue Sep 23, 2025 10:25 pm
Questions, I can certainly see how you can see these implications in the comments. Curious I read through the link and there was no mention of capitol punishment. There was no mention of firing squad or other methods in Utah law.
Perhaps the speaker was more interested in people's stability in troubled times. Perhaps directly addressing capitol punishment was a step too far now, ever?
He implicitly includes any and all methods of capitol punishment by stating “Life and death are sacred,” he said, “and it must be left to God to give or to take away.”
I have a Question, you are certainly correct in your observation. My question was wondering just how far and with what strength the view will be pushed. Utah made high visibility statements threatening capitol punishment for Mr Kirk's killer. Which views will get more support. It may be this relatively new Mormon view will determine the outcome. Capitol punishment has lost a lot of its popularity.