3 Mar, 1849 - At council of Fifty meeting, Brigham Young speaks concerning thieves, murderers, and sexually licentious: " I want their cursed heads to be cut off that they may atone for their crimes." Next day, the council agrees that man has "forfeited his Head," and decides it would be best "to dispose of him privately." Instead, they allow him to live.
12 Sep, 1858 - Church historian's office notes discovery this morning of severed head of Provo woman who has been at U.S. military camp for a week. Six weeks earlier another woman's head is discovered. These are earliest verified examples of someone taking literally the repeated teachings of Mormon leaders that apostates and adulterers should have their heads "cut off" as "blood atonement" for their sins.
Thanks, Sophocles,
There were other instances of beheadings by Mormons in early Utah, as well. These concerned Ute Indians. Apparently, dozens were beheaded by early settlers and in some cases the severed heads were sent back East in exchange for money.
I had never heard about the "Blackhawk Wars" in Utah before reading about this under "Mormon beheadings" . Doubtless this was not seen as a big deal (let alone capital murder) at the time (or since) because it was well known that the Ute Indians were descendants of the God-cursed Lamanites.
David Hume: "---Mistakes in philosophy are merely ridiculous, those in religion are dangerous."
DrW: "Mistakes in science are learning opportunities and are eventually corrected."
PrickKicker wrote:I read about a promiscuous young man who was castrated by the Elders, Back in Brighams day.
This sounds familiar. I wonder if it is the same incident wherein an elderly polygamous bishop by the name of Snow wanted for his third or fourth wife a young comely girl in Manti. The girl was determined to marry a young man in the town and wanted nothing of Snow's offer. The girl's beau, who was similarly stubborn, was talked to and an attempt was made to 'reason' with him. Mission calls to far-away places were apparently insufficient to dislodge him from his intended course. Bishop Snow and other priesthood holders eventually beat him up, tied him up and sliced off his scrotum with a bowie knife. That portion of the young man that was removed was then nailed to the schoolhouse wall, and the Saints of Manti were called upon to see it and gain a greater understanding of the importance of obeying priesthood leaders.
PrickKicker wrote:I read about a promiscuous young man who was castrated by the Elders, Back in Brighams day.
This sounds familiar. I wonder if it is the same incident wherein an elderly polygamous bishop by the name of Snow wanted for his third or fourth wife a young comely girl in Manti. The girl was determined to marry a young man in the town and wanted nothing of Snow's offer. The girl's beau, who was similarly stubborn, was talked to and an attempt was made to 'reason' with him. Mission calls to far-away places were apparently insufficient to dislodge him from his intended course. Bishop Snow and other priesthood holders eventually beat him up, tied him up and sliced off his scrotum with a bowie knife. That portion of the young man that was removed was then nailed to the schoolhouse wall, and the Saints of Manti were called upon to see it and gain a greater understanding of the importance of obeying priesthood leaders.
beefcalf wrote:This sounds familiar. I wonder if it is the same incident wherein an elderly polygamous bishop by the name of Snow wanted for his third or fourth wife a young comely girl in Manti. The girl was determined to marry a young man in the town and wanted nothing of Snow's offer. The girl's beau, who was similarly stubborn, was talked to and an attempt was made to 'reason' with him. Mission calls to far-away places were apparently insufficient to dislodge him from his intended course. Bishop Snow and other priesthood holders eventually beat him up, tied him up and sliced off his scrotum with a bowie knife. That portion of the young man that was removed was then nailed to the schoolhouse wall, and the Saints of Manti were called upon to see it and gain a greater understanding of the importance of obeying priesthood leaders.
Not one of the more faith promoting episodes in Mormon History, is it?
Why isn't this included in the Seminary curriculum for the year on Church History?
“We look to not only the spiritual but also the temporal, and we believe that a person who is impoverished temporally cannot blossom spiritually.” Keith McMullin - Counsellor in Presiding Bishopric
"One, two, three...let's go shopping!" Thomas S Monson - Prophet, Seer, Revelator
This inspired me to post several videos on my Facebook...
"Ricky G on Atheism" "The invention of lying" "Critical writing"
-Why questioning everything, and not faith...is the key to seeking truth.
Ask and you shall receive? - BS!
How does that coexist with FAITH?
More like Don't question just trust me, I know better.
PrickKicker: I used to be a Narrow minded, short sighted, Lying, Racist, Homophobic, Pious, Moron. But they were all behavioral traits that I had learnt through Mormonism.
Comparing Mormonism to extremist Islam, prefaced with the shooting of a teenage girl for helping spread female education, seems KIND OF extreme and unfair. Just a little.
Maybe comparing Mormonism with Puritanism- all the judging and politics. Mountain Meadows was our Salem Witch trial. Re-read the Scarlet Letter and you're in present day Utah, but instead of the 'A' make it a sleeveless shirt. The 12 are Jonathon Edwards. The rest of the world is reprobate outside of their bubble in the Northeast.