Brigham Young Preaching Murder in the 1850s
Note: Brigham Young was blunt in conversation versus the written word.
In
my conversation, I shall talk and act as I please. Still I am always
aware, when speaking in public, that there are those present who are
disposed to find fault with this people, and to try to raise a
prejudice against them; and they will pick up isolated words and
sentences, and put them together to suit themselves, and send forth a
garbled version to prejudice the world against us. Such a course I
never care anything about; for I have frequently said, spoken words are
but wind, and when they are spoken are gone; consequently I take
liberties in speaking which I do not allow when I commit my sentiments
to writing. Journal of Discourses, Volume 2, page 179, February 18,
1855.
Note: Brigham Young declared murdering apostates is a good work.
I
will tell you a dream that I had last night. I dreamed that I was in
the midst of a people who were dressed in rags and tatters, they had
turbans upon their heads, and these were also hanging in tatters. The
rags were of many colors, and, when the people moved, they were all in
motion. Their object in this appeared to be, to attract attention. Said
they to me, “We are Mormons, brother Brigham.” “No, you are not,” I
replied. “But we have been,” said they, and they began to jump, and
caper about, and dance, and their rags of many colors were all in
motion, to attract the attention of the people. I said, “You are no
Saints, you are a disgrace to them.” Said they, “We have been Mormons.”
By and by, along came some mobocrats, and they greeted them with, “How
do you do, sir, I am happy to see you.” They kept on that way for an
hour. I felt ashamed of them, for they were in my eyes a disgrace to
“Mormonism.” Then I saw two ruffians, whom I knew to be mobbers and
murderers, and they crept into a bed, where one of my wives and
children were. I said, “You that call yourselves brethren, tell me, is
this the fashion among you?” They said, “O, they are good men, they are
gentlemen.” With that, I took my large bowie knife, that I used to wear
as a bosom pin in Nauvoo, and cut one of their throats from ear to ear,
saying, “Go to hell across lots.” The other one said, “You dare not
serve me so.” I instantly sprang at him, seized him by the hair of the
head, and, bringing him down, cut his throat, and sent him after his
comrade; then told them both, if they would behave themselves they
should yet live, but if they did not, I would unjoint their necks. At
this I awoke.
I
say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath
my bowie knife, and conquer or die. [Great commotion in the
congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the
declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be
put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. [Voices, generally,
“go it, go it.”] If you say it is right, raise your hands. [All hands
up.] Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good
work. Journal of Discourses, Volume 1, page 83, March 27, 1853.
Note: Brigham Young declared murder of those caught in sin is justified.
A
few of the men and women who go into the house of the Lord, and receive
their endowments, and in the most sacred manner make covenants before
the Almighty, go and violate those covenants. Do I have compassion on
them? Yes, I do have mercy on them, for there is something in their
organization which they do not understand; and there are but few in
this congregation who do understand it.
You say, “That man ought to die for transgressing the law of God.” Let
me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your
wife, and put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified,
and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom
of God. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such
circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put
a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands. But
you who trifle with your covenants, be careful lest in judging you will
be judged.
Every man and woman has got to have clean hands and a pure heart, to
execute judgment, else they had better let the matter alone.
Again, suppose the parties are not caught in their iniquity, and it
passes along unnoticed, shall I have compassion on them? Yes, I will
have compassion on them, for transgressions of the nature already
named, or for those of any other description. If the Lord so orders it
that they are not caught in the act of their iniquity, it is pretty
good proof that He is willing for them to live; and I say let them live
and suffer in the flesh for their sins, for they will have it to do.
There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their
God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ
will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it; and the
judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or later, and every man and
woman will have to atone for breaking their covenants. To what degree?
Will they have to go to hell? They are in hell enough now. I do not
wish them in a greater hell, when their consciences condemn them all
the time. Let compassion reign in our bosoms. Try to comprehend how
weak we are, how we are organized, how the spirit and the flesh are
continually at war. Journal of Discourses, Volume 3, page 247, March
16, 1856.
Note: Brigham Young declared murder is for the atonement of sins.
There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive
forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had
their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly
willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke
thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the
smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the
case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world.
I
know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from
the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine; but it is to save
them, not to destroy them.
Of
all the children of Israel that started to pass through the wilderness,
none inherited the land which had been promised, except Caleb and
Joshua, and what was the reason? It was because of their rebellion and
wickedness; and because the Lord had promised Abraham that he would
save his seed.
They had to travel to and fro to every point of the compass, and were
wasted away, because God was determined to save their spirits. But they
could not enter into His rest in the flesh, because of their
transgressions, consequently He destroyed them in the wilderness.
I
do know that there are sins committed, of such a nature that if the
people did understand the doctrine of salvation, they would tremble
because of their situation. And furthermore, I know that there are
transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition
upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to
shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an
offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that
the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come
to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins. Journal of
Discourses, Volume 4, page 53, September 21, 1856.
Note: Brigham Young declared murder is the way to love mankind.
I
could refer you to plenty of instances where men, have been righteously
slain, in order to atone for their sins. I have seen scores and
hundreds of people for whom there would have been a chance (in the last
resurrection there will be) if their lives had been taken and their
blood spilled on the ground as a smoking incense to the Almighty, but
who are now angels to the devil, until our elder brother Jesus Christ
raises them up—conquers death, hell, and the grave. I have known a
great many men who have left this Church for whom there is no chance
whatever for exaltation, but if their blood had been spilled, it would
have been better for them. The wickedness and ignorance of the nations
forbid this principle's being in full force, but the time will come
when the law of God will be in full force.
This is loving our neighbor as ourselves; if he needs help, help him;
and if he wants salvation and it is necessary to spill his blood on the
earth in order that he may be saved, spill it. Any of you who
understand the principles of eternity, if you have sinned a sin
requiring the shedding of blood, except the sin unto death, would not
be satisfied nor rest until your blood should be spilled, that you
might gain that salvation you desire. That is the way to love mankind.
Journal of Discourses, Volume 4, page 220, February 8, 1857.
Note: Brigham Young declared the Danites would execute judgment.
I
will now tell you something. It is a secret; and I wish you to keep it
to yourselves. There have been men here who have had their plans
arranged for robbing; and I will take the liberty to say that, when we
find them, “judgment will be laid to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet.” Those are my feelings, and I express them plainly, that the
good and honest may be able to pass from the Eastern States to
California, and back and forth, in peace. And when a “Mormon”
unlawfully disturbs anybody, I say, let him be overtaken by a
“Vigilance Committee.” And when mobocrats come here, they will find a
“Vigilance Committee.” Now, listeners, send that to the States, if you
wish. I want the people in the States to know that there are a few poor
curses here, and also to know that we do not want a gang of highwaymen
here. And I say to all such characters, if you come here and practice
your iniquity, we will send you home quick, whenever we can catch and
convict you. I wish such characters would let the boys have a chance to
lay their hands on them.
If
men come here and do not behave themselves, they will not only find the
Danites, whom they talk so much about, biting the horses' heels, but
the scoundrels will find something biting their heels. In my plain
remarks, I merely call things by their right names. Brother Kimball is
noted in the States for calling things by their right names, and you
will excuse me if I do the same. Journal of Discourses, Volume 5, page
6, July 5, 1857.
Note: Any Mormon who saves their property would be “sheared down.”
I
do not want to be angry, nor to have my feelings wrought up; but I
cannot keep quiet under the continued outrageous tyranny of the wicked.
I
have said that if the brethren will have faith, the Lord will fight our
battles, and we will have the privilege of living here in peace. I have
counted the cost to this people of a collision with our enemies; but I
cannot begin to count the cost it will be to them.
I
have told you that if this people will live their religion, all will be
well; and I have told you that if there is any man or woman that is not
willing to destroy anything and everything of their property that would
be of use to an enemy, if left, I wanted them to go out of the
Territory; and I again say so today; for when the time comes to burn
and lay waste our improvements, if any man undertakes to shield his, he
will be sheared down; for “judgment will be laid to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet.” Now the fainthearted can go in peace;
but should that time come, they must not interfere. Before I will
suffer what I have in times gone by, there shall not be one building,
nor one foot of lumber, nor a stick, nor a tree, nor a particle of
grass and hay, that will burn, left in reach of our enemies. I am
sworn, if driven to extremity, to utterly lay waste, in the name of
Israel's God. Journal of Discourses, Volume 5, page 232, September 13,
1857.