View source for Question: Did early Mormon leaders teach that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly?

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==Question: Did early Mormon leaders teach that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly?==
===Accusations are unsupported which seek to establish these as activities promoted, condoned, or concealed by the Church or its leaders===

While one is no doubt able to dig up examples of blood being shed by members of the Church, accusations are unsupported which seek to establish these as activities promoted, condoned, or concealed by the Church or its leaders generally.<ref>Criticisms regarding "blood atonement" are raised in the following publications: {{CriticalWork:Abanes:One Nation|pages=232-236}}; "Achilles" [pen name for Samuel D. Sirrine], ''The Destroying Angels of Mormondom; or a Sketch of the Life of Orrin Porter Rockwell, the Late Danite Chief''; {{CriticalWork:Denton:American Massacre|pages=16}}; {{QuestionsMormonsShouldAsk}}; {{CriticalWork:Hall:Abominations of Mormonism|pages=?}}; {{CriticalWork:Martin:Kingdom of the Cults|pages=236}}; {{CriticalWork:Watchman Fellowship:Articles|pages=3}}</ref>
  
As Gustave O.Larson noted in the ''Utah Historical Quarterly'':

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Denials of murder charges which rode in on the backwash of the Reformation gradually resolved into defensible positions that (1) some known killings of the reform period resulted from motives not related to blood atonement, (2) that in spite of extreme statements by some of its leaders the church did not officially condone taking life other than through legal processes, (3) responsibility for any reversions to primitive practices of blood shedding must rest upon fanatical individuals. The whole experience continued in memory as a reminder of ill effects growing out of good causes carried to extremes.<ref>Gustave O. Larson, "The Mormon Reformation," ''Utah Historical Quarterly'' 26/1 (January 1958): 62.</ref>
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The ''Deseret News'' reported the following on June 17, 2010, reporting the Church's recent statement on the subject of Blood Atonement:

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released this statement Wednesday:

In the mid-19th century, when rhetorical, emotional oratory was common, some church members and leaders used strong language that included notions of people making restitution for their sins by giving up their own lives.

However, so-called "blood atonement," by which individuals would be required to shed their own blood to pay for their sins, is not a doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We believe in and teach the infinite and all-encompassing atonement of Jesus Christ, which makes forgiveness of sin and salvation possible for all people.<ref>See ''[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700041267/Mormon-church-statement-on-blood-atonement.html Deseret News]'' Thursday, June 17, 2010</ref>
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[[Category:American Massacre]]
[[Category:One Nation Under Gods]]
[[Category:The Changing World of Mormonism]]

[[de:Frage: Haben die frühen Mormonenführer diesen Abfall die unverzeihliche Sünde gelehrt, und dass das einzige, was ein Abtrünniger tun konnte, um sich selbst zu erlösen, sein eigenes Leben geben würde, bereitwillig oder unfreiwillig?]]
[[pt:Pergunta: primeiros líderes mórmons ensinam que a apostasia foi o pecado imperdoável, e que a única coisa que um apóstata poderia fazer para se redimir era dar a sua própria vida, querendo ou não?]]
[[Category:Questions]]