Recently I had a chance to enter an online chat with a group of LDS people. The purpose of the group was to talk about modern topics according to an LDS perspective. On entering this dialogue I assumed that the viewpoints would all be relatively the same. This turned out not to be the case!
Official View of the LDS Church
The topic of discussion was on Capital Punishment, which I thought would be an interesting topic to share with you, the reader. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' official view on capital punishment is found at: http://newsroom.lds.org/official-statement/capital-punishment The statement reads as follows: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regards the question of whether and in what circumstances the state should impose capital punishment as a matter to be decided solely by the prescribed processes of civil law. We neither promote nor oppose capital punishment."
This statement shows two things: first the LDS Church believes the civil authorities should decide if capital punishment should be used. Second, the Church is not going to promote or oppose such laws! As good citizens it is up to us to vote in laws and enforcers of those laws. We are fortunate as an LDS people because the scriptures have much to say on capital punishment. (In this post I will only be referring to the capital punishment of murderers.)
The Arguments that Spawned this Discussion
The LDS group I talked with used some scriptures out of context, to show why they believed murderers should not be killed. They used Ezek 33:11 "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked," and Ex 20:13 "Thou shalt not kill." For Ezek 33:11 this scripture does not show that the murderer ought not to die, it just states that the Lord does not delight in their death! As for Ex 20:13, the reader would only need to read 25 more verses to see that "thou shalt not kill" doesn't refer to capital punishment. This verse is in fact giving the command not to murder and if you do Ex 21:12 says "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death."
What the Old Testament teaches about Capital Punishment
The scriptures are pretty clear and consistent with what the punishment ought to be for murderers.
Lev 24:17 "And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death."
Lev 24:21 "And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death."
Num 35:16 "And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murder: the murderer shall surely be put to death."
Num 35:17 "And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."
Num 35:18 "Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death."
Num 35:30-31 "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death."
The Book of Mormon on Capital Punishment
In fact the other books of scriptures echo what has been stated above.
2 Ne 9:35 "Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die."
Alma 1:13 "And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance."
Alma 1:18 "And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that murdered was punished unto death."
Alma 30:10 "But if he murdered he was punished unto death."
Alma 34:11-12 "Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered."
Alma 42:19 "Now, if there was no law given-if a man murdered he should die-would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?"
Doctrine and Covenants on Capital Punishment
In addition to these examples modern day revelation also confirms the fate of murderers. D&C 134:8 teaches "We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense: that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed." So what type of punishment would fit the offense for a murderer? D&C 42:19 tells us "And again, I say, thou shalt not kill: but he that killeth shall die." To clarify who should administer the punishment of death in the case of a murderer D&C 42:79 states "And it shall come to pass, that if any persons among you shall kill they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the laws of the land." Also consider this point; some people believe that though you should not put a murderer to death for his crimes, it is perfectly right to protect yourself even to the shedding of blood. “We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances…but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.”(D&C 134:11) If you believe that it is wrong to put a murderer to death after he has committed his crime, then it should be doubly wrong to kill him before he has committed it!
New Testament Does not Rescind Capital Punishment
Paul refers Timothy to the use of civil laws "But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murders of mothers, for manslayers"( 1 Tim 1:8-9) Paul knowing the righteousness of capital punishment made a defense before the civil authorities in his own cases "Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die"(Acts 25:10-11)
Conclusion
With the above scriptures given, I posed a question that has yet to be answered: where in the scripture that says the life of the murderer should be spared?
Some people may try to argue for, the exception to the rule, in the case of murderers. But the scriptures have been very clear and consistent in regards to how God instructs us to punish those who murder! Some people may believe in prolonging the life of a murderer in hopes that they will repent. But they forget that the final judge (GOD) believes he can better pass judgment on murderers once they have paid the penalty for their crimes....and who are we to deny him that appointment!?!
No comments:
Post a Comment