It is His blood that saves us, not our own. The Mormons teach that we are saved through the atonement of Christ. It was written for those who lived far from the central church. The Journal of Discourses was intended to be used like a newspaper, not a book of scripture or doctrine. General Conferences, the semi-annual gathering of the Mormons, was different then than it is now, and in the first year of the Church, attendees could even ask the speakers questions and get opinions from them. They are based on notes taken by listeners and were not vetted by the leaders themselves. However, this record is not an official church publication and the talks were not recorded and were not official versions. Many people use as their source for this teaching the Journal of Discourses, a book containing various talks by early church leaders. Blood atonement is one such belief, arising out of the common beliefs of the time. Unless a belief has been canonized, it is not official doctrine. However, when the Church was younger and smaller, this was not always true. In today’s world, where the most casual statement can live forever on the Internet, leaders often preface opinions with a reminder that this is what they are. In past times, leaders were not as cautious about this as they are today. Sometimes they discuss these personal beliefs in public. Prophets, like everyone else, have agency and intelligence and, when a specific doctrine has not been given to us from God, is permitted to make his own decision. Many people do not realize that every word spoken by a prophet or other church leader is not official doctrine. 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.” ( See Mormon Church Statement on Blood Atonement.) 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. 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. Mormons believe we are saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
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