Treatment of Apostates

ME: I’d like to talk now about the treatment of those members of the church that have fallen into disagreement with the brethren or have fully apostatized. In the modern church, such individuals may be excommunicated and shunned, but probably not much more. But I have read that dissenters were especially unwelcome in early Utah. Elder Kimball, how do you feel about those who, in your estimation, have fallen away? Does blood atonement apply to them, as well?

HCK: If men turn traitors to God and His servants, their blood will surely be shed, or else they will be damned, and that too according to their covenants.^[63] 

ME: So it does apply… Surely there are those that will loose their faith. Then again, are they not free to? Do you really think it necessary to kill them or drive them away? 

HCK: I have not a doubt but there will be hundreds who will leave us and go away to our enemies. I wish they would go this fall: it might relieve us from much trouble…^[64] 

ME: President Young, do you agree with Elder Kimball? 

BY: I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheath [sic] my bowie knife, and conquer or die…^[65]   

ME: Before you unsheathe your knife, what message would you send them? Surely you would warn them first.   

BY: Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment will be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet… Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this, and every good work.^[66] 

ME: It seems as though you consider apostasy on par with, or even worse than murder and adultery. You and the early Saints were driven from state to state by brutally violent and malicious men. Do you really consider those that fall out of the faith as no better than a murderous mob? 

BY: What will you do with all those who have sought to kill you? Make them soap-boilers and kitchen flunkeys, we are not going to send them into hell fire, for it takes a good Latter-day Saint apostatized to get down that deep (did I say bottomless?) pit. A person, to become an angel of the Devil, has first to be a good Saint, and then deny the Lord who bought him.^[67]   

ME: Elder Hyde, how do you see all this? How would you approach those that have lost their faith? 

OH: I would have a tendency to place terror on those who leave these parts, that may prove their salvation when they see the heads of thieves taken off, or shot down before the public....  I believe it to be pleasing in the sight of heaven to sanctify ourselves and put these things away from our midst.^[68]  

ME: So I gather you’re not inclined to work with them, pray for them, or show them compassion. If I understand President Young and Elder Kimball correctly, it’s simply ‘kill them or drive them out.’ 

ME: Elder Ballard, Elder Theodore M. Burton said the following: “When a person is disciplined, he should not be thrust out and abandoned by his associates. It is exactly at that time that we need to show increased love for such people, to teach and show them the way back to God.”^[69] Do you agree with this sentiment, or do you share President Young’s position? 

MRB: Both the Lord and his church stand ready with open arms to welcome back all who stray…^[70] 

ME: So you’re for mercy, then… We’ve heard President Young’s message to apostates, what would you say to them? 

MRB: To you who have not yet returned, who may still be struggling with the hurt and haven’t yet felt the healing: please allow yourself to feel the love that the Lord, his presiding authorities, and your friends in the Church feel for you. We are aware of your pain, and we pray for your healing and your return. The First Presidency has extended this special invitation: ^[71] “We are aware of some who are inactive, of others who have become critical and are prone to find fault, and of those who have been disfellowshipped or excommunicated because of serious transgressions…To all such we reach out in love. We are anxious to forgive. … We encourage Church members to forgive those who may have wronged them. To those who have ceased activity and to those who have become critical, we say, ‘Come back. Come back and feast at the table of the Lord, and taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the Saints…^[72] 

ME: President Hinckley, do you have any insight you might share with us? 

GBH: We live in a world where there is so much of harshness. We live in a world filled with hostility and meanness… I am convinced that there comes a time, possibly many times, within our lives when we might cry out for mercy on the part of others. How can we expect it unless we have been merciful ourselves?... I plead for a stronger spirit of compassion in all of our relationships, a stronger element of mercy, for the promise is sure that if we are merciful we shall obtain mercy…Let us be more merciful… Let us be more compassionate, gentler, filled with forbearance and patience and a greater measure of respect one for another…^[73]  

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