In the Salt Lake School of the
Prophets, President John Taylor, after explaining that those who were endowed
were more responsible for their sins than others, remarked that he personally
would not have his children endowed before they were mature enough because
“they would have to take upon themselves obligations and responsibilities which
they might not be prepared to fill.” He then explicitly taught that D&C
132:26 referred to Blood Atonement and graphically used the Endowment penalties
to illustrate his point:
“I now speak of the laws of God
being carried out and we are supposed to carry them out. I cannot feel in the
least to have people who commit adultery continued members of this Church—that
is people who have entered into these [sacred [endowment] covenants. If there is
any way for their redemption it is not made manifest to me. Furthermore, the
law says that they shall be destroyed. I would not want to place
responsibilities upon people until their minds and character were matured, to
enable them to act wisely, prudently, and intelligent, and to magnify their
calling.
What is meant then—I am among men
who understand these matters—by the passage in the revelation where it says
that ‘they that are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, according to mine
appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and
everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, aid they commit
no murder, wherein they shed innocent blood—yet they shall come forth in the
first resurrection and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed
in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day
of redemption’ [D&C 132:26]? Well, it is just on the same principle Peter
spoke of, to people in his day. He said, ‘Repent ye, therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ which
before was preached unto you.’ [Acts 3:19] Now, why would be the law of God if
carried out?—What is it to be destroyed in the flesh? What does that mean?
{[Penal Signs of the Priesthood.} You all know. What does this mean? {Another
[penal] sign of the Priesthood.} You all know. (Salt Lake School of the
Prophets Minutes <27 September 1883> pages 493-494)
Yet John Taylor then added “I will
mention another case which will serve to throw a little light upon both points
that have been discussed. There was the case of a young woman who had committed
adultery. When she went through the Endowment House she was about 16 or 17
years of age and did not comprehend the nature of the obligations into which
she was entering, which is the position of a great many. Well, she committed
adultery. The man who committed this act with her stood in another position. He
was more aged and ought to have understood things better, and to know what he
was doing. That man cannot be forgiven. The other would be considered as of
non-age. That is the way I have looked at that case.” (Salt Lake School of
the Prophets Minutes <27 September 1883> pages 493-494) (Jacob
Vidrine, “The Restoration of Adamic Ordinances Animal Sacrifice, Circumcision,
and the Restoration of All Things, Part 2: History,” One Eternal Round: A
Magazine Dedicate to Mormon History and Theology, no. 14 [July 15, 2020]:
43-45)
Further Reading