Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Brigham Says to "Cut Their Throats"

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Brigham and the bowie knife - Threatening apostates?

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods A work by author: Richard Abanes

Orders to Starve Gentiles

Brigham Says to "Cut Their Throats"

The Quote

One Nation under Gods, page 236-237 (hardback)

Apostates certainly were viewed as the worst of sinners, although every reprobate received the same penalty. As Brigham instructed his flock: "If any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats."53 (emphasis added)

One Nation under Gods, page 236-237 (paperback)

Apostates certainly were viewed as the worst sinners, although every reprobate, risked similar justice. Young once said: "It was asked this morning how we could obtain redress for our wrongs; I will tell you how it could be done, we could take the same law they have taken...and if any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats."55 (emphasis added)

The Reference

Endnote 53, page 563 (hardback); page 561 (paperback)

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 2:311..

The Problems

There is also a man down the street who tried to exhibit the endowments to a party who was here. You will see what becomes of that man. Do not touch him. He has forfeited every right and title to eternal life; but let him alone, and you will see by and by what will become of him. His heart will ache, and so will the heart of every apostate that fights against Zion; they will destroy themselves. It is a mistaken idea that God destroys people, or that the Saints wish to destroy them. It is not so. The seeds of sin which are in them are sufficient to accomplish their destruction.

- Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:262. (12 August 1866).

We note that the paperback corrects the erroneous statement that Brigham "instructed" people to "cut their throats." Here is the more complete quote from Brigham's discourse, in context (the portion ONUG quotes is in bold):

It was asked this morning how we could obtain redress for our wrongs; I will tell you how it could be done, we could take the same law they have taken, viz., mobocracy, and if any miserable scoundrels come here, cut their throats. (All the people said, Amen.) This would be rooting out that treatment to wicked men, which they had measured to innocent persons. We could meet them on their own ground, when they will not honor the law, but will kill the Prophets and destroy the innocent. They could drive the innocent from their homes, take their houses and farms, cattle and goods, and destroy men, women, and children, walking over the laws of the United States, trampling them under their feet, and not honoring a single law. Suppose I should follow the example they have shown us, and say, "Latter-day Saints, do ye likewise, and bid defiance to the whole clan of such men?"

So, was Brigham giving instructions? No! When the matter was put before him, regarding what should be done to those who had come and robbed, murdered and destroyed (he had just been asked that morning), Brigham said "here's how we COULD approach it," so to speak. "Suppose I should follow the example they have shown us," he says. "I will tell you how it COULD be done." These were not instructions, by any means. Nowhere in this statement of Brigham's is he advocating the cutting of anyone's throat.

Further reading

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