What is the LDS position of capital punishment?

Question

Does the Church of JCLDS have an official position on the death penalty? Are there Mormons on both sides of the issue? Or do they generally lean one way?

Answer 1

Well, coming from one who has visited people in prison, this is my two cents' worth. In the 19th century the leaders of the Church indicated that capital punishment was necessary to effect a complete repentance process, because the Atonement of Jesus Christ was not designed to cover premeditated murder. If you think about it, repentance has a major part called "restitution." If you commit murder, you in and of yourself do not have the power to make restitution on your own, that is, you can't bring the dead person back to life. Even though Jesus Christ's Atonement makes the Resurrection possible for every single person who ever lived on the earth, it was never meant as a "catch-all" for deliberate murder. That is why murder is considered as an unforgivable sin in this life. There are other truly heinous crimes which I think also merit capital punishment, but in this century, I believe the Church does not have an official position, as other answerers have indicated. What the Church does instead is have services and counseling through the prison. My dad's cousin, for example, helps with a genealogy program there. The closer we get to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the more advantageous it would be to those who are convicted of murder (or any other crime) and sent to prison to do as much repenting as possible while here on the earth, because time is running out. I believe there are some individuals who, if they were let loose from prison after committing certain crimes, would still have the same weaknesses and be subject to Satan's influence to the extent that they would commit similar crimes again. I also believe that it is possible to repent of even the worst crimes and be forgiven, but it takes time, and this is why: it takes a long time for most people to build up a series of offenses to get to the point where they would even consider committing a crime which merits the death penalty. There is usually a long string of other offenses first - and it takes a while to experience true humility and remorse rather than just being sorry one was caught and punished. At this point in time, I mostly favor life imprisonment with a limited reading program - that is, no books about violent tendencies, but rather, pro-social subjects and religion. I would favor strict limitations on viewing material as well, with no violent movies whatsoever or any suggestive ones. Obviously, most prisons have not figured this out yet.

Answer 2

It is predictable and entirely appropriate that individuals have strong emotional reactions to horrific crimes. However, a civilized society (and a political system) would be expected to take action based on more utilitarian considerations. It comes down to learning about the way the capital punishment system actually functions. 124 people on death rows have been released with proof that they were wrongfully convicted. DNA is available in less than 10% of all homicides and isn’t a guarantee we won’t execute innocent people. The death penalty doesn't prevent others from committing murder. No reputable study shows the death penalty to be a deterrent. To be a deterrent a punishment must be sure and swift. The death penalty is neither. Homicide rates are higher in states and regions that have it than in states that don’t. We have a good alternative. Life without parole is now on the books in 48 states. It means what it says. It is sure and swift and rarely appealed. Life without parole is less expensive than the death penalty. The death penalty costs much more than life in prison, mostly because of the legal process which is supposed to prevent executions of innocent people. The death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. It doesn't apply to people with money. When is the last time a wealthy person was on death row, let alone executed? The death penalty doesn't necessarily help families of murder victims. Murder victim family members across the country argue that the drawn-out death penalty process is painful for them and that life without parole is an appropriate alternative. Problems with speeding up the process. Over 50 of the innocent people released from death row had already served over a decade. If the process is speeded up we are sure to execute an innocent person.

Answer 3

The church does not have a position.
I however, do. Generally speaking, I like what a warden or sheriff (can't remember which) did/does in AZ. He takes his prisoners out in the middle of the desert - 50 - 100 miles from the nearest town and sets up tents. No air conditioning, pink "uniforms" (aka long john underware), and the only cable channel (cable is federally required for prisoners) is the Disney channel. Actually Disney is the only TV channel they get. No local channels at all. Everyone has his own cot, and they're stacked three or four high. Free access to tap water - from an actual outdoor tap, and they dig their own latrine. Everyday they are given three meals and work to do. No chains or cuffs necessary. They go out and dig holes and fill them back up again. The "mess hall" is not air conditioned. They work from sun up to sun down. This is considered Hard Time, so they are all too tired to run away, and no one has much energy to fight or revolt. They are so far away from a town that anyone who does "escape" comes back on their own in about a day and a half because they're dehydrated. The things the law says they "have" to have, they get - but only enough to fullfull the law. Each man is responsible for doing his own laundry - which is done on a washboard.
It may be extreme, but they didn't get to prison by being Girl Scouts.

Answer 4

most are in favor and Utah is pro death penalty. Of course not all Mormons will agree. but I've never heard of an official church position

Answer 5

The church never takes a stand on political issues, members are just always encouraged to use their best judgement on all the issues, choose leaders who they believe will do the best for all.
I am sure there are members on both sides. I for one think it is a double-edged sword...It seems "fair" to put someone to death for killing, but at the same time we are turning around and taking their life...I don't believe two wrongs make a right...it's hard to think about.
I guess I personally don't even have a stand on the issue.

Answer 6

The Church has no official position on it.

Answer 7

Like the other LDS stated, there are no official church position on the issue.

Other "mormon experts" who could not help to make any speculation is just not creditable.

Answer 8

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes no official stand on political matters. Such things are left to the individual and their own reasoning.

I imagine both sides of the topic are endorsed individually.

In my personal choice I support the death penalty.

Answer 9

The LDS religion has in one of it's articles of faith, to paraphrase, they believe in obeying the laws of the land. As a religion they respect that. What they believe as individuals is something you will have to ask you local Mormon friend.

Answer 10

Any religious group that claims that there is a female God, and God is married to this 'goddess' wife, and they have 'spirit children' (Mormon Doctrine pg.516) or that God used to be a man on another planet (Mormon Doctrine pg. 321) or that there is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God (Doctrines of Salvation, vol.1, pg.188) is a laughable group at best, and I could care less what their stand on capital punishment is.