Posted by:
Historischer
(
)
Date: June 28, 2016 01:44AM
The song says that Earth must atone for the blood of Joseph Smith, which was shed by assassins. I was thinking of how this idea affected Mormon docrines and behavior.
First of all, it sounds like a demand for generalized punishment. It's a form of original sin held against everyone on Earth, and can only be remitted by conversion to the Mormon gospel. There is no grace, solely because of Joseph Smith's blood. Almost makes him an anti-Savior of sorts.
Second, there was the oath of vengeance in the temple endowment until 1927/1930/whatever. The oath was taken against the United States. This is congruent with the idea that most Americans have heard the gospel and will be judged more harshly because of it. Also in 3 Nephi, the Lamanites are supposed to conquer or kill the Gentiles and build the New Jerusalem. Why? What did they do wrong? They rejected Joseph Smith.
Then there are the appalling hair-trigger standards of blood atonemnet. Sins that woud have been overlooked before, like a few insults from the Fancher Party, become capital crimes because of Joseph's blood. It's like the blood covenant of the endowment. Break it in the slightest way and you deserve to be killed in three different ways. Just be glad they can't do it yet because of the secular laws.
Finaly, Joseph gets to judge you however he wants to admit you to Heaven. Doesn't matter if you were a good person. He may demand that you give him your wife to get into Heaven. He may demand that you become his wife. It's a good deal; take it. It's the only way to Heaven, because he gave his life...for himself.