The church took an initial stand against the death penalty by
the Standing High Council in 1995. At the April 2000 World Conference an
approximately two-thirds majority voted in favor of the following resolution:
Healing Ministry and Capital Punishment
World Conference Resolution 1273
Adopted April 8, 2000
Whereas, An increasing amount of research clearly documents
the ineffectiveness of the use of the death penalty as a viable means to
deter violent crime; and
Whereas, Application of the death penalty often
discriminates against the poor, minorities, uneducated, and the mentally
impaired; and
Whereas, In this century we have seen dramatic examples of
the redemptive value of unconditional love, based on the teachings of Jesus
(e.g., Gandhi, M.L. King); and
Whereas, A growing number of nations and faith groups
including Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and other traditions have
either already rejected or urged extreme caution in using the death penalty
as a means of punishment or as a deterrent for violent crime; and
Whereas, As a faith movement we humbly affirm that "one
being is as precious in God's sight as the other" (Jacob 2:27); and
Whereas, The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints reaffirms that as disciples we seek to be faithful living
expressions of the life and teachings of Jesus; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we stand in opposition to the use of
the death penalty; and be it further
Resolved, That as a peace church we seek ways to
achieve healing and restorative justice.
Church members are encouraged to work for the abolition of the
death penalty in those states and nations that still practice this form of
punishment.
