“Ye Will Shed Innocent Blood”

To “shed innocent blood” is to murder, to take the life of one who is innocent and undeserving of death. It is a “sin unto death” (1 John 5:16-17), a crime against humanity, a heinous offense to heaven for which there is no forgiveness. See commentary on 2 Nephi 9:35.

“And If Ye Slay Me Ye Will Shed Innocent Blood”

In the ultimate sense, the most serious sin is to shed the only completely innocent blood, the blood of Jesus Christ. To blaspheme against the Holy Ghost is to assent unto the death of Christ anew and thus come out in open rebellion against God, this after having “tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:5-6; see also D&C 132:27; JST, Mark 14:30).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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