Commandment 6: “Thou shalt not kill.”

That’s pretty direct, but what does it mean? Is killing always a sin? Is there no circumstance in which it is justified? If so, why are there circumstances in which God has commanded it?

To understand the 6th commandment it necessary to understand the principle of the sanctity of life, and understand that to give and to take a life is a godly power guarded by strict laws and jurisdictions.

In the children’s song, “The Commandments”, that I posted at the beginning of this study, the song used this phrase to interpret the command “Thou shalt not kill,” is says, “Take not life in wanton ways.” Wanton means: deliberate and unprovoked (of a cruel or violent action). Often used in terms related to unrestrained sexuality, to treat sexual relations casually. As we will see going forward in this study there are profound connections between the powers to take life and to give life, and the blatant disregard for the strict laws that govern the use of those powers which carry the most serious eternal penalties.

As I post scriptures and doctrinal explanations for the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” it will become clear that God has given us understanding for when we take life in unjustified ways. As we study the subject the description “wanton ways” will prove an appropriate interpretation of the law and explains why we call this type of killing, murder.

Murder: The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

“But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die… Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.” — Deuteronomy 19:11-12

“Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.” — 2 Nephi 9:35, Book of Mormon

Conspiracy to Commit Murder, is Murder.

“Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife.” — 2 Samuel 12:9

King David did not kill Uriah with his own hands, and he had the rightful power as a king to send soldiers into battle, to their deaths, but God condemned him of the murder of Uriah because he desired the death of Uriah, and conspired to use his authority to deliberately place Uriah in a situation that would most likely result in his death so that David could have his wife. David was made to suffer the consequences of this murder as surely as if Uriah had died by his own sword.

“Ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.” — 1 Nephi 17:44

Thou Shalt Not Kill = Thou Shalt Nor Murder or Shed Innocent Blood

“Commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood.” — D&C 132:19