The penalty for murder, adultery in certain cases, and a number of other crimes was, under the mosaic law, death. The object of the severity was to keep Israel pure. Criminal tendencies were extinguished by the next generation, by inheritance, being done away with. It should be remembered, if the Mosaic law is thought too severe, considering the access to the presence of Jehovah, who was the Supreme Judge and whose mind and will could be ascertained by means of urim and thummin. There was no danger of a wrong verdict, as long as the judges were in communication with God.
Doctrine and Covenants Commentary by Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl. Deseret Book. 1965. p.239
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