"'Thou shalt not kill' exhorts us to remember that life has sacred worth," the Rev. Tom Goldsmith of Salt Lake's First Unitarian Church said. "Suicide and animal slaughter are a matter of individual conscience. You are not hurting another human being, for which this commandment was intended. However, we are forced to reflect on the morality of all our murderous actions, even if they pertain to ourselves or animals. How widely this admonishment applies raises an interesting question. Like so much in the Bible, nothing is definitive but forces us to think hard about everything we do in our lives."

"To understand what is meant by this command we must first understand that life is sacred. Each of us (humans) are inherently valuable because we are created in God's image" (Genesis 1:26-27 ,Luke 12:6-7), Terry Long, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake, said.

Regarding suicide, he said man's body is a temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). "Suicide is murder turned inward. You are murdering yourself. Is it the unpardonable sin? No! Is murder the unpardonable sin? No! But it is a sin."

Pastor Long also said abortion allows forgiveness from God if and when we make mistakes/bad choices.

He said the Sixth Commandment does not pertain to capital punishment, nor does it prohibit going to war.

"God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is necessary to defend ourselves, to protect freedom of the innocent/defenseless and children, he said.

Pastor Long said the prohibition also does not include killing animals, based on Genesis 9:3 and Acts 10:13.

Jehovah's Witnesses take a broader view of the commandment. "You don't kill another human," Richard Wolf, an elder in the North Salt Lake congregation, said. That includes abortion and war.

Witnesses believe the Mosaic law authorized taking life under certain circumstances or going to war in Old Testament times. However, they believe that is not allowed today, based on Christ's teachings of the two great laws — love God and love one another, according to the Watchtower.

Also, Witnesses believe ancient Israel was involved in "holy wars of Jehovah," while today's "carnal warfare" is not sanctioned by God.

They also feel hatred is a precursor to murder, notes the Watchtower.

Regarding animals, Jehovah's Witnesses believe, "Animal life is also sacred to the Creator. A Christian may kill animals to provide food and clothing or to protect himself from sickness and danger. (Genesis 3:21, 9:3; Exodus 21:28) But it is wrong to mistreat animals or to kill them just for sport or pleasure (Proverbs 12:10)," according to the Watchtower Web site.

"In that day and time, it applied to murder," the Rev. Steve Goodier of Christ United Methodist Church of Salt Lake said. "Today, we can see it as meaning more — that life is to be enhanced and preserved. Our role is to be responsible caretakers of life on this planet. Irresponsible taking of life, whether it is through suicide, slaughter of animals or the mistreatment of animals or people, is to be shunned."