These days yes, it was just symbolic. Back in horny Joes day, the "Council of Fifty" took it a lot more serious. Brigham and his teachings on "blood atonement" also took it literally.
Fortunately the descendents of these bastards (mormon aristocracy) appear to be less ruthless and better business managers than their forebears.
In case you are interested, blood atonement as taught by Young implied that there were some sins so bad that it required the spilling(death) of the sinners blood. He even taught that if you really loved the church's enemies, you could help them gain forgiveness by spilling their blood for them as an act of love. How nice.
No kidding.
I love my parents, but you can't choose your ancestors.
