Mormon relatives want to buy me a statue

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I must confess, some of these posts are maddening. What does a “Mormon Jesus” look like? Is the “Christus” statue holding a set of the gold plates? If a Catholic friend purchased you a replica of the “Christus”, which is not an LDS statue as other posters have noted and predates the LDS movement. would you have a problem displaying it?

If your inlaws purchased you a blouse or pair of pants…would you not wear them because they might be LDS clothing? What do LDS pants and blouses look like? What if they invited you to dinner…would you not eat their food because the food was prepared by LDS hands and now you’re eating LDS food? Does LDS food taste differently? If a blessing upon the food was offered…did the LDS God now bless the food in such a way that a Catholic couldn’t eat it…meals are a common practice signifying fellowship. If you go to Salt Lake City…do you carry oxygen so you won’t breath LDS air…what does LDS air look like…does it look the same as Catholic air? Does LDS air oxygenate the blood as well as Catholic air?

Was you home build by LDS? Aren’t you living in an LDS home?:eek:

Your inlaws/grandparents are seeking to “build a bridge” between you and them…they know Catholics use statues in their devotions. It is a beautiful image of an artists representation of Jesus…again…what makes the statue they are offering as a gift LDS?🤷

Do you exchange Catholic Xmas gifts for LDS Xmas gifts at Christmas time?

Do you like the statue? Can you not accept a gift graciously with a thankful heart? In my own humble opinion which carries not weight whatsoever…accept the gift in love.
 
mrmagoo661 said:
Hi,
I am a Catholic living in Salt Lake City. My wifes Grandparents are Mormon and are very much aware that we are Die Hard Catholics. They have said that they are purchasing an LDS “Christus Statue” for us. I have looked it up online and it looks like the Jesus we all know and love. What I am asking is, Is it ok to display a statue of Jesus (LDS Jesus) in my home. I am aware of the deep theological differences of LDS and mainstream Christianity… I’m just wondering if that would send the wrong message. I’m just plain old confused. Any comments would help me out greatly, Thanks. :confused:
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this is going to sound weird. but i always get an uneasy feeling when im in front of one of these statues at a Mormon visitors center. i love Mormons, and i dont understand why. but there is something just not the same. sounds corny i know. Peace and prayers for you and yours. 🙂
 
Publisher is right on. That particular statue is a great work of art. It’s not a “Mormon” statue. This is so silly.
 
There is not an “LDS Jesus” and a “Christian Jesus;” there is only one Jesus. The LDS believe different things about Jesus, but that does not change His immutable nature. I say take the gift in the spirit it was intended. I don’t see how putting a statue of Jesus in your house could be a bad thing. Its not like it will emit secret rays while you are sleeping and turn you LDS.
 
TMC said:
Its not like it will emit secret rays while you are sleeping and turn you LDS.
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You NEVER know! 🙂 (Just to be safe, perhaps you should sleep under the bed)

As to the OP, I would suggest that the gift is simply that, a loving gift and you should accept it with an enormous smile as well as a thank you!

Peace,
Ceeboo
 
Why not go back to post #3.

Just put it out when they visit.

I have several wonderful gifts that I do that with. 😛
 
benidict said:
this is going to sound weird. but i always get an uneasy feeling when im in front of one of these statues at a Mormon visitors center… and i dont understand why.
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I totally agree; I feel the same way. What some here don’t understand is that while the statue isn’t inherently one thing or another, it’s the connotation that others put on it and therefore what they assume about others who display it.
 
By the way, here are two different Jesuses (would that be Jesi for plural?) for comparison.

The first is Catholic and the second is Mormon.
 
And for good measure, here’s the Jehovah’s Witness Jesus.
 
Ceeboo said:
You NEVER know! 🙂 (Just to be safe, perhaps you should sleep under the bed)

As to the OP, I would suggest that the gift is simply that, a loving gift and you should accept it with an enormous smile as well as a thank you!

Peace,
Ceeboo
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The OP never implied they would do anything other than what you suggest. It seems the OP feels he/she must display the statue and is concerned about the message that might send. I don’t see why this is an issue, while grateful reception of the gift is a must, displaying it to the satisfaction of the giver is not. And asking “where is the ____ I gave you” is just as unacceptable as receiving a gift and letting the giver know you don’t like it.
 
Returning_Home said:
By the way, here are two different Jesuses (would that be Jesi for plural?) for comparison.

The first is Catholic and the second is Mormon.
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There aren’t two (or three if you count the JW one) Jesuses (his name wasn’t Latin, nor Greek, so it wouldn’t be pluralised in that way). There is ONE Jesus who, as a previous poster pointed out, is understood and represented in occasionally differing ways among different Christian groups. What makes a given depiction “Catholic” or “JW” are factors entirely other than who tends to buy/display the given image.

Yes, the first depiction is a uniquely Catholic one - because the Sacred Heart is a uniquely Catholic devotion, one that most if not all other Christian groups are distinctly uncomfortable with.

Yes, the third one is uniquely JW because the belief that Jesus wasn’t nailed to a cross but an upright pole is a uniquely JW belief. Again, a belief that most if not all other ‘Christian’ groups (and I use that term as loosely as possible) are distinctly uncomfortable with.

The second depction, however, is straight out of the Gospels - nothing about it marks it as Mormon. And IMHO any Christian would and should be more than happy to have it in their home no matter who gave it to them.

If you think your parents will take your acceptance of the statue as a sign of Mormon belief, then disabuse them of that idea as you’re accepting it from them. Say something like ‘thanks for that, can’t wait to take it to church on Sunday to show to Father, and get it blessed’. But there’s no reason to reject it.
 
Returning_Home said:
I totally agree; I feel the same way. What some here don’t understand is that while the statue isn’t inherently one thing or another, it’s the connotation that others put on it and therefore what they assume about others who display it.
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thank you. im glad im not the only one. i also would not put a dream catcher, pentagram, or anything else, in my home, where the spirit is different. there is a spiritual dimension to these things. and it is a different Jesus than we as Catholics have. i think it has more to do with that, and my sensitivity to such things, more so than just the statue. so i just prefer to avoid them. i would also on the flip side. not put a statue of the Blessed Mother for my parents who are christian reformed. they would probably feel the same level of discomfort. a friend of mine brought a dream catcher for his son, and the kid had nightmares until it was removed. these things can go deeper than mere art work. Peace 🙂
 
mrmagoo661 said:
Hi,
I am a Catholic living in Salt Lake City. My wifes Grandparents are Mormon and are very much aware that we are Die Hard Catholics. They have said that they are purchasing an LDS “Christus Statue” for us. I have looked it up online and it looks like the Jesus we all know and love. What I am asking is, Is it ok to display a statue of Jesus (LDS Jesus) in my home. I am aware of the deep theological differences of LDS and mainstream Christianity… I’m just wondering if that would send the wrong message. I’m just plain old confused. Any comments would help me out greatly, Thanks. :confused:
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mrmagoo661,

I am not Catholic, so I cannot speak from the Catholic perspective. However, I do agree with Rebecca: if you decide to accept and keep the statue, I would have it blessed.

One unknown factor is whether or not any Mormon ritual, prayer, etc., has been attached to the statue that would invite unwanted spirits into your home. If you have any doubts about the statue, don’t accept it. I’ve been in some similar situations. I’ve even thrown a few gifts away. This hard stance comes after some troubling incidents involving objects. Catholics are way ahead of many non-Catholics, when it comes to blessing objects, anointing, and dealing with the spiritual realm.

People can be bold and presumptuous in their choice of gifts. Sometimes there is no hidden motive. But many people know from the start, you may feel obligated to accept the gift. From my own history with the LDS, I’d definitely be cautious of both the gift and the motive.

Perhaps the fact that you feel uncertain about accepting the statue is a spiritual “red flag” in itself.

Anna

Edited to add quotes:
RebeccaJ said:
. . . . .I’d put the statue someplace that makes it Catholic. Even have it blessed.
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benidict said:
thank you. im glad im not the only one. i also would not put a dream catcher, pentagram, or anything else, in my home, where the spirit is different. there is a spiritual dimension to these things. and it is a different Jesus than we as Catholics have. i think it has more to do with that, and my sensitivity to such things, more so than just the statue. so i just prefer to avoid them. i would also on the flip side. not put a statue of the Blessed Mother for my parents who are christian reformed. they would probably feel the same level of discomfort. a friend of mine brought a dream catcher for his son, and the kid had nightmares until it was removed. these things can go deeper than mere art work. Peace 🙂
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Benidict knows what he’s talking about.
 
If the Catholic Church has been able to successfully able to completely adapt and convert traditions with pagan origins to regular use in Catholicism (things like Christmas trees), or customs with their origins in other faiths (Advent wreaths), so that their original meaning is lost and a Catholic meaning is presented, then a simple non-offensive statue of Jesus shouldn’t pose much of a problem, should it?
 
The statue is not a Mormon statue of Jesus. The artist created a beautiful statue of Jesus, that the Mormon’s happen to like. They didn’t buy the rights to the statue, they just really like it. I really like it, but I have to agree with the others, have it blessed. Not just because people associate it with Mormonism, but because it’s a good idea.
 
benidict said:
thank you. im glad im not the only one. i also would not put a dream catcher, pentagram, or anything else, in my home, where the spirit is different. there is a spiritual dimension to these things. and it is a different Jesus than we as Catholics have. i think it has more to do with that, and my sensitivity to such things, more so than just the statue. so i just prefer to avoid them. i would also on the flip side. not put a statue of the Blessed Mother for my parents who are christian reformed. they would probably feel the same level of discomfort.
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While you and I are in the minority here, a statue commonly used by the LDS simply carries a different feel (or spirit, if you will) to it. That statue, no matter who first created it, seems infused with LDS implications and I simply wouldn’t want any part of it, gift or otherwise.
 
I really appreciate all of the posts… Thanks.
I believe I will accept the statue and mention that I can wait to get it blessed, I have just the place for it… right next to my statue of Mary. Thank you again for all of the thoughtful responses.
 
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