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dianaballein
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and I have always wondered why they do not have any crosses in their churches. Does anyone know why this is?
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zerinus
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Good for her. So am I! 
zerinus
zerinus
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dianaballein
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Ok, can you educate me then please?
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zerinus
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dianaballein
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I posted to this group. If I were comfortable asking her, I would, but I am not…and if you cant be helpful, please stop replying to me.
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dianaballein
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That’s too bad. I am not out to bash or hurt anyone. I am just genuinely curious. I have always respected her faith and she has always respected mine so I didn’t want to ask her. My daughter started asking me so here I am…asking.
Thank you for being nice.
Thank you for being nice.
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dianaballein
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Actually, I will discontinue this thread. I found my answer.
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zerinus
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Okay, I will reply!
You will find the answer in this article, straight from the mouth of a Prophet and President of our church. Hope it answers your question.zerinus
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dianaballein
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I had already found the answer but now that all this has transpired today, I think I will sit down and talk to my sister about it, and share with her the tremendous warmth I felt when I asked for help elsewhere, and get her take on it.
You cannot have birth without death, so I was surprised to read President Hinckley’s response when asked this same question.
“For us,” Hinckley responded, “the cross is a symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the living Christ.”
Peace.
You cannot have birth without death, so I was surprised to read President Hinckley’s response when asked this same question.
“For us,” Hinckley responded, “the cross is a symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the living Christ.”
Peace.
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zerinus
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Yes, I had figured that you were not really interested in the answer to that question—hence my initial response to it. Your question had some other motive. I was proved right.
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dianaballein
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What are you talking about? Are you saying the answer I found as stated by President Hinckley is incorrect?
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ricko
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Please, the OP asked a straight-up question. There is no need to jump down her throat for it. How bout’ a little charity?
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dianaballein
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Thank you Rick. I sincerely had no agenda other than to find out why to see how far apart (or not) my sister and I were in our thinking.
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ricko
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I wanted to know the answer also. The Catholic position on the crucifix is this, in my own words.
The Apostle Paul preached “Christ crucified” as does the Church. The cross, a symbol of death and suffering has now become a symbol of hope and life for without the willing sacrifice of Christ we would be lost with no hope of salvation. When Catholics gaze upon the crucifix we are reminded of the suffering that Christ endured so that we may have life. Just as the sword has become a plow so has the cross become our salvation.
The Apostle Paul preached “Christ crucified” as does the Church. The cross, a symbol of death and suffering has now become a symbol of hope and life for without the willing sacrifice of Christ we would be lost with no hope of salvation. When Catholics gaze upon the crucifix we are reminded of the suffering that Christ endured so that we may have life. Just as the sword has become a plow so has the cross become our salvation.
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dianaballein
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This is beautiful. My daughter is getting ready to be baptized and she was curious as well, because to her the cross/crucifix is a symbol of love and she loves her Aunt, so she wanted to know why it would be viewed so negatively that it would essentially be shun from the buildings themselves. My sister’s religious path did not match with mine, but we show each other mutual respect in our faiths. For this reason only, I was not going to broach the subject directly with her but felt more comfortable asking someone who had no emotional connection to me, or I to them.
Now that I think about it, I should not have been afraid to ask her.
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zerinus
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RebeccaJ
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Interesting.Interesting. And the Mormon answser is the one given by Gordon B. Hinckley.
zerinus
The Christian answer is given by Jesus:
“and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:38)
"He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24), (Mark 8:34)
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”(Luke 14:27)
And an Angel:
"Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.” (Matthew 28:5)
**And the Apostles:
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“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”(1 Cor. 1:18)
“but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” (1 Cor. 1:23)
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2)
“But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14).
Galatians 2
19 For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
The Mormon view, though, is also a Christian view. The mystery of our faith is threefold:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The cross represents all three.
Christ was crucified for our sins.
Without his death there is no resurrection. Our celebration of the risen Christ is understood in the light of His death.
When Christ comes again the sign of of the Son of Man (the cross) will appear in the heavens.
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zerinus
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We preach the message of the Restoration; that He lives, and has spoken again from heaven. His sufferings have now ended. We celebrate the glory of His resurrection, and that the heavens are now open as they used to be in ancient times; and that He still speaks, as He ever did before. The long silence of the past centuries has been broken. It is a message of joy and gladness that we share with the world; the joy that the heavens have been opened once more, and the living Christ has spoken again from heaven. This is a new dispensation of the gospel, and it celebrates the joy of Christ with a symbol appropriate to itself.
Matthew 9:
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
zerinus
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a_priori
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Pound for pound, Mormons are the nicest group of people I’ve ever met. I had many as neighbors in Phoenix. I wish I could move to Utah and be surrounded by them. They are truly wonderful people.
But talking theology with them is like feeding Gizmo after midnight.:bigyikes: :bigyikes::bigyikes:
But talking theology with them is like feeding Gizmo after midnight.:bigyikes: :bigyikes::bigyikes:
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ricko
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Zerinus, would you explain this from your last post?
and that the heavens are now open as they used to be in ancient times;
and that the heavens are now open as they used to be in ancient times;
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