Uniformity of Mormon Sacred Architecture

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A major difference between mainstream chrstianity, and catholicism in particular, vs the mormon faith is the concept of the cross. For most Christians, Jesus’ sacrifice for us came on the cross with his death. Indeed, the whole point of God becoming man was that He would die and become the ultimate sacrifice to pay for original sin. Meawhile, mormon theology holds that the redemption of human sins came in the garden while He was sweating blood, not with His death on the cross. For most christians, the image of Jesus on the cross is the image of our redemption. The mormons don’t hold that image as sacred.

As a catholic, it’s not just a symbol, it’s the moment of our redemption. It’s what Jesus did to make our eternal life in heaven possible. It reminds me of His love for us. It is the reason for the incarnation of Christ. IMO, it’s the major turning point in human salvation history, and it’s pretty important.

The mormons just don’t place as much importance on that moment on the cross, and it explains the lack of emphasis of the cross in mormon iconography.
 
thomasf said:
A major difference between mainstream Christianity, and catholicism in particular, vs the Mormon faith is the concept of the cross. For most Christians, Jesus’ sacrifice for us came on the cross with his death. Indeed, the whole point of God becoming man was that He would die and become the ultimate sacrifice to pay for original sin. Meanwhile, Mormon theology holds that the redemption of human sins came in the garden while He was sweating blood, not with His death on the cross. For most Christians, the image of Jesus on the cross is the image of our redemption. The Mormons don’t hold that image as sacred.

As a catholic, it’s not just a symbol, it’s the moment of our redemption. It’s what Jesus did to make our eternal life in heaven possible. It reminds me of His love for us. It is the reason for the incarnation of Christ. IMO, it’s the major turning point in human salvation history, and it’s pretty important.

The Mormons just don’t place as much importance on that moment on the cross, and it explains the lack of emphasis of the cross in Mormon iconography.
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Oh, we do, actually. We regard His death on the cross as part of the whole of the Atonement, which, we believe, began in the Garden of Gethsemane, continued through His experiences with His tormentors, through His death on the cross–and the culmination was His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

So in that way, I suppose, we choose not to glorify one aspect of it over another one, or rather–we choose to celebrate and remember the whole of it. All of His suffering, from the very beginning His glorious victory over death.

Y"all choose to use this single symbol of the cross to signify that. We choose not to. I don’t think that Jesus cares either way, as long as we know what it is we are supposed to be remembering.
 
dianaiad said:
er…OK…sorry about getting all historically academic on you.

You know which Catholic (modern…the ancient Catholic cathedrals are in classes by themselves and have no peers) cathedral I like? Mostly because it, well, has to grow on you, and the interior is so gloriously unexpected given what the outside looks like?

Liverpool.
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I actually like the exterior shot you posted, the lighting, the color of the gathering clouds merging with the color of the building, the angle making the building look threatening. Very cool shot of the cathedral, sadly when I googled images they all just screamed eyesore, well except for this one, I liked this one, and I really want to climb up that buttress and have my picture taken sitting half way up the triangle:)

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/...of-worship-cemeteries/liverpool-met-cathedral
 
zaffiroborant said:
I actually like the exterior shot you posted, the lighting, the color of the gathering clouds merging with the color of the building, the angle making the building look threatening. Very cool shot of the cathedral, sadly when I googled images they all just screamed eyesore, well except for this one, I liked this one, and I really want to climb up that buttress and have my picture taken sitting half way up the triangle:)

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/...of-worship-cemeteries/liverpool-met-cathedral
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One of the reasons I like it so much is that it does NOT photograph well. One has to see it personally and appreciate the details, like the combination of angles and take offs on flying buttresses you have here. Like I said, it has to grow on you. 😉

I have to tell you this, though…there IS a 'Mormon" temple that really…well, it was built by the RLDS, now Community of Christ.

I’m not going to comment on this one.
 
dianaiad said:
I have to tell you this, though…there IS a 'Mormon" temple that really…well, it was built by the RLDS, now Community of Christ.

I’m not going to comment on this one.
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That looks like it belongs at the Air Force Academy, or maybe NASA.
 
dianaiad said:
It is meant to represent a shell…inside you walk up a long spiral. It’s very…different.
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I didn’t get “shell” from the picture. Maybe if I saw it from the inside, or perhaps an aerial shot, but to me it looks like a rocket.
 
dianaiad said:
Good heavens. That first one looks like the dockside container storage area!

…OK, I wouldn’t call these ugly, exactly…but in spite of the fact that they are, well, practical and useful, We could have done better.
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Provo. Almost as hideous as Ogden. There are Mormon temples that are beautiful (I think you pictured San Diego in one pic) but Provo and Ogden are not among them.

I would say that Provo is uglier, only because one of my favorite of my friends all three children were after they were born in the Ogden Temple to seal them to their parents.
 
cthulhubryan said:
Provo. Almost as hideous as Ogden. There are Mormon temples that are beautiful (I think you pictured San Diego in one pic) but Provo and Ogden are not among them.

I would say that Provo is uglier, only because one of my favorite of my friends all three children were after they were born in the Ogden Temple to seal them to their parents.
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“sealed”. 😉 They were sealed to their adoptive parents.

I remember that one–its the same ordinance that sealed me to my own parents when I was sixteen.
 
What I find interesting about traditional Mormon Temple architecture is that it so strongly resembles Masonic Temple architecture. The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Masonic temple is one very strong example. The towers with the pointed spires are only one characteristic in common.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I think the Manila LDS temple is beautiful.

 
LongJourney said:
What I find interesting about traditional Mormon Temple architecture is that it so strongly resembles Masonic Temple architecture. The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Masonic temple is one very strong example. The towers with the pointed spires are only one characteristic in common.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...OCpCQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

I think the Singapore LDS temple is beautiful.
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Funny, I have never noticed a similarity, but then again I don’t seek to recognize similarities.

What I seek in life is the beauty in life. When I look at a rose I do not focus on the thorn. I don’t attempt to compare it to the lilly. When I behold statues of saints, I don’t seek first to compare them to greater works of art. What is the benefit?

Grant that each of may only first seek to find beauty in our fellowman. When our brother or sister is in mire, may we stop and extend a hand to pull them out. Before we begin to criticize their beliefs, may we first remove the beam in our own eye.
 
LongJourney said:
What I find interesting about traditional Mormon Temple architecture is that it so strongly resembles Masonic Temple architecture. The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Masonic temple is one very strong example. The towers with the pointed spires are only one characteristic in common.
http://c0468822.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/masonic-temple-600.jpg

I think the Manila LDS temple is beautiful.

http://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/images/c/ca/Manila_philippines_temple.jpg
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Masons? REALLY, LJ? You couldn’t let even one thread go by with some snide sideswipe, could you?

By the way, the attached thumbnail here is of the really neat St. Agatha Catholic church in Phillidelphia, on 38th street. Gee, I wonder if some Mason had something to do with that one, too?

Great googly moogly, man.
 
JeanMichel said:
Funny, I have never noticed a similarity, but then again I don’t seek to recognize similarities. When our brother or sister is in mire, may we stop and extend a hand to pull them out. Before we begin to criticize their beliefs, may we first remove the beam in our own eye.
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Even Diana admits that there is Masonic cultural influence in Mormonism. I would suggest you remove the beam from your own eye. 🤷 There are other subjects that I will not bring up, for the sake of civil discourse.
 
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