The Cross (Jesus, testimonies, Earth, gospel, crucifixion)

[mormonman]

Hi guys, I haven't posted on here in a really long time; BYU's killing me. Anyway, I know we don't use the cross as a symbol of our Church, because we focus on the Resurrection and His life instead of His death; that's the usually response anyway, but I want to take a different view on the cross. I've been learning (I can actually say I'm learning something now that I'm out of high school) about the Tree of Life symbolism in many of my classes. This symbolism is found all over the ancient world. I think of the cross as another tree of life symbol, because the act that is symbolized by the cross brings life to every one of us. Also, the Gospel of Peter uses the cross symbolism to describe Christ's resurrection. "2 While they were yet telling them the things which they had seen, they saw three men come out of the tomb, two of them sustaining the other one, and a cross following after them. 3 The heads of the two they saw had heads that reached up to heaven, but the head of him that was led by them wen beyond heaven. 4 And they heard a voice out of the heavens saying, "Have you preached unto them that sleep?" 5 The answer that was heard from the cross was, "Yes!"" I love what we have of the Gospel of Peter. This is an account of Christ's actual resurrection, and Peter uses the cross symbolism to describe the resurrected Lord. So, I think that the cross shouldn't be so shunned in the Church, I mean I have one in my room; it's right next to The Living Christ.

[Bishka]

That's beautiful!

Though 'shunning' crosses isn't exactly what we do. We just don't use them because they symbolize His death more then His life, and we are all about His life.

Although, I, myself find the celtic crosses to be some of the most stunning pieces of artwork ever created.

[Comprehend]

I don't get what you are saying. That you would like the church to start using crosses?(sp?) Personally, I like that we don't use them. His death was perhaps the saddest moment in the history of the earth (IMO) and his resurrection 3 days later the happiest.

I always think of this scripture as what we celebrate:
D&C 76:22
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

[PHOTOTAKER]

the resign we do not use the cross is because it is not a perfect symbol, ever wonder why we only use spires on our church building? the cross is something we look to earth for, (i have other issues with it personally) i like the idea of a cross without Jesus it symbolizes that he is resign but this symbol is for the past with the new and everlasting covenants (all the ordinances and covenants that has been restored) there needed to be a new symbol a better symbol one that not only reminds us the he is resin but one that will remind us to look for his second coming, that is why we use the spire on our church buildings to look up to heaven to look for the coming of our lord and savior for he comith and the time on which we know not.

This is how I look at it…

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by comprehend

I don't get what you are saying. That you would like the church to start using crosses?(sp?) Personally, I like that we don't use them. His death was perhaps the saddest moment in the history of the earth (IMO) and his resurrection 3 days later the happiest.

I always think of this scripture as what we celebrate:
D&C 76:22
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

I don't understand this view. Could one of you explain? How could you have had the Resurrection without Christ's death and, therefore, how could the Crucifixion, theologically at least, be a sad event?

By the way, crosses don't concentrate on Christ's death. You could argue that crucifixes do (i.e. ones with a corpus), but an empty cross celebrates the fact that He is no longer crucified - in other words it celebrates the victory over death and not Christ's death itself. Just thought I'd end by trying to clear up a misconception you seem to have about what the symbol means.

James

[Comprehend]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

I don't understand this view. Could one of you explain? How could you have had the Resurrection without Christ's death and, therefore, how could the Crucifixion, theologically at least, be a sad event?

By the way, crosses don't concentrate on Christ's death. You could argue that crucifixes do (i.e. ones with a corpus), but an empty cross celebrates the fact that He is no longer crucified - in other words it celebrates the victory over death and not Christ's death itself. Just thought I'd end by trying to clear up a misconception you seem to have about what the symbol means.

James

James,
obviously you are correct, there could be no resurrection without a death, but that doesn't mean that his torture and death is a *happy* event. It was necessary but terrible in my opinion. Even Jesus Himself asked not to go through with it.
We also choose to celebrate His victory over death, however we do not use a specific symbol such as the cross to point to it.

[mormonman]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

That's beautiful!

Though 'shunning' crosses isn't exactly what we do. We just don't use them because they symbolize His death more then His life, and we are all about His life.

Although, I, myself find the celtic crosses to be some of the most stunning pieces of artwork ever created.

I love celtic crosses too; they're so gorgeous.

[mormonman]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

I don't understand this view. Could one of you explain? How could you have had the Resurrection without Christ's death and, therefore, how could the Crucifixion, theologically at least, be a sad event?

By the way, crosses don't concentrate on Christ's death. You could argue that crucifixes do (i.e. ones with a corpus), but an empty cross celebrates the fact that He is no longer crucified - in other words it celebrates the victory over death and not Christ's death itself. Just thought I'd end by trying to clear up a misconception you seem to have about what the symbol means.

James

I definately agree with you. The cross has beautiful symbolism; as a type of a tree of life and, as you said, representing Christ's victory over death. I do think His death was a very sad day, I mean our God was crucified, but, at the same time, it was such a wonderful day, because His death was necessary for our salvation.

[mormonman]

Originally Posted by comprehend

I don't get what you are saying. That you would like the church to start using crosses?(sp?) Personally, I like that we don't use them. His death was perhaps the saddest moment in the history of the earth (IMO) and his resurrection 3 days later the happiest.

I always think of this scripture as what we celebrate:
D&C 76:22
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

I would not be opposed at all if the Church used the cross. His death was necessary for our salvation. It's not like using the cross means that you automatically stop celebrating the Resurrection. I have my cross right next to The Living Christ. For everyone that doesn't know what The Living Christ is, here's a link - http://www.lds.org/library/display/0...1-10-1,00.html. It is a truly a beatiful document.

By the way, D&C 76:22-24 is my favorite scripture in the D&C. Here it is for everybody, "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."

[Bishka]

In fact, there is no where that says we shouldn't, we just don't.