answers to questions

As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I will try to answer some of the questions respectfully posted by Michael W. Hodges on May 2, 2008.

Question:

1. Why do Mormons not use the cross as a symbol?

Answer: Jesus is alive. We believe that Jesus suffered and bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane to pay for the sins of all mankind and that he suffered and died on the cross in agony and that he rose from the dead after 3 days. We know these things are not only true but that the atonement is the central defining doctrine of our religion and everything we do hinges on the infinite sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When Jesus said, "if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" we believe that his use of the word cross was a symbol of our inward devotion and discipleship and not a reason to put a cross on every church and around every neck. (We don't prohibit the wearing of crosses in our church and we don't think other Christians are wrong for wearing them.) Just as we don't (and neither do any Christians I know of) actually put a mark on our foreheads symbolizing our belief in God as Ezekiel saw and recorded in Ezekiel 9:4. These are scriptural symbols used to teach spiritual doctrines that should penetrate our hearts and minds. Our Churches have a steeple pointing to heaven as a reminder that as Christ ascended into heaven, so might all mankind through Jesus Christ, also ascend into heaven. Finally, I have never read any verse in the Bible that says that a church or a person must display or wear a cross to be a Christian. Of more importance than what we wear, or say or how we make ourselves appear is how we live, what we do, and how we treat others. Loving God and neighbor as ourselves are the two great commandments and surely God would be happy if we each did that a little more and judged each other a little less.
Thank you for listening and hopefully this helps. I will try to answer your other questions when I have more time.
Respectfully and sincerely your brother,
Rick Erekson