The Cross

Rekhyt2238 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 03:37 AM

Let me start out by saying I am very close to leaving the church. Though I have a few questions before, which is why I came here. To start with, one of my issues with church doctrine is the subject of the Cross. Personally, I wear a Cross, but according to the church website, mormons are not supposed to wear the symbol of the cross because, “the Savior lives, [So] we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.” My opinion on the subject, is that the symbol of Christ's' death, the Cross, is the symbol of Christianity because without his death there would be no religion.

So my question is, why? I do not understand why the fact that Christ lives means that we should not wear a Cross. I ask for any further explanation and/or opinions on the subject.

SmilingRedhead · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 04:50 AM

First off... Hi and Welcome to the site.

Secondly, you have kinda answered your own question...

But to clarify a bit more and get the official reason for not wearing the cross as a symbol of our faith, below you'll find a link to a talk by the late Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, which I think explains it really well.

If this still doesn't settle your issue on this particular subject I would encourage you to pray about it as in my opinion you won't get much of a better answer to your question than from the Lord and a late Prophet of the Lord.

LDS.org - Ensign Article - The Symbol of Our Faith

I hope this helps

MarginOfError · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 06:18 AM

The way I see it, wearing a cross is really no different than wearing a CTR ring. It's an external display of what your values are.

While President Hinckley's comments are reasonable there may be some historical reasons to avoid using the cross, since over the centuries it has accumulated a set of meanings and symbolisms among different faiths. For a church trying to distinguish itself as unique from other churches, it makes sense not to embrace the symbol of faith used by other churches.

That being said, while I see some wisdom in the Church as an organization not to utilize the cross, I have no problem with individual members using it to communicate their faith to those around them.

Sorry to hear you're leaving the Church, but wherever your path takes you, I sincerely hope you find happiness there.

kart2960 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 06:30 AM

The cross is a glorification of Christs death, as members of the church we focus on his ressurection, Christs death is not basis for relegion it was his overcoming death through ressurection that all can live, all meaning all. We are not prohibited to wearing the cross, we are counseled to focus on life.

#5 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 07:13 AM

Having been raised by a non-member Christian mother I can tell you my mom does wear a cross. She looks at the cross as a symbol of sacrifice. However, we Mormons dont want to even come close to honoring his death - Even though I can tell you my mother, and other christians do not. This is not about pointing the finger at the different religions and saying "I'm right and your wrong". Its simply what we mormons choose to not use as a symbol of Christ.

Its too bad that, when talking about Christ, there are things that are chosen to divide us, rather than bring us together. Afterall, since we are talking about the pure love of Christ, you'd think it would be the opposite ... wouldnt you?

Truegrits · #6 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 07:18 AM

Rekhyt2238...Hi! and welcome.

I have been where you are. And like MarginOfError, I feel the cross is like wearing my CTR ring. A reminder... Now, the Crucifix is, to me, the depiction of his death, and I personally would not want to wear a replication of a wounded, tortured, dying Christ. But when I see a cross I do not think death; I think Savior...Redeemer. Probably not much of a distinction to most, but that is what I experience.

The Ensign Article is a wonderful claification.
And you are not forbidden to wear a cross, just that it is not our focus. (as kart2960 stated.)

All this said, is wearing or not wearing a cross such an important issue for you, that you would leave the Church?
I would definitely turn to Heavenly Father and through prayer find my peace with this.

Again, welcome; and I hope you stick around.

Gwen · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 07:33 AM

we just talked about this one a couple of sunday's ago. we were reading a quote in rs, this isn't exact, about "we don't ask ppl to leave the good things behind, but to bring it with them and add to it"

being in the south there are many that use the cross and we have several converts that wear them. that was used as the example of living as this quote directs. if someone sees the cross as a symbol of their faith, if it's a symbol that brings peace and spiritual feelings to them then they should bring that (their good thing) with them and add unto it. as long time members we may not use the cross but we should not make anyone feel ashamed of doing so. if we get into a lesson and go off on a 30 min tangent of all the quotes ever given about why we don't use the cross how is that going to make the convert that brought their cross with them feel? they will feel as they are being asked to give up something that is a part of them. that's not ok according to what we were being taught.

wearing a cross or not has nothing to do with our salvation and shouldn't be made such a big deal that anyone would leave the church over it. i'm sorry you are having this experiance. i hope you can find the peace you are seeking.

MarginOfError · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 07:52 AM

Gwen, I wish I had your eloquence.

Truegrits · #9 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:17 AM

~~~Gwen~~~

Quote:

but we should not make anyone feel ashamed of doing so.
wearing a cross or not has nothing to do with our salvation and shouldn't be made such a big deal that anyone would leave the church over it.

I so agree. And I (me, personally) wouldn't let "them" run me off. My belief in the Church, in Heavenly Father and His Son are so much more important than what a few might say, or even how they may treat me. THEY will be accountable for their actions. We are all at different stages in our knowledge/understanding; my hope is, that we care about and love each other (as Christ loves us) enough to uplift and sustain one another... enough to overcome the human flaws we all have.

ianhorn24 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 08:19 AM

The cross is not used by other religions as a result of a commandment by God. In fact, there is not one scripture that can even be construed as to mean that the true church of God would use a cross as its symbol of its belief in Christ. Of course, the scriptures wouldn't speak of "mainstream" Christianity versus non-"mainstream" Christianity because in the scriptures there are only two major churches -- the Church of Christ and the Church of the devil.

Having explained that, the cross was first used -- get this -- during the Crusades. That's right. It was a symbol of war, not a symbol of religion, per se. So the cross has historical importance in that regard. Over time, because of the aggressive missionary efforts by many churches, the symbol of the cross because the accepted sign of Christianity around the world. What's the trend that you see?

It's all man-made. There's no scriptural basis in the practice. Adam and Eve did not wear a cross in the Garden of Eden, Moses didn't have a cross on his staff, and Jesus certainly did not walk around with a cross around his neck. What you really have conflict with, then, is "mainstream" Christian trends based in historical events that have no scriptural basis. Mormonism simply states that the cross is not an acceptable symbol of our belief in Christ. As Gordon B Hinckley put it, the lives of the members of the Church are the symbol of our belief in Christ.