The Cross Offensive

lattelady · #1 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 08:53 PM

Ever since highschool, I've noticed that when I wear various cross necklaces that I own (that are very precious and dear to me--and it's not the object itself that is precious, it is the message behind the symbol), I've gotten a variety of looks from those around me--I live in a very LDS area. None of the looks are pleasant. I also got some very bold comments when I was in school from "friends" wondering why I would want to wear such a thing. It would start conversations. Since it seemed to me at the time that I was offending others, and it seems to me to this day that the cross is offensive to some that I come across I wanted to ask the question: am I reading that wrong, or is the wearing of a cross offensive to members of the LDS church?

Palerider · #2 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lattelady

Ever since highschool, I've noticed that when I wear various cross necklaces that I own (that are very precious and dear to me--and it's not the object itself that is precious, it the message behind the symbol), I've gotten a variety of looks from those around me. None of the looks are pleasant. Some are downright mean. I've also gotten bold comments when I was in school from "friends" wondering why I would want to wear such a thing. It would start conversations. Since it seemed to me at the time that I was offending others, and it seems to me to this day that the cross is offensive to some that I come across I wanted to ask the question: am I reading that wrong, or is the wearing of a cross offensive to members of the LDS church?

Have you always lived in Mormon communities while growing up???

lattelady · #3 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 09:13 PM

From early elementary school on! so...yes. Most of my life.

pam · #4 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 09:15 PM

It's not that it's offensive..at least not to me. But the reason that we, as LDS, do not usually wear jewelry etc that are of the cross is.that we would prefer to concentrate on a living Christ than his dying on the cross.

Palerider · #5 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lattelady

From early elementary school on! so...yes. Most of my life.

Are you saying all you got was looks and never a reason why the looks???

prisonchaplain · #6 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 10:14 PM

Perhaps some thought you were intentionally broadcasting your evangelicalism (a source of much anti-LDS sentiment), and so made some false assumptions about you?

Moksha · #7 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 10:17 PM

Latte, a poster named Mike Reed has made an excellent study of the historical relationship of Mormons to the cross, in his Master's Thesis. He said that unfavorable opinions only arose after the turn of the 20th Century.

See this thread for more info: Disdaining the Cross

pam · #8 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 10:19 PM

I was just about to post that Moksha. Thanks.

beefche · #9 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm not one that normally likes crosses, but silpada (Silpada Designs Sterling Silver Jewelry) has one that I like. If it wasn't so expensive, I'd get it.

Generally_Me · #10 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 11:12 PM

I never got it either. I have a very nice crucifix that was given me a few years ago, and a turn-of-the-century cross I have for sentimental reasons. Although we prefer to remember Christ resurrected, the tructh is that He did die, and did suffer for us.

IMO. Which is not mainstream LDS.