The Missing Cross in Mormonism

31 March

Passion of the Christ and Mormons

Mormons stay away from Passion because of ‘R’ rating

In what is just another example of how Mormons are under the law, Mormons stayed away from theaters for the Passion of the Christ so they would not be seen at an R-rated movie.  In spite of what Mormons think, in reality, Mel Gibson probably did not go far enough in his depiction of Christ’s suffering.  One has to wonder if the story was about Joseph Smith’s death, would the church care as much about these arbitrary ratings? Does the church care about appearances to a worldly rating system more than sharing in the suffering of their “Lord”? In a word, yes!

The Missing Cross in Mormonism

1 Corinthians 1:18-19; “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

You’ve heard it said that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  While that may tie you or me over for a bit of time, eventually we’re going to be looking in the not too distant future to be satisfied again.  If we base our worthiness on what we can cook, how much money we make, what clothing we wear; we will be nothing but a sorry bunch.  Yet isn’t that what we do when we try to control our every step in our every day; or when our focus isn’t where it should be?  There is a way to the heart of man that will always satisfy, it is the cross.

I remember sitting on a stairway out in the countryside in Germany several years ago.  The stairway would lead you down to a path that circled a small lake in the village where my husband and I were living.  I would walk about half way down those stairs and turn around to stare at the cross at the top of the hill.  The area was quiet more times than not, surrounded by lush green trees and bushes.  I would sit there for hours wondering what that white cross meant.  I obviously knew that it represented where Jesus had been crucified, but I wanted to know more.  Why was it so important, why did the Christian churches place them around their churches, yet in the “Christian church” I attended, there was no cross to be found?

Besides wanting to know more about the cross, I wanted to know more about the Jesus that everyone else in the world knew about.  He seemed much different to the one I was accustomed to throughout my twenty or so years.  He seemed as elusive as that cross did.  And it hadn’t mattered where I had traveled in Europe, there were crosses on the churches in every single country we visited and every person I met in those countries had the same story about Jesus when I’d ask questions.

Never in Utah was there as many crosses as what I had seen in Germany; the crosses were almost as common as ward buildings with their aesthetic steeples.  In Utah you could see a cross if you drove by the Methodist or Catholic Church, or if you’d drive a little further north of my hometown there was a big cross that stood on the property outside the Calvary Chapel at the mouth of the canyon.  That was it; I don’t remember seeing any other crosses in the town I grew up in.

I had to work hard at looking for them and wanted more than anything to know more about it because it was a core doctrine in the LDS Church to not bother with them.  I would often wonder what was it that I wasn’t supposed to know.  Why was it presented as something that needed to be talked about in hushed tones?

In the book Mormon Doctrine this is what it says about the cross on page 172; “In succeeding centuries, the churches which came into being through an intermingling of pagan concepts with the true apostolic Christianity developed the practice of using symbolic crosses in the architecture of their buildings and as jewelry attached to the robes of their priests. Frequently this practice of dwelling on the personal death struggle of our Lord has caused these churches to put sculptured representations of Christ on their crosses, thus forming so called crucifixes. All this is inharmonious with the quiet spirit of worship and reverence that should attend a true Christian’s remembrance of our Lord’s sufferings and death. In fact, the revealed symbolism to bring these things to the attention of true worshipers is found in the ordinance of the sacrament.”

If you were to ask a Mormon why they don’t wear a cross necklace or have crosses anywhere at their church wards they will tell you that “the cross was a murder weapon. If Jesus had been shot by a gun would you wear a gun around your neck?”

I’ve been home several times since I moved away and have seen that there are indeed many more crosses that dot the skyline of my hometown and I praise Jesus for that!  He has certainly heard and answered the prayers of countless Christians everywhere for placing His church inside Utah!  May we continue to pray that He would make it possible to have more?

I know and understand it probably sounds as if I am worshipping the cross and bowing to it.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  As a member of the true church – the body of Christ – I am most humbled by the solitary work that Jesus performed on my behalf.  I want to bring attention to the cross because of the significance of the work performed there by our Lord.

What an incredible feat He endured!  Of course nothing could ever compare to the miraculous way God sought to redeem His people and then to even save the Gentiles as well!  What else can be said except that we have such a merciful, loving God whose mighty arm extends to save?

Each time I am at a worship service singing about the blood of Jesus I thank Him for getting me out of Mormonism.  It’s been 18 years now and I still can’t believe it.   I am also reminded of the songs I used to sing as a Mormon and my heart is just sick thinking about the loneliness and fruitless ways of the LDS doctrine. “Praise to the man”, meaning Joseph Smith, is just one example.

At a conference in Seattle, the pastor Alistair Begg said, “When you take your eyes off the cross, you lose your way in the Bible”.  The Mormon Church is proof of that!  They carry the Bible around with them, yet they believe that it’s not translated correctly and where is the cross in the lives of the Mormon people?

The LDS Church is certainly consistent about one thing throughout their writings and teachings.  They work hard at keeping people confused and they deserve an “A” for effort.  In Doctrines of Salvation, pg. 130 it says this about the cross:

We speak of the passion of Jesus Christ. A great many people have an idea that when he was on the cross, and nails were driven into his hands and feet, that was his great suffering. His great suffering was before he ever was placed upon the cross. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that the blood oozed from the pores of his body: “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink,”.”

Now keep this in mind as we read further into this teaching by their prophet Joseph Fielding Smith on page 132;

We will never be able to pay the debt. The gratitude of our hearts should be filled to overflowing in love and obedience for his great and tender mercy. For what he has done, we should never fail him. He bought us with a price, the price of his great suffering and the spilling of his blood in sacrifice on the cross.

So where did the atonement for sins take place?  When there are so many other distractions and side items going on in your theology, it is easy enough to forget the essentials and the Mormon scripture above serves as a good example of what can and does happen.  I know it’s not politically correct and it’s very offensive in today’s day and age to speak of a gruesome event such as crucifixion.

People today want things to be neatly packaged and non-confrontational.  Many of the e-mails that come through our website tell us that we should unite with all the religions to build each other up.  Or they will tell us that the message of the gospel is great, but just don’t hound on the cross so much because it sounds as if I’m bowing down to worship it.

When I think of the cross I can think of nothing else but the God I worship and that I am in complete awe because He hung there for me.   The missionary Amy Carmichael once said; “If I covet anything but the dust at the foot of the cross, I know nothing of Calvary Love”.  It is a breath of fresh air to hear the messages preached and books written about the crucifixion.  Our sin isn’t pretty, and neither should the circumstances be of the need to take care of our sin.

The entire Bible is about one person; that being Jesus, the One Who saves.  The Old Testament prophets wrote about Him, prophesied about Him and looked to God to provide.  The gospels are relatively short in their description of His life compared to the rest of the New Testament.  The rest of the New Testament is focused solely on what happens to man because of the crucifixion and resurrection.  Even till today, the crucifixion is what marks our time here on earth.  It’s been about 1,970 years since His death.  Who else receives such attention about their death?  As Alistair Begg pointed out “everyone receives attention for the lives they lived, but it is impossible to find extensive information about anyone concerning their death”.

Here are some of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus’ crucifixion:

Deut. 21:22-3

Ps. 16:10; 22:15-18; 34:20; 68:18; 69:21; 109:2-4

Dan. 9:24-6

Zech.12:10

and let us not forget our beloved gift of Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 53.

In the last reference, Isaiah 53, there are 48 prophecies about Jesus.  In the Old Testament there are 333 prophecies about Him and 33 of those were fulfilled in the last 24 hours of His life!  Can you imagine my friend, all of the Bible points to just one person and two events in the history of time?  The two events are of course, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus.   Last summer Kirk and I went to Nauvoo for missions and while we were there the Lord showed me something I’ll never forget.

He brought to mind what Paul spoke about in the fifteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians – you got it – the “resurrection chapter”!   I stood at the grave of Joseph Smith feeling poorly for the Mormon people that their praise goes to someone who created a false faith and who is still lying under the ground.  The other part of me was filled with relief that God got me out of the mess I was in every day and my hope was in a God who had not only provided for me, but also gave me the assurance that I will be with Him in heaven.

One of the verses found in scripture that we can keep near our hearts for assurance is John 19:30.  I use this scripture a lot with the Mormons and always ask them the same thing with it.  What did Jesus mean when He said “It is finished” in John 19:30?

They all give me the same answer which speaks volumes, but it mostly tells me they have been taught to answer any questions in the same way when asked by their non-Mormon friends or relatives.  This is what I hear each time and it’s taken from Journal of Discourses 23:174-5;

It is believed by many in the Christian world, that our Savior finished his mission when he expired upon the cross, and his last words on the cross, as given by the Apostle John—”it is finished,” are frequently quoted as evidence of the fact; but this is an error. Christ did not complete his mission upon the earth until after his body was raised from the dead.

The rest of the quote goes on to say that His mission wasn’t done because He had not risen.  It then goes on to say that the apostles couldn’t remember anything the Savior had told them about the Holy Ghost and being filled with power by him.  Now while part of that may be a little bit true, the part about Jesus’ mission not being complete is not true.

The apostles didn’t understand what Jesus had meant while He spoke to them in person.  However, during His appearances after His resurrection He gave them specific orders to wait in Jerusalem for the gift that He had promised to them.

The apostle’s job was about to take place, fifty days after the resurrection would be Pentecost and they would be infilled with the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Jesus’ Church would begin.

Jesus’ work and sacrifice was indeed finished – Jesus was born for one purpose and that purpose was to die as the sacrificial Lamb of God for you, for me, for all who would believe on His name.  It was because His work was finished that we are found to be righteous before God the Father; not because of anything you or I could ever do!

If you are looking anywhere but the cross for your salvation, your search is in vain.  God ordained this before the world was because He already knew that man would sin and need help to be found worthy.  The fall of Adam and Eve was a curse, not a necessary evil of a fall upward as the LDS doctrines would lead people to believe.  Here are a few LDS doctrinal examples of what they believe about the fall:

 Articles of Faith 2 – “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

     2 Nephi 2:25 says; “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

     D&C 29:39; “And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet –.”

     Articles of Faith, pg. 63; “It has become a common practise with mankind to heap reproaches upon the progenitors of the family, and to picture the supposedly blessed state in which we would be living but for the fall; whereas our first parents are entitled to our deepest gratitude… But for the opportunity thus given, the spirits of God’s offspring would have remained forever in a state of innocent childhood, sinless through no effort of their own; negatively saved, not from sin, but from the opportunity of meeting sin; incapable of winning the honors of victory because prevented from taking part in the conflict…From Father Adam we have inherited all the ills to which flesh is heir; but such are necessarily incident to a knowledge of good and evil, by the proper use of which knowledge man may become even as the Gods.”

 So the bottom line with the LDS Church is that the cross means absolutely nothing because they believe Jesus paid for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane; they believe that it was a “necessary evil” that Adam fell so we could earn the honors of victory in the conflict of sin and we owe our gratitude to our father Adam for his great disobedience towards God.

I pray that God would have mercy upon this people and lead as many as would listen to His truth so they may be saved.  Acts 3:19 says; “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

If you’re a Mormon please know that we’re not here to bash you or insult you!  We care deeply about your salvation and want you to know how much Jesus really does love you.  The Jesus of the Bible is the true Son of God, not the one that Joseph Smith made up in 1830.  If you’d like more information about this topic or anything else in Mormonism don’t hesitate to drop us a line!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle Grim

1 Cor. 1:18

31 Responses to “The Missing Cross in Mormonism”

  1. George Joseph deMetz March 29, 2012 at 7:48 am #

    What a very shallow site! I’m confident that my comments as a Mormon will be censored, but, anyway, I’ll try to post them. First of all, John’s writings in the Book of Revelation were to the saints, who had been really “born again”; born of the water, in baptism, and born of the Spirit, by receiving the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost! This gift, which is obviously lacking from this site, would enable them to understand what he was writing! This gift would enable you to see that the beast which came up from the land with two horns like a lamb (Christlike-the two horns representing the Greek and Roman branches of the ecclesiastical empire that would exercise all the power of Rome after it (which would speak as a dragon-Satan-deceitfully) represented the Catholic church which would have power over the saints for the 1260 years (see Clark’s Commentary-non-Mprmon) in which the true church would be driven in the wilderness (see Revelation 12:6), from 570 AD-1830 AD! This mark of the beast, or sign of the kingdom is the cross, and if you had this gift and used it, then you would realize that the passage which states “in the right had and forehead” should have been copied as “with the right hand and forehead.” You would also realize that the 666 represents the DCLXVI which was on the mitres of the bishops of Rome! However, since you obviously don’t, I’ll just expect you to go right on with your ignorant blasphemies!!!

    • Mike Boyle September 8, 2016 at 4:22 am #

      I’ve talked to Mormons before. And yea I agree with the other person; this site is incredibly shallow. The reason they don’t celebrate the Cross is because they see it as a murder weapon. It’s what he did on the Cross and thats good enough for them to remember!

  2. christy October 20, 2012 at 8:01 pm #

    George, I don’t see where you are getting your interpretation from –
    KJV Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. where do you get the 570 AD-1830 AD- that is not close to the time frame at all…
    She shares what she does out of love… don’t be angry- prove her wrong if you feel so strongly

    • George DeMetz April 4, 2015 at 5:56 pm #

      I already stated that Clark’s commentary (non-Mormon) states that the 1260 days are prophetic days, or, in other words 1260 years. The Lombard invasion in 570 AD apparently wiped out any remnant of the true church’s public ministry. The true church was restored again in 1830 AD with the same organization, ordinances, and authority as Peter prophesied as recorded in Acts 3:19.

  3. camdenc October 24, 2012 at 5:08 pm #

    Christy – great reply…

  4. Steve October 26, 2012 at 10:51 pm #

    I agree with Christy George. You are so wrong about Rev:12-6. You are a learned man George. It seems you speak with knowledge you have only heard. You should get a real Bible ( a Thompson Chain Reference) and study and shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

    I do believe that is II Timothy:2-15. Read it yourself

    Steve

  5. Anders November 8, 2013 at 11:06 pm #

    Why don’t we be Christian about this? Mormons are doing their best to follow Jesus just as we are, they simply believe different things about his mission and purpose. This article shallowly assumes that they avoid the cross because they don’t appreciate Christ’s Atonement. I have many Mormon friends and I have been to their church, and this article drastically misrepresents their views. Mormons prefer to focus on the Living Christ instead of the symbol of his death, but that’s not to say that His Atonement is not a central tenant to their religion.

    This article is not accurate.

    • Hunter May 7, 2017 at 7:50 am #

      I really appreciated your comment! I imagine you are not a member of the LDS church but that doesn’t matter, I have respect for whatever religion you believe in. As a member of the LDS church, It brought me a lot of joy to hear someone of a different faith do something rather than bash my religion. Sometimes it seems like all the other religions have absolutely nothing nice to say about the LDS faith, i know this isn’t true, and it’s probably just because the outspoken people are the loudest and the ones you hear the most. If you have faith in Christ and do your best while here on earth, I truly believe God will reward you regardless of what religion you are. Our test on Earth isn’t the test of who guessed the correct religion, it’s about our faith and our good works. I know that this comment was made almost five years from now and that you probably won’t even see this, but Thank you for your comments! I hope you will continue to act in faith and I know God will reward you!

  6. LifeAfter November 25, 2013 at 7:10 pm #

    Anders –

    This isn’t about who works harder at following Jesus! This is about which Jesus they’re following. The Jesus of Mormonism is far different than the Jesus of Christianity – even Hinckley stated as much in 1998. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/31188/Crown-of-gospel-is-upon-our-heads.html
    The vocabulary you’re choosing to use leads me to believe that you’re LDS – therefore I’m letting you know that the atonement of the Mormon Jesus isn’t anything remotely close to what the Bible says.
    The Mormon Jesus paid for some of man’s sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. They get this from a misinterpretation of Luke 22:44.
    The Jesus of Christianity and the Bible didn’t pay for sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. He paid for them on the cross, thus the topic of the article.
    So i ask you Anders, what is it that we’ve misrepresented?
    Know that we’re praying for you!
    With Love in Christ;
    Michelle
    1 Cor. 1:18

  7. Charles February 9, 2014 at 4:12 pm #

    I only wish to make one comment regarding why Mormon’s didn’t watch in droves The Passion of the Christ. They don’t believe watching violent images is good period regardless of who or why. They would be advised not to watch a movie about Joe Smith if it showed the same degree of violence the passion had. Your bias as well as many other Christian writers was a big reason it took me 20 years to be saved from Mormonism and to be saved.

  8. EG May 9, 2014 at 7:50 am #

    Mormons did watch The Passion of the Christ. I was one of them. The LDS church did not tell any member not to watch The Passion.

    I have non member friends who were told to not view The Passion by their Preachers because the movie was made by a Catholic, Mel Gibson! So quite saying lies about Mormons.

    • LifeAfter May 10, 2014 at 6:23 pm #

      EG – It’s not a lie. Mormon are counseled from a young age to avoid rated R movies, or any movie/book/magazine/TV show with violent, pornographic, excessive cursing or suggestive themes. So it’s not too far out of the realm of possibility for their church leaders to prefer they didn’t watch The Passion of the Christ given it’s continent. – Melissa Grimes

  9. Sue September 1, 2014 at 12:35 pm #

    I’m a Christian women and I’ve fallen in love with a Mormon man. This man came with me to my church and bible study’s for along time and then stopped. He pursued me and helped me as a single women doing painting and landscaping around my house, many things. Although there was an attraction on both parts I held him at arms length stating “we could be nothing but friends.”
    He had two knee replacements and the cancer, that almost killed him. I prayed for him & helped him many times & became attached to and yes I did finally after 3 years fall in love with him.
    This man wants to marry me only if I turn Mormon & marry him in the temple . This can never happen because I’m a Christian & I feel like I’ve been alluded.
    I’m now a 59 yr old woman that has waisted my time and needs to move on and I don’t exactly know how to breakup with him or does he know how to break up with me, because our love is so sweet but my heart is so broken. I’ve been divorced for 25yrs & want to be married. How can I move past this? I truly need to brake up and move on. It’s been 6 years of this relationship and the older I get the harder it is.
    Please help… He’s a good man and a convert to the Mormon religion but I could never believe in LDS. We can never be unified as one in God. I pray others learn from my mistake. I need to move on with my life. I feel so broken.

    • Marilyn March 19, 2015 at 7:20 am #

      Dear Sue,
      I am so sry for your heartbreak. Have you gotten a reply for your question? Don’t ever give up your faith in the true God of the Bible or in the true Jesus of the Bible. My daughter dated a Mormon during a difficult time in her life, but, thank God, realized that she could never marry a man who was not a Biblically Born Again Christian. Mormonism is very confusing. They use Christian terms, but are not Bible believers or followers. I was considering joining the Mormon church during my college years. I studied a lot and asked a bunch of questions. Then I began to discover the iceberg below the water line–the stuff the Mormon church keeps silent about until a person is spiritually ensnared with them. Don’t be deceived. Be obedient to God, Sue <3

    • Hunter May 7, 2017 at 8:00 am #

      I know this comment was made a while ago but I’m curious how things have gone since then? Have you at least attempted going to the LDS church? If not I’d encourage you to at least give it a try, if it’s not for you, if you don’t believe anything they have to say, that’s fine. Something that you should understand is that mormons are christians. We do believe in Christ. We do believe in his Atonement. We do believe in the Bible. We do believe he died for our sins. Jesus Christ is very very real to us. Another thing that’s important to know is that the reason why getting married in the temple is so important to us is because we believe that’s where we are sealed together with our spouse for all eternity. If you have already tried this I’m very sorry and I’m sorry i haven’t been useful. However I do wish you the greatest of luck, I hope that the greatest of luck has already happened to you.

  10. Hunter May 7, 2017 at 8:06 am #

    Mormons believe in Christ’s Atonement. We do believe that he died for our sins and that he suffered in Gethsemane for us. I know this was not intentional and that you probably really did not intend to insult mormons, but you can’t say we are not here to bash you, then bash our religion. That insults us, like How it may insult you when Atheist people say there is no God and that being Christian is stupid. All we can do in this life is have faith, repent of our sins and act upon our faith

    • Louie August 6, 2017 at 2:40 am #

      It’s problematic Hunter as it all starts from a very ill man whose lust for women led him into marrying over 40 wives, spanning over 17 years, establishing the practice of polygamy, adultery, bigamy, and even being a pedophile. One of the saddest of all consequences is the church of Joseph Smith, leading millions into an abyss of myths and confused thinking…including the understanding of the Cross. It is an utter ignoring of the sacrifices at the temple that makes LDS insights incorrect. The sacrifices are not accepted solely by their virtue; but, when they were sacrificed. It is the atoning blood that was spilled at the temple, and on the cross, that makes this consistent. There’s more, like the not breaking of His legs, or the separation from blood and water, but especially the elimination for the need of temples now that the work on the cross was finished! The Holy Spirit does not hover in any one location, but is omnipresent and omniscient in it’s ability to indwell those that are one with Christ; as well as, being able to hear all of the prayers of the saints. All this an more, all because of the work on the cross! No…Christians take pride in the cross; and, we don’t walk around cowering in fear of following Christ. Whether it’s bearing the cross, or even something as simple as making sure we’re actually partaking in the communion (and not with water! 🙂

  11. Hunter August 7, 2017 at 7:40 am #

    I believe Joseph Smith restored the church to the Earth, I believe he was a prophet of God, I admire him, but in no way do I or the correct members of the church worship Joseph Smith. I worship my loving and merciful Heavenly Father, and my savior Jesus Christ who died and suffered for my sins and everyone else’s. whatever religion you are I admire that you attend and encourage you to continue building faith. Like I said all we can do is build our faith in our Savior and our Father in Heaven and do our absolute best in this life. The LDS church helps me build this faith. Im happy if some other church helps you build your faith as well. I encourage you to rather than seek to find controversies in other churches that are a part of probably every church at some point or another, to instead build your faith, repent, and live righteously as I know from personal experience, that is where true happiness comes from. Sin may grant you short term satisfaction but true happiness comes from living the gospel. I hope that you are living righteously and if not I hope you start to do so, if you are I hope you continue to do so. One final thought, God loves all his children regardless of their mistakes.

    • Jennifer November 22, 2017 at 6:18 am #

      Oh poor Hunter. I herd 3 year olds reciting what you said word for word. That is taught to you.
      Why do Children believe in Santa? Because their parents teach them it’s true.
      Louie is correct. Our Jesus would not have been with 40 Women. Not with young children, yes Children. It’s heartbreaking your lack of common sense.

      I love this site. The book of Mormon is full of evidence proving it wrong. Exp “barley”. There was no barley in the America’s, or Iron. Or Cows. Please, please look into things.

    • Jennifer November 22, 2017 at 6:23 am #

      Oh poor Hunter. I herd 3 year olds reciting what you said word for word. That is taught to you.
      Why do Children believe in Santa? Because their parents teach them it’s true.
      Louie is correct. Our Jesus would not have been with 40 Women. Not with young children, yes Children. It’s heartbreaking your lack of common sense.

      I love this site. The book of Mormon is full of evidence proving it wrong. Exp “barley”. There was no barley in the America’s, or Iron. Or Cows. Please, please look into things.

  12. Bon September 11, 2017 at 11:44 pm #

    I have one question to each in this debate that seems to go unanswered between Mainstream Christian vs Mormon atonement interpretations. To the Christians: What do you believe Christ was doing in the Garden of Gethsemane and did that have any significance to the Atonement? If so, what was it? To the Mormons: Do you believe there was any symbolism or necessity to Christ dying on the cross or could he have died in any other method and had it still be equally significant?

    • Jamie September 28, 2017 at 8:00 pm #

      Bon,
      Matthew 26:36-46 explains what Jesus was doing in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, knowing what was about to take place, was very troubled “My soul is very sorrowful, even death;” Matthew 26:38 and he took two of his most trusted disciples with him to pray. He prayed 3 times for God to “take this cup” from Him meaning if there is any other way, in accordance with God’s will, to save the souls of man, for God to act on it. His disciples kept falling asleep because it was the middle of the night/early morning, just proving how frail we humans are. After Jesus had prayed a third time Judas Iscariot and a group of soldiers came to arrest Jesus. They were expecting him to fight as they had swords ready, Jesus instead walked calmly to meet his fate. Judas’ signal to the soldiers was “The one I kiss is the man; seize him.” Matthew 26:48. Judas greeted Jesus and kissed him, Jesus reply was “Friend, do what you came to do.” Matthew 26:50 Please keep in mind that Jesus, being part of the Trinity was fully God and fully human, he could have called 10,000 angels to relieve him of his pain and just let man perish, but he loved us too much and despite his “sorrowful soul” Matthew 26:38 he willingly went with the soldiers to die. This was the only way any of us could ever gain entrance to heaven, to accept the gift of salvation through crucifixion. OUR sin put him there; forced his hand to save us. He loved us too much to let us die in hell. The Garden of Gethsemane was the gateway to the greatest love act ever performed, and the only one any of us will ever need.

  13. Anonymous December 22, 2017 at 10:58 pm #

    Life After,
    I plead for you to accept the Book of Mormon is true and give up on trying to destroy God’ one true church, or else Christ will say unto you at the last day,
    “I never knew you, depart from me, all ye that do iniquity.”
    I am ashamed you think that the Atonement is only about a cross. It is much more than that, the scripture you have read is Paul testifying why we don’t have a cross in our chapels. You are the foolish preacher he is mentioning, not us. The Mormon church is not the Church of Mormon of the church of Joseph Smith, it is THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
    You are not prophet, you are no apostle, you have no keys, and you will have no salvation if you lead people away from God’s one true church.
    “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better … that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt. 18:6.)
    The Book of Mormon is simply evidence that the church is true,
    I Leave you these words and testimony of a true Apostle and greater Disciple of Jesus Christ than you will ever be
    Safety for the Soul
    Jeffrey R. Holland
    Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
    THE SACRIFICE OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH AND OUR TESTIMONY THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE
    May I refer to a modern “last days” testimony? When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum started for Carthage to face what they knew would be an imminent martyrdom, Hyrum read these words to comfort the heart of his brother:
    “Thou hast been faithful; wherefore … thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.
    “And now I, Moroni, bid farewell … until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.”
    A few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which Hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down, still visible. Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, Joseph the Prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Shortly thereafter pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators.
    As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest—and last—hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?
    Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be “houseless, friendless and homeless” and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor. Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
    For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”
    I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. If anyone is foolish enough or misled enough to reject 531 pages of a heretofore unknown text teeming with literary and Semitic complexity without honestly attempting to account for the origin of those pages—especially without accounting for their powerful witness of Jesus Christ and the profound spiritual impact that witness has had on what is now tens of millions of readers—if that is the case, then such a person, elect or otherwise, has been deceived; and if he or she leaves this Church, it must be done by crawling over or under or around the Book of Mormon to make that exit. In that sense the book is what Christ Himself was said to be: “a stone of stumbling, … a rock of offence,” a barrier in the path of one who wishes not to believe in this work. Witnesses, even witnesses who were for a time hostile to Joseph, testified to their death that they had seen an angel and had handled the plates. “They have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man,” they declared. “Wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true.”
    Now, I did not sail with the brother of Jared in crossing an ocean, settling in a new world. I did not hear King Benjamin speak his angelically delivered sermon. I did not proselyte with Alma and Amulek nor witness the fiery death of innocent believers. I was not among the Nephite crowd who touched the wounds of the resurrected Lord, nor did I weep with Mormon and Moroni over the destruction of an entire civilization. But my testimony of this record and the peace it brings to the human heart is as binding and unequivocal as was theirs. Like them, “[I] give [my name] unto the world, to witness unto the world that which [I] have seen.” And like them, “[I] lie not, God bearing witness of it.”
    I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon and all that it implies, given today under my own oath and office, be recorded by men on earth and angels in heaven. I hope I have a few years left in my “last days,” but whether I do or do not, I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God that I declared to the world, in the most straightforward language I could summon, that the Book of Mormon is true, that it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days.
    My witness echoes that of Nephi, who wrote part of the book in his “last days”:
    “Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, … and they teach all men that they should do good.
    “And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.”
    Brothers and sisters, God always provides safety for the soul, and with the Book of Mormon, He has again done that in our time. Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived”—and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you. Of this I earnestly testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  14. Ross January 13, 2018 at 12:00 am #

    The Cross of JESUS , ” leading us on , before the foe ” ; It is the most important and recognized , christian symbol , throughout the whole earth . It was the instrument , upon which our LORD , accomplished His agony of passion , and the sinless sacrifice , on the behalf of , all mankind . He gave himself over , to His destiny , by His own choice and free will . No ” another ” , took anything away from Him ; not by any force nor by craft . The body of JESUS , lay in the tomb , for three days . His spirit visited hell , and then came out . He rose from the dead , by His own power , victorious and triumphant , over both death and damnation . He ascended up , onto His FATHER , to stand on the right-side . The blood of JESUS , shed on the cross , literally and not figuratively , makes possible , the renewal and purification , of all things . His acceptable and sacrifical offering , of Himself , for GOD’S honor and justice and mercy , once and for all time , is the pinnacle of achievement , in all of the historical record , of mankind ; past – present – future . THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , is the ultimate BOSS MAN GOD . — Why is it , that the mormon church , will absolutely not have anything to do , with THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST ? WE care not a nickel , for their lame excuses , and their fumbling explanations . They reject the cross , because they reject the real JESUS . Away with all the pretty words , spoken with forked tongues , by minions , inspired by a flying monkey . They are a church of works , oaths , and ritual ordinances – called ” the plan of progression ” . They reject the gift of GOD’S grace , and their actions speak louder than their words . They build worthless and exorbitant temples , with towers and spires , as unqualified substitutes , instead of and in replacement for , the old rugged cross of our fathers . The truth is , they worship an ” another ” , imposter , anti – christ , as their false god idol . They say so , right out in the open , on the front cover , of their mormons book . ( another ) They mock real christians , but we reply to them ; no cross – means no salvation . This is the first witness against them . — What about the precious blood of JESUS ? As we would expect , they pollute the true understanding , of the principle of salvation . It is the mormon teaching , and they do say it ; that their ” fake jesus ” , took upon himself , the sins of the world , while in the garden of gethsemane , instead of , while on the cross . The mormon belief is , that there in the garden , their ” fake jesus ” , sweated out great drops of blood , to accomplish the atonement , and all the rest , was just the aftermath , and anti – climax . Again they denigrate , both GOD and the cross . It is blasphemy . This is the second witness against them , and a third witness stands , to give a confirmation . — In the sacramental supper , the bread represents the body of JESUS ( life , ministry , law , works ) , and the wine represents the spirit ( life , the sacrifice , grace , mercy ) . To partake of it , is a symbolic gesture , of comprehension and allegiance : honor , love , respect , appreciation and discipleship . THE LORD JESUS , knocks on the heart’s door , of every person . A dishonest ( or maybe just foolish ) host , opens the door , and offers Him an insult ; the second best – ” watered down ” wine , for a refreshment . The mormon practice falls even lower ; they substitute water for wine , while saying , here – this is better . They go against GOD’s example and order and command , and just ordinary good hospitality . They take away the good wine symbol , from the sacrament . They seek to neutralize , the power of the saving blood of JESUS CHRIST . — Mormonism is a subtle serpent , that whispers pleasing things , into the ears of fallible men . It is a collective , hive mind , borg tyranny – established by a satanic plot of rule and dominion , called ” the plan of progression ” , Mormonism wants , and promises , godhood : earned by works , oaths , and ritual ordinances . Upon closer examination , and with the searching beam of THE TRUE GOD’S spotlight ( THE HOLY GHOST ) , we can discern the lds church’s errors ( malfeasances & perversions ) – mormonism is damnation . On the right – side , THE TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST , is the enduring realty , and the gift of salvation : the individual and personal renewal , of inward purification .

  15. Anon January 17, 2018 at 12:04 am #

    I personally am a Mormon, and the main thing that stuck out to me is the fact that we are not supposed to praise any other image before God. Why are we supposed to praise the image of a cross when that isn’t what we believe in, that is only doing exactly what we are told not to do! We believe in Christ, and our Heavenly Father, not an object that was made by the hand of man.

    • Ross January 27, 2018 at 6:00 am #

      The Cross of JESUS is the most important and recognized christian symbol throughout the whole earth .It represents the entirety of His life , and more especially His glorious victory over death and hell . The cross was both the instrument and altar upon which our LORD accomplished His sacrifice of agony and passion . JESUS accomplished the atonement by shedding His blood on the cross ( dying ) at calvary . He suffered the bodily agony of the crucifixion . He suffered the spiritual passion of bearing the weight of mankind’s sins while being sinless Himself . THE MASTER was made guilty for our sakes and paid the price to satisfy GOD’s justice and truth and honor and testimony . He reconciles us to and with THE FATHER . THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR AND REDEEMER – because He ransoms us from death and hell , by the gift ( not plan ) of salvation . We must individually and personally receive it , as a bequest by faith in Him , for it to be in force , for each one of us . The cross represents THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST , and He personally endorses it as His personal badge of honor and His ensign to the world . ” For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power of GOD . ” ( 1 Corinthians 1:18 ) . ” And whosoever doth not bear his cross , and come after me , cannot be my disciple . ” ( Luke 14:27 } THE HOLY BIBLE , kjv .

  16. Mike March 1, 2018 at 2:50 am #

    This is simple. The cross didn’t save you. The cross didn’t suffer and die for you. Jesus Christ did. After He died He was resurrected. We worship The Living Christ. Focusing on the cross is focusing on an inanimate object. 1 Corinthians 1:18 is taken out of context.

    17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

    18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

    17 shows that the cross isn’t the literal cross. The cross is symbolic for the Atonement of Christ. In Luke 14:27 the cross is again symbolic. It means to follow Christ. It means to try and be like Him. The best way we can honor the Savior is how we live. The best symbol of Christ is found in the Godly walk of those who believe in Him and in His gospel. Someone who follows Christ is the best symbol of Him and will appear foolish to those who don’t believe. You can’t tell if someone has faith in Christ by their wearing a cross but by how they live.

    In James Chapter 2 it says.

    18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

    • Ross May 1, 2018 at 8:32 pm #

      Investigation shows that the mormon church is now putting out lip service ( smiley public relations ) that the christian cross is a sincere ( although misguided ) expression of faith by others , but it is still not valid for them . They falsely insist that the cross represents only death & defeat . They make this pretense of pious fellowship , while at the same time pridefully proclaiming that they themselves are the only example and way for today that demonstrates the ” work ” of salvation . ( In reality it is a forbidden & spurious innovation of a different / other revelation . Revelation 22 : 18-19 , THE HOLY BIBLE , kjv ) Mormonism is all about outward appearances . They always say ” look at us ” – joe smith , mormons book , temples , ect. – instead for and in place of rightfully looking to JESUS CHRIST . They refuse redemption and the gift of salvation by grace ( on GOD’S terms ) and they think they can ” earn it ” so as not to be in debt and under obligation to THE TRUE LORD . They wrongly conceive in their mind’s ” I ” that they are their own savior by their own deeds . Their plastic and false ” J ” is merely an architect , builder , trail blazing scout and train conductor . They want to exalt themselves by becoming self serving , titan god masters – instead of GOD’S true servant sons and daughters having unlimited potential . ( If they think they can set the terms and play ” let’s make a deal ” with GOD for reward , they will be mighty disappointed come the judgement day and discover that they only short changed themselves . ) From the very beginning , their continuous refusal of association in any meaningful way , with the ” old rugged cross ” of our apostolic christian fathers , is a sign . They cut themselves off from the congregation of the real saints of THE MIGHTY GOD . The plain cross is the monument , and the memento , and the ensign , and the courageous badge of honor belonging to JESUS CHRIST . The mormon church and it’s ” plan of progression ” is a pyramid scheme that does not belong to JESUS . The lds ” works ” are a lie against THE TRUE GOSPEL OF THE SON OF GOD . ( mormonism is a serpent at the bosom that strikes the breast )

  17. Ross March 8, 2018 at 10:34 pm #

    The plain cross is the symbol representing THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST . The cross monument itself does not save us , but it is JESUS Himself who has the power of deliverance and salvation . In a wider sense , the cross also stands for the best of cherished christian heritage and legacy ( the culture and community and congregation of GOD’S saints – past , present , future ) . In addition , the cross stands for THE KINGDOM OF GOD ; His government , law , judgement , justice , mercy , and glory . Many have layed down ( given ) their own lives , for GOD’s cause under His ensign cross , with the hope and assurance of their personal redemption and salvation , only by the virtue of JESUS CHRIST alone . Thereby for all , the cross is a token memento of remembrance and encouragement , for the fidelity in discipleship , to THE TRUE MASTER . The cross should not be worshiped , misused , nor idolized ( as some do ) . But , anyone who willfully and purposefully denigrates the cross , also disrespects and insults GOD , because it is His mark of purpose and His personal badge of honor . God will hold His open and secret enemies personally accountable to censor , punishment and condemnation . Now you have been told , and now you can know the truth or falsehood of this witness , by the testimony and the power of THE SPIRIT OF GOD upon you . Do not play with hellfire . Anyone who continues to reject and fight against GOD , and His truth , will be cursed and lost and shall be consigned to eternal damnation . That , not by fallen man’s poor judgement coming from state nor church . But instead , at the final revelation of the soul , for all to see , before GOD at the heavenly throne .

  18. Erik Leifson July 31, 2018 at 6:22 am #

    It’s true that people can leave the church, but they can never leave it alone. Give it a rest. Through my own studies, I’ve learned that the cross was originally used as a symbol for Tammuz, the reincarnation of Nimrod. Tammuz was also known as Baal, or Horace (in egypt). The cross is a symbol for pagan Sun God worship, or the worship of the Anti-Christ. It was probably a slap in the face to the true Messiah that he was crucified on the “Tau”, or cross of Tammuz.

    If you don’t believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth, then leave; but don’t drag others down with you. Why, when God has never in the history of the world left man to depend solely on the prophetic writings of past generations (this including pre Law of Moses times), would he suddenly, after his Only Begotten was brutally slain for the redemption of all mankind – why would he suddenly fall silent? Why would there be no earthly spokesman for the will of God? Where are the Adams? the Enochs? the Noahs” the Moseses? Where are the the modern day Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Where is the modern day Paul if not in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? No other church makes the claim to the priesthood authority of God, save the Catholics. But their authority (nothing against catholics) comes through Constantine, who set himself up as the supreme pontiff of both the mystery religion of Babylon and the Christian church (see Hislop’s Two Babylons).

    It is argued that the Holy Spirit replaces all that. Well if the Holy Spirit alone is sufficient to guide the whole of Christianity, then why can’t the Christians agree on very basic doctrines like baptism? Tell me that one. Why are there thousands of denominations with differing doctrines? “A house divided cannot stand”, remember? These are the exact reasons that “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” He doesn’t leave his children to wander about in the darkness without a prophet, seer, and revelator of his current generation (only in times of apostasy). The people of the New Testament times didn’t even have the “New Testament”, so what the blazes were they supposed to rely on for the word of God? All they had was the Torah, basically. It was the Apostles of that current generation that brought them the word of God. I highly doubt that Jesus’ intent was to say, “Go write a bunch of epistles, get murdered, and your writings will be preserved in Greek (not the original Hebrew that you are writing in) so that the flaming homosexual King James can commission a translation of your writings (under threat of death) into English (which didn’t exist) so people (and not just clergy) can read them in about 1500 years.

    THAT is what we are supposed to depend on for the whole and complete truth?! I believe that the books of the Bible are the word of God, as they were written in the original language under inspiration of God. I don’t necessarily trust every translation of those words to be the infallible word of God. It just baffles me that people can’t seem to concede that it is a good argument that God would speak to his church with one voice through a prophet, and to individuals and families through the Holy Spirit for themselves and their families.

    The Book of Mormon does nothing but verify the divinity of the Bible and provide clarification to doctrines that are somewhat obscure. I can’t think of any motivation for the entire organization to promulgate a lie. The clergy is unpaid, and the General Authorities basically give up all their assets to the church when called. They are supported by the income of church businesses (I think like Deseret Industries) and NOT the tithing of the members.

    As a side note, I find that many Christians claim that the Bible is the infallible and complete word of God, yet they only read the New Testament. It’s like the Old Testament doesn’t matter. Doesn’t make much sense.

    • Ross August 28, 2018 at 7:16 pm #

      To Erik Leifson : What you just said , amounts to a steaming pile of babel – nothing . Your case is clear : You are a deceiver and stealer of souls . Be careful – I could give you a whole lot more – to you pain and shame .

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