Thought of the Day about Mormonism

07 April

Good Friday

Today I thought I’d remind the Christian community there is no recognition or observance of Good Friday in Mormonism. I remember as a child growing up in Utah I had three non-Mormon friends and on Good Friday they’d never be able to come out and play like they did the other days of Easter Break.  I don’t recall asking them why, but I do remember thinking they celebrated some strange day just before Easter they always called “Good Friday”.

As I’ve grown in my Christian faith I look back on those days and the loneliness I felt then intensifies as I think on the pain He must have suffered while hanging on that cross.  While the physical pain of crucifixion is incomprehensible, I’m wondering what part of the pain was caused by Him carrying our my sin.

Gratitude for His sacrifice for me on that cross goes without saying of course, but the message I pray Mormons would grasp is that He would’ve hung there regardless of their decision to accept Him as their Savior or not.  As a Mormon I realize that’s a mighty tall concept to grasp, but it’s true. He came here with a plan and He was fulfilling that plan on that day.

In the Encyclopedia of Mormonism there is no entry for Good Friday, but you will find an entry for godhood, gold plates and gospel of Abraham.  I found it interesting that none of those three things are real.

If you look in Mormon Doctrine which is another encyclopedic work published by the Church, you’ll find the entries of Good Book, Good Shepherd and Good Works.  There is nothing about Good Friday at all.

Because Mormons have been taught that Jesus paid for their sin in the Garden of Gethsemane I looked for an entry on Maundy Thursday in both research books and found nothing.

But interestingly enough Mormon Doctrine did carry an entry for crucifixion.  Here in part is what it said;

“Few if any forms of execution are or could be more painful and agonizing than that of crucifixion…At the Second Coming these same wounds will stand as a witness to the Jews that he is the Crucified One, their King whom they rejected in the meridian of time. (D. & C. 45:51-52; Zech. 12:10; 13:6.)”

Sadly what they didn’t expound upon is the very last reference they gave in Zechariah 12:10; 13:6.  If they could focus upon these remarkable prophetic words from this Old Testament prophet they’d see for themselves what a true prophecy is.

Zechariah 12:10; 13:6; “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”

On each Good Friday I’m always praying the Mormons would ask themselves how they got to Easter without any reference to His death beforehand.  I’m sure I wasn’t the only little Mormon kid who had questions about the “weird holiday” on the Friday before.

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18

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2 Responses to “Thought of the Day about Mormonism”

  1. thegardensofboxwoodmanor April 7, 2012 at 2:10 am #

    Yes, it is a shame that this verse was only just mentioned and the Cross was not given the proper significance. Nowhere else have I ever seen or read that Jesus paid the price of His blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. How could this be left out? Satan doesn’t want any connection to the Cross being made. Jesus had His hands, feet and side pierced on the Cross and not in the Garden. His blood was shed for us. He perfectly fulfilled the Law that we could not do. AND- while we were still sinners, died for us. ( Romans) Now, all we need to do is repent and come to Him in humility to receive His undeserved love (grace).
    We cannot earn this. By persuing perfection we will not gain anything.

    It’s all about Jesus and nothing about ourselves. Not perfection, not exaltation, nothing.

    Like Camden, our church had a Good Friday service tonight with a Cross and Nails for each of us. We hammered the nails into the wooden Cross signifying that OUR sins nailed Him to the Cross.
    The prayer:
    Dear Jesus crucified for me: FIll me with holy reverence for your Sacred Passion! Since my sins were the cruel nails that pierced your hands and feet, grant that in Godly sorrow for all my evil thoughts, words, and deeds, I may nail to the Cross all that offends you. I love you Jesus. I love you more than myself! I repent with my whole heart for ever having offended you! Grant that I may love you always! DO with me what you will. Amen

  2. camdenc April 7, 2012 at 5:29 pm #

    That is awesome!

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