A Non-Mormon's Question About Worship

[Koloborator]

As a non-Mormon, I have a question about the following statement from Elder Bruce R. McConkie, which is taken from a speech that he delivered at BYU on March 2, 1982:

"We worship the Father and him only and no one else. We do not worship the Son, and we do not worship the Holy Ghost. I know perfectly well what the scriptures say about worshipping Christ and Jehovah, but they are speaking in an entirely different sense

[David T]

"He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Lord who shall come again to reign on earth. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

"As I contemplated my own calling and the callings of millions of others already in service, I was led to consider this question: Why do we serve? Service is an imperative for those who worship Jesus Christ. " - Elder Oaks

See The Living Christ, and also another recent official Newsroom statement here.

Yes, we do, and yes, I do.

While the word 'worship' is not a word used much at all in modern LDS parlance, the concept of complete devotion, awe, Love, and submission to Christ is present everywhere in all that we say and do about the Savior of the World. See our regularly sung hymn, "I Stand All Amazed (At The Love Jesus Offers Me)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEbYZYIDR4U

[USU78]

Your poll creates a false dichotomy that cannot be resolved absent more choices, including "Maybe," depending upon how one goes about defining "worship."

[TAO]

It cannot be better stated than a simple Yes.

Except maybe with a chorus of 'hallelujahs' in the background. ;-)

[Koloborator]

Your poll creates a false dichotomy that cannot be resolved absent more choices, including "Maybe," depending upon how one goes about defining "worship."

Thanks. That's a good point. In the context of this issue, I personally define worship as the unqualified acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is God (or, as a Mormon might say, "a God" or "a Member of the Godhead") and is therefore deserving of complete obedience and the utmost honor, trust, and love.

[Maidservant]

I voted no, probably because I absorbed the Bruce R. McConkie quote above in my LDS training, and I don't know, now that I think about it, how confirmed that is in, say, recent General Conferences. I do know that we are to only pray to Heavenly Father and never to Jesus (but in the name of Jesus).

I also want to mention that I almost never think in terms of worship. I think of myself as God's daughter and a disciple of Jesus Christ--I'm FOLLOWING Christ and my Father--and whether those things can theologically be called worship, hopefully yes, but I don't worry about it.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

NEVER pray to Jesus? Is that scriptural? I recall several instances of people crying out and praying to Jesus in the Book of Mormon.

[cdowis]

NEVER pray to Jesus? Is that scriptural? I recall several instances of people crying out and praying to Jesus in the Book of Mormon.

Read the whole account. Read what Christ said to the Father about this.

[cdowis]

Almost every Sunday we partake of the sacrament, where we take the name of Christ upon ourselves. Read the sacrament prayer.

Also look in the hymn book and see how many hymns are dedicated to the Saviour Probably over 90 percent of them. Look in the Topical Guide in the scriptures, and look up "Christ".

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Read the whole account. Read what Christ said to the Father about this.

I LOVE it when people tell me to read the whole thing. It makes me laugh.

[Run408]

Yes and No.... We only worship one God. That is the Father... but as Jesus stands in for this Father... to worship the Son is the worship the Father. So his remarks are 100% dead on... But so are those that say we worship Christ. Without Christ worship of God would not be possible.

[Lightbearer]

As a non-Mormon, I have a question about the following statement from Elder Bruce R. McConkie, which is taken from a speech that he delivered at BYU on March 2, 1982:

I understand that Elder McConkie could be controversial at times, so I don't know if this accurately represents Mormon doctrine. I have frequently seen statements to the effect that Mormons worship the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, but of course that is not the same thing as worshipping Jesus Christ in a literal and direct way. I also expect that some Mormons do worship Christ and others do not, so I've set up a poll (never done that before, and I hope it's set up correctly). I'd appreciate the responses and thoughts of others on the board. Thanks!

First let me say that the question is one that is framed in such a way that is meant to be an either or, when in reality if we understand the nature of the Godhead such a question would really be meaningless. What does it mean to worship? Does it mean we reverence His name... if so yes we do. Does it mean we pray directly to Him? If so then no we do not, at least unless He is personally present with us as He was in the Book of Mormon. As for Elder McConkie's talk one must understand the reason it was given. Some members had mistakenly thought that it was necessary for them to have some sort of exclusive "personal realtionship with Christ apart from the Father" and that is the reason for his "controversial" comments, it is not scriptural and was inappropriate. I give the following in defense of Elder McConkie, which was his last address and I ask you to answer your own question:

(Bruce R. McConkie,

[David T]

I stand with President Hinckley in worshiping the Son of God, my Lord, and my Savior, and my Covenant Father, the God of Israel.

Fellow Mormons, please stop equivocating over common modern LDS technical usage of the terms, and answer the question he is asking, using the definition he means.

Do you dedicate your life to Jesus Christ? Do you aknowledge Him as Lord of your Life? Do you aknowledge Him as your Savior? Would you sacrifice your all in obedience to Him? Is your heart filled with awe and reverence and Love for Him? Do you contemplate and re-live His life in sacred religious rites? Do you take His name upon you, and pledge to honor that name? If so, then yes, you worship Him.

[Hamba Tuhan]

In the context of this issue, I personally define worship as the unqualified acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is God (or, as a Mormon might say, "a God" or "a Member of the Godhead") and is therefore deserving of complete obedience and the utmost honor, trust, and love.

That's an unresounding yes from me, then!!! With praise and gratitude mixed in.

(By the way, I don't think I've ever said that Jesus Christ is 'a God.')

[bluebell]

I stand with President Hinckley in worshiping the Son of God, my Lord, and my Savior, and my Covenant Father, the God of Israel.

Fellow Mormons, please stop equivocating over common modern LDS technical usage of the terms, and answer the question he is asking, using the definition he means.

Do you dedicate your life to Jesus Christ? Do you aknowledge Him as Lord of your Life? Do you aknowledge Him as your Savior? Would you sacrifice your all in obedience to Him? Is your heart filled with awe and reverence and Love for Him? Do you contemplate and re-live His life in sacred religious rites? Do you take His name upon you, and pledge to honor that name? If so, then yes, you worship Him.

I could not have said it better.

[David T]

Because it appears some here do not know what worship means:

wor

[USU78]

Because it appears some here do not know what worship means

The problem, nack, is that the OP hasn't made clear what the OP thinks it means. We have no way of knowing, one way or another, how to answer the question. You and I understand one another and the answer is obvious as between me and thee. As between us and him? Not so obvious. Your frustration is misplaced. Our caution is well founded because there are verbal cues in the OP that give cause for concern that it's just another cheap set-up.

It may not be, however, and nobody's jumping to conclusions. Best to be clear here. I'm roundly annoyed at folks who come here, commit silliness, then go elsewhere and croak their alleged victory to their admiring bog. I'm not the only one.

[Zeta-Flux]

The problem, nack, is that the OP hasn't made clear what the OP thinks it means. We have no way of knowing, one way or another, how to answer the question. You and I understand one another and the answer is obvious as between me and thee. As between us and him? Not so obvious. Your frustration is misplaced. Our caution is well founded because there are verbal cues in the OP that give cause for concern that it's just another cheap set-up.

It may not be, however, and nobody's jumping to conclusions. Best to be clear here. I'm roundly annoyed at folks who come here, commit silliness, then go elsewhere and croak their alleged victory to their admiring bog. I'm not the only one.

USU, read again. He read your earlier post, acknowledged it was a good point, and clarified his definition.

It appears his question is sincere, and according to his definition I think the answer is a resounding yes.

[USU78]

USU, read again. He read your earlier post, acknowledged it was a good point, and clarified his definition.

It appears his question is sincere, and according to his definition I think the answer is a resounding yes.

I read his posts. I'm having trouble getting past his chosen handle. Assuming ignorance, I suppose we should take it as an homage. Assuming something else, it's mocking. As is, not enough info for me to suspend disbelief on this one. Of course, I don't require anybody else to share my misgivings.

[Nathair/|\]

First let me say that the question is one that is framed in such a way that is meant to be an either or, when in reality if we understand the nature of the Godhead such a question would really be meaningless. What does it mean to worship? Does it mean we reverence His name... if so yes we do. Does it mean we pray directly to Him? If so then no we do not, at least unless He is personally present with us as He was in the Book of Mormon. As for Elder McConkie's talk one must understand the reason it was given. Some members had mistakenly thought that it was necessary for them to have some sort of exclusive "personal realtionship with Christ apart from the Father" and that is the reason for his "controversial" comments, it is not scriptural and was inappropriate. I give the following in defense of Elder McConkie, which was his last address and I ask you to answer your own question:

The scriptures state that we are to worship the Father in the name of the Son:Also the following:I realize this is quoted from the Book of Mormon, but the Bible says the same:In light of the above scriptures I think Elder McConkie's comment is not as controversial as it seems. It seems that if one says should we worship Christ seperately from the Father then NO we should not. As for the mentioning of praying to Christ in the Book of Mormon account:

As for Christ receiving glory or honor He does, but He always honors His Father, who is our God and His God.So it would be inappropriate to worship the Son apart from the Father. See the following:

In addition, Elder McConkie wrote the hymn, "I Believe in Christ," which includes the line "I'll worship Him with all my might..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjMT9xlyMw

Yours under the axis mundi oaks,

Nathair /|\

[Joseph Antley]

For what it's worth, in the lyrics to "I Believe in Christ," Elder McConkie acknowledged that we worship Jesus Christ. Therefore we can conclude that it must depend on what you mean by "worship" -- and by the definition you have in mind, Latter-day Saints certainly do worship Jesus Christ.

[Koloborator]

I read his posts. I'm having trouble getting past his chosen handle. Assuming ignorance, I suppose we should take it as an homage. Assuming something else, it's mocking. As is, not enough info for me to suspend disbelief on this one. Of course, I don't require anybody else to share my misgivings.

No mockery (or other offense) intended, Dr. Pepper Addict. I chose my handle because I wanted something that would be both "Mormony" (hence "Kolob") and friendly (hence "collaborator"). I honestly didn't give it much thought. But oddly enough, I was enjoying a Dr. Pepper at the time!

[CV75]

I worship Jesus by worshiping the Father in His name; by following His example in honoring, obeying and worshiping the Father; and by taking His name upon me. If I were to meet Him in person, I would approach Him in a way that I would consider worshipful.

[Brenda]

Definition of worship: the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. I'd say we most certainly do worship Christ.

I worship Jesus by worshiping the Father in His name; by following His example in honoring, obeying and worshiping the Father; and by taking His name upon me. If I were to meet Him in person, I would approach Him in a way that I would consider worshipful.

I agree. We believe that Christ and the Father are one in purpose. "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also" John 14:7. When we worship one, we worship them both.

[USU78]

I was enjoying a Dr. Pepper at the time!

That stuff'll kill you, 'rator.

Welcome to the jungle.