Jeff K. Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 First off, its a personal view:As a convert I have used the cross in my life in various ways. there is the cross on my family name, an old German name at that. I had a small chain with that adornment, for me it wasn't anything religious (unless you count ancestor worship of a sort). My view was that the cross was a Roman symbol which was taken and adapted by Christianity. In effect it was a torture device to create a long slow lingering death. I would not worship it anymore than I would an electric chair (which is more merciful). If anything I see the cross as something of a parody of the tree of life (my own interpretation) in which it played a key role in the death of the savior. I was attracted to the church specifically because it did not focus on the cross, but rather the person and in many religions there is almost a fetish regarding the cross, almost like the calf that was created while Moses was on Mt. Sinai. If we did make an image of a calf rather than a cross to sit atop our temples as a sign of adoration, would that be better? How about an Iron Maiden? Perhaps the lance that pierced Christ's side? Or the cup at the last supper? We are a symbolic church, but I do not believe we worship the symbols. In other churches, in my view, sometimes the symbols take on a greater significance than the person they represent.Again, a personal view on the matter, not doctrine of any sort.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted February 23, 2012 Author Posted February 23, 2012 I can understand why the cross is meaningful to people. What I don't understand is why some women like to wear diamond studded crosses around their necks as they show off their cleavage. Ugh.Or gold (pure gold)ones on hip hop singers.
Messenger Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Its funny how society (and even we Mormons) try and identify and exclude others based on an outward sign. We do little to know a person heart, or see their acts. We don't call upon the Holy Ghost to know a person before we judge them worthy. And why are we judging them at all? Are they running for president? Are we calling them to an office of responsibility? are we marrying them? If the answer is no, then we probably have too much time on our hands defining the signs of who the true children of God are. “The first great commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, might, mind and strength; and the second was like unto it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. And the best way in the world to show our love for our neighbor is to go forth and proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which he has given us an absolute knowledge concerning its divinity.” (Conference Report, April 1927, p. 176.)In fact, all of us, member or non-member are all part of the Lords family. Ephesian Chapter 2: 17-22 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.It’s a natural reaction to protect what we have. Sometimes that protection precludes us from reaching out to others for due to fear. There are many things a person can to help overcome this fear so that we can fulfill our purpose. By doing so, we can reach out to a new friend or neighbor. The goal is to take small steps and let the spirit guide you to the next step. Elder Russel M Nelson said, when quoting Luke, “In Luke 21, the earth shall be in distress.... Men's hearts failing them for fear. What we are seeing is the prediction that men's hearts are failing them in these latter days because they forget their identity and their purpose. Be patient with yourself, perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life. Don’t demand things that are unreasonable, but demand of yourself improvement, as you let the Lord help you through that he will help you make the difference” 1
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted February 23, 2012 Author Posted February 23, 2012 (edited) Its funny how society (and even we Mormons) try and identify and exclude others based on an outward sign.It is what humans (sadly) do best. Edited February 23, 2012 by Bill “Papa” Lee
Jeff K. Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I don't think the cross itself excludes, but our treatment of it can.
Messenger Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I don't think the cross itself excludes, but our treatment of it can.In an ideal world, but what or who in this world is ideal? Me and thee?
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted February 23, 2012 Author Posted February 23, 2012 In an ideal world, but what or who in this world is ideal? Me and thee?Certainly not I...
Jeff K. Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 In an ideal world, but what or who in this world is ideal? Me and thee?Well, me, thee I am not to sure about.
Jeff K. Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 To borrow from a 2nd amendment debate:Crosses don't exclude people, people exclude people.
MorningStar Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 My niece just got a cross tattooed on her middle finger.
Storm Rider Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 I really don't like tattoos; but my daughter felt the need for one of those several years ago. Did I mention that I really don't like them? I don't like for a body to be painted, colored, pierced, tied, twisted, scarred, burned, or anything else that takes away form the birthday suit you were given when you came into the world.
Messenger Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 We wear clothes, choose fabric patterns, find cool colors, wear watches and over time or bodies do have scars. All of it says something to us. It would seem unfortunate that what all of mine says to others, sometimes isn't what what I think it says to me. For example, I look at the scars on my hand and I think of my career in construction, how I got over my fear of injury, and how I learned to trust my boss to administer first aid. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can take a photo of something that's beautiful to me, and one person would be offended, and another would not. This is true with temple photos, many members love temple photos. Many Non-members do not ; they don't even try to see what the architect was trying to say, admire the sky, and value the angle and lighting - as soon as they see a temple, its bad. Many tattoos, to me, are like temples on the earth. If you just reacted badly to that statement, you you might consider how much different you are to how some non-members view temples. Just a thought..... for what it worth. But remember this, there is good and bad in the world. But mostly, its in-between. What you see, good or bad, is often a choice by the viewer, not based on a keen eye of artistic or spiritual ability.
DH Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 When I was a freshman in high school, I wrote a paper about why I opposed wearing the cross. This was in a public high school in "the mission field." The day our papers were returned, I got a good grade because the teacher thought it was well-written, but she was wearing a cross that day! Over the decades my aversion to the Cross lessened, and I didn't pay much attention to it. That is, until my wife died. After she died, I started wearing a Celtic Cross in her honor. She was LDS like me, but had an interest in "things Irish," and somehow the Celtic Cross felt right.Then I started having private discussions about theology with a CES friend of mine, and it turns out he respects the Cross, and reads works by non-Mormon religious thinkers, as well as LDS ones.So, now I like the Cross. Complete 180 from where I started out! 2
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