blooit Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) I am an active Mormon. I am also a school administrator, and former history and computer teacher. This week I was asked by a new student's parents if she would have a hard time at our school because she wears a cross and there are a lot of mormons at our school.I could tell her with relative confidence that she would be fine, but she may hear about it a couple times. It got me thinking of a few experiences I've had:While teaching a class, a Mormon Mexican immigrant (a 6th grader) asked me if a shirt worn by a classmate was evil since it had a cross on it.The picture I have on the left by my moniker was a small part of a picture of Captain Moroni that had him looking over his shoulder to Christ on the Cross. Two LDS websites I post on asked me to remove the full picture because so many LDS posters considered it offensive and had complained.At my school, there is somewhat of a rift between the LDS and EV kids, but they seem to have resolved most of this very well. The EV students are much more out-there with their beliefs, wearing t-shirts and such. This sometimes results in students purposely wearing "provocative" shirts that they know will raise questions.I recognize that Mormons celebrate Christ's life and resurrection rather than just his death, but I do wish we would back off from our resistance to the cross. In fact, I wish we would embrace one of the earlier symbols like the fish or the anchor (the fish is kind of taken now). I also wonder how we would feel if EVs had as much trouble with CTR rings as we do with the cross. (Maybe in some areas they do.)I guess overall, I find myself hoping that Mormons will be as open to differing beliefs as we ask others to be. I think most are, but struggle to understand where the actions of a few originated. There seems to be at least some small culture group that has some real aversion to the cross and many otherwise-good Christian traditions. Edited March 25, 2012 by blooit 2
frankenstein Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 Foolish traditions are why so many lds have an aversion to the Cross. Next time just pull up the talk from President Hinckley wherein he lamented that lds were so brash as to rip another religious emblem from that person.
Freedom Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 One of my daughters has earrings with crosses on them, a gift from a catholic friend. She wares them with pride. Criticizing the cross is hypocritical.
Mike Reed Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) Foolish traditions are why so many lds have an aversion to the Cross. Next time just pull up the talk from President Hinckley wherein he lamented that lds were so brash as to rip another religious emblem from that person.Better yet, read Spencer W. Kimball's journal entries about his first being called to serve in the Quorum of the 12. Consumed with feelings of inadequacy, he went for a tearful hike up a local hill, asking God to comfort his soul and give confidence that he was indeed called. At the climax of this tearful hike, Elder Kimball came to a cross formed naturally by a tree. Upon seeing this cross his heart (swelled with emotion) was comforted, and believing that this symbol served as an answer to his prayers Elder Kimball became convinced that his calling to the quorum was ordained by God. Elder Kimball returned a year later (the anniversary of this experience, in fact) to "his cross" (or rather, "my cross") and found it broken, the cross beam no longer attached and missing. Elder Kimball then hiked back down the hill to find another cross beam, carried it up, and fixed his cross the best he could. Edited March 25, 2012 by Mike Reed 1
mfbukowski Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 Just found this and it is in need of a bump anyway! Great thread possibility and great story Mike.Mormons denigrating crosses and reading vampire stories? Man, no wonder they think we are a satanic cult! Try that in my neck of the woods and the results would be rather different.
Truth Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 You would think that many Mormons are part vampire due to the way they react upon seeing a cross. I have no issue with it, though I do not care for ones with Christ hanging on it. I find the Celtic cross to be beautiful. It is a symbol, it is what you make of it.
blueadept Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 You would think that many Mormons are part vampire due to the way they react upon seeing a cross. I have no issue with it, though I do not care for ones with Christ hanging on it. I find the Celtic cross to be beautiful. It is a symbol, it is what you make of it. IMHO, LDS have an aversion to the cross and a SERIOUS aversion to a crucifix. That should have been a clue for me prior to marrying my LDS wife. The serious aversion is akin to the Wicked Witch of the West fearing to melt if she touched water.
Zakuska Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) A thread on pagan Crosses?! Oh Goody! Edited March 27, 2012 by Zakuska
Zakuska Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) IMHO, LDS have an aversion to the cross and a SERIOUS aversion to a crucifix. That should have been a clue for me prior to marrying my LDS wife. The serious aversion is akin to the Wicked Witch of the West fearing to melt if she touched water. See Mormons really ARE vampires. 1) Aversion to crucifixes CHECK 2) Aversion to Holy Water CHECK.Stephanie Meyer anyone?! Edited March 27, 2012 by Zakuska 1
blueadept Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) Hmmm.........I have a jug of Holy Water from Fatima in my living room. Maybe that's the reason my LDS friends have stayed away.. Note to self: Get a bigger crucifix.... Edited March 27, 2012 by blueadept 1
mfbukowski Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 You would think that many Mormons are part vampire due to the way they react upon seeing a cross. I have no issue with it, though I do not care for ones with Christ hanging on it. I find the Celtic cross to be beautiful. It is a symbol, it is what you make of it.I see right angles and a circle in the Celtic cross. How much more Mormon can you get? The LA temple's major decorations are circles and squares! (just moved around a little)
mfbukowski Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 It's enough to make me want to hang a cross in my living room!............ if my wife lets me!
Freedom Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 It's enough to make me want to hang a cross in my living room!............ if my wife lets me! This whole issue isn't making you cross is it?
mfbukowski Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 This whole issue isn't making you cross is it? Well at least I am not cross.....ing myself!
Flyonthewall Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Just because this was a revelation to me when I first heard it...I'll just put this out there...there is a difference between a cross and a crucifix. The cross is empty.
mfbukowski Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Just because this was a revelation to me when I first heard it...I'll just put this out there...there is a difference between a cross and a crucifix. The cross is empty.Actually I think an empty tomb is better.
Mike Reed Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Well at least I am not cross.....ing myself!Alma 39:9. Doh! ;-)
Mudcat Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 My own experience with the cross and LDS is quite different. My wife, wears cross jewelry and we have "decorative" ceramic crosses in odd and end places in the house. My LDS in Laws have received odd and end cross iconography gifts from us. Primarily ceramics but also jewelry for the MIL.Though I have seen a number of LDS missionaries, I have only seen one pair take note of the cross. It was an elderly couple (Idahoans) and on their first visit they explained the LDS position on the matter. During the Christmas season we decorate the house with lights in a miniscule fashion but I have always, without objection, superimposed a cross of Christmas lights in the front yard.Other than the fact that Christmas reminds me of the gift Christ gave that I can never repay, I suppose my thinking in it, has always been that it is also a strike at the commercialism of the Holiday. ....they say we have don't have Christmas tree but holiday trees instead. So I go Easter on em in big lights. Sounds a bit gangsta I know.. but that's how I roll.Regardless, it was shortly after Christmas that the couple departed and I had taken the lights down for the season. On our last dinner together, they missed our house and arrived late. Their remark for their tardiness was that they were looking for the cross and had driven past.It's sad to think that people get ridiculed for wearing/displaying crosses by other Christians. Blooit, I think you are right for saying what you have said.In some areas it's more "pop" to be this than a that and I find it sad that most often times the role of the "bigger person" falls upon the least well represented.All the best,Mudcat
mfbukowski Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 (edited) Alma 39:9. Doh! ;-)I knew I was going to hear about that one! http://classic.scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/39/9aTHE BOOK OF ALMATHE SON OF ALMACHAPTER 39 9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the a<a href="http://classic.scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/39/9a" title="Prov. 5: 8; TG Carnal Mind; TG Chastity; TG Covetousness; TG Lust." type="C">lusts of your eyes, but bcross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and ccross yourself in these things.Footnotes 9a Prov. 5: 8. 8 aRemove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: TG Carnal Mind. TG Chastity. TG Covetousness. TG Lust. b TG Self-mastery. c 3 Ne. 12: 30. 30 For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your across, than that ye should be cast into hell. But of course the church's interpretation is not exactly about the sign of the cross, and in the context I think it certainly makes more sense to see it in terms of self mastery.There is an interesting story I could look up if I had to, about one of the patriarchs- Adam? Abraham? taking the other patriarchs into heaven from Abraham's Bosom, and what it says as I recall is that the Patriarch reaches down after making "the sign" (in this case it is the sign of the cross- but this is a medieval document) and the Patriarch grips the right hand of the captives and draws them into God's presence. Edited March 28, 2012 by mfbukowski
Flyonthewall Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 Actually I think an empty tomb is better.I like the empty tomb better too...In my mind, the empty tomb more accurately represents the ressurection.
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