New Symbol to Identify the Church

[JAHS]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Nelson announces new symbol to identify church, another worldwide fast

President Russell M. Nelson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced a new symbol to identify the church in official literature, news, and events in the Saturday evening session of the church's general conference.

The new symbol includes the church’s full name contained within a cornerstone, meant to symbolize Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone of the faith.

The center of the new symbol is a rendering of Bertel Thorvaldsen’s Christus, a marble statue which the church has included in various sites for its temples, including an 11-foot statue in its Temple Square North Visitors' Center.

In the new symbol, the Christus stands underneath an arch, invoking the resurrection of the Savior emerging from His tomb on the third day following His crucifixion. Such imagery is meant to represent the church’s emphasis on a living, resurrected Christ.

Now, President Nelson said, the symbol will be used as a visual identifier on all official literature, news and events of the church. He also said the symbol will serve as a reminder to all that everything the church does is centered on Christ and His gospel.

President Nelson contextualized the change by emphasizing that, while the Restoration of the church is important, members are not part of the church of Joseph Smith. He pointed out that early revelation explicitly names the faith as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The religion is sometimes shortened to “the LDS church” and its members are frequently referred to in popular culture as “Mormons.” In recent years, President Nelson has encouraged the abandonment of such abbreviations, stating that such names omit the name of Jesus Christ and create separation between Him and the church.

On Saturday evening, he reemphasized statements he made in a 2018 conference talk, “The Correct Name of the Church,” saying that if members “do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s church,” God would “pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen.”

He then encouraged those who follow Jesus Christ to put actions behind their faith.

President Nelson again called for a worldwide fast on April 10, Good Friday, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that such a fast would “put our faith in the Lord into action.”

He asked members and nonmembers of the church, alike, to fast for relief from the pandemic, protection for caregivers, a strengthened economy and a return to normal life.

Fasting, he said, is both an ancient doctrine used by biblical heroes such as Moses, David, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Isaiah, Daniel, Joel and many others, but also a monthly part of modern church life.

“I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened and life normalized.” #PresNelson | #GeneralConference

During such times of distress when an illness reaches pandemic proportions, President Nelson said that calling on Heavenly Father and His Son, the Master Healer, is the most natural thing to do.

President Nelson emphasized the fast was for all those whose health would allow them to participate. He said that while a 24-hour period or a fast of two meals is customary, individuals could identify what would constitute a sacrifice for them as they remember the supreme sacrifice of the Savior.

 

[Bob Crockett]

I'm opposed.  I'm opposed to depictions of Jesus that have no connection to the Biblical story.  That isn't Jesus. That's a Norwegian view of Jesus, which is steeped in paganism.  Wodin?

Why not use a tree?  Some more benign paganism?

Edited April 5, 2020 by Bob Crockett

[JAHS]

7 minutes ago, Bob Crockett said:

I'm opposed.  I'm opposed to depictions of Jesus that have no connection to the Biblical story.  That isn't Jesus. That's a Norwegian view of Jesus, which is steeped in paganism.  Wodin?

Why not use a tree?  Some more benign paganism?

Of course it's not Jesus. Still it is a depiction of Jesus that the entire world can identify with. 

[Bob Crockett]

Thou shalt not make into thee any graven image. 

Why shouldn't the name of Jesus resound in all ears rather than a completely false and untruthful depiction?

I realize I'm just repeating the words of iconoclast Protestants 500 years ago when they stripped all images out of churches they appropriated.  My point is not new. 

This is just crazy. It is Wodin.  

Edited April 5, 2020 by Bob Crockett

[CV75]

3 minutes ago, Bob Crockett said:

they stripped all images out of churches they appropriated

...so then, this is a restoration

[The Nehor]

1 hour ago, Bob Crockett said:

 This is just crazy. It is Wodin.  

Don’t be ridiculous. The Christus has two intact eyes.

[Bob Crockett]

We are all just prisoners here of our own device.  

 

[Navidad]

1 hour ago, JAHS said:

“I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened and life normalized.”

I am very pleased to hear President Nelson affirm that the opportunity to fast is for "all, including those not of our faith . . . " Perhaps this is one of the more dramatic statements of the entire conference. Fasting is a form of worship and prayer (petition). On the Latter-day Saint website (Chapter 25), on the fasting page it states several things:

Since the time of Adam, God’s people have fasted to help them draw near to Him and to worship Him.

Through latter-day revelation we learn that the Lord still expects His people to fast and pray often

All members who are physically able should fast. We should encourage our children to fast after they have been baptized, but we should never force them. The fast day is a special day for us to humble ourselves before the Lord in fasting and prayer. It is a day to pray for forgiveness from our sins and for the power to overcome our faults and to forgive others.

Fasting improves our lives and gives us added strength. It helps us live other principles of the gospel because it draws us nearer to the Lord.

When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power.

Are all of the blessings listed above available to the non-member? Are we (those not of our faith) now included "His people?" Are we (those not of our faith) now included in those who can truly worship Him? Are we now able to "pray for forgiveness from our sins and for the power to overcome our faults and to forgive others? Are we truly able to "love other principles of the gospel," drawing nearer to the Lord? As we fast on Friday will we truly be developing our faith and achieving "greater spiritual power?" I love the concept of spiritual power much more than that of spiritual authority.

Was President Nelson just being nice in including "those not of our faith" in his invitation to fast together with the members?  Perhaps a secular kind of a call to fast and pray for our country that a state governor or president might make that has nothing to do with Chapter 25? Or is this a subtle change he is suggesting in the concept of the spiritual growth opportunities for the non-member prior to baptism?

[InCognitus]

And almost immediately after the end of yesterday evening's session of conference, the memes were already circulating.   I think some people are listening to conference thinking the whole time, "What kind of meme can I make out of this?":

[Scott Lloyd]

The new symbol is already being used as the icon for the Gospel Library app on mobile devices. 
 

I very much like it and am already comfortable with it. I look forward to it being pervasive henceforth. 

[The Nehor]

4 hours ago, InCognitus said:

And almost immediately after the end of yesterday evening's session of conference, the memes were already circulating.   I think some people are listening to conference thinking the whole time, "What kind of meme can I make out of this?":

*I sheepishly avert my eyes*

[mfbukowski]

4 hours ago, Navidad said:

I am very pleased to hear President Nelson affirm that the opportunity to fast is for "all, including those not of our faith . . . " Perhaps this is one of the more dramatic statements of the entire conference. Fasting is a form of worship and prayer (petition). On the Latter-day Saint website (Chapter 25), on the fasting page it states several things:

Since the time of Adam, God’s people have fasted to help them draw near to Him and to worship Him.

Through latter-day revelation we learn that the Lord still expects His people to fast and pray often

All members who are physically able should fast. We should encourage our children to fast after they have been baptized, but we should never force them. The fast day is a special day for us to humble ourselves before the Lord in fasting and prayer. It is a day to pray for forgiveness from our sins and for the power to overcome our faults and to forgive others.

Fasting improves our lives and gives us added strength. It helps us live other principles of the gospel because it draws us nearer to the Lord.

When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power.

Are all of the blessings listed above available to the non-member? Are we (those not of our faith) now included "His people?" Are we (those not of our faith) now included in those who can truly worship Him? Are we now able to "pray for forgiveness from our sins and for the power to overcome our faults and to forgive others? Are we truly able to "love other principles of the gospel," drawing nearer to the Lord? As we fast on Friday will we truly be developing our faith and achieving "greater spiritual power?" I love the concept of spiritual power much more than that of spiritual authority.

Was President Nelson just being nice in including "those not of our faith" in his invitation to fast together with the members?  Perhaps a secular kind of a call to fast and pray for our country that a state governor or president might make that has nothing to do with Chapter 25? Or is this a subtle change he is suggesting in the concept of the spiritual growth opportunities for the non-member prior to baptism?

You need permission to not eat or pray??

I just don't get it

[mfbukowski]

Would we be in for a round of earthquakes if we put a Christus on the top of temples to tell the world we don't worship Moroni?

It's not a cross and has been associated with our church forever..... 

 I mean God already made Moroni  stop tooting his horn.....

Is it a symbol for the church or just a logo for stationery?

Edited April 5, 2020 by mfbukowski

[mfbukowski]

25 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

The new symbol is already being used as the icon for the Gospel Library app on mobile devices. 
 

I very much like it and am already comfortable with it. I look forward to it being pervasive henceforth. 

Me too! Maybe this is only the first step?

[Scott Lloyd]

2 minutes ago, mfbukowski said:

Me too! Maybe this is only the first step?

I think it’s already way beyond that. It looks to be a universal roll-out. Did you notice the new symbol being shown on the screen at the very end of each conference session broadcast following President Nelson’s announcement last night? 
 

It’s more than obvious President Nelson is serious about this branding thing, and those who cavalierly insist it’s just going to fade away are up in the night. 

[The Nehor]

4 hours ago, InCognitus said:

And almost immediately after the end of yesterday evening's session of conference, the memes were already circulating.   I think some people are listening to conference thinking the whole time, "What kind of meme can I make out of this?":

“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”

[2BizE]

I like the new logo.  It moves toward a church of Christ rather than a guy nobody knows about with a bugle.

 

 

[JAHS]

Yes?  No?

 

 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

9 hours ago, Bob Crockett said:

I'm opposed.  I'm opposed to depictions of Jesus that have no connection to the Biblical story.  That isn't Jesus. That's a Norwegian view of Jesus, which is steeped in paganism.  Wodin?

Why not use a tree?  Some more benign paganism?

Since no one knows what he looked like, why not use the image that all of Christianity identifies with? 

[pogi]

9 hours ago, Bob Crockett said:

That isn't Jesus.

Have you seen the resurrected Christ?

[Bernard Gui]

3 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

Would we be in for a round of earthquakes if we put a Christus on the top of temples to tell the world we don't worship Moroni?

It's not a cross and has been associated with our church forever..... 

 I mean God already made Moroni  stop tooting his horn.....

Is it a symbol for the church or just a logo for stationery?

We finally got our cross. Should make a lot of folks who have wanted one very happy.

[Bernard Gui]

I posted this before, but I think it would set  a great new tradition....a fiddler on the roof....

Edited April 6, 2020 by Bernard Gui

[rongo]

 . . . like a Fiddler on the Roof.

[InCognitus]

30 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

I posted this before, but I think it would set  a great new tradition....a fiddler on the roof....

Or, maybe he's one of the string ensemble members on the deck of the RMS Titanic, playing Nearer My God To Thee because of losing his iconic status.

[Bernard Gui]

Will this new symbol replace Moroni on ties, socks, desk lamps, etc.?

https://ldsbookstore.com/store/Search.aspx?searchTerms=Moroni&submit=true

Edited April 6, 2020 by Bernard Gui