Cross on an LDS Temple

[Watchmen]

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts about this. It looks like the Rome, Italy temple has a cross on the front door. You can see it here around the 1:48 mark:

A Cross on a Mormon Temple | Discovering Grace

Any thoughts about this? Is it the Church trying to "fit in" in Italy? I don't think we have anything against crosses per se - it's just not the symbol of the Church as we focus on the living, rather than the dying, Christ. However, it is surprising to see the cross on the temple.

 

[Watchmen]

It looks like this isn't the first time this cross on the front door style has been used:

http://www.mormontemples.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/mormon-temple-Kyiv-Ukraine.jpg

 

[Katzpur]

Honestly, it didn't even look to me like it was intended to be a cross. If you hadn't pointed it out and specifically stated that it was on the front door, I'd never never even spotted it. Based on the way the Church has done things in the past, I doubt that trying to "fit in" even occured to anybody. At any rate, it's not as if we consider there to be something evil about the use of the cross. You might find this article interesting. Apparently the LDS aversion to the cross didn't come about until David O. McKay's administration. He instituted a policy against using it and it's pretty much stuck. (I'd say this ex-Mormon is making a huge mountain out of a molehill myself.)

 

[Orontes]

Katzpur is correct. Historically, the non or anti cross sentiment in the Church is relatively new. Early Mormon churches often used crosses and the membership in general had no hostility. There is no doctrinal reason either to use or not use a cross to identify oneself.

 

[Father Heathen]

we focus on the living, rather than the dying, Christ.

:clap

 

[Watchmen]

I'm indifferent to the use of the cross, but I do find its suggestion on modern-day temples being constructed in the year 2013 fairly astounding given the general membership's current view of the cross (and the Church's position too - whether official or unofficial).

 

[Katzpur]

I'm indifferent to the use of the cross, but I do find its suggestion on modern-day temples being constructed in the year 2013 fairly astounding given the general membership's current view of the cross (and the Church's position too - whether official or unofficial).

I'd probably be a little surprised by it, too, if it had been more obvious -- like a cross on the spire, instead of the Angel Moroni. In this particular example, though, it actually took me awhile to find the cross and I was actually looking for it.

 

[NoraSariah]

I didn't even notice it until you pointed it out. I have seen crosses on the shapes of the doors on more recent temples, but it's not that odd to me. I'm indifferent on whether we use the cross or not.

 

[DeepShadow]

You might find this article interesting. Apparently the LDS aversion to the cross didn't come about until David O. McKay's administration. He instituted a policy against using it and it's pretty much stuck. (I'd say this ex-Mormon is making a huge mountain out of a molehill myself.)

That's typical of many ex-mos: find something that isn't the way it's always been, or something that isn't taught like it is in Sunday School, and suddenly you have an "EXPOSE of what teh Church mafia didn't want you to know!!!1!"

 

[Norman]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not trying to fit in anywhere. We know what we believe and we do not wander from that. In regards to the Rome, Italy LDS temple front door it is not a cross it is just the way the windows on the door was constructed. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not use cross's because we do not worship a dead Christ. We worship a Christ who Is alive and well. Latter Day Saints are aware of how Jesus suffered and sealed the atonement on the cross with giving up his life freely. We are not against or do not condemn any religion who does use the cross on their buildings. Latter Day Saints believe that all people have the right to worship according to the dictate of their own conscience; let them worship how, where and what they may.

We cannot afford to be arrogant or self-righteous. It is our obligation to reach out in helpfulness, not only to our own but to all others as well. (Gordon B. Hinckley; President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)

 

[Watchmen]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not trying to fit in anywhere. We know what we believe and we do not wander from that. In regards to the Rome, Italy LDS temple front door it is not a cross it is just the way the windows on the door was constructed. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not use cross's because we do not worship a dead Christ. We worship a Christ who Is alive and well. Latter Day Saints are aware of how Jesus suffered and sealed the atonement on the cross with giving up his life freely. We are not against or do not condemn any religion who does use the cross on their buildings. Latter Day Saints believe that all people have the right to worship according to the dictate of their own conscience; let them worship how, where and what they may.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Norman]

Welcome to the forums!

Thank you Watchmen.

[W]e have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. . . . Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
(Source: John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, Charles Francis Adams, editor (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co. 1854), Vol. IX, p. 229, October 11, 1798.)