Why don't Mormons have a Cross at their Church?
LDS churches do not have crosses on them as Christian churches do. In fact,
members of the LDS church are not taught to look at the cross of Christ
the same way Christians are. LDS apostle Bruce McConkie explains:
"In succeeding centuries [after the crucifixion], the churches
which came into being through an intermingling of pagan concepts
with the true apostolic Christianity developed the practice of using
symbolic crosses in the architecture of their buildings and as jewelry
attached to the robes of their priests." (McConkie, Mormons Doctrine,
p. 172, insert and italics added)
Contrary to McConkie's claims, the Christian view of the cross of Christ is not pagan in origin. In fact, Christians revere the cross because it is the Bible which esteems it so.
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14, italics added)
"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:16, italics added)
The cross is repeatedly mentioned as a key tool in the atoning work
of the Lord (Phil. 2:8; Col. 1:20; 2:14; Heb. 12:12).
Tenth LDS president Joseph F. Smith explains that "to bow down before
a cross or to look upon it as an emblem to be revered because of the fact
that our Savior died upon a cross is repugnant to members of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers
to Gospel Questions, 4: 15.)
The apostle Paul taught otherwise:
"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel,: not with
wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor. 1:17-18)
Obviously the apostle Paul revered the cross. As the apostle to the
Gentiles and writer of nearly two-thirds of the New Testament, His teaching
stands in clear opposition to that of the LDS church.
