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Jesus Christ/Atonement/The garden and the cross: Difference between revisions

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{{:Question: Are Latter-day Saints are not true Christians because they do not use the cross and believe that the atonement occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane?}}


==Criticism==
{{ChurchResponseBar
Critics claim that Latter-day Saints teach that the atonement of Christ was carried out in Gethsemane, and not on the cross.  They use this as evidence that the Saints are not true Christians, or that they have an "aversion" to the cross.
|link=http://www.lds.org/topics/cross?lang=eng
|title=Cross
|publication=Gospel Topics (lds.org)
|summary=The cross is used in many Christian churches as a symbol of the Savior's death and Resurrection and as a sincere expression of faith. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we also remember with reverence the suffering of the Savior. But because the Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.
}}


===Source(s) of the Criticism===
{{Detail_old|Jesus Christ/Atonement/Quotes|l1=Quotes related to the LDS view of the atonement}}
{{nw}}
</onlyinclude>
==Response==


There is a spectrum of belief in the Church, among both the leaders and the people in the pew, as in all religions. The problem in cases such as this comes when outsiders unconsciously read LDS statements through their own paradigm, and cherry-pick through LDS sermons and scriptures without acknowledging that spectrum of belief. 
{{Critical sources box:Jesus Christ/Atonement/The garden and the cross/CriticalSources}}
{{endnotes sources}}
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It is true that members of the Church have historically included the garden of Gethsemane as playing a role in Jesus' saving act. Some have emphasized it, perhaps in reaction to the emphasis on the cross alone in other Christian denominations.
[[de:Jesus Christus/Sühnopfer/Der Garten und das Kreuz]]
 
[[es:Jesucristo/La Expiación/El jardín y la cruz]]
===The garden ''and'' the cross===
 
However, even that emphasis, were it the sole message of the Church (and it is not) does not ''exclude'' the cross.  Note, for example, this excerpt from the Christmas message of Gordon B. Hinckley, past President of the Church: 
 
:We honor His birth. But without His death that birth would have been but one more birth. It was the redemption which He worked out in the Garden of Gethsemane **and upon the cross of Calvary** which made His gift immortal, universal, and everlasting. His was a great Atonement for the sins of all mankind. He was the resurrection and the life, "the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20). Because of Him all men will be raised from the grave.{{ref||hinckley1}} 
 
Other statements by Elder Bruce McConkie, who is sometimes used as evidence for this criticism, show he was not as one-sided as critics imply:
 
:And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane ''and at Golgotha,'' and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King."{{ref|mcconie1}}
 
The official training booklet sent out with missionaries includes this statement:
 
"The Atonement included His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane ''as well as His suffering and death on the cross.''"{{ref|preach1}}
 
As a fourth example, consider something that recently came from the Church press: 
 
Jesus's atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. In Gethsemane, He began to take upon himself the sins of the world…. The Savior continued to suffer for our sins when He allowed Himself to be crucified.{{ref|true1}}
 
===Scriptural evidence===
 
Further, uniquely LDS scripture contains some clear references: 
 
;{{s|1|Nephi|11|33}}:Jesus was "was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world." 
;{{s|3|Nephi|27|14}}: "My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross" 
 
==Conclusion==
 
These statements from a variety of LDS sources are sufficient to show that the LDS include Christ's suffering and death on the cross his atonement for all humanity. 
 
==Endnotes==
#{{note|hinckley1}}
#{{note|mcocnkie1}}
#{{note|preach1}}
#{{note|true1}}
==Further reading==
 
===FAIR wiki articles===
{{JesusWiki}}
 
===FAIR web site===
{{JesusFAIR}}
 
===External links===
{{JesusLinks}}
 
===Printed material===
{{JesusPrint}}

Latest revision as of 07:04, 31 May 2024


The garden and the cross


Jump to details:


Members of the Church of Jesus Christ and the symbol of the cross


Jump to details:


Gospel Topics (lds.org), "Cross"

Gospel Topics (lds.org)

The cross is used in many Christian churches as a symbol of the Savior's death and Resurrection and as a sincere expression of faith. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we also remember with reverence the suffering of the Savior. But because the Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.

Click here to view the complete article

For a detailed response, see: Quotes related to the LDS view of the atonement


Source(s) of the criticism
Critical sources
  • Richard Abanes, Becoming Gods: A Closer Look at 21st-Century Mormonism (Harvest House Publishers: 2005). 187. ( Index of claims ) (Citing Carrigan)
  • Cky Carrigan, "Did Jesus Christ Die on the Cross to Pay for Our Sins?: A Survey of Mormon Teachings on the Atonement of Christ," Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, Biola University, Jan. 25, 2003.
  • Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, Mormonism 101. Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2000), Chapter 10, 141–148. ( Index of claims )
  • Watchman Fellowship, The Watchman Expositor (Page 2)

Notes


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