How Does the LDS Church View the Cross of Jesus Christ?

By: Justin Angelos | July 23, 2023

Members of the Mormon Church will often question Christians for wearing a cross. They and why we put so much focus on Jesus’ death on the Cross. Mormons will say, “We focus on Jesus’ life and not His death.” They use the argument to convince other Christians that placing focus on Jesus’ death on the Cross is wrong. “Imagine your brother was executed by an electric chair, would you wear a necklace with an electric chair on it?”

This objection commits the logical fallacy called an appeal to emotion. This fallacy uses emotion to justify a conclusion and relies on emotional reactions rather than logical reasoning, facts, and evidence. A member of the LDS Church asks, “Would you wear the instrument that killed your brother around your neck”? Now that the person is going to say no, the follow-up question by the LDS member comes. “Then why would you want to wear the Cross that killed Jesus?” Another example of this fallacy would be a defendant in court telling the judge that he should not have to pay the fine for speeding because he feels so terrible.[1]

Millard Ericson explains that the human problem between God and humanity is that we cannot, by our moral efforts, elevate ourselves to a level that counters our sins. Our salvation depends on the unity between the deity and the humanity within Jesus Christ. The one who is making this objection is failing to realize that humanity cannot, by our moral efforts, elevate ourselves to a level that counters our sins. If the work on the cross is going to have infinite value necessary to atone for the sins of humanity, it must be the work of a unified God-man.[2]

“We focus on Jesus’ life and not His death” This part of the objection reduces Jesus to just a good moral teacher, which seems to downplay the seriousness of human sin and seems to imply people are good and we just mess up a little from time to time and teaches people to rely on their efforts.

What Did the Gospel Writers and Paul Say About Jesus’ Death on the Cross?  

Mark 14:22-25 Jesus tells His disciples as they were breaking bread, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 also records Jesus saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 6:13-14 “Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The Apostle Paul uses the word σταυρός which means “cross” ὁ λόγος γαρ ὁ του σταυρού “for the word/message of the cross is foolishness or a stumbling block for those who are perishing but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God”[3] (1 Corinthians 1:18) The Apostle Paul, is saying that the Cross is the power and logical outworking of God’s wisdom, and human wisdom is foolish, which is something that appeals in a distorted way to human emotions. The Apostle Paul did not say, “Just focus on Jesus’ life, and not His death.”

It is the finished work that Jesus Christ completed on the cross that saves a person, and only by believing, receiving, and acknowledging, what Jesus Christ did on our behalf, and having complete trust alone, through Christ alone, that anyone is saved. Without Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, no one has any hope of salvation.

Jesus Focused on the Cross

In Matthew 16:22-23 Jesus is explaining to His disciples that He is about to suffer and die, but Peter rejects what Jesus said by saying, “Never, Lord, this shall never happen to you.” Then Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan, you’re an obstacle in my way because you are not thinking the thoughts of God but those of men.”  Peter did not realize that Jesus was saying that it is God’s will that Christ will suffer and give His life as a ransom for many. (Mt 28:20). Notice Jesus did not say, “Just focus on my life and how I lived.”

Another point this objection misses is that Jesus’ death is no ordinary death, Jesus died to save the world and offer eternal life to anyone who accepts His free gift of salvation. Paul writes, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) So, Jesus’ death and suffering are worthy of remembering because, without Jesus’ death on the Cross, we would have no hope of salvation, and Jesus’ came into the world to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 28:20)

About the Author

Seattle native Justin Angelos brings a passion for evangelism and discipleship along with theology and apologetics. He has studied at Biola University and Liberty University. Justin focuses on providing help for those who suffer from emotional and anxiety issues. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Notes:

[1] thehelpfulprofessor.com-appeal-to-emotion

[2] Millard J Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine (Baker Academic; 3rd edition), p.325.

[3] William D. Mounce, Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (Zondervan Academic; Bilingual edition).