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Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:30 pm
by Marcus
This one was truly surprising, given my lds past:
From the lds newsroom:
Two new statues have debuted on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple, near the Temple Square Visitors’ Center plaza. Their placement comes at a meaningful time of year, the Easter season, which holds profound significance for Christians around the world as they commemorate the final week of Jesus Christ's life, culminating in His Resurrection.
The two statues, “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross” and “Jesus Christ in Gethsemane,” are visible to the public, but they are in an area of Temple Square still under construction.
“Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross,” created by Michael Hall, who also sculpted the First Vision statue at Temple Square, depicts Jesus Christ bearing the cross as He makes His final walk to Calvary. “Jesus Christ in Gethsemane,” created by husband-and-wife duo Stephani and Roger Hunt, portrays Christ in prayer and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Both statues visualize transcendent moments in the life, teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ and enhance the sacred atmosphere of the renovation work underway at Temple Square.
Although visitors cannot yet see these two statues up close, other areas and buildings on Temple Square are open to the public...
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... ple-square
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:39 pm
by Marcus
I first saw this in a reddit post, here's the OP:
I'll just say after several conversations, this statue is shaking faith, not solidifying it; especially for life-long Utah members. The church is struggling ... period. The leadership. The image. Everything. (i.redd.it)
submitted 6 hours ago by CurelomHunter
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... statue_is/
I would agree, for me at least. Celebrating this statue would be such an extreme contrast from what I was taught growing up.
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 11:20 pm
by Rivendale
Marcus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:39 pm
I first saw this in a reddit post, here's the OP:
I'll just say after several conversations, this statue is shaking faith, not solidifying it; especially for life-long Utah members. The church is struggling ... period. The leadership. The image. Everything. (i.redd.it)
submitted 6 hours ago by CurelomHunter
https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comme ... statue_is/
I would agree, for me at least. Celebrating this statue would be such an extreme contrast from what I was taught growing up.
The faithful are wondering what happened to their Mormonism of the past. Yet there are still the stalwart members who twist and bend to fit this into the new paradigm. Another example that shows that there is nothing leaders can do to deserve reproach.
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 12:00 am
by Everybody Wang Chung
Wow! It really feels like the church is doing everything in its power to be perceived as mainstream, leaving behind anyone who grew up with the no-cross rule and the I'm a Mormon campaign. You have to wonder if the Book of Mormon itself is eventually going to be treated like an embarrassing old yearbook photo in the church's quest for normalcy.
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 3:53 am
by Philo Sofee
Marcus wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:30 pm
This one was truly surprising, given my LDS past:
From the LDS newsroom:
Two new statues have debuted on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple, near the Temple Square Visitors’ Center plaza. Their placement comes at a meaningful time of year, the Easter season, which holds profound significance for Christians around the world as they commemorate the final week of Jesus Christ's life, culminating in His Resurrection.
The two statues, “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross” and “Jesus Christ in Gethsemane,” are visible to the public, but they are in an area of Temple Square still under construction.
“Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross,” created by Michael Hall, who also sculpted the First Vision statue at Temple Square, depicts Jesus Christ bearing the cross as He makes His final walk to Calvary. “Jesus Christ in Gethsemane,” created by husband-and-wife duo Stephani and Roger Hunt, portrays Christ in prayer and suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Both statues visualize transcendent moments in the life, teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ and enhance the sacred atmosphere of the renovation work underway at Temple Square.
Although visitors cannot yet see these two statues up close, other areas and buildings on Temple Square are open to the public...
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... ple-square
This is almost blasphemy!
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 3:55 am
by Philo Sofee
Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 12:00 am
Wow! It really feels like the church is doing everything in its power to be perceived as mainstream, leaving behind anyone who grew up with the no-cross rule and the
I'm a Mormon campaign. You have to wonder if the Book of Mormon itself is eventually going to be treated like an embarrassing old yearbook photo in the church's quest for normalcy.
I wanna see a bronze with all the Gods and their myriads of polygamous wives (throw in a few pregnant ones while they're at it even, along with some little kids, as per D&C 132, and Orson Pratt's "The Seer," and Ogden Kraut's "Polygamy."
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 3:56 am
by Philo Sofee
Everybody Wang Chung wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2026 12:00 am
Wow! It really feels like the church is doing everything in its power to be perceived as mainstream, leaving behind anyone who grew up with the no-cross rule and the
I'm a Mormon campaign. You have to wonder if the Book of Mormon itself is eventually going to be treated like an embarrassing old yearbook photo in the church's quest for normalcy.
Once they figure out the name of the King in Facsimile #3 they can keep the Book of Abraham though.......
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 10:19 am
by Doctor CamNC4Me
Well, they should just complete the 14 stations of the cross and be done with it, ha
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 1:13 pm
by Gadianton
I stared at this picture for a minute -- it doesn't work. It clashes with the temple. And it doesn't resonate with anyone's conception of Jesus. Nobody is going to look at any pamphlet the church has produced and connect Jesus with this guy. I defer to Steuss and Morley (and of course Doctor Scratch) on its quality as art, but I don't think in a vacuum it's that bad. If you didn't know it was commissioned by a hedge fund with no other goal than to fleece as many people as possible for its own benefit I'd say it's decent creation. It's less tacky than other Jesus/cross combos I've seen done by artists with fundamentally insane talent. But what do you have to work with? How many new ways can you create such a piece and avoid being tacky?
Well, it just doesn't work for the setting. I wonder how hard Dan Peterson will need to suspend disbelief to pretend he thinks it's magnificent and a reflection of his Mormon heritage.
Re: Statue installed at slc temple “Jesus Christ Carrying the Cross”
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 1:44 pm
by Equality
"Two new statues have debuted on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple, near the Temple Square Visitors’ Center plaza. Their placement comes at a meaningful time of year, the Easter season, which holds profound significance for Christians around the world as they commemorate the final week of Jesus Christ's life, culminating in His Resurrection."
They? Not "we"?
Interesting admission...