Or, alternatively, is LDS senior leadership pushing the Church more toward traditional Christian doctrine and tradition? Here are a few signs this is happening.

First, the new sculpture placed on Temple Square, as featured in the image at the top of this post. For generations, LDS leaders have disavowed LDS use of the Cross, perhaps the most ubiquitous and powerful symbol in Christianity, in LDS iconography. And now, there it is, a moving sculpture of Jesus and the Cross right here in River City. The rationale for the rejection was a stubborn insistence on situating the key action of the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane rather than on the Cross. Yet LDS doctrine also identified the Atonement with the sacrificial act of Jesus, which plainly focuses on the Cross, not the Garden. So perhaps this sculpture indicates a doctrinal movement toward the traditional Christian focus on the cross rather than the LDS focus on the Garden?

Second, and I’m sure you noticed this last month, the LDS calendar has suddenly embraced Palm Sunday. You probably heard a talk on it in church. I gave the “what is Palm Sunday and why are we talking about it in Sacrament Meeting?” talk in my ward. Apart from Easter, the LDS Church has never paid much attention to Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday. On the LDS calendar, it is overshadowed and sometimes even displaced by General Conference. If they at some point take the bold action of actually moving General Conference back a couple of weeks to not interfere with Easter Sunday, then you’ll know it’s a real thing. Imagine that, putting more priority on the annual religious commemoration of the Crucifixion and Resurrection than on a big meeting. Sounds pretty Christian to me.

A few other changes: Somewhat more collaboration with other churches. Putting Amazing Grace in the LDS hymnal. Taking the first steps away from the King James Version and approving, even encouraging, the use of modern bible translations for personal study.

  • So, is the LDS Church moving toward mainstream Christianity?
  • Does this also signal a move away from fundamentalist thinking and doctrine?
  • Any other changes you have noticed?
  • What might the next change or two toward mainstream Christianity or traditional Christian doctrine be?

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