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Do Latter-day Saints believe that Christ suffered on the cross
Do Latter-day Saints believe that Christ suffered on the cross?
Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of all people in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary.
President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "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."[1]
The same doctrine was also taught by Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "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."[2]
Gethsemane
That Christ suffered in Gethsemane is attested to in the New Testament and latter-day scripture. Luke records that Jesus "kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."[3]
Book of Mormon prophecy
This event was prophesied by an angel speaking to King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon: "And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people."[4]
Latter-day scripture also affirms that Christ suffered the sins of all people on the cross. The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi saw Jesus as he "was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world."[5]
Modern day revelation
The Savior Himself spoke of this suffering: "Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men."[6]
Latter-day prophet Joseph F. Smith saw the spirit world after Jesus died and saw the preaching that "redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross."[7]
Notes
- ↑ Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Season for Gratitude," Ensign, December 1997.
- ↑ Bruce R. McConkie, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," April 1985 general conference.
- ↑ Luke 22꞉41-44.
- ↑ Mosiah 3꞉7.
- ↑ 1 Nephi 11꞉33.
- ↑ D&C 19:18-19.
- ↑ D&C 138꞉35.