Why do Mormons believe that Christ displayed momentary weakness when he was on the cross?

Question

This is a part of LDS doctrine that I think highlights a lack of scholars and scriptural knowledge in early church leadership. If you are well-versed in LDS doctrine, please explain why the church feels Christ displayed weakness when in fact He was teaching scripture to the crowd that was before Him. Do you even know what He was teaching, and why? Please explain why you feel the church is right (or wrong, for that matter). The 10 points goes to the most intelligent response with the correct scripture Christ was teaching from. Good luck!

Okay, folks, I went to an LDS church in Magna, UT (west side of Salt Lake City) for 4 years, and then in Kansas for one year. Church leaders in BOTH places taught that the "...why hast thou forsaken me" comment was because Christ had a moment of "human weakness" in His time of pain and suffering. I've shown them Psalm 22, even showed them the original language (Hebrew with an Aramaic verb) and they looked at me like I was a space alien.

As for God withdrawing His spirit from Christ, that would be tough... God IS Christ.

What I see with the LDS church is very similar to what is happening in other churches, too, in that in one denomination you have different people teaching different things. I would ask you to consider Christ's words concerning the false prophets of the latter days, and that you might know them by their fruit. Good trees produce good fruit, bad trees produce bad fruit. How can a church be "true" when it can't get fundamental things right, or be consistent?

Answer 1

When Christ called out "my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" he was quoting from Psalm 22. Peeople today often think that he was literally complaining about God abandoning him. In reality, at that time to refer to the opening line of a Psalm was to refer to the entire thing, much like how today we can say "shave and a haircut" and everyone knows you mean "shave and a haircut two bits". it is a very common misunderstanding.

Answer 2

Hmm, have you read more recent commentary on this? I see Psalm 22 has been mentioned a couple of times here. I would like to refer you to W. Cleon Skousen. The Father withdrew His spirit so that Jesus Christ could finish the Great and Infinite Atonement on His own. It was not a moment of weakness; rather, Jesus Christ recognized when the Father withdrew His spirit. Perhaps, if you have also been in the room when someone died, you might have discovered that sometimes people draw spiritual strength from family members who are nearby, and sometimes you have to have a literal physical separation - i.e. the family members have to leave the room - so the person can finish dying. At least that was the case with my grandmother. I don't pretend to be extraordinarily well-versed in LDS doctrine, but I'd be glad to send you any books you want to read on the subject. Have a happy day.
A P.S. to Lilly since the email option did not work: If you want to have a general idea of what a Mormon wedding is like in the temple, you can rent the darling movie of "Little Women" based on the book by Louisa May Alcott - the version with June Allyson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Margaret O'Brien in it. Go to the scene where Meg gets married. It is simple and short. Anyone else who says something else occurs in the temple is not informed. Have a happy day, and I send a gummy bear to you all.

Answer 3

I'm a life long Mormon, active, served a mission, and I have no idea what you are talking about. Are you referring to the scripture in Matthew 27: 46 "..."Eli, eli lama sabchthani? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is when we believe that God the Father completely withdrew his spirit from Christ, so that Christ could finish the atonement. What is the exact doctrine Christ is teaching at this point?

There are many scholars in the LDS church: W. Cleon Skousen, Bruce R. McConkie, Joseph Fielding Smith, Joseph Fielding McConkie, Neil A. Maxwell, and anything written by FARMS (the Foundation of Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) based out of Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.

And as for "knowledge in early Church leadership" we believe in Prophets and Apostles, but that there was an apostasy, or a falling away from the truth. We believe in the Bible as far as it's translated correctly, and we also believe in the Book of Mormon as Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Please be more specific when asking for explanations of doctrine. Or visit the offical church websites:
http://www.lds.org
http://www.mormon.org

At lds.org you can search the publications archives back to 1970 for information on what we believe.

Answer 4

My friend, be advised that getting straight answers from those practicing LDS folks is like pulling teeth from a hungry crocodile.

I married into a Mormon family (I did not convert) and I STILL, after almost a decade, cannot for the life of me get straight answers from any of them.

Good luck with this one be also keep in mind that Mormons (with all due respect) also believe that a man who most likely in truth died from complications arising from Syphilis was a prophet.

I don't "hate" Mormons. Considering that it is now part of my life at least a little, I do have some respect for them but I wouldn't ask too many questions.

Personally, I'd like to know what the heck goes on in "The Marriage Room" in the temple. It's secretive and the first thought that comes to mind is the act of "First Right".

Can't get straight answers on that one either.

Answer 5

Mormons do not believe as you have charged them. You will not find ten that even know what you are talking about.

Christ quoted a psalm from the Cross. A hymn that perfectly described what was happening to Him at that very moment.

He wanted the crowd to see that he was the promised Messiah and He was fullfilling the prophesies of Psalm 22 right before their eyes.

Answer 6

I am very well versed in the LDS faith and while I'm NOT LDS, I can say that Christ, also being human, DID display a moment of weakness, read your Bible, as he was dying, in great agony, Christ cried out "Father Why Hath Thou Forsaken Me?"

Answer 7

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
I have never heard such doctrine and it is not part of our canon of scripture see www.lds.org or www.mormon.org
our Doctrine is only inThe Bible, The Book of Mormon,The Pearl of great, price and the Doctrine and covenants.
Hope this helps

Answer 8

confident and No- he's the single actual God with the daddy, who's Heavenly Father. he's no longer the "God" the daddy the Bible speaks, because of the fact he's the Son of God. And no they don't seem to be training to be Gods of planets and universes, they are living to be as on the fringe of God's teachings as available so as that at some point they could be like God's image. no longer "GODS", yet like as God became into. hear to no longer people who have been excommunicated from the Church, as lots of them are rather the countless maximum deceptive and evil ones in the present day. as a substitute have faith in prayer, as in case you will pray over the e book of Mormon and Bible the spirit will verify to you interior hours.

Answer 9

Please state your sources, so I can check it out.

Presently, your suppose LDS doctrine that you say we believe
is not too convincing.

I am still amaze how many non-LDS try to explain LDS belief that they do not practice or belief, it is so ridiculus.


That is not exactly a source, its your word against theirs.
I need something written in Black and white.
like a lesson manuel or some thing.

Answer 10

Y iv'e been LDS for 16 years of my 16 years of life, and i know for a fact that Mormons DONT beleive that.