Ask Gramps.org

Did the Nephite people use the cross on their buildings?

Dear Gramps,
I understand why we don’t use the sign of the cross in the Mormon religion. Because our icon is the lives of our people, and we don’t focus on the death of Christ, but on His life. But I see that ancient Central American ruins (pre Christian America) have the cross frequently in their architecture. The only explanation I can come up with, is that they were of Nephite origin. So, if the Book of Mormon people were using the sign of the cross, why have we removed it from the LDS Church? (guessing… to separate us from the Catholics and Protestants?) Signed, sick of arguing with my Catholic husband)
Rebecca, from Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Rebecca,
I think that it is quite a stretch to assume that any particular ruins in ancient America relate to the Nephite Culture. There are legends in more than 15 American Indian tribes of a white God who visited them and taught them the way of life. All of these were descendants of the Lamanite culture. There were no doubt in ancient America many factions and many religions, and the cross could have been used by many of them. So, whether the cross was used by the Nephites or not, it is not recorded as such in the Book of Mormon.
Gramps

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