Deseret News | Reader comments: What our church buildings say about us

Reader comments
What our church buildings say about us – Sacred Space Symposium

Church design | 8:28 a.m. June 4, 2009

Reformation Churches have the pulpit to one side,but the Altar the the Cross are the front and center,for centering the worship on Christ. A Church can also say a lot by what it does not show.

Space: The final frontier... | 10:08 a.m. June 4, 2009

Interesting article. Sounds like there's more discoveries to be had in this line of thought. It would be interesting to hear this professor's thoughts on Eastern religious uses of space and things like Feng Shui.

Jamal | 1:00 p.m. June 4, 2009

They would say that all of you behave and look the same and that you are all squaeky clean and white .. coincidence .. not to this brother?

Comments continue below

Ronnie Bray | 1:34 p.m. June 4, 2009

An excellent introduction to the concept of sacred space is Mircea Eliade's "The Sacred and the Profane."

Highly recommended reading for tyros.

our sacred space | 6:58 p.m. June 4, 2009

Pulpit center-located on a platform or rostrum. Altar (sacrament table) located below the pulpit. No crosses or pictures anywhere in the "sacred place" or auditorium. "THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST" positioned on the wall behind the rostrum and pulpit. Center, left, and right aisles. windowed auditorium not inclined. subdued lighting.

RE: our sacred place | 10:04 p.m. June 4, 2009

Exactly my point "The Church of Jesus Christ"is the center of attention,Jesus is the center of attention in Catholic and reformation Churches.

Bill | 10:59 p.m. June 4, 2009

So I guess some of you are saying that Jesus Christ is not the center of attention in THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

Lets see - Our hall ways have pictures of Jesus Christ and his sacred mission on the walls. We don't have a cross depecting the death of the savior but rather pictures showing him as a living person, especially after his resurrection. The sacrament table is off to the left or right of the podium with the sacramental bread and water.

The following is done every Sunday, as well as every day if possible, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoince in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Everything we do is in the name of the Savior, even Jesus Christ. We worship Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Oh no | 11:44 p.m. June 4, 2009

not the "my Jesus can beat up your Jesus" argument again

smutz | 1:06 a.m. June 5, 2009

The Mormon Church is stuck with the fact that it centered itself on Joseph Smith and the following of prophets. It was a must position in that why would anyone need the Mormons when a multitude of other churches praised God and the Savior? The one true church as restored by Smith was the key. If they could convince people to following that line of reasoning, they could grow a nice little church about Christ without talking about HIM as a normal Christian church would do.

re: smutz | 8:55 a.m. June 5, 2009

Except, we do talk about HIM. And none of those prophets would be "prophets" without HIM. That's the point.

Bill to Smutz | 8:58 a.m. June 5, 2009

It is a misconception that we centered ourselves on Joseph Smith and following prophets. That is part of our core beliefs but we are definitely centered on the Savior Jesus Christ. Also, it is not about convincing people to follow that reasoning. Honestly, we don't try to convince though there are some who would differ with that.

The BOOK OF MORMON relates more to Jesus Christ than many believe and in many ways, much more so than the Bible. As it states, it is another testament of Jesus Christ. We use the Bible and the BOOK OF MORMON together. Honestly, it is the Holy Ghost that converts.

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