The Christus

In Danish, Christ is 'Kristus.'  'We have taken the Danish name of the statue and Anglicized it.  Here is the history that is given at the visitors centers.  I can't wait to see the original again.

In 1819, Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen, was  commissioned to create the "Christus."  After nine years the marble piece was completed.

When Thorvaldsen unveiled his eleven-foot statue at the Lutheran Church of Our Lady, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1828, it is recorded that "crowds of astonished onlookers marveled at the grandeur and sublimity of the work."

The first replica of the Christus was ordered in 1958 and donated to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was placed in the Temple Square North Visitor's Center in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1966.

As second Christus was ordered in the 1962 and placed on display at the World's Fair in New York City in 1964-1965.  After the fair it was moved to the Los Angeles Visitor's Center.  Both of these sculptures are made of solid Italian marble and were sculpted by skilled Italian artists.

Since its unveiling in 1828, this statue has been numbered among the great art treasures of Christianity.  Its creator, Bertel Thorvalsen (1768-1844) is recognized as Denmark's greatest sculptor.

President Thomas S. Monson has said, "...there is something about the Christus that brings us closer to the Savior."

The Christus Illustrates to the world that we are Christians and that we follow Christ.  We do not worship the Christus any more than we worship sacred pictures that clearly communicate that we believe in Christ.

Scriptures to look up:
Alma 5:33; Isaiah 22:23
Isaiah 53:2, 5; Mosiah 14:2
Alma 40:23
Doctrine and Covenants 6:37
1 Peter 2:24
Doctrine and Covenants 45:51 (and several scripture there after if desired.)
Nephi 11:13-17

I promise to get some pictures downloaded soon of our trip to Palmyra but felt impressed to put this up.  When Clyde, my parents, brother and sister and I went to see this statue in Copenhagen, I was surprised to see 12 apostles surrounding Christ.  They were as beautifully carved as the Christus.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has commissioned the 12 statues of the apostles to be replicated.  They will be placed around the Christus in the Rome, Italy Visitors Center.  I find that very exciting.